Title:  The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, No. 569 Volume XX., No. 569.  Saturday, October 6, 1832

Author:  Various

Release Date:  November 10, 2004 [EBook #14007]

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

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THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.

Volume XX., No. 569.] Saturday, October 6, 1832. [Price 2d.

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LISBON.

[Illustration:  Lisbon.]

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, was called by the ancients Ulyssippo, and the foundation is fabulously ascribed to Ulysses.  The situation is grand, on the north bank of the river Tagus, in lat. 38 deg. 42-1/3’ N., lon. 9 deg. 8-1/3’ W. The harbour, or rather road, of Lisbon, is one of the finest in the world; and the quays are at once convenient and beautiful.  On entering the river, and passing the forts of St. Julian and of Bugio, situated respectively at the extremities of the northern and southern shores, we obtain a view of Lisbon crowning the hills on the north bank, about three leagues distant above the mouth of the Tagus.  The quintas or villas scattered over the country, between the villages, become more numerous the further we advance; till, at length, on approaching Belem, an uninterrupted chain of edifices is seen extending along the margin of the noble river, to the remotest part of the ancient capital, being a distance of full six miles.  Opposite Belem Castle, and on the southern shore of the Tagus, is the small fort of Torre Velha.  These two forts, situated at the narrowest part of the river, guard the approach to the capital by sea; and all vessels arriving at its port have their papers examined at Belem Castle.  The salutes of ships of war are, in like manner, answered by its guns.  Proceeding onward, we pass the Convent of St. Geronymo, a splendid pile of Moorish architecture, “the picturesque appearance of the scene being heightened by groups of boats peculiar in their construction to the Tagus.”  From Belem we trace a range of buildings, connecting it with Alcantara and Buenos Ayres, and finally with the ancient city of Lisbon.  Alcantara is situated at the mouth of a narrow valley opening upon the Tagus.  Upon the brow of the hill, on the eastern side, is another of the royal residences, called the palace of Necessiades; and, stretching across the valley, about a mile above this point, is the far-famed aqueduct, which conveys the chief supply of water to the capital.  The new and populous quarter of Buenos Ayres (so called