New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-04-19

neopled. the general aspect Of the country is solitary
YOU pass leagues without seeing house, sign OF hui
man habtaton The population is concentrated in vii
lagos The valleys along the yersare cultivated to their
utmost capacity and the rest of the land is fed by goats
and sheep, cropped OF its ferns for manure for the
river bottoms.
One of the first things that strikes an American here
is the stationary character Of thepeope The inhabitants
of Lisbon rarely leave it mutudes of them have
been 10 Clnra only five leagues Off and OF the most
beautiful scenes in the world, or even across the Ia
GUS 10 the nights of Amada celebrated for its magn-
cent water prospect Very few have been fifty miles in
any direction, and TO the cOuntryman Lisbon is far of
wonder, which he more thinks of visiting thanwe think
of going Jerusalem There is, in fact, little cOmmu
ncatOn in the country.
Another feature of the social state here, entirely
like our own, is that the soil is owned mainly by the
nobility who reside for the most OF the year, or entirely
in the city, and cultivate their estates by agents To
these estates attached vast numbers OF servants and
dependents who health and strength perform the
labor of the country and in sickness and old age, live
upon their masters bounty In such climate their
wants are few Very little shelter and clothing are re-
quired and nobody tarye where bread Is good and
plenty and fresh fruits always blushng on the vine
and the loaded branches of the trees by the side aud
along every streamlet | never saw beggar in the
country except on the road to Cntra. In the towns
they are frequent and the iberaty with whitehall classes
of the Portuguese meet their incessant demand IS an
to human nature. How CamOens could have starved
bonr 10 death in Lisbon is more than can conceive.
proud spirit might dsdain to beg, but beggar Is never
denied here and the charities of this country are eXem-
plary.
have only room TO mention one thing more that may
interest yOu in the condition of the country and that
is the distinction between the Government and the People
The Government is chiefly Lisbon and OpOrto These
cities comprise perhaps four hundred Thousand OF the
three and half millions of the population OF Portugal
And vet as far able TO learn, the Government acts
and acted upon, mainly in these cities. The Govern
IL rho npODlp by There
is vast wealth in Lisbon and abundance all over the
country The Government sndergoes revolution; and
the people are very little affected by it; most OF them
little interested in it, 1t has not connected itself with
them by any great system of domestic policy and no
strong ties are violated when set of goes out of
power and another comesn. Being benefited vital
agency of the public authorities unfolding the resources
and stimulating the enterprise of the people, the people
pouring contributions, or unconscious
supplies, into the public treasury.
The present Government appears to me to have the
requisite character for benefcent authority. 1t is I'M
selfish patriotic and bold 1t does hesitate 10 incur
reproach home and abroad by doing its duty to the
country. II it cannot pay the public CREDITOR It does
not delude him with false hopes. 1t comes out, and
confesses its inability 1t is at work, with honest
zeal in the improvement of the tariff in the construction
of roads and in the economical administration Of the Gov
eminent. But it has great work upon its hands Be
fore the true idea of Government Is realized here,
great deal must be done. take Government, like Art
and Letters be properly expression OF the spirit
OF people. They are all and equally in their perfect
On the forms which society naturally takes in the effort
develop the living principle OF social existence.
They not put upon people; they cannot be intro
duced from abroad They UncOnsciOusy assumed in
the progress of national life
What Government has to do is chiefly to assist the
natural action of the rational intelligence and national
instincts. 1t has to remove obstacles TO exhibit mo-
tives, TO provide facilities. Individual enterprise and
good and love of order and happiness must do
the rest.