He early devoted himself to the interests of his adopted country, and a laborious survey of the Douro, with a view to the improvement of its navigation, was one of the principal occupations of the first twelve years of his residence.

The result was the publication in 1848 of a remarkable map of the Douro river from Vilvestre, on the Spanish frontier, to its mouth at St. João da Foz (Oporto), on a scale of 4½ inches to the Portuguese league.

[1] Its merit was universally recognized, commendatory resolutions were voted by the Municipal Chamber of Oporto, the Agricultural Society of the Douro, and other public bodies, while its adoption as a national work by the Portuguese government gave it the stamp of official approbation.

This was the first step in his endeavors to obtain a reform of the abuses practiced in Portugal in the making and treatment of port wine, and the remodeling of the peculiar legislation by which the trade was regulated.

[4][5] The prize of fifty Guineas offered by Benjamin Oliveira, MP, for the best essay on Portugal and its commercial capabilities was awarded in 1853 to Joseph James Forrester for an admirable treatise, which went through several editions and is still a standard work.

[6] In 1852 he gave valuable evidence before the select committee of the House of Commons on the wine duties, detailing at greater length all the abuses summarized in his pamphlet.

The ships in Lisbon and Oporto hoisted their colours half-mast high on receipt of the news, and all public buildings showed similar signs of mourning.

An interesting sketch of his home in Oporto is contained in ‘Les Arts en Portugal,’ by Count Raczynski, who records a visit paid to him in August 1844.