1824.] 
meeting with some satisfactory solu- 
tion, there is the most extraordinary 
confusion ef opinions upon the subject 
of the general resurrection that can pos- 
sibly be conceived. However, sir, itis 
not my present intention to enter upon 
so wide a field of controversy as, from 
the diversity of these, it appears to be ; 
I shall conclude by observing that, on 
this particular, the declarations of St. 
Paul are so precise, so consistent with 
all our notions of the spiritual kingdom 
Spanish and Portuguese Biography. 
39 
of heaven, that I do not wish for any 
inferior authority on the subject; and 
only therefore repeat my request, that 
some of your correspondents would 
tell me how they reconcile the corpo- 
real ascension of Christ into heaven, 
with the uncontroverted and incontro- 
vertible doctrine that nothing corrup- 
tible, or partaking of the nature of 
corruptible flesh, can be admitted into 
the heavenly mansions. 
ACADEMICUS. 
SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE BIOGRAPHY. 
~<a 
M. CORREA. 
OSEPH FRAnciS CoRREA DE SERRA 
was born at Serpa, in Portugal, 
~ about the year 1750. His father, a 
lawyer of some eminence, would him- 
self superintend the education of his 
children. He had two sons, whom he 
took with him to Rome, and there 
placed them under masters of the first 
rank, in various departments of sci- 
ence and learning. On completing 
their first studies, they quitted Rome 
for Naples, where they were com- 
mitted to the care of the celebrated 
Abbé Genovesi. 
_ Young Correa, who forms the sub- 
ject of this notice, soon returned to 
Rome, where his researches were pri- 
marily directed to the cultivation of 
the ancient languages, philology being 
the ground work of polite erudition. 
He had a claim, also, to extraordinary 
commendation, from the astonishing 
progress which he made in the science 
of botany. 
The Duke de la Foens, uncle to the 
Queen of Portugal, making the tour 
of Europe, came to Rome, and meet- 
ing there with M. Correa, whom he 
regarded as a young person of very 
considerable merit, that would do high 
honour to bis friendship, he took him 
with him into his own country. 
The Portugnese, at that time, were 
much behind in various departments of 
science, and M. C. wishing to reform 
the national erudition and literature, 
applicd himself with his usual assiduity 
to this object, which he effectually ac- 
complished by contributing to the 
founding of the Royal Academy of 
Lisbon. This philosophical institution, 
established by the Duke de la Foens, 
_ patronized by the Marqnis de Pombal, 
and animated by the incessant. efforts 
“of some scientific leaders, contributed, 
materially, to the development, and 
progressive spread of real knowledge, 
to settling it on the solid basis of prin- 
ciples more just and tolerant. 
In 1779, the rising Academy had the 
Duke de la Foens for its president, 
and M. Correa for its perpetual 
secretary. This latter bestowed a 
laudable degree of attention in the 
rearing of its several departments ; a 
printing-office, with an entire liberty of 
the press, a cabinet of natural history, 
another of experimental physics, and a 
laboratory of chemistry. These were 
accessories indispensible to complete 
the establishment. 
After this, M. C. with: peculiar in- 
dustry and perseverance, made it his 
business to collect different manu- 
scripts furnished by the academicians, 
relating to the history of Portugal; 
this valuable collection was printed, 
under the title of ‘ Monumentos Ineditos.’ 
His time was also occupied with his 
own ‘“ Memoirs on Botany,” and more 
especially with the physiological part, 
wherein, without injustice, he was 
allowed to be as profound as any 
botanist in Europe. 
The merit of these publications, and 
-other great and valuable works, which 
continually appeared on the part of the 
academy, could not impose restrictions 
on. the bold attempts, and dark in- 
trigues of religious intolerance. The 
fanatics durst not directly attack the 
Duke de la Foens, but the perpetual 
secretary would inevitably, have be- 
come the victim of the priests, and 
their infernal machinations, if he had 
not determined on quitting his country 
and retiring to Paris; this was in the 
year 1786. 
Among other eminent writers that 
Frauce then produced, M. C. became 
intimately acquainted with Broussonet; 
1o this circumstance, the latter owed 
the very favourable reception he after- 
wards 
