LARY ATTRACTION, and HYDRODYNAMICS. COHESION OF TIMBER. See CARPENTRY. COHESION OF THE :METALS. See CHEMISTRY. COIMBRA, a city of some importance in Portugal, about 31 leagues from Lisbon. The situation of Coitrt bra is extremely delightful. The surrounding country, though mountainous, is fertile and highly cultivated. The mountains, covered with groves of pines and Ger man oaks, embosom rallies of exquisite beauty, where elegant quintas, and neat summer-houses, arc finely con trasted with the stately solemnity of the monastery ; and where brooks, flowing through luxuriant gardens, or gleaming amidst the shades of olive-trees, orange-trees, and the beautiful Portuguese cypress, give freshness and animation to the scene. From one of these rallies, through which the Mondcgo rolls his broad and winding stream, Coimbra rises along the declivity of a hill, bursting at once on the view of the traveller, in all the magnificence of spires, churches, and monasteries. Opposite to Coim bra, in the romantic valley of the Mondego, is the quinta das lagrimas, or garden of tears ; a spot "over which fancy delights to hover." The view is closed by the lofty mountains of Lousao on one side ; and on the other, by the mountain of Bussaco, whose solitary summit is adorned with a celebrated monastery of Carmelites, and its quinta with high shady cypresses.
On entering the town, however, the agreeable feelings and expectations which its situation and distant appear ance had excited, are suddenly exchanged for disappoint ment and disgust. It seems to have been built in me ditated defiance of all the rules of convenience and taste. Its streets are extremely narrow, crooked, full of angles, _ ill paved, and dirty ; and frequently so steep that they cannot be climbed without difficulty and toil. The only broad street is in that small part of the town which is situated on the plain ; but even that street, as it is deem ed unhealthy in summer, is the residence only of the poorer class of citizens. Here are no open spaces, or promenades, so necessary to the health and comfort of the inhabitants in that warm climate. The only resort of the citizens in their pleasure walks is to the great quin ta of the Augustines, a spot which all should visit who wish to see the Indian laurels from Goa growing in their greatest perfection. In addition to all these inconve niences, the inns are so bad, their apartments and beds so wretched, and the victuals so execrably dressed, as to give constant exercise to the Christian virtues of patience and self-denial.
Coimbra is a place of great antiquity, and had sustain ed many sieges before Count Henriquez took possession of Portugal. The ancient walls and towers still remain, and form the only defence of the city. Since the year
1419, it has been in a state of decline. Even yet, how ever, it contains more than 3000 houses, is divided into eight parishes, and has no less than eight monasteries and eighteen endowments. It is the sec of a bishop, who is always count of Arganuil ; and has its corregidor, its provcdor, and juiz de fora, or court of justice.
By far the most important object at Coimbra is the university, founded at Lisbon by Dun Diniz in 1291, but transferred hither .fter a period of sixteen years. It was again removed to Lisbon ; but in 1537 was a second time transferred by John III. to Coimbra, where it has since remained. This university is under the government of a rector nominated by the king. The office of rector, which is never conferred on a member of the university, is triennial ; and is generally held by a priest, who, after the term of his rectorship has expired, is either re-elect ed, or promoted to a bishop's see. Superior to the rec tor is the reformator ; but both these offices are fre quently united in one person. A concello dos decanos, consisting of the dean of faculty, two fiscals (the conser vador and ouvidor) and the secrttary, with the rector as president, has the supreme jurisdiction over the concerns of the university. The pecuniary and property transac tions of this rich establishment are managed by an auxi liary council of finance, (juncta de fazenda) consisting of a professor of theology, a professor of law, the professor of calculation, with a treasurer and clerk. The prior and chief of the Augustine canons regular at Coimbra is ex offi cio chancellor of the university. Ile is the principal super intendant in matters of learning, conferring the degrees at all promotions, and presiding at the examinations of students. In this university the degrees are very nume rous ; and, if the division of labour be sufficient to en sure excellence, the professors of Coimbra ought to be particularly eminent. The field of study is here divided into six departments, theology, canon law, jurisprudence, medicine, mathematics, and philosophy. In the first de partment there arc eight chairs ; in the second, nine ; in the third, eight ; in the fourth, six ; in the fifth, four ; and four in the sixth. In the department of philosophy, neither logic nor metaphysics hare obtained a place ; the four chairs being occupied by a professor of zoology and mineralogy, a professor of experimental philosophy, a professor of chemistry, and a professor of botany and economy. Of all the sciences purely philosophical, the law of nature alone is taught by a professor canonum.