loupe, of teaching the children to make known their wants in the first two or three weeks, in consequence of which they are not only kept always clean, but likewise acquire ideas in imitating their nurses, when about to ease the necessities of nature. Brushing the spine with a soft brush, and rubbing behind the ears, are equally recommended as essential to cleanliness. Among a great many other directions for keeping infants clean, and for the management of children, he insists with considerable energy, on the gross impropriety of kissing children, or suffering them to be kissed. In this advice we fully concur, and would seriously recommend it to the attention of every class of people, never, on any account, to suffer such a vulgar and injurious practice to be used with children. We also agree with Dr. Sacombe, in forbidding nurses to sleep with children-but for reasons very different from those he assigns, which are visionary and superstitious.-The true physical cause is merely the atmosphere of azote, which encompasses all animal bodies, and which consequently must be highly injurious to the weak lungs of infants, when brought into contact with bodies so much larger than their own, and of course having an atmosphere in proportion.

Brief, however, as this Treatise is, it is not without some of the leaven of French abominations; and the example of King David, lying between two young women to recruit his prostrate strength, with the practice of the physician Capiraccius, are gravely recommended as the surest and speediest means of communicating genial warmth and vigour to an old emaciated frame. Did our MedecinAccoucheur wish to send his patients to that "bourne whence no traveller returns," he could not have prescribed a more prompt and effectual means than that which he has here advised. There is, indeed, in the very proposal, something so revolting, so contrary to every sentiment of common decency, and so preposterous in this disposition of hoary-headed debility, that such an idea could originate only in the mind of a Frenchman; and is an additional proof, were any now wanting, of the general turpitude and national depravity that pervade every description of people in France. Another story is told, not less horrible, of a boy under eight years of age, reduced to a marasmus by masturbation, and who was restored to health and vigour by our author, through, the magical influence of an amiable young bedfellow, as directed above. Such details are as loathsome as they are contemptible. It is true, there are two infamous modern books in this country, a "Guide to Health," and a "Guide to Old Age," the authors of which should have been long since called before a tribunal of justice; but the works of Sacombe surpass those of the Jews, at least in extent, as he is the author of nine or ten volumes on medicine, and the editor of a monthly publication on midwifery.

Voyage en Portugal, &c.

Travels in Portugal, by Count de Hoffmansegg, edited by M. Link, bel ing a Supplement to his former Travels in that Country. 8vo. PP. 337. Paris, 1805. Imported by Deboffe.

COUNT de Hoffmansegg has botanised over the kingdom of Portugal, with a minuteness that excites more admiration at the labouriousness of the man, than the greatness of the philosopher. He has frequently traversed the same route six times, in all of which he made minutes of the most trifling circumstance in his journal. From that journal Professor Link has gleaned the principal parts of the contents of this volume, which is only designed as corrections and additions to his former work. Unfortunately, however, the Professor is no less verbose than his friend is laborious; and these corrections and addi tions, which might have been incorporated in a new edition of his Travels, by means of translated extracts from Portuguese writers, and numberless repetitions, and puerile observations, now occupy another middle-sized volume. It is true, the author has divided it into chapters, each of which bears the title of a Portuguese province; but it is not thence to be inferred, that each contains a description of that province on the contrary, if we take from it the names of the towns, and the chains of mountains, which the author has taken much care to mention, we shall have only some indefinite, unmeaning sentences, and topographical phrases, equally applicable to all countries and climates. Professor Link, with that petitesse d'esprit, which chaLacterizes, too many of our modern botanists, has busied himself about the orthography of proper names of persons and places, and left unnoticed, or forgotten, the principal and peculiar features of the different provinces of this interesting kingdom. His paintings occasionally exhibit some lively colours; but his outlines, however they may exist in his own imagination, are almost wholly imperceptible to his readers. They who have visited Portugal may, perhaps, comprehend his meaning, though it is almost impossible to trace any likeness to the original, especially in his topographical delineations, which have not even the merit of being correct itineraries; but the library travellers, whose excursions are limited to the pages of a modern volume, will in vain look for any precise information relative to the actual state of agriculture, nature of the soil, cultivation of its fruits, mode of life of the inhabitants, and state of society in the different provinces of Portugal, mentioned in these Supplementary Travels.We shall, however, notice whatever is new, or in any ways useful in the volume before us.

- M. Link commences with the province of Traz os Montes, and notices the distance and the road between Montealegre, Chaves, the Serra de Gerez (a chain of mountains which divides this province from Entre Douro e Minho), the Alturas de Barrozo, Braganza, Villareal, Torre de Moncorvo, and Miranda. The following are the APP. VOL. XXV.

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most interesting particulars in agriculture which the author g es in this volume. Speaking of the rich and fertile valley, called Campo de Villariga, he observeş :

"This plain is celebrated for the mildness of its climate, and the rich. ness of its soil; it resembles that at Chaves, but is longer, narrower, and less cold. It is bounded on the east by the Serra de Estevaes, and is watered by the Sabor, which in winter is frequently subject to floods that inundate the plain. A rivulet, called Ribeirode Villarica, meanders across it. The soil is argillaceous, intermixed with lime and sand; but it is not manured, as is customary in the neighbourhood. The fields are first tilled in the month of November, and afterwards in the month of May ; the latter is called estravessar in this province. The wheat is sown from the end of September to the beginning of November, and is reaped in May. The grain is thrashed, or trod out by oxen. Besides the corn, of which 30,000 alqueiras are annually produced, hemp is also cultivated in the places overflowed by the Sabor. It is estimated that this plain yields every year from 220 to 264,000 [lbs.] of hemp. The land proper for this purpose is at first ploughed and harrowed in the spring; about a fortnight after the same operation is repeated, and the hemp immedi. ately sown. It remains usually 100 days in the ground, after which it is cut and collected in heaps (molhos), where it remains during eight days, and is then bound in small sheaves (estrigas), and steeped in water, &c, From 12 to 15,000 alqueiras of Indian corn are also produced every year, and it is calculated that one alqueir of seed yields 300 of grain. Be. sides 5 or 6,000 alqueiras of pulse, excellent melons are raised, and the water-melons are esteemed the best in the kingdom. The land is three times tilled, and afterwards sown. It is wed, and as soon as the stalks have five or six leaves, the soil is loosened with the harrow, which is re peated some time after.

This valley, as well as all. the country, is exposed to frequens storms, which occasion the greater ravages, that they are accompanied with hail and hurricanes, which tear up trees, and overthrow houses. In general, the storms in the elevated countries, between the 40th and 45th degree of north latitude, are extremely violent, especially in suminer. In the plains they are more rare, and only become impetuous at the epoch of the equinoxes. In summer, during the night, a very cold fog falls, which, after the great heat of the day, occasions many dis eases, especially fevers that appear endemic in this country. The Campe de Villarica is divided among several proprietors, who, at an exorbitant price, let their lands in portions, called courellas. The inundations of the river prevent every kind of enclosures, or divisions of property, which is a source of endless contentions and law suits."

In this extract, which is certainly not one of the Professor's least happy attempts at description, we have details of the gross products of a district every year, but no means of ascertaining what is the extent or population of that district. Such is the accuracy of these corrections to his former statements. We can state, however, for the information of our readers, that the above valley is about three leagues Yong, and not one and a half broad (many places much less), and very

thinly inhabited by very poor people. In describing Chaves, M. Link has a similar omission, though of an opposite kind. The "district of Chaves," he remarks, "occupies 28 square leagues, contains 196 villages, 7,078 families, and 33,800 souls, which amounts to 1,207 persons to each square league. The city of Chaves contains 680 houses, and 3,650 persons. Two fifths of the district are covered with chesnut and other trees; one-fifth is waste lands, and twofifths are cultivated. Rye, Indian corn, wheat, potatoes, flax, wool and wax, are the products of this district." But here the Professor, has forgotten to give the gross amount of the annual products of these different articles, of course his readers can form no idea of the fertility of the soil. If only one-fifth be waste lands, and the remainder either cultivated, or bearing chesnuts, which are equally useful as food, a population of 1,207 individuals to each square league is not extraordinary.

It appears, that the only iron mine in Portugal is near the Torre de Moncorvo, which yields from 30 to 40 per cent. and at which a forge has been established these twenty years, and has now attained considerable perfection. Lead mines are also found in the vicinity of Mogadouro. In the environs of Braganza our botanists found a plant which Tournefort supposed to be peculiar to Portugal, the clymus caput Medusa, and also the rhinanthus crista galli, spirea ulmaria, caltha palustris, and the alopercus pratensis, "all of which indicate the great elevation of this province, which contains vegetables peculiar to it, and which have not yet been described." At Freixo our author, who seeks every occasion of praising the Portuguese, at the expence of the Spaniards, is obliged to acknowledge, that the Spanish borders appear covered with a forest of olive-trees, whilst that of Portugal is barren. "Thus I have already oftentimes observed," says he, "that agriculture and industry are in general much more advanced in Spain than in Portugal. I am convinced of it, but I cannot determine the cause.” We shall enable the Professor to discover this secret before we pass over this volume.

The preceding sketch is all that M. Link and the Count de Hoffmansegg have communicated on the province of Traz os Montes, which was not noticed in the author's former travels. The 2d chapter is additions and corrections to his first description of the province Entre Douro e Minho, in which he makes an apology for his general abuse of the English, by mentioning the hospitality of a Mr. William Nassau, and alledges that several travellers, principally English (among whom he excepts Murphy), have indulged in insulting remarks on the Portuguese. This accusation against Englishmen is made, not because the author believes their opinions erroneous or false, but because it is the easiest means of flattering the Portuguese. His praises of the amiable villagers of Villarinha do Furno, at the foot of the Serra Amarella, are too much in the style of Kotzebue to merit attention. M. Link also notices his discovery of the wild goat of Portugal being the same as that described by Gmelin, the Capra Egagrus,

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Egagrus, found on the Mountains of Persia near the borders of the Caspian sea. Speaking of a journey over the Serra de Marao, in the latter end of February, in cold foggy weather, accompanied with rain and a south-east wind, the following observations occur:

"The valley of the Upper Douro bears a similar character to the Country of Castile; the heat is excessive in summer, but it is cold and disagreeable in winter. The Wine Company of the Upper Douro also augment the difficulties which travellers experience, in forcing the sale of a detestable beverage, composed of different corrupt substances, which they qualify with the name of wine! That of a superior quality is sent abroad; but as it possesses the exclusive commerce of wine in those countries, and at the town of Porto, it can oblige the inhabitants to drink bad wine.It is not extraordinary, indeed, that this Company was at first opposed, and that it could only be established but by violence."

This "detestable beverage," which M. Link justly denominates, is chiefly composed of a decoction of logwood, water, and Brazil rum. This composition is afterwards mixed with real wine, and in that state is exported. It is not a hasty calculation to say, that logwood water, or a spirituous extract of logwood and Brazil rum, constitute from two-thirds to three-fourths of all the Port wine imported into Great Britain. This infamous abuse, indeed, has now become so gross, that in a few years more, like most other vices, it will destroy itself. In conjunction with other circumstances, it has already given existence to an increasing manufacture of domestic wines; and sound policy, as well as the public health, seem to sanction the purchase of raisins, and the consumption of our own sugars and rum, in preference to paying the Portuguese exorbitant prices for their logwood and nauseous spirits.

"The city of Guimaraens, the first residence of the Kings of Portu. gal," observes our author, "is situated in a fertile plain, variegated with trees. The houses are well built, furnished with windows (a thing not common in Portugal and Spain in small towns), and plaistered; the streets are large and cleaner than in most of the other towns. The city is divided into the Old and New Town, the former of which is built in the figure of an amphitheatre. In the vicinity of Guimaraens arè several warm baths, which are held in great estimation. The waters of these baths have a sulphureous taste, are at the temperature of near 40° of Reaumur, and spring from a bed of granite. Some vestiges of Roman baths have been discovered here, and a Mosaic pavement."

After comparing the delightful valleys in the Minho to the vale of Tempe, our traveller commences his Additions to the Province of Beira, in which he corrects his former statement of the use of marine salt in the manufacture of coarse earthen-ware in Portugal. No such thing is used in that country; and, we can add, that it is equally unknown in Spain. Of the character of the Nuns, the Professor gives the following anecdote:

" An