AZORES, or Warrant/ LstAnna. These form range situate in the Atlantic Ocean, extend ing in an oblique line from north-west to south-east, between the 37th and 40th degrees of north latitude, and the 25th and 32d degrees of west longitude. It has been a subject of some controversy among geo graphers, to what quarter of the world they ought to be referred. Originally attached to Africa, they were afterwards, with evident impropriety, transferred to America, and are now more generally viewed as part of Europe ; though their connection and gene ral resemblance to the other African groups, rather incline us to adhere to the first Arrangement.
It does not appear that the ancients had any knowledge of the Azores, or of any group in this • sea, except the Canaries, to which they finally applied the celebrated appellation of the Fortunate Islands. But the Arabian geographers, Edrisi and Ibn al Var di, describe, after the Canaries, nine other Islands, situate in the Western Ocean. That these were the Azores is rendered highly probable, by considering, that their number is exactly nine ; and that mention is made by these writers of the abundance of a species of eagle or hawk, a circumstance which af terwards appeared to the Portuguese so remark able, that they derived the name of the Islands from it. The climate in which they are placed al so makes them north of the Canaries. Some other coincidences might be pointed out, did our limits permit; and, upon the whole, we see no reason to doubt, that the Azores are really the nine Islands enumerated by the Arabians ; though two of the number might probably be Madeira and Porto Santo, while the small Islands of Corvo and Flores might remain unnoticed. The Arabian writers re present them to have been populous, and to have contained cities of some magnitude ; but state, that the inhabitants had been greatly reduced by intestine warfare.
The first European discovery of this group is claimed by the Flemings. The Portuguese, eagerly bent upon pursuing their career of navigation along the coast of Africa, did not readily turn into any other direction. A Flemish merchant, called Van
der Berg, is reported, in sailing from Lisbon, to have been driven upon these shores. The intelligence soon reached the court of Lisbon, where it excited considerable interest. It is even said that Prince Henry went in person to examine the value of this new discovery. The Islands began, in 1459, to be planted and colonized ; and in so fertile a soil, the inhabitants rapidly multiplied. In 1466, Alphonzo V. is said to have granted them to his sister the Duchess of Burgundy ; though, in that case, they must have soon reverted to the Portuguese crown. In 1580, they fell, with the other Portuguese territories, un der the dominion of Spain. The Azores were at this time the grand rendezvous, in the voyage homewards, of the fleets, which came laden with the wealth of both the Indies. Hence they be came a theatre of that maritime warfare, which was carried on with such spirit by the English under Queen Elizabeth against the peninsular powers. In 1586, Sir Walter Ralegh equipped two pinnaces of 35 and 40 tons, the command of which he gave to Captain Whiddon. Having taken two or three prizes, they fell in, off - St Michael's, with the great fleet of Spanish galleons, consisting of twen ty-four sail, two of them camks of 1000 or 1200 tons. They attacked them, however, without he sitation, hoping to cut off some straggling mem ber of this great body. It will not surprise our readers, that they were unable to make any. im pression upon it; but they retired without loss. In 1587, Sir Francis Drake, after having swept the harbour of Cadiz, sailed for the Azores, where he took an East India carak, richly laden, and the first that had ever fallen into the hands of the English. In 1589, the Earl of Cumberland fitted out a squadron, sailed for the Azores, and made nu merous prizes.
Under the active administration of Pombal, con siderable exertions were made for the improvement of the Azores ; but the stupid and bigoted govern ment which followed, rather tended to destroy these benefits, and to make the Islands take a retrograde course.