12 on Portugal. ^nn. 4,. 



ca by Columbus, began to acquire the ascendency, 

 and after the unfortunate expedition of Sebastian 

 into Africa *, the glory of Portugal was annihilat- 

 ed. It was swallowed up by the voracious power 

 of Spain, and ceased for a time even to be a king- 

 dom. Spain then gloried in her distempered 

 greatnefs, and strutted her hour upon the imperial 

 theatre of the globe ; till, in imitation of that pow- 

 er ftie had subdued, by attempting impofsible ex- 

 ploits, fhe sunk herself into irrecoverable abasement. 

 The historian, who with talents adequate to the 

 task, fliould delineate the rise, the progrefs, and 

 the decline of the brilliant day of Portugal, Vv^ould 

 present the world with a morsel of history of the 

 most important kind. His enquiry should begin 

 with a review of the state of Europe, before the 

 commencement of the period of his history. He 

 fhould give a rapid outline of the history of the 

 nations, and the spirit of the times that preceded 

 the era of which it treats. The trade, the arts, 

 the learning, the modes of thinking, the vices, and 

 the virtues, that characterised the times fliould be 

 distinctly marked, that they might be contrasted 

 with the changes that were gradually produced 



* Sebast'uin king of Portugal, instigated by that ambition which is 

 natural to young princes, prf pur^d a mighty army, and under a blight 

 pretence invaded Africa, anno 157S, v.hcre his army was totally dif- 

 comfixd, and he himself could never afterwards be found. On this 

 occasion his uncle Hejiry, an aged cardinal, afsumed the reins of go- 

 vernment, which, with great feeblenefs, he held little roorethan one 

 yeai-. On his death Philif the II. ofSpain laid claim to the govern- 

 ment of that kingdom, which being supported by a powerfnl army 

 bijre down aJl opposition, and lie annexed that kingdom to Sgain> 



