35 



infused a portion of its life into every kind of pursuit. Both Bro- 

 tero and Correa de Serra were educated during this period, and may 

 truly be pronounced the first and as yet the only eminent bota- 

 nists which Portugal has produced. Concerning Brotero we need 

 not say anything at present ; but we may remark that, at least 

 in our opinion, Correa de Serra ranks higher as a philosopher. 

 His residences at London, Paris, and Washington have rendered 

 his name familiar to the naturalists of Europe and America. Be- 

 sides his botanical papers, with which the scientific public is 

 acquainted, he is known to his countrymen for other valuable 

 labours. He was an active coadjutor to the Duke of La Foez, 

 in founding the Academy of Sciences, and also published many 

 works on the literature of Portugal, and illustrating its history. 

 iVlthough an Abbe and Ecclesiastic, yet such was the spirit of the 

 times, that he was obliged to reside chiefly in foreign countries. 



It were easy to add to the list of Portuguese botanists the 

 names of Loureiro, Padre Leander, Vellozo, and even others less 

 known, but such statements would be of small interest to the 

 public. It is perhaps more necessary but less agreable to* mention, 

 that while the eminent men of the last generation have passed 

 away they have left no successors, and probably, at the present 

 day, Portugal is as destitute of original talent in natural history 

 as she was before the reform of her literary institutions, about 

 the middle of the last century. The devastations of the French, 

 followed up by so many political changes and civil wars, may in 

 part account for this ; but we suspect the cause lies deeper, and 

 depends on the slender emoluments and very small number of 

 situations open to scientific men. Another circumstance is the 

 want of a reading public, or of anything like a general taste for 

 natural history ; thus rendering the task of scientific authorship 

 a ruinous undertaking : and as the educated classes understand 

 French, the necessity for native books is not felt. Connected 

 with and depending upon this, it is a curious fact that while many 

 individuals may be found, who have a theoretical knowledge of 

 natural history, derived from books, a practical acquaintance with 

 it is very rare. Few are at the pains to herborize or to study 

 the structure and productions of the earth, by excursions to 

 the mountains. 



With respect to the present state of Botany we may also men- 

 tion the following circumstances. There arc, or rather we mav 

 say were, two Botanic Gardens in Portugal ; one at Ajuda near 

 Lisbon, and the other at Coimbra. The situation of the garden 

 of Coimbra is highly beautiful, and indeed it would be difficult 

 to find any but delightful places on the Mondego. The ground 



