Las buenas letras, las ciencias, las artes tuvieron sus epocas florecientes hasta llegar al sumo grado de perfeccion que ha podido conocerse. Despues padecieron el trastorno general que es bien notorio. Desde su restauracion, nacida de aquellas cenizas que se conservaron, han tenido tambien sus respectivas epocas de auge y declinacion. Han viajado por los paises mas cultos, dejando en ellos mas o menos impresion, a proporcion de las vicisitudes de los mismos estados en que han ido haciendo sus mansiones. La Italia, y seguidamente la Espana, fueron los paises en donde se hospedaron primero, despues pasaron a Flandes, y a Francia, luego se extendieron a Inglaterra, Alemania, &c. La situacion de la Francia en el centro de la mejor parte de Europa, las felices circunstancias con que se engrandecio su monarquia, y que han extendido su correcto idioma, son la causa de que de un siglo a esta parte, por una especie de tacito convenio, casi universal, sea Paris el asiento en que, al modo de decir se han fijado. Es la oficina de donde salen los elaborados trabajos que en general sirven de reclamo y de modelo a las demas naciones;salvo el merito de cada una, y su derecho a sus inventos y adelantamientos particulares.

This handbook provides a comprehensive, state-of-the-art overview of urban water governance. Of the many growing challenges presented by rapid urbanization, water governance is a critical one and while urban water governance is now regarded as a critical field of research, the literature is fragmented. For the first time, this handbook brings together urban water governance research, containing interdisciplinary contributions from established and emerging scholars, practitioners, and policymakers. It addresses the key questions of how urban water governance works, how is it shaped, and what the impacts are. The handbook's structure offers a progressive entry into the complexity of urban water governance. Starting with technical dimensions, the handbook addresses supply and demand, wastewater, and sanitation. It then considers regulation and economic factors, examining water utilities and services. Political processes, and the actors involved, are addressed and the handbook finishes with a part focusing on governance and sustainability, where chapters address critically important topics such as access to water, water safety, and water security. This handbook is essential reading for students, scholars, and professionals interested in urban water governance, urban studies, and water resource management and sustainability more broadly.

This book deals with ethnicity and immigration in literature, namely the Portuguese and their contributions to American society, economy, culture, and literature. Portuguese American literature written in English by American writers of Portuguese descent has come of age recently with the critically acclaimed writers Frank Gaspar and Katherine Vaz. This study includes a full length analysis of works by Thomas Braga, Julian Silva, Alfred Lewis, Charles Felix and other voices. It attempts to explore America's understanding of its ethnic minorities, ethnic pride and the celebration of one's roots.