35^ THE BEE, OR March 2, 



HISTORICAL CHRONICLE. 



INTRODUCTION. 



A Curfory ViEW of the prefent POLITICAL STATE of 

 EUROPEy concluded from page 280. 



What remains to be faid of the other European States, may 

 be comprifed in a very few words. 



Port7igal, 

 Wise from the feverities (he fuffered from the laft war ftie 

 had with Spain, has been contented to obferve a firm neu- 

 trality, while all around her were engaged in war. But 



fuch a languor there pervades every department, arifmg 

 from a long continued erroneons fyftein of finance and 

 political regimen, that neither literature, commerce, agri- 

 culture, nor arts, have made thofe advances which are ne- 

 ceiTary to give energy to the minds of the people. The Roy- 

 al Society of Lifbon, endeavour, by premiums, to turn 

 the attention of the nation to fome hitereftlng fubjecfls. But 

 the effed of thefe have not yet been fo great as could be 

 •wKhed. Should government cheridi that fociety, and conti- 

 nue to fend fome of lier ingenious youth to be educated In 

 foreign parts, as has been, in a few cafes, done, their ef- 

 forts, though flow, may in time produce "beneficial effedls. 



Swit%erland, — Savoy, — and Italy, 

 Au. enjoy a ftate of profound tranquillity at prefent. Their 

 eyes are turned towards France. l"he attention of the fove- 

 reigns are all awake for their felf-prefervation, and every am- 

 bitious projetS feems to be fufpended. The inhabitants of pro- 

 perty In thofe ftates, which had mofl connection with France, 

 of Geneva in particular, have experienced a fad reverfe of 

 fortune, from the revolution In France, for the prefent ; and 

 they dread the future confequences. Terapttd by the high 

 rate of intereft that was held out to them in the French 

 funds, they there lodged all the money they could com- 



