period their history exhibits a series of brilliant. actions, which perhaps cannot be equalled in the annals of heroism.

They already grasped in idea the unrivalled empire of the east. They were not aware that the natives gained knowledge from every defeat; they adverted not that their irritated minds acquired fresh accefsions of strength from every overthrow. They did not estimate the strength of that opposition which envy and rivalship prepared to raise up against them. European powers wished to share in the glory and the gains of Portugal. The natives of India ranged themselves invariably on the side of every power that was inimical to their opprefsors; and that nation, which had been fuddenly enriched by their spoils, was as suddenly humbled by an uninterrupted series of disasters, that the most rooted aversion of all parties stirred up against them. But the indignant minds of this people disdained any kind of submifsion. They fought to the last with invincible valour. Death or victory were the only alternatives; and when they fell, they fell to rise no more!

Every age, it has been justly remarked by an anonymous correspondent in the Bee, may be characterised by the history of some leading person or nation, whose history may be said to constitute the history of the times. In this manner the history of Portugal will give room to characterise the fifteenth century. As that nation began to decline, Spain, in consequence of a continued train of conquests in Europe, accompanied by the discovery of Ameri

of Spain, and ceased for a time even to dom. Spain then gloried in her greatnefs, and strutted her hour upon t theatre of the globe; till, in imitation o er she had subdued, by attempting im ploits, the sunk herself into irrecoverable

The historian, who with talents adequ task, fhould delineate the rise, the pro the decline of the brilliant day of Portu present the world with a morsel of hist most important kind. His enquiry sh with a review of the state of Europe, commencement of the period of his his fhould give a rapid outline of the hist nations, and the spirit of the times tha the era of which it treats. The trade, the learning, the modes of thinking, the the virtues, that characterised the times distinctly marked, that they might be with the changes that were gradually

* Sebastian king of Portugal, instigated by that ambit natural to young princes, prepared a mighty army, and u pretence invaded Africa, anno 1578, where his army wa comfited, and he himself could never afterwards be four occasion his uncle Henry, an aged cardinal, assumed the vernment, which, with great feeblenefs, he held little m year. On his death Philip the II. of Spain laid claim to ment of that kingdom, which being supported by a po bore down all opposition, and he annexed that kingdom t

by the important transactions that occurred during this eventful period*: This history might be concluded with a rapid glance at the spirit of modern times. Thus would the reader, as if placed on an eminence that divided two very difsimilar countries from each other, be able to see at one view the past and the present. In trying to penetrate into that tenfold darknefs in which the world had been for several ages benighted; he would perceive the first streaks of dawn begin to arise. He would see aurora begin to illuminate the hemisphere. The sun at first obscured with clouds, and murky vapours would gradually be come more and more conspicuous, till at last he breaks forth in all his glory. To pursue his progress would be a pleasing exercise. Some part of this progrefs we have already seen; but far is he as yet from having attained his highest meridian glory. The veil would be dropped where this history ends, before he had begun to descend; and to others would be left the ungracious task of marking his decline. May it never be our lot to see it!

A gentleman well known to the writer of this article, fired with the brilliancy of the subject, once entertained a momentary wish to attempt the task. He went so far as to get a friend to write to some gentlemen of the first rank for literature in Portugal on this subject, and met with every encouragement and afsistance from them he could

* In his progrefs, the discoveries of Columbus, the conquest of Mexico and Peru, and the changes that these produced on Spain, and other European states would form important objects of discussion

ner, he wisely relinquifhed the desig seen the communications he received, it pity these fhould be lost. That and better qualified than my friend for atte enterprize, may be encouraged to pro obtained his permifsion to publish s these communications as may serve to public, without leading to a discovery sons from whom they came; and th subjoin.

Notices concerning the Hiftory of Portugal, an from whence information on that subject ma being excerpts translated from several lette of eminence in Portugal, to a gentleman in

LISBON, MAY

BEFORE all I rejoice as a Portuguese fhould undertake a philoso

story of our more interesting times. nothing like it in that way; although sure you it is impofsible any nation fh more materials for it; but to have thos at the expence of getting many, and aft have the tedious trouble of reading m pages written, some in a barbarous stile, a foolish and uninteresting matters, only to of those events, which characterise a na man, to find a fact necefsary to show the

such a discovery, or the ruin of it, &c. &c. is a thing which requires so much patience, expence, and time, before you can begin, that I fear Mr will be disgusted in his first labours.

Although I know many Portuguese have undertaken that task, and even now two are upon it, yet, as I am certain it is impossible for any one of my countrymen, to write their history with a philosophic propriety, living as they do in a place where superstition and ignorance hold yet too much dominion, I am ready to do every thing that may encourage Mr to go on.

could

To proceed then regularly, I must tell you that you may inform your friend how manuscripts have become so rare here. The earthqnake in 1755 was the last event that contributed to the ruin of those that had escaped the desolation of Portugal under the Philips. In private archives it is very difficult to find any. The two sources then from whence Mr get any of these, are the Torre do Tombo, or Great Chancery of the Kingdom, and the king's library; but to peep into such manuscripts is a matter of extreme difficulty and great expence ; and it is almost impofsible to get copies. To succeed in this attempt the person who undertakes it must have great patience and time; and for that reason I should advise Mr

to come

himself, because with money and fome credit, he would open all doors. Much informatiou can also be got in monkish archives, as those of Alcobaca, Batatha, Belem, Satzedas, Santa Cruz, 3e,