PREFACE.

THE substance of the following letters has been supplied partly from the author's journal, and partly from a series of communications addressed to Mr. Bayly, and several other friends, with whom he maintained a correspondence during his travels in Portugal. These materials have been subsequently much enlarged by reference to statistical, geographical, historical, and lighter works, professing to give an account of the country; and numerous engravings with poetical illustrations have been introduced in order to render the delineation of Portugal as complete as possible. In the opinion of some persons, perhaps, the form of letters should have been dispensed with, and the division of the work into chapters adopted; but, as far as the question of Illustration is concerned, that objection cannot be material, since it is the substance, and not the mere form, which in a work of

this nature would seem to be of the greater importance. Although in every other respect the author is deeply sensible of his inadequacy to fulfil the task which he has undertaken, yet he may claim the merit of having anxiously desired to omit no point of interest connected with the actual state of Portugal, ancient as well as modern.

The design of the author in visiting Portugal was to collect a variety of interesting facts from personal observation, and to bring back reminiscences of the feelings, manners, and customs of its inhabitants, which might make the people of England better acquainted with the peculiar features of Portugal, than are even the inhabitants themselves. They are seldom known to make observations, and very unfrequently travel beyond the walls of their own quintas; and consequently can afford but scanty information to those inquiring few who venture to traverse their provinces. The traveller in Portugal is exposed frequently to danger, and always to considerable personal inconveniences which arise from the nature of the climate, and is generally left to hazard conjectures about matters of which in a country more advanced in civilization, and not so burdened by oppressive and unwise rule, he might naturally expect to meet on the spot with satisfactory explanations.

The history of Portugal appeared to form an important part of the illustration of this work. Reverting to the original state of Lusitania; its Phoenician and Carthaginian connection; its conquest by the Romans, and subsequent separation, together with the Iberian provinces, from the dismembered empire; its existence under the domination of the northern invaders of Europe, and temporary submission to the yoke of the Arabian power; its union with some of the northern provinces of Spain, and final declaration of independence under the Burgundian founder of the monarchy, continued through three dynasties of sovereigns; its maritime discoveries; its glorious conquest and expulsion of the Moors, and no less triumphant deliverance from the bloody thraldom of the Jesuits-would that it could be added from the tyranny also of a bigoted priesthood!--the author conceived that it would be desirable, as a point of illustration, to give early in the work a brief review of the history of Portugal. This perhaps may in the judgment of some persons appear to have been misplaced by being given in the second letter instead of in an appendix. Here, however, the author presumes to rest his defence upon intention, satisfied, should the information afforded on this head be deemed complete and satisfactory by his readers, without reference to its location in the work.

this nature would seem to be of the greater importance. Although in every other respect the author is deeply sensible of his inadequacy to fulfil the task which he has undertaken, yet he may claim the merit of having anxiously desired to omit no point of interest connected with the actual state of Portugal, ancient as well as modern.

The design of the author in visiting Portugal was to collect a variety of interesting facts from personal observation, and to bring back reminiscences of the feelings, manners, and customs of its inhabitants, which might make the people of England better acquainted with the peculiar features of Portugal, than are even the inhabitants themselves. They are seldom known to make observations, and very unfrequently travel beyond the walls of their own quintas; and consequently can afford but scanty information to those inquiring few who venture to traverse their provinces. The traveller in Portugal is exposed frequently to danger, and always to considerable personal inconveniences which arise from the nature of the climate, and is generally left to hazard conjectures about matters of which in a country more advanced in civilization, and not so burdened by oppressive and unwise rule, he might naturally expect to meet on the spot with satisfactory explanations.

The history of Portugal appeared to form an important part of the illustration of this work. Reverting to the original state of Lusitania; its Phoenician and Carthaginian connection; its conquest by the Romans, and subsequent separation, together with the Iberian provinces, from the dismembered empire; its existence under the domination of the northern invaders of Europe, and temporary submission to the yoke of the Arabian power; its union with some of the northern provinces of Spain, and final declaration of independence under the Burgundian founder of the monarchy, continued through three dynasties of sovereigns; its maritime discoveries; its glorious conquest and expulsion of the Moors, and no less triumphant deliverance from the bloody thraldom of the Jesuits-would that it could be added from the tyranny also of a bigoted priesthood!--the author conceived that it would be desirable, as a point of illustration, to give early in the work a brief review of the history of Portugal. This perhaps may in the judgment of some persons appear to have been misplaced by being given in the second letter instead of in an appendix. Here, however, the author presumes to rest his defence upon intention, satisfied, should the information afforded on this head be deemed complete and satisfactory by his readers, without reference to its location in the work.