642 



PORTUGAL. 



In 1820, an insurrection of tie troops and the people, against the tyrant Ferdinand, produced 

 a liberal constitution, which was sworn to by the king, in the ancient assembly of the Cortes. 

 But the Holy Alliance expressed their disapprobation. France interfered; the constitution 

 was put down by the bayonet, and despotism restored. On the death of Ferdinand the Sev- 

 enth, in 1833, his infant daughter, Isabella, was proclaimed queen, in compliance with the tes- 

 tamentary directions of her father ; but Carlos, or Charles, brother of the late king, laid claim 

 to the crown, on the ground that, by the constitution of the Spanish monarchy, a woman could 

 not succeed to the throne of Spain. The rival claims of the uncle and niece, have led to a 

 long and desolating war, which seems destined to complete, for a time, the impoverishment and 

 depression of this once opulent and powerful monarchy ; but perhaps, ultimately, to effect the 

 regeneration of an oppressed, but gallant and high-spirited nation. 



CHAPTER LXXVIII. PORTUGAL. 



PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



1. Boundaries and Extent. Portugal is bounded north and east by Spain, south and west 

 by the Atlantic. It lies between 37° and 42^ 11' N. latitude, and 6° 20' and 9° 40' W. lon- 

 gitude. It is 360 miles in length, and 150 in breadth, and contains 38,800 square miles. 



2. Mountains. The mountains of Portugal are prolongations of the ranges we have already 

 vlescribed in Spain. The Sierra de Cintra is the extretnity of the Iberian chain, and reaches 

 to the sea, a little north of the mouth of the Tagus, where it forms the celebrated Rock of 

 Cintra. The Sierra de Guadalupe extends to the sea at Cape St. Vincent. 



3. Rivers. The Duero rises in Spain, and passing into this country, takes the name of 

 Douro, and flows into the sea at Oporto. The Tagus passes from Spain through Portugal, to 

 the sea, at Lisbon. The Mondego is a small stream, between the above rivers, which has the 

 whole of its course in Portugal. The Minho forms part of the northern boundary, and the 

 Guadiana passes into the kingdom, and forms part of its southeastern limit. 



4. Capes. Cape St. Vincent is a very prominent headland, forming the southeastern ex- 

 tremity of the kingdom ; it is the termination of one of the mountain ranges, already describ- 

 ed. Cape Roca, a little to the north of the Tagus, is the extremity of another chain. It is 

 a celebrated sea-mark, known to mariners as the " Rock of Lisbon." 



5. Climate. The climate is more agreeable and healthy than in the most of Spain. The 

 air of Lisbon is famed for its salubrity, and that city is resorted to by invalids from different 

 countries. The heat of summer, and cold of winter, are tempered by the neighboring ocean. 

 At Lisbon, there are commonly 200 days in the year completely fair. The rainy days are not 

 more than 80. When rain falls, it is very violent. If October is rainy, it is not uncommon 

 to see the fruit-trees blossom anew in November. 



6. Soil. Portugal is a fertile country ; the soil is light, and easily cultivated. The moun- 

 tains are mostly barren, but some of them are covered with a fine vegetation. 



7. Minerals. The Romans lind mines in this country, vestiges of which are still to be 



