Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-02-17
= dollars pei aan,iin.

-, .eNiousiy4 70 snlS marriage The power
OF .ne kings OF Spain was very much eircuu,
aciinea: In MISCONCEPTIONS agains the IMoors.
the Christian princes were compelled to re-
ward their mobiles with portions of ,he con.
Guersd territory, which gave 10 ti.eht a de-.
gree OF srlendor and importance nearly e.
oval to that OF the princes themselves: this
NATURALLY made them bold & independent &c
whist, pnthe one hand, the nobility overaw-
Ell the monarch, the influence. of the Cities
ned nm IN check on the other, so that he was
reduced almost to a cypher. The powers Sor
the King were greater or less in different
provinces, according to the different consti-
buttons OF the Cortes or parliament. In gen
eral, however, the executive part of the 60
vcrnmcnt was committed to the king, witha
iinted prerogative: the legislative arthori-
ty resided in tie cortes, which. Was sornpos-
ed OF the mobility, the digni6ed eee!esiastics,
ana the representatives of the cities. The
members CT the three different orders who
,hada right of suffrage met in one place, and
deiiSsrated az one collective body, the de-
clssions of which were regulated BIZ the SEN
timents of the majority. The right 'ofimpos-
ing taxes, OF enacting laws, amyi Of redress
ing grievances, belonged to this assefnbiy;
and IN orderto secure the assent of the kine
10 such statutes and regulations as were
deemed salutary or beneficial to the king
dom, it was usual in the cortes to take no
step towards granting money until ali bust
ness relative to the public Welfare was con-
ciuded. The deputies from the cities in these
bodies were persons of great consideration,
and scarcely inferior to the nobility in their
POLITICAL influence. Ferdinand laid the foln-
dahon Tor the advancement of the roval au-
thority and the subversicn of the liberties of
opa'n, by introducing greater splendor into
ms court, bylnstituting new orders of knight
hood, by employing men of abilities, who
were not mobiles in public affairs, and by
countenancing various establishments of n
political nature, the principal one of which
vas the Society Of he Holy ,Brotheriood.
ms association, administering Justice in the
name OF the king, curtailed the powers of
the seiSnoral jurisdiction Of the great Span
ish lords, and added immensely to the royal
authority. One efficient member of the cortes
being enfecbled, Entertainments were con
tinued by degrees, until Charles V. finally
destroyed the ancient constitution of that res
pectable assembly, and rendered it too wea,,
10 assert with energy the rights of the ma
ton Adherlng, nevertheless, in form, 10
their Old customs, the'nobility maintaining
the ceremonies, without the virtues oftheir
ancestors and the whole nation mantling it,
sell IN the eioke ct superstition, the Span
|
little worthy OF their former fame.
Spain has many colonies. In Africa, Ceu-
ia, Gran, &c. In Asia, the Philippines, and
otier islands. In North-America, Cuba.
forto-Ri Mexico, &c; and in South Amer
ica, .Peip, and all the known parts Of the
Continent, except Guiana and Brazil. Tho
existing invasion of Spain by the French. the
distractions which that invasion has .occa-
stoned, and the im5ecility with which The
cause OF Spanish independence has been
managed In old Spain, have all combined to
inspire the Spanish American colonists with
a resolution to escape from the pressure Of
Tue cehohiai system, to separate themselves
from tne parent state, and to proclaim
themselves independent and free. This re-
volution is now in state of progression and
naturally attracts our attention TO the led
ing points in the history of Spanish America.
The late royal family of Spain, who were
stolen from Madrid by the emperor Napo-
leon, are still prisoners in Frrnce. The BON.
uiatlon OF spain in 1908 was 100000 of
souls.
PORTUGAL.
Portugal, to which most of the obse.va.
tons relative TO Spain will literally applv.
fronts opan N almost its. whole length, H
is separated from it by high mountains ,v
s!errile plains, and still more by constant
rivalry, ana an Interminable jealousy which
Ia. I'D. animated these two neighborng nations.
ne portuguese and the Spaniards have a
common origin, and hence there elsie nc
tween them great Similitude of LANGUAGE
OF manners, of habits, of laws. and povern,
ment This resemblance, nevertheless has
been productive of nothing but evil; of nro-
longed qunrrels, of reciprocal claims Of nu-
tual mVasions, OF successes and reverscs. of
tears and dangers, which, for lone Der;o1
nave Created between the two people an en-.
mity that time has made habituaI. ana which
policy has formed into system. Ever Stree
the establishment of the balance of mower in
Europe, Portugal has been found arraved
against spain IL is only now, that, ENGAGED
IN common cause with Spain against
france, her arms are united with thSse &c
we opanaros. have already said that ev-
ely na,lon mas ITS moment Of glory add celeb
I,V uiae Oh rortugai was under Emanuel
me IIl'. NIreat' wien Nasco di Gamasopered 20
Europe the route by sea to India, and 70 80
countrymen the path to inrlortSl rs,o,,,,,.
Albuquerque elevated Portugal to a Nor
degree OF sp'eHdor, whilst Camosns sn6e.
her praises for posterity.
mere are six provinces in Portn1a1.
Entre-Douro and Minbo, Tralns uo1tcs
bera, Estramaduras Alenteio, and .Alsarvs
vi these, Entire pOuro and Aiihho and IRA
ios-montes were the primitive domain. CIV
en- IN dowry to Henry OF Bursundy.hy AL
phonso VI king Of CASTLE, about thc vea,.
iCYO: Beira and Estre madura were coDo,.sr.
ca chiefly by .Alphonso Henriquez3 and A.
len,eJ2 ana Aigaiya were conquered princi-
Pally by Sancho !. and Alphonso III The
ar OF Fortugai IS considered more temperate
..laa ''at OF 9paia on account Of its proxini-
~ to the sea. It's productions are olive
vines, oranges, lemons. almonds, fes and
raisins. There are miles Of iron, tin. LEAD