ing that many cables were extended for this purpose, several vessels broke adrift, or loose from their fastenings, and were hurried on shore. It was distressing to see the floating bodies of several mariners car. ried along by the irresistible torrent, without being able to stretch out to them the helping hand. Providentially its violence. did not continue long, and we were soon rejoiced to hear that several ships whom we had given oyer for lost, were safe. The inhabitants near the quay, at those seasons, sometimes pass from house to house by means of small flat-bottomed boats.

Several of the churches here are stately and splendid buildings, and the country round Oporto is very pleasant; fish is abundant, and all the necessaries of life may be had at a reasonable rate. The inhabitants are comparatively industrious, and the higher ranks appear less supercilious and vain than in the metropolis. Their wines are excellent and cheap, yet they are not addicted to intoxication; indeed tem

perance is a prominent quality in the generality of the Portuguese; a few grapes, with other fruit, bread, and a moderate quantity of small wine, which was sold at sixpence and eight-pence the gallon, afforded a good dinner to a whole family; sometimes they have in addition a little fish, but very rarely animal food, and when obtained, a less quantity than would serve a native of Britain will amply suffice, with vegetables and fruit, a family of four or six persons; in this respect they are worthy of imitation by many of our countrymen, who make it their study to pamper this appetite.

The author was witness to several of their superstitious processions, during one of which he was brought into the dilemma of either making his own obedience to the Host, or of having his hat taken off for him, which was suddenly and rather rough. ly done, and he felt thankful when the whole had passed him without farther molestation. At another, the levity of the

spectators was not less remarkable than the solemnity of those who composed the procession. The principal streets of the city were cleaned and sanded. The fronts of the houses hung with tapestry, &c. The windows and balconies were filled principally with females, whose head-dresses seemed to exhibit the plumage of the ostrich, peacock, and tropic bird. The writer remarked many of the ladies, at the same time, emulous to outvie each other, and solicitous to pay respect to the spectacle.

Their chief exports are wine and fruit, and both in a peculiar degree of excellence and abundance, are the produce of Oporto and the neighbouring country. The wine called Port, takes its name from hence, and a person who is in the habit of drinking it genuine, can immediately detect the gross impositions practised in most countries on the credulous stranger; who too often, under the name of Port, real Port, genuine Port, &c. swallows a variety of

E

those malignant ingredients, which often produce diseases, especially of the nervous kind.

The air as at Lisbon is salubrious. The soil at Oporto, and for several leagues on the coast, is perhaps the most fertile in the kingdom. The view of the river and its vicinity, on the coast, present one of the finest prospects; and though but a few degrees nearer the equator than Britain, the language of the poet on another country, still farther south, may be adopted with propriety to this one.

"Here sea-born gales their gelid wings expand,
"To winnow fragrance round the smiling land;
"Whatever sweets salute the northern sky
"With vernal leaves, that blossom but to die;
"These here disporting, own their kindred soil,
"Nor ask luxuriance from the planter's toil."

GOLDSMITH.

Our departures and visits to this coast were frequent, and during the several months of our visiting it, we had the satisfaction of enjoying much fine weather, of

rendering assistance to commerce, and were gratified with pleasing views; but before our final departure, had to experience shipwreck.

The night on which it happened was dark, the swell high, and all but the watch were gone to repose, and, confident of security, most of them in a sound sleep. At ten o'clock a violent concussion was feltall were soon awake, and the cry "the ship has struck," was instantly felt by every heart. The lead was thrown overboard, and it was soon discovered that our situation was still more perilous than we at first imagined, by finding the ship had grounded on a bank at a distance from land. While the pumps were clear, and the tide rising, hopes were entertained of its bearing her over the sand into deep water. The masts and yards were brought as low as possible, to ease the violence of her beating; but alas! soon the doleful tidings were secretly communicated, that the ship had sprung a leak; and presently after, that the pumps were choaked. It was now perceived that the violence of the concussions had