180 PROSPECTS OF PORTUGAL. 



approach more to a narrative of personal adventures, than to the dig- 

 nity of an historical work. They are, nevertheless, most valuable, 

 for they enable us, in some degree, to predict the future ordeal through 

 which Portugal has yet to pass, and convince us how few men of 

 sound practical views are to be found in the ranks of the Portuguese 

 liberals, and of the general unfitness of the nation at large for the 

 institutions of freedom. In the year 1820, when the constitutional 

 system, by a servile imitation of the political march of Spain, rather 

 than from any chastened love of freedom of their own, was proclaimed 

 in Portugal, it must be in the recollection of every one acquainted with 

 the affairs of that country, that the Cortes actually spent three days in 

 debating on what should be the colour of the national cockade. This 

 same frivolous spirit was remarkably displayed by the advisers of 

 Don Pedro in the very first stage of the expedition. " It is curious/' 

 says Colonel Hodges, " to here observe how much the cavilling and 

 trifling spirit of the Portuguese shewed itself in the rebaptism of the 

 two frigates, at a moment when it is to be presumed that more 

 weighty matters were at least sharing their attentions; three councils 

 were held in Paris to decide on this momentous question. It was 

 proposed by the more liberal of the debaters that the flag-ship should 

 be christened the Constitution, and that the Asia should bear her 

 present name, the Donna Maria Segunda. In reference to the for- 

 mer, however, the juste milieu party were emphatic in supporting the 

 appelation of Rainha de Portugal, which was not thought to be of so 

 compromising a character." 



Totally destitute of what the French call "force du caractere" 

 after all perhaps the most indispensible quality in a prince, possess- 

 ing naturally a strong understanding, but undeveloped by education, 

 and spoiled by flattery vain and unforgiving, wayward in disposi- 

 tion, inconstant and feeble in his friendships, despotic by nature, 

 though a liberal " par ton " in fact, equally open to good and evil, 

 according to the care taken to direct him in the way of either ; such 

 were the qualities which hurled Don Pedro from the throne of the 

 Brazils, with the same rapidity that he had ascended it, and such 

 were the qualities that totally unfitted him for an enterprise like that 

 in which he is now engaged. What can be more conclusive on the 

 point than the composition of his household as described by our 

 author ? 



" Don Pedro's household at this time consisted entirely of those indi- 

 viduals who had accompanied him in his emigration from the Brazils, and 

 who were Brazilians either by birth or naturalization. The most influential 

 person left with the Empress and the youthful Queen was the Marquis of 

 Rezende, a junior member, as before observed, of the house of Penalva. 

 This nobleman is nearly as little connected with Portugal, by personal 

 knowledge of its habits and wants, as Don Pedro himself. The Marquis, 

 whom I have stated to have been the especial patron of Xavier, seems to have 

 entertained a lively sense of the advantage which his own interest with the 

 Emperor might derive from the services of that crafty satellite, who would 

 serve to keep alive in the royal mind a continued favourable recollection of 

 Brazilian followers, to the exclusion of other persons of real worth, talent, 

 and devotion to Donna Maria's cause, but of no South American derivation 

 or connection. 



