Leaves from a Madeira Garden 



Lately there seems to have been some awaken- 

 ing from Portuguese lethargy in this respect, 

 a fact which is of good augury for the future 

 of the country. For in this lack of business 

 capacity, or business training, is probably to 

 be discovered one reason for Portugal's 



o 



political failure. I shall have occasion to speak 

 later of the singular ineptitude of the system 

 of taxation, and it is impossible to doubt that 

 under a more intelligent Government the 

 country would attain a level of prosperity quite 

 undreamt of now. 



Socially, those who have the privilege of 

 knowing them, will find the Portuguese a very 

 charming people. It may be that they do not 

 feel in general much sympathy with the 

 English, whose somewhat brusque manners 

 and comparative want of tact must often jar 

 on their finer susceptibilities, but it is possible 

 for individuals of the two nations to be close 

 friends. And an Englishman who has adopted 

 their nationality may become Lusitanis Lusi- 

 tanior. Many Englishmen who have visited 

 this island will recall with affection and regret 

 the gracious dignity and unfailing bonhomie of 



the late Count T . Of British parentage 



io6 



