Ixxxiv PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



patrons and promoters of science, there are few who can themselves 

 be justly placed on its rolls. But it was not so with the late King 

 of Portugal, who was distinguished not only for the enlightened 

 and discriminating encouragement he aiforded to science in all its 

 branches, but was also himself no mean proficient in many of them. 



He was born in Lisbon on the 16th of September, 1837, the eldest 

 son of Donna Maria II., on whose death he ascended the throne, in 

 his seventeenth year, on the 15th of November, 1853. In May 1858 

 he married the Princess Stephanie of HohenzoUem-Sigmaringen, but 

 had the misfortune to lose his consort in the following year. The 

 uncertain and often unfortunate circumstances, domestic or poUtieal, 

 by which his early years were saddened, the unhappy loss of his 

 young wife, and the misfortunes from epidemic disease and political 

 commotions with which his short reign was afflicted and disturbed, 

 all contributed to give his character a tinge of melancholy and sad- 

 ness ; although at the same time the trials through which he passed 

 served to bring out into stronger relief, the amiable, kind, and con- 

 siderate disposition with which he was naturally endowed. On 

 ascending the throne, one of the first tasks he undertook was to 

 make himself acquainted with his country and his people, and with 

 this view he was yearly in the habit of journeying into the various 

 provinces of the kingdom, in one of which expeditions he may be 

 said to have fallen a victim to this self-imposed duty, being attacked, 

 soon after his return from the province of Alemtejo, by a fever which 

 carried him off on the 11th of November, 1861, — two of his brothers, 

 Don Fernando and Don Joao, being also struck down by the same 

 malady. 



Don Pedro had received a careful and liberal education, and of 

 course, from his exalted position, enjoyed unusual opportunities for 

 the acquirement of knowledge. But it was mainly to his own 

 talents, zeal, and industry, after he had reached man's estate, that 

 he was indebted for the vast amount of accurate knowledge he was 

 generally acknowledged to possess. 



From an early age he exhibited a strong inclination for the study 

 of natural history, in which he was also much encouraged by his 

 father, Don Fernando, himself distinguished as an artist and man 

 of science. WhUe still Crown Prince, he founded a Museum of 

 Natural History in the Palace of Necessidades, and in all his travels, 

 both at home and abroad, he lost no opportunity of adding to the 

 stores of his Museum, or of his extensive Library of Natural History. 

 He was also much attached to the society and correspondence of men 



