392. 9. for Prussians,' r. Persians. 197. 1. 10. from bottom, take the comma from society,' and put it after bard ship.' r. THE MONTHLY REVIEW, For MAY, 1798. ART. I. A general View of the State of Portugal; containing a Topographical Description thereof, in which are included an Account of the Physical and Moral State of the Kingdom; together with Observations on the Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral Productions of its Colonies. The whole compiled from the best Portuguese Writers, and from Notices obtained in the Country. By James Murphy *. Illustrated with XVI Plates. 4to. PP. 272. 11. 7s. Boards. Cadell jun. and Davies. 1798. THERE are few countries in Europe, with which this nation has been so much connected commercially, and so little acquainted statistically, as with Portugal. Its backwardness in the improvements of civilization, arising principally from the nature of its despotic government and its ecclesiastical policy, has chiefly contributed to keep the inquisitive traveller from exploring its interior and investigating its customs: yet it doubtless possesses objects worthy of research and of record; and to Mr. Murphy, therefore, the English public are much indebted for the new and pleasing portrait of the Portuguese nation, which is here presented to them. His plan embraces a great variety of topics, and he treats of each succinctly and satisfactorily; yet, miscellaneous as they are, none will be found irrelevant to the intention of the work, which proposes to communicate, by sketches, a true idea of the history and national character of the Portuguese. The sources whence this information has been drawn are those which naturally promise superior accuracy. From conversation with intelligent natives, corrected by comparison with the opinions of their most approved authors, Mr. M. has collected the materials which he has now prepared for the public eye. Portugal lies in the most western part of the continent of Europe, between 37 and 42 degrees of north latitude, and be For an account of Mr. Murphy's travels in Portugal, see Rev. vol. xix. N. S. page 390. VOL. XXVI. B tween ། 1 tween 7 and ro degrees of west longitude. Its greatest length is exactly 100 leagues, breadth 35, and circumference 285. Being included in the sixth climate, the longest day is consequently 15 hours; and the excessive heat is so tempered by sea breezes, that the transition from heat to cold is scarcely perceptible. The soil is very luxuriant, but the industry of the antient greatly exceeded that of the modern inhabitants. - The six provinces, with their capitals, rivers, lakes, and mountaines, are particularly noticed. The mineral waters, mines, and caves, the former works of the Romans,-afford a scientific and curious disquisition; and the ports and bays, so singularly favorable to commerce, are duly honored with remark. Of agriculture in Portugal, the present state is that of deplorable neglect; though attention to it seems to be reviving. After having traced the causes of the decline of that science in former periods, Mr. M. observes: Among the physical and moral causes that still impede its advancement are the following: 1. The distribution of the land into large estates. 2. The destruction of the roads, and the obstruction of the rivers. 3. The great inundations of the rivers, through want of embank ment and canals. 4. The want of means to cultivate the land. 5. The paucity of labourers and cattle. 7. The multitude of holidays. 8. The number of servants and vagrants. 9. The ignorance of the farmers. 10. The desertion of their children to cities, and their entering on occupations distinct from husbandry. 11. The heavy incumbrances and impositions to which they are 12. The contempt in which the cultivators of the soil are held. 14. The miserable manner in which the peasantry in general are Unless these obstacles be removed, it is vain to expect that agriculture can flourish. According to the best information, two-thirds of the kingdom are at present left untilled, and the portion that is under vines, olives, corn, pulse, wood, &c. is not in general in that state of improvement of which it is susceptible, nor in which it had been in the time of King Diniz. The olive plantations in general are left uncultivated, and the vines very often occupy lands better adapted to the growth of corn or maize. • Woods are rarely planted anew, and the old want that attention necessary to preserve and improve them. Flax is not cultivated in quantity sufficient for domestic consumption; and the growth of hemp is almost entirely neglected. The culture of potatoes is very little known in the kingdom; on the contrary, Vermelhas*, which are less farinaceous and nutritive, are planted in many parts. The farmers are prejudiced in favour of the antiquated notion, that every kind of soil is equally competent for the growth of all kinds of vegetables, which certainly is very injurious to agricul ture. Meadows are in a manner unknown in the kingdom, except in the province of Minho, notwithstanding there are many fine vallies, well calculated for that purpose, suffered to remain in a desert state. As to what regards the preparation of the soil, it is wretched, beyond description; the plough moves almost on the surface, the ground is seldom harrowed, however stiff it be, nor is it properly cleansed of weeds or stones; besides, the grain is sown immediately after ploughing, without giving the earth time to absorb the ferti lising particles of the atmosphere. The manure commonly used has very little substance, for, it being made of heath and furze which are scattered about the highroads to rot, the rain carries off most of the saline and oleaginous particles, two of the principal sources of fertilization. As the greatest part of the lands are mountainous, it often happens that the crops are destroyed for want of proper care, by the torrents that succeed a heavy fall of rain.' After an accurate sketch of the natural history, in its three divisions, Mr. M. remarks that the statements of the population are very discordant: he allows them to amount to 2,500,000, and estimates the number of Portuguese in all their colonies at 900,000.-They cultivate the vine in preference to grain, as it has been proved, on the same quantity of land, to be four times as lucrative.-By the registers of the custom-house at Lisbon in 1775, it appears that the commerce of the English with that capital alone exceeded double the aggregate commerce of all other nations. In the years 1784 and 1785 the balance of trade in favour of England was. 511,216. 185. sterling and of Ireland 63,6451. 55. yd.; according to the Portuguese statements. The XIIIth Chapter contains an account of premiums offered by the Royal Academy of Lisbon in 1783, which, embracing G.2. |