3o8 To the River Plate and Back 



clasp hands. Of course we desired to see the building 

 and to have a good look at the contents of the various 

 rooms. The first chamber into which we were con- 

 ducted was a sumptuous apartment one of the chief 

 adornments of which is a great painting representing 

 Dom Pedro I. on the heights of Ypiranga, surrounded 

 by his loyal retainers and adherents, proclaiming the 

 independence of Brazil from Portugal. The story of 

 the separation between the two countries in some 

 respects is like that of the separation which took place 

 between Great Britain and the Thirteen Colonies. The 

 old question of legislation without proper representa- 

 tion lay at the bottom of the conflict. It is true that 

 Portugal had given Brazil representation in the Cortes, 

 but the Cortes did not always wait for the delegates 

 from Brazil to arrive and take part in the sessions. In 

 the spring of 1822, the Cortes proceeded in the absence 

 of the Brazilians to legislate for them in such a manner 

 as to arouse deep resentment. Pedro, the Prince 

 Regent, who had already proclaimed himself " Perpetual 

 Defender and Protector of Brazil,' on September 7, 

 1822, hearing of still further v olent measures which 

 had been adopted by the Cortes, drew his sword, and 

 in the presence of the generals of the army and the 

 officers of the government uttered the memorable 

 words, " Independencia ou Morte!' These words are 

 inscribed under the great painting before which we 

 were standing in the Palace. Not long after this 

 utterance he was proclaimed Constitutional Emperor 

 of Brazil. It is worth remembering that Dom Pedro L, 

 in taking the step he took on September 7, 1822, was in 

 fact only carrying out the advice of his father, the 

 King of Portugal, who had suggested to him that in the 

 event of a separation between Portugal and Brazil 



