:

A VIEW OF THE ANCIENT AND MODERN STATE OF EUROPE;
OF THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR COLONIES; AND OF THE COMMERCE, SHIPPING,
MANUFACTURES, FISHERIES, &c.

THE MODERN POLITICO-COMMERCIAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE SEVERAL COUNTRIES OF EUROPE.
CAREFULLY REVISED, CORRECTED, AND CONTINUED TO THE PRESENT TIME.
IN FOUR VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

LONDON:

PRINTED AT THE Logographic Press, BY J. WALTER, PRINTING-HOUSE SQUARE, BLACKFRIARS,

AND SOLD BY

J. ROBSON AND W. CLARKE, T. PAYNE AND SONS, B. WHITE AND SON, L. DAVIS, B. LAW, R. BALDWIN,
T. BECKET, P. ELMSLY, W. OTRIDGE, J. JOHNSON, C. DILLY, W. RICHARDSON, W. FLEXNEY, W. GOLDSMITH,
J. BEW, T. EVANS, G. AND T. WILKIE, T. WHIELDON, W. LOWNDES, J. DEBRETT, T. HOOKHAM, SCATCHARD
AND WHITAKER: ALSO BY L. WHITE, DUBLIN; ELLIOT AND GORDON, EDINBURGH; AND DUNLOP AND
WILSON, GLASGOW.

MDCCLXXXVII

THE CHARACTER OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.

1501 THIS Century abounds with interefting revolutions and material alterations almoft over all Christendom. The acceffion of the vaft dominions of Spain to the Houfe of Auftria by a marriage, was fuch a conjunction as feemed greatly to endanger the equilibrium of Europe for the greatest part of this century, and had a confiderable influence on commerce.

Whilst Portugal pursued her commerce and rapid conquefts in Eaft India, fo that the city of Lisbon foon became (what the now declining city of Venice had been for many centuries

paft)