136 
could not but be, but itis the best which 
human industry has ever produced on 
the subject. 
While thus engaged in resusci- 
tating laws which had been buried in 
the oblivion of past days, he formed, 
at the same time, one of the choicest 
libraries that exists of the classical 
literature of Portugal,—a literature 
almost unknown beyond the confines 
of its native land, yet entitled to no 
small esteem; rich in the most authen- 
tic materials of history, and bright 
with the decorations of romance and 
poetry. Agesof despotism had indeed 
crushed the national energies, and cor- 
rupted the national taste: the esta- 
blishment of the Inquisition, the un- 
controled despotism of the monarch, 
had broken down the uprisings of li- 
terary ambition, destroyed the enthu- 
siasm of genius, infected society with 
the plague of indifference and servi- 
lity; yet, withal, a spirit of enquiry 
and of truth might be seen moving 
from time to time upon the stagnant 
waters; and it was strong enough, at 
Jast, to wake the tides of discussion, 
and to bring redemption. 
Before Fernandez Thomaz publish- 
ed his ‘‘ Repertorir das Leis Extrava- 
gantes,” he wrote (in 1815) two small 
yolumes on Dominican rights ( Direi- 
tos Dominicas ), sustaining several li- 
beral theses, which had “been before 
suggested by the erudite prior of Villa 
Nova di Mongarros. They speak a 
high tone of freedom; they speak with 
energy and boldness. Though printed 
long before the regeneration of Portu- 
gal, they would honour the epoch of 
the constitutional government. 
Asa magistrate, Fernandez Thomaz 
has left the most grateful recollections 
wherever he was placed. At Arzamt, 
where he was juiz de fera from 1800 
to 1803, he had a striking opportunity 
of distinguishing himself, _in conse- 
quence of an assassination which took 
place at Azene, which led to a public 
commotion in favour of the guilty. He 
caused the laws to be respected, and 
the criminals punished. In 1805 he 
was made superintendant of customs 
in the three commarcas of Coimbra, 
Leiria, and Ayeiro. His upright and 
humane administration is still thynk- 
fully remembered, and his application 
of the penal laws was remarkable for 
forbearance and mercy. He occupied 
this situation when the Prince Regent, 
(now John the Sixth,) determined. to 
- alandon his country to its fate. No 
Biography of Eminent Persons. 
[Sept. t, 
effective opposition was made to the 
French invasion in 1807; and he who 
should have caused to rally round bim 
every sentiment of patriotic yirtue and 
national freedom,—he and his cour- 
tiers basely deserted their post at the 
first threat of danger. Disgusted and 
dejected by his ‘country’ S disgrace, 
Fernandez Thomaz retired to his estate 
at Allegria, near Figueira. Buried in 
its seclusion, he watched the moment, 
with anxious impatience, when the 
heavy yoke of foreign servitude was to 
be broken. 
And Portugal rose: the arrival of 
ihe English troops encouraged the na- 
tional enthusiasin. Figueira was the 
spot of disembarkation. He hurried 
thither, and offered all his powers for 
the salvation of his country. This was 
in August 1808; at this period he saved 
the inhabitants of Figueira from the 
calamities of anarchy, into which it 
had been nearly plunged by precipi- 
tate and imprudentmen. They would 
probably have been the victims of the 
spirit themselves had excited but for 
his interference. They repaid his be- 
nevolent zeal by calumny. Sir Ar- 
thur Wellesley sent for Fernandez 
Thomaz on his arrival, as the highest 
authority then in the neighbourhood, 
and requested his attendance, legally 
to facilitate the requisitions for the 
support and transport of the troops. 
A number of most honorary testimo- 
nials of the British authorities prove 
his zeal, the value of his services, and 
the deep impression he left on those to 
whom they were devoted. In 1809 he 
was made provedor of Coimbra; and 
in 1810, in consequence of the request 
of the "English generals, victualling 
intendant (intendente de viveres) at Sir 
W. C. Beresford’s head-quarters. In 
1811, the office of dezembargador 
(judge) at Oporto was conferred on 
him. In 1812 he removed again to 
Coimbra, to complete the usual trien- 
nial service: his long absence had led 
to. great pecuniary “sacrifices on his 
part, and his family had been already 
dispersed by the vicissitudes of the 
war. Meanwhile, his health had been 
sadly shattered; and, during his resi- 
dence at head-quarters, he was often 
found with half his body in bed, and 
the other half hanging over a table, 
from which he dispatched his orders, 
—at that time so pre-eminently im- 
portant; the army being engaged in 
the siege of Badajoz. 
‘The Prince Regent of Portugal had 
solemnly 
