Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-10-26

! Fran the en- z. Daily Advertiser.
OBSERVATIONS ON SPAIN AND PORTUGAL.
| The recent transactions in Europe render
it matter of curiosity to the American peo-
pie, to be furnished with an historical and
geographical synopsis Of those kingdoms
whose united energies are directed to one
common object, and in which we heartily
wish them success.
SPAIN, was first peopled by the Ceitae, a
warlike nation inhabiting the western parts
of ancient Gau,. Tie Phe2icians had cello
MES IN the southern provinces and first IN
troduced civilization into this country
They were followed by the Grecians, after
them the Carshagrnians and then by the2o-
mans who formed it into a province IS yeas
before the Christian era. For 4oOyears hey
possessed it, but on Constantine withdraw
ing his forces in order to support theRoman
power II. the east, it was conquered by the
Gorhs, the Vandals and other barbarous
nations, who divided it among themselves.
In short time however the Cloths united 1t
under their king Marick, who founded the
Spanish Monarchy. The Moors made ma
ny desperate attempts to overtuIn it, but the
ancient inhabitants of the soil prevailed, and
It has continued united for many centuries.
It Is divided into fourteen districts, some OF
which are called Kingdoms, and others pro-
vinces-and each is governed by a Junta Or
select number Of the nobility, clergy, &laity
who are empowered to levy taxes, and regu-
late all the concerns of their respective dis
n,icts. These are subject to the Cortes, or
.Gubr4 me 1mlta chosen also from the orders
s..l meet generally at CASTLE, to enact and
rive force to laws for the government of the
kingdom.
The population is estimated at present to
be about L. 100000. Count Aranna, gives
the census for 1877 and states that at that
period it contained only 100000 Inhabi
tants.
PORTUGAL is the ancient Lusitania, the
Cart,lagenians and Romans possessed it in
successIon-after the Vaadals and Suerci,
were driven from Spain, they conquered
the country and established monarchy.
The Spauiaris conquered this kingdom I'M
der Philip the Cd but it only continued unit
cd 70 the Spanish crown 60 yesrs-In 1910.
the people shook off the yoke and elected
the duke of Braganza for their king, under
the name Of John the 18th, in whose family
the crown remained until Napoleon put an
end to the dynasty, BY forcing the heir to
seek another kingdom Ia the Brazils. The
population is estimated at 100000 OF
souls. This peninsula, if | may so call it,
lvi2g Oh the west Of Europe is bounded ON
all sides by the Mediterranean Sea and At
lantic ocean, except on the northeast, where
# is separated from France by ridge Of
mountains called the Pyrennees, which
rocky and inhospi.able frontier extends
from The shores Of the Bay of Biscay, to
the Mediterranean, adistance OF 200 miles.
Over these mountains are only five narrow
passes into France-which 500 determined
soldiers could defend against all the efforts
of united Europe. They are the Thermopy-
j lac Of the country--and without forcing
! these. Spain can never be invaded by land.
The physical force united against France
| in these countries, we have already sheWn-
! Is Is, 100000 Of people-Of these, one tenth
I are capable to bear arms their supplies are
| certain, while England is their ally, and her
| navy rides triumphant on the ocean. Can
! we hesitate moment respecting their final
success, when we reflect on the holy cause
which ani,nates them to action, and the
/ mountainous face Of the country they lnfa-
BIT. If the ancient Swiss could maintain
their liberty with handful of intrepid pa,
triots against the whole German empire II
the Dutch with not one tenth part OF the
number of men to support their freedom