82 LETTEll FROM KIO DE JANIERO. 



priestcraft, is of itself enough to lead captive the primative and infant 

 mind of man. This once accomplished, it is the opening eyes of the 

 multitude that alone can give signal to the adventurous hand which 

 dares cast the first stone. So much are we the children of fancy and 

 delusion, and so much does the captivated imagination enthral the more 

 solid powers of the understanding ! Martin Luther's own interested 

 views first prompted his revolt from the Komish Church ; and it is well 

 known that the schism which followed was brought about at a time 

 when the dignity of that great mistress began to wane, and when her 

 authority was no longer acknowledged but with a certain degree of 

 scrutiny and of question. It was not the work of Martin Luther 

 alone, but that of ages. 



I have been given to understand, by several long residents in Rio, 

 that on these occasions of festivity (for with all their ceremonies and 

 religious observances, they are nothing else than times of riot, in- 

 dulgences, and excesses of all kinds), bigotry does not only go so far 

 as to sacrifice such heretics as may fall within its power, but then it 

 is that private piques, revenge, and jealousies are satiated with the 

 blood of whoever may be the object of all or any one of these passions. 

 The church, it would appear, at such seasons, affords an asylum easy 

 of access to the authors or instigators of the most murderous deeds. 

 It is here common for negroes to be hired and entrusted with the 

 execution of, those execrable assassinations which are generally per- 

 petrated in the dark, or in the most sly and cowardly manner, by 

 stabbing from behind, or from amongst a crowd, where it is im- 

 possible to trace the hand which strikes the blow. The crowd, it is 

 even said, has been known to possess an atrocious sympathy of feel- 

 ing with these wretched bravoes, and, as votaries, or rather victims, of 

 a common superstition, will open up and allow the murderer to 

 escape; and, when he has mingled with the bye-standers, or made 

 good his retreat, again coalesces, and assumes a position which ef- 

 fectually screens the delinquent from those who may have been 

 aroused by some touches of humanity, and showed a disposition to 

 secure him. I confess this appeared to me an overstrained state- 

 ment ; and however abject and lowly man may be sunk by a de- 

 grading superstition, I cannot believe that such cold-blooded and de- 

 liberate villany can be common, and can extend itself simultaneously 

 to a whole body of men. The case of an obdurate and scoffing heretic, 

 I grant, may more than once have thus operated to excite and con- 

 centrate into one focus of frantic fanaticism all that is diabolical in 

 the passions of a thousand hearts. At all events, that murderers are 

 abroad on such occasions is beyond doubt ; whether generally aided 

 and abetted by the multitude, is another question. Even on the 

 night here spoken of, it was generally reported the following day 

 that murderous attempts had been made, and, I believe, more than 

 one murder committed. But how many actually did take place, must 

 be left to conjecture, in a country where such a state of thinge is al- 

 lowed to exist ; where such enormities are pardoned or bought off by 

 the priests ; where even those deeds of darkest dye seldom fall under 

 the lash of justice, and not unfrequently remain altogether hid from 

 public notice." 



