fjgi. on Portugal. It 



period their history exhibits a series of "brilliant 

 actions, which perhaps cannot be equalled in the 

 annals of heroism. 



They already grasped in idea the unrivalled 

 empire of the east. They were not aware that the 

 natives gained knowledge from every defeat ; they 

 adverted not that their irritated minds acquired 

 fresh accefsions of strength from every overthrow. 

 They did not estimate the strength of that opposi- 

 tion which envy and rivalship prepared to raise up 

 against them. European powers wished to share 

 in the glory and the gains of Portugal. The na- 

 tives of India ranged themselves invariably on the 

 side of every power that was inimical to their op- 

 prefsors ; and that nation, which had been fudden- 

 ly enriched by their spoils, was as suddenly hum- 

 bled by an uninterrupted series of disasters, that 

 the most rooted aversion of all parties stirred up 

 against them. Eut the indignr.nt minds of this 

 people disdained any kind of submifsion. They 

 /ought to the last with invincible valour. Death 

 or victory were the only alternatives j and when 

 they fell, they fell to rise no more ! 



Every age, it has been justly remarked by an 

 anonymous correspondent in the Bee, may be cha- 

 racterised by the history of some leading person or 

 nation, wliose history may be said to constitute the 

 history of the times. In this manner the history of 

 Portugal will give room to characterise the fifteenth 

 century. As that nation began to decline, Spain, 

 in consequence of a continued train of conquests ia 

 Europe, accompanied by the discovery of Ameri-< 



