ARAUJO, D'AZEVEDO ANTONIO, afterwards count da Barca, was b. at Si, in the neighborhood of Foote de Lima, in Portugal, on the 14th of May, 1754. At the age of 11, lie was sent to Oporto to study under his uncle, who held a high military command there. In 1787 he was appointed Portuguese ambassador to the Hague. Before enter ing on his duties, he visited England, where he omitted no opportunity of obtaining a knowledge of English manufactures, commerce, politics, etc. Ile next proceeded to Paris, where he similarly employed himself. Soon after his arrival at the Hague, he found himself entangled in political difficulties. The French revolution had broken out, but the part which he played in the complication of political affairs which ensued falls to be treated more properly under the history of Portugal (q.v.).
At length he threw up his ambassadorship, and traveled through Germany, enlarging the sphere of his studies. He paid especial attention to mineralogy and chemistry, and was fortunate enough to become acquainted with Goethe, Wieland, Schiller, Herder, etc. After the peace of Amiens, A. was sent-as ambassador to St. Petersburg; in 1803 he was recalled to Lisbon, to assume the office of secretary of state; and in 1800 he obtained tho highest political dignity in the kingdom. His efforts to introduce the various agencies
of civilization, while he occupied this situation, were unremitting. Glass, paper, wool, and cotton manufactures received liberal encouragement. But the sudden approach of the French army put an end to all his improvements. The royal family, which Bona parte had formally dethroned in his victorious proclamation, emigrated to Brazil. A. embarked also, taking along with him a complete printing apparatus, his mineralogical collection, arranged by Werner, and all necessary chemical instruments. During the first years of his residence in the new world, he devoted himself assiduously to scientific and literary pursuits; founded a school of medicine and chemistry, introduced the culti vation of tea, an improved machine for sawing wood, and a sugar-alembic, and established a porcelain manufactory. He had also a magnificent garden, the plants of which were scientifically arranged. He died on the 21st June, 1817.
ARAB'Rt, a t. of Venezuela, South America. It is situated iu lat. 9' 17' n., long. 69' 28' w., GO m. e.n.e. of Trujillo, in a region noted for its fertility in the production of cotton, coffee, cattle, etc. The t. itself is rather handsome, and contains 10,000 inhabi tants.