1831.] Anecdotes of Brazil. 135 



his guards, the constitution ; and gave another, infinitely better adapted 

 to the previous habits and imperfect political education of his people. 

 Although the minds of the Brazilian people can scarcely be said to have 

 been prepared for the change, still a great step nas been gained : the 

 seeds of genuine freedom have been deeply implanted in the soil, and 

 will, at the proper season, shoot up in luxuriant health and vigour. The 

 dignity of man is no longer insulted by the degrading despotism of the 

 old court. The conduct of Don Pedro beautifully contrasts with that 

 of his late mother, and his brother Miguel, whose arbitrary exaction of 

 the most servile deference was carried to an excess scarcely credible to 

 one accustomed to the free institutions of our own country. 



The earliest dawn of Miguel's career gave indication of the fiery 

 wrath which has since marked its meridian height. While yet a child, 

 he was remarkable for his tyrannical and cruel disposition : his chief 

 delight consisted in tormenting animals, or in transfixing the baratos 

 (cockroaches) with pins, and contemplating with savage joy their excru- 

 ciating torture. No people, I am aware, are more skilful in heaping 

 opprobrium on a man than the Brazilians ; but the following anecdote, 

 which I had from a source to which I am inclined, on most occasions, 

 to give implicit credence, displays a cold-blooded depravity of mind and 

 singleness of purpose perfectly characteristic of the individual. 



Miguel, at the age of fourteen, had formed into a Lilliputian battalion 

 the sons of the hidalgos about the court. These young soldiers were 

 distinguished by all the pomp and circumstance of warriors of a larger 

 growth. On one occasion, two of these young noblemen absented them- 

 selves for a couple of days together from the morning parade. On 

 making their reappearance, they were put under arrest by Miguel's 

 orders, and a court-martial assembled to try them for desertion. Of this 

 most extraordinary tribunal, Miguel constituted himself the president ; 

 the proceedings were hurried through, and, to the horror and astonish- 

 ment of the two youthful culprits, sentence of death passed upon them, 

 by the unanimous voice of all its members. Miguel was resolved that 

 the denouement of this tragedy should as rapidly follow. They were 

 immediately led out to execution the platoon had already taken its 

 ground when one of the king's chamberlains, observing a more than 

 usual bustle in the court below, rushed down, and fortunately, in time 

 to save the two victims on the brink of destruction. 



As I heard this anecdote, so have I given it. Even in ordinary life, 

 it is often difficult to arrive at truth but still more so in a court where 

 every thing is coloured by flattery, or distorted by detraction. 



