different ports of the island of Porto-Rico in the cavala duties were abolished in 1815, and the subyear 1864 Dolls, Cts. 925,597 72 971,646 06 822,309 49 341,679 55 449,691 87 316,152 70 331,921 51 264,395 78 201,176 82 105,397 35 57,613 50 Total in 1864 9,932,600 41 Total in 1864 4,787,582 36 Decrease 581,165 46 Decrease Among the leading articles imported are cotton manufactures, woollen do., drapery goods, and silk manufactures. sidy, or direct contribution on landed property, established instead. The total revenue of the colony was set down, in the Spanish budget of 1862-63, at 2,000,000 reales. The chief towns of the island are San Juan de Porto-Rico, the cap., Mayaguez, Ponce, Aguadilla, and Fagardo. Porto-Rico, when discovered by Columbus, in 1493, is supposed, though probably on no very good grounds, to have had 600,000 inhabs., who were, in no very long time, almost exterminated. In the latter part of the 17th century it was taken by the English; but, from the prevalence of dysentery, they were soon after obliged to abandon it; since which time it has been mostly in the quiet possession of Spain. A revolutionary movement, which broke out in 1820, was put an end to in 1823. PORTO-RICO (SAN JUAN DE), the principal city and sea-port of the above island, of which it is the cap., on rising ground, at the extremity of a peninsula, joined to the land by a narrow isthmus; lat. 18° 29' 10" N., long. 66° 7' 2" W. Pop. 21,190 in 1860. The town, which lies along the E. side of the harbour, is strongly fortified. The streets cross each other at right angles: being on a deThe necessaries, and many of the comforts, of clivity it is well drained, and may be considered as life are enjoyed by the great majority of the in- one of the best and healthiest towns in the W. habs, of Porto-Rico. The Xivaros, a name applied Indies. In the earlier part of the present century, to all the whites below the better classes, swing most of the houses were of wood; but at present, themselves to and fro in their hammocks all day except in the suburbs, not a wooden house is to be long, smoking their cigars, and scraping a guitar, seen, and they are principally two stories high. A few coffee plants and plantain trees, a cow and There are some good public buildings, including a horse, an acre of land, in corn or sweet potatoes, the bishop's palace, and seminary; the royal miliconstitute the property of what would be denomi- tary hospital, with 350 beds; public gaol, house of nated a comfortable Xivaro; who, mounted on correction, a handsome theatre, town-house, with a his meagre and hard-worked horse, with his long magnificent public hall, and several convents. The sword protruding from his basket, dressed in a broad- government house, though old and sombre-looking, brimmed straw hat, cotton jacket, clean shirt, and has some fine apartments. The cathedral is a check pantaloons, sallies forth from his cabin to large, unfinished, heavy fabric; there are several mass, to a cock-fight, or to a dance, thinking him- other churches, with a custom-house and arsenal. self the most independent and happy being in ex-The harbour has a striking resemblance to that of istence. The houses of all classes, in the country, are usually built of wood. The windows have no glass; they are shut with sliding boards; so that when it rains, or when the wind blows with violence, the family remains in darkness. The roofs of the better class of houses are covered with wooden shingles. There are scarcely any inns for travellers either in the towns or country. the Havannah, to which it is but little inferior. Its entrance, about 300 fathoms in width, has the Morro Castle, at the NW. corner of the city, on its E. side, and is defended on the W., or opposite side, by forts erected on two small islands. Within it expands into a capacious basin, the depth of water varying from 5 to 6 and 7 fathoms. On its W. side, opposite to the city, there are extensive sandThe government, laws, and institutions are nearly banks; but the entrance to the harbour, and the similar to those established by Spain in the rest of harbour itself, is unobstructed by any bar or shallow. her Transatlantic colonies. Porto-Rico is governed Porto-Rico is the residence of the governor, and by a captain-general, whose authority is supreme the seat of the superior courts for the island. It in military affairs, and who is president of the has a society for the promotion of the fine arts, royal audiencia for civil matters. The latter court with numerous public schools and hospitals. It is composed of the captain-general, a regent, three engrosses a large portion of the commerce of the judges, a fiscal, two reporters, and a marshal; and island, and has, in consequence, attained to conis superior to all other constituted authorities, in-siderable distinction among the emporiums of the cluding the ecclesiastical tribunal. The captain- W. Indies. general has a junta, or council of the principal military officers. In the seven towns and villages, which are the caps. of departments, justice is administered by the mayors: in the smaller towns and villages by inferior magistrates, called lieutenants, who determine debts under 100 dollars, act as justices of the peace, collect the duty of subsidy, receiving 6 per cent. on the collections. They are appointed by the captain-general, who also appoints the clergy to their different livings, on the recommendation of the bishop. Public instruction is very backward; but schools, though few, are increasing. The island is divided into seven military deps., each under the command of a Spanish colonel. The regular military force comprises about 10,000, and the militia about 46,000 men. The naval force consists of a man-of-war, a schooner, and about a dozen gun-boats. The tithes and al PORTSMOUTH, including its suburb of Portsea, a parl. bor. and sea-port town of England, the principal naval arsenal of Great Britain, and the chief station of the fleet, co. Hants, on the W. side of Portsea Island, at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour, opposite Gosport, and on the N. side of the Channel, separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland. 16 m. SE. Southampton, and 65 m. SW. London, on the London and South Western railway. Pop. of bor. 94,799 in 1861. Portsea Island, which has Portsmouth at its SW. extremity, is about 4 m. in length (N, and S.), and from 2 to 3 m. in breadth, between Portsmouth Harbour on the one side, and Langstone Harbour on the other: it is connected with the mainland, at its N. extremity, by a stone bridge, and is generally fertile and well cultivated, producing excellent crops of corn, and large quantities of par icularly fine garden vegetables. Its coasts are well defended, at numerous points, by strong military works, including, together with the fortifications of Portsmouth itself, Fort Cumberland, Southsea Castle, and a long line of intrenched works at Hilsea. The external appearance of Portsmouth and Portsea is greatly embellished by the fine trees which ornament their ramparts; and few towns exhibit so imposing an approach as Portsea at its principal entrance from London. The entrances to Portsmouth, the older and more southerly part of the parl. bor., are much less striking; but its interior is far superior to that of its neighbour. Portsmouth may be generally described as consisting of three or four parallel streets, crossed at right angles by two or three other lines of thoroughfares. High Street, the principal, with its angular continuation, Broad, or Point Street, runs entirely through the centre of the town; it is wide and handsome, having on either side many large and excellent houses, several public buildings, and some very superior hotels. It has also been much improved by the removal, in 1836, of the old town hall, an unsightly brick building, which previously stood about its middle, blocking up the greater part of the coach-road. Many good private houses are to be met with in the other streets, and on the Grand Parade, a spacious open area, used for garrison inspections, and for the daily muster of the several guards; but in general the private buildings are of an inferior character, and the back streets, particularly those at the Point and toward the N. part of the town, are of the lowest character. The Point is a small peninsula stretching W. to form the mouth of the harbour, and mostly beyond the walls of the town. It is, with the opposite part of Portsea, the principal seat of naval traffic, most of the ship agents and brokers having their offices here, and, in time of war especially, presents a scene of the greatest activity. Portsea, which has entirely grown up since the beginning of last century, on a tract formerly called Portsmouth Common, N. of Portsmouth, now greatly surpasses the latter in extent and pop. It is divided into two nearly equal parts by its main thoroughfare, Queen Street, which runs for about 4 m. in a direct line from Lion Gate, and is lined on each side with shops, many of which emulate those of the Strand or Fleet Street. Some few of the other streets, as St. James's Street, King Street, and the Common Hard, are tolerably broad and well built; but, except these, none of the others approach even to mediocrity. The houses in Portsea are rarely more than two stories in height, and their fronts are but seldom stuccoed. It has but one handsome open space and few public buildings. Both towns are well paved, well plied with water, and well lighted with gas. diately to the E. and N. of Portsea, have nothing, in point of appearance to recommend them; their inhabs. are, in a great measure, retail tradesmen and workmen employed by government. Newtown (Mile End), Kingston, and Buckland, E. of the foregoing, are cheerful and agreeable suburbs, principally extending along the London Road, and inhabited by the same classes as those residing in Southsea. Immediately without the walls of Portsmouth, stretching along the shore, is Southsea Common, a fine large open space, used for reviews and military inspections, and a favourite place for public recreation. The importance of Portsmouth, like that of Plymouth, depends wholly on the excellence of her harbour, and on her convenient situation as a place for the outfit and rendezvous of the fleets in the Channel, or of those cruising off the coasts of France and Spain. It is this that has made her be selected as the principal station of the navy, and has consequently advanced her to the highest destination as a naval depôt. The harbour, which is unequalled in Great Britain, and surpassed but by few in the world, has a narrow entrance, not exceeding 220 yards in width, between Portsmouth and Gosport; but within its width increases, and it expands into a noble basin capable of containing the larger part of the navy of Great Britain. There is a bar outside the entrance to the harbour; but as it has about 13 ft. water over it, even at the lowest spring ebbs, it can hardly be said to be any obstruction to the navigation; and within the harbour there is water sufficient to float the largest men-of-war at any time of the tide. The anchoring ground is excellent; and, being free from sunken rocks, or other obstructions, ships lie as securely in it as if they were in dock. The dockyard, which comprises about 120 acres, lies along the E. side of the harbour. It comprises all the establishments necessary for the construction and repair of ships of war, and for their outfit with the greatest despatch, including numerous building and graving docks, partly opening into the harbour, and partly into a large basin, which communicates with the latter. Along the quay, fronting the harbour, extends a noble line of warehouses, having in its centre a handsome octagonal observatory. In the rope-house, nearly 1,200 ft. in length, cables are twisted to the extent of 30 inches in circumference; and the anchor forge produces anchors of the largest size. The iron and copper mills, the copper foundry, where the copper is rolled into sheets for sheathing by steam-power, the rigging and mast-houses, timber berths, saw-pits, seasoning sheds and mast-ponds, are all on the most extensive scale. Probably, however, the most interesting machinery is that sup-invented, or, at all events, vastly improved, by Sir Isambert Brunel, for cutting blocks. It is exceedingly ingenious, and has been productive of a vast saving of labour. During the late war upwards of 4,000 working-men were employed in Portsmouth dockyard, of whom 1,500 were shipwrights and caulkers; but in time of peace the numbers are greatly reduced. The suburbs beyond the walls comprise at least half the parl. bor., their more densely peopled portion extending over a space fully as large, if not larger, than that occupied by the two towns. Of these suburbs, Southsea alone has any pretensions to beauty. It consists of a succession of well built terraces facing the sea, and the E. ramparts of In the dockyard are the navy pay office, the Portsmouth, being inhabited principally by naval, residences of the port-admiral, the admiral-supermilitary, and government civil officers, and visi- intendent, and the heads of the principal departtors resorting thither during the summer season. merits of the estab. The port-admiral's residence, Behind these terraces are a number of tolerable formerly that of the commissioner (whose duties streets, and some new squares. Elm Grove and are now performed by the superintendent), is an Somerstown are sections of this suburb; the former, elegant editice of white brick, surrounded by gara little further eastward, consists of a series of ele- dens. Near it is the Royal Naval College, a spagant detached villas, surrounded by fine planta- cious dark brick edifice, erected in 1729, its centre tions and gardens, commanding prospects of Spit- surmounted by a cupola and observatory well furhead and the Isle of Wight, and inhabited by opu-nished with instruments. Here youths intended lent individuals. Landport and Flathouse, imme- for the navy were formerly instructed in naviga tion; but, in 1839, the college was remodelled, of cannon, and commanding an extensive and and is now appropriated to the instruction of beautiful view. Portsmouth is entered by four, junior naval and marine officers in the higher branches of science connected with their profession, and especially the principles and practice of naval gunnery. The officers belonging to this establishment are boarded and lodged in the college, but are borne on the books as part of the complement of a ship of the line in the harbour. Immediately facing the residence of the port-admiral is a handsome white brick building, intended originally for a school or college of naval architecture, for the education of a superior class of shipwrights;' a plan which, though on no very satisfactory grounds, has since been abandoned. On the green, in front of the last mentioned building, is a bronzed leaden statue of William III. Adjacent to the college is a chapel-of-ease for persons attached to the dockyard. The latter was, during last century, the scene of several conflagrations. One of these, in 1776, was clearly the work of an incendiary, who was convicted and executed for the offence. The dockyard is, however, daily open to the inspection of visitors who apply for admission at the gate. and Portsea by two, carriage gateways, some having considerable architectural beauty. Besides the town batteries, Spithead and the approaches to the harbour are defended by Southsea Castle, and Forts Cumberland, Blockhouse, and Monkton. Southsea Castle, founded by Henry VIII., about 1 m. SE. Portsmouth, is built almost wholly of stone; as are Forts Monkton and Blockhouse on the mainland. Fort Cumberland, on the E. extremity of Portsea Island, a structure of the last century, covers a large space, and has earthen ramparts faced with brick, and barrack-room for 3,000 men. The town, its suburbs, and auxiliary fortresses are garrisoned by the Portsmouth divisions of royal marines and marine artillery, and a certain number of infantry of the line. Within the town are several capacious and excellent barracks, and there are others in the gunwharf, at Tipner and Hilsea. Portsmouth has a military hospital, and a marine infirmary situated between the custom-house and the gun-wharf. But Haslar Hospital for the reception of sick and wounded seamen, the principal establishment of its kind in the kingdom, is on the opposite side of the harbour at Gosport (which see). The chief engineering department for the S. and W. of England, and the residences of the commandants of the marines and engineers, are among the other principal government buildings. To the S. of the dockyard, and nearer the mouth of the harbour, is the 'gun-wharf,' or arsenal for ordnance stores. This is an extensive and very complete establishment. As a depôt for cannon it is inferior to the arsenal at Woolwich, but, in most other respects, it is very superior to the latter. It comprises many extensive and The par. church of Portsmouth, founded about handsome storehouses, filled with all kinds of am- 1220, but principally rebuilt in 1693, is a spacious munition; a neat armoury roofed with copper, stone edifice with a square tower, 120 ft. in height, and containing small arms for 20,000 men; a labo- surmounted by a cupola and vane, which forms ratory, and various other offices, spacious quays an important landmark. Among other monualong the harbour, and a terrace of excellent resi- ments, it has one to Villiers, duke of Buckingdences for its officers, fronted by a finely planted ham, assassinated here in 1628. The vicarage is inclosure. This establishment is separated into in the patronage of Winchester College. Adthe two divisions of the old and new gun-wharf joining the grand parade is the garrison chapel by the mill-pond; a dammed-up creek between and burying-ground. In Portsea are two chapels Portsmouth and Portsea, which supplies the moats of ease, St. John's and St. George's. St. Paul's, of both, and also turns a considerable flour mill Southsea, and All Saints', Newtown, are elegant formerly attached to the victualling office, but Gothic edifices of similar architecture, the former now in private hands. The victualling depart- built in 1822, at an expense of 15,229, and the ment, which formerly occupied some large piles latter, in 1827, at a cost of 12,4647. Portsea par. of building within the town of Portsmouth, was, church is an antiquated edifice at Kingston, about in 1828, removed to Weovil (see GOSPORT); and 14 m. from the town, and surrounded by a very its former storehouses have partly been purchased extensive cemetery. The living is a vicarage, in by merchants of the town, and partly given place the patronage of St. Mary's College, Winchester. to a handsome row of modern dwellings, the new There are numerous places of worship for Indealmshouses, and the building of the Philosophical pendents, Baptists, Wesleyans, Bryanites, Scotch Society. The custom-house is an insignificant Presbyterians, Unitarians, Rom. Caths., General building, but in a convenient situation. The Baptists, and Jews. The town-hall and gaol tofunctions of governor are exercised by a lieut.-gether occupy a large edifice; the latter, which governor, who occupies a noble mansion in High Street, formerly the residence of the port-admiral. Portsmouth appears to have been originally fortified by Edward IV. Its works were greatly augmented and improved during the reigns immediately succeeding, and in those of Elizabeth, Charles II. and James II. Under William III. they were completed, nearly as at present, the town being almost wholly enclosed within a bastioned enceinte, the ramparts faced with masonry, and encircled with broad moats, with a glacis beyond. But, owing to the rise of Portsea, the N. side of these works soon became useless; and, in 1770, the government began also to surround Portsea with works on a still more extensive scale. At present a continuous line of ramparts extends round both towns, and the belt of fortification is completed by the works surrounding Gosport, on the opposite side of the harbour. The ramparts, being planted with elms and poplars, form the favourite promenades of the inhab.; and facing the sea is the Platform, a fine stone battery, mounting 25 pieces is clean, convenient, and well conducted, is under the jurisdiction of the borough magistrates. A market-house and exchange, the general dispensary, savings' bank, workhouses, female penitentiary, beneficial society's hall, literary and philosophical institution, with a handsome edifice, and a good museum and library; Hampshire library with 5,000 volumes, the King's Rooms at Southsea, with an excellent bathing establishment, Green Row and York Rooms, used for balls, and a theatre, are the other principal buildings of public interest. There are Lancastrian and national schools, an endowed free grammar school for 50 boys; and St. Paul's school, a joint-stock subscription academy for superior classical and mathematical instruction; besides several good private academies, a mechanics' institute, forensic and philharmonic societies, and various charities. On the London road, about 14 m. from the town, is a new and spacious public cemetery. In addition to its other conveniences, Portsmouth harbour enjoys an important advantage of opening into the celebrated road of Spithead, between the Hampshire coast and the Isle of Wight. It derives its name from a sand-bank called the Spit, extending about 3 m. in a SE. direction, from the narrow neck or tongue of land on which Gosport is built. A ship of war was formerly kept moored, as a guard or receiving ship, at the head of this bank; but since the peace this practice has been discontinued, and the roadstead is merely marked by buoys placed at regular intervals. It is here that ships fitted out in the docks and harbour rendezvous before going to sea, and it is also a secure and convenient asylum for the Channel fleet and other vessels, during the occurrence of storms. From its safety and capaciousness this roadstead is called by sailors, the king's bed-chamber.' Inasmuch as Portsmouth depends for support on its being a great naval port and arsenal, its prosperity is necessarily greatest during war. At present, however, if we compare it with previous periods of peace, it may be said to be flourishing. It necessarily has a considerable trade in the importation of the various articles required in its numerous establishments, and for the supply of the inhabs., and the victualling of the fleet. In January, 1864, there belonged to the port, 153 sailing vessels under 50, and 99 above 50 tons, besides 9 steamers, of an aggregate burthen of 358 tons. The gross customs revenue amounted to 22,4781. in 1863. Portsmouth is connected with Arundel and London by a navigable canal, and communicates with Gosport by a floating bridge for passengers and carriages, the property of a company incorporated in 1838. Steamers ply to Ryde, Cowes, Lymington, Havre, Plymouth, Dublin, and other ports. Portsmouth received its first charter from Richard I., which was confirmed by various subsequent monarchs. Under the Municipal Reform Act it is divided into seven wards; its municipal officers being a mayor, 13 aldermen, and 42 councillors. It has a commission of the peace under a recorder, and the boundaries of the municipal and parl. bor. are co-extensive. Petty sessions are held three times a week, and a county court is established here, before which 2,181 plaints were entered in 1848. Portsmouth has sent 2 mems, to the H. of C. since the 23d Edward I.; the right of election down to the Reform Act being vested in the mayor and corporation, the number of which seldom exceeded 60. The electoral limits were enlarged by the Boundary Act, so as to include all the parish of Portsea with the old borough; and, in 1865, there were 4,583 registered electors. Portsmouth is one of the polling places at elections for the S. division of Hampshire. Markets on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The charter of Richard I. established a fair in the town, called the Free Mart,' which lasts for 15 days from July 10, and is succeeded by a 3 days' fair on Portsdown Hill, attended by a great concourse of people. The earliest mention of Portsmouth occurs in the Saxon chronicle, which states that it existed in 501. It probably owes its origin to the sea having retired from Porchester, probably the anc. Portus Adurni at the upper end of the harbour, on which account the inhabs. removed thither, and built a town at the mouth of the port. It was taken and burnt by the French in 1377, but was soon recovered, and in the reign of Henry VIII. had become the principal naval arsenal of England. PORTSMOUTH, a town and port of entry in the C. States, being the largest town, though not the cap., of New Hampshire, on a peninsula in the Piscataqua, 3 m. from the Atlantic, 40 m. PORTUGAL (KINGDOM OF), anc. Lusitania, the most W. state of continental Europe, occupying the greater part of the W. portion of the Spanish peninsula, between the 37th and 42nd degs. N. lat., and the 6th and 10th W. long., having E. and N. Spain, and S. and W. the Atlantic. Length, N. to S., about 350 m.; average breadth, rather niore than 100 m. The kingdom is divided into seven provinces, the area of which and population, according to the census of 1838, and of 1858, is given in the subjoined table: Geographically considered, Portugal can be regarded in no other light than as a dependency on, or portion of Spain; and, in fact, all the mountain chains and great rivers by which she is traversed originate in the eastern and more extensive portion of the peninsula. The principal mountain chain, the Sierra de Estrella, runs SW. and NE. from the Spanish frontier, near Almeida, to Cape Roca, near Lisbon, the most westerly land in Europe, lat. 38° 46′ 30′′ N., long. 9° 30' 24" W. The culminating point of this chain, near Covilha, is 7,524 feet above the sea. Another chain, the Sierra Monchique, runs across the prov. of Algarve, the most southerly in the kingdom, terminating in Cape St. Vincent. There are a great number of inferior chains, and the provinces to the N. of the Douro are especially encumbered with mountains. The great rivers, the Tagus, Douro, Minho, and Gaudiana, have their sources in Spain, though they are joined by some considerable affluents in their passage through Portugal. There are but few lakes, and those of no importance; but mineral and hot springs are not uncommon. Water, in many districts, particularly in the S., is both scarce and bad; and, in consequence, extensive tracts in the great plain of Alemtejo and other provinces are nearly uninhabitable. The climate is, in general, milder and more agreeable than in Spain, owing to the height of the mountains and the great extent of coast. In the rugged tracts of the NE. (Tras os Montes) the air is in many parts keen. In the valleys, and in the S. part of the kingdom, the case is generally very different; but all along the coast the heat is tempered by the sea breezes. Snow seldom lies on the low ground; but the rains of winter are often heavy and long continued; and at this season the vicinity of Lisbon and other parts of the country are very subject to earthquakes. Violent hurricanes are also of frequent occurrence. The general aspect of Portugal is similar to that of Spain, and even more luxuriant. It is a goodly sight to see What heaven hath done for this delicious land! What fruits of fragrance blush on every tree! What goodly prospects o'er the hills expand !' Childe Harold, canto i. st. xv. trampling the grain under the feet of horses and cattle. Though, in so dry a country, the command of water and the irrigation of the lands be indispensable, this, in many extensive districts, is quite neglected. In consequence, the country is in parts but little occupied, and the traveller sometimes proceeds a distance of 15 or 20 m. without discovering as many houses. To show the deficiency of the means of communication, it may be sufficient to state that, on travelling from Abrantes to the Spanish frontier, along the N. side of the Tagus, a distance of about 100 m., there are six rivers to cross without a single bridge, though they are fordable only in dry weather. It must not, however, be supposed that these statements apply equally to the whole country. The inhabs, of the greater part of the provs. of Entre-Douro-e-Minho and Tras-os-Montes, to the N. of the Douro, and of the adjoining portions of Beira, participate, to a considerable extent, in the industrious qualities of their neighbours the Galicians. (See GALICIA.) An abundant supply of water is here provided, partly from natural streams, but principally from wells dug in the sides of the mountains; and, in consequence, good corn crops are raised in the lower grounds, while the hills are covered with vineyards, and olives and other fruits are also extensively raised. The vegetable products are very various, as well from difference of latitude as from the great variety of elevation. Wheat, barley, oats, flax, hemp, and other products of a northern latitude, are raised in the high grounds, vines and maize in those of warmer temperature, and rice in the low grounds. The chief fruits are olives, oranges, and lemons; but the last two grow only in the warm and sheltered valleys of the S. and central parts of the kingdom. The woods are extensive: in the N. they consist principally of oak; in the central provinces of chestnut, and in the S. of sea pine, kermes, and cork trees. Algarve produces the American aloe, date, and other intertropical pro-tugal is, at this moment, probably in a more backducts; and Portugal is supposed to have a greater number of indigenous plants than any other part of Europe. (Balbi, Essai Statistique, i. 145.) Silk is produced of very good quality; and, in general, any deficiency, whether in vegetable or animal products, is to be imputed not to the soil or climate, but to the indolence and unskilfulness of the people. But, with these exceptions, agriculture in Por ward state even than in Spain, or any other European country. We incline, however, to think that this will not long be the case. The more intelligent classes have at length become aware of the vicious nature of the institutions which have so long prevented the development of industry; and, of late years, most important changes have been effected in the tenures under The agriculture of Portugal, though recently which landed property is held, and in its distriit has begun to improve, is still, speaking gene-bution. The feudal rights of the nobility and rally, in the most backward and degraded state other landed proprietors have been suppressed; an imaginable. A variety of circumstances have con- equal system of direct taxation has been introspired to bring about this result; among which, duced; and a large extent of crown property and the heat of the climate and the want of water, of estates belonging to monasteries, sold at low especially in the southern provinces, have, no prices, has mostly found its way into the hands of doubt, a very considerable influence. Probably, industrious proprietors. Hence, though the want however, the mildness of the climate has been of capital, the ignorance and indolence of the still more injurious than its aridity, for this has at peasantry, be most formidable obstacles to the once encouraged the indolence, and lessened the rapid spread of improvement, it has notwithstandwants of the people. And if to these powerful ing already made a considerable progress. In physical causes we add the pernicious practice of proof of this we may mention that, despite the exempting the clergy and nobility from those facilities afforded for the importation of corn and direct taxes which were made to fall with their other bulky products from the interior into Lisfull weight on the cultivators; the vast amount bon, by means of the Tagus, which runs through of property in mortmain, and prevented from the centre of the kingdom, that city was long incoming into the hands of those who would turn it debted to foreign countries for a considerable porto the best account; the want of a proper method tion of her supplies of corn; but this, we are glad of letting, and the consequent insecurity of the to say, is no longer the case; and, in 1839, for the occupiers; the want of a manufacturing pop., and first time for centuries, considerable quantities of of great towns, that is, of markets for agricultural Portuguese corn were shipped from the Tagus! produce; the extreme badness of the roads, and Flax, hemp, and potatoes are grown only to a the difficulties in the way of internal communi- small extent; and, owing to the want of due cation; the number of saints' days, fasts, and care and attention, the olive oil is of an inferior other superstitious observances; and the igno- quality. rance of the people; we shall certainly have little cause to wonder at the low state of agriculture in most parts of the country. In the greater portion of the kingdom the farmers are quite unacquainted with the rotation of crops, and, one would be almost disposed to conclude, of the differences of soil, inasmuch as they continue to raise the same crops indiscriminately from all sorts of land. Their implements are of the clumsiest and rudest description; the harrow and the hoe were, till lately, nearly unknown, and thrashing was usually performed by Wine, however, is the staple produce of Portugal, and that by which she is best known in the United Kingdom. The red wine, called port, from its being all shipped from Oporto, is produced in the Upper Douro, about 50 m. above Oporto, on a succession of low hills on both sides the river, having the finest soil and exposure. The produce of this district is generally divided into two sorts of wine, the vinho do Feitoria, or Factory-wine, for exportation; and the vinho do ramo, an inferior wine for home consumption and distillation. Great complaints having been made, |