198 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF DOM PEDRO II. 



Dom Pedro left for the United States the latter part of last March, 

 and at the moment of writing we know that he has received a most 

 flattering welcome from the country of Washington and Franklin, not 

 only on the part of public authorities, (although he desired to preserve 

 a rigorous incognito^) but also by the press and the people of that pow- 

 erful republic. We are sure that Dom Pedro is convinced by this re- 

 ception of the sincerity — he has, however, never doubted — of the desire 

 of the great republics of North America to maintain cordial relations 

 with the great empire of South America, a i)olicy perfectly in unison 

 with the spirit of the people and the proud reserve of one of their most 

 able representatives, Monroe, who repudiated all European intervention 

 in America, wishing the continent to belong to Americans alone. 



From the United States Dom Pedro took passage for Europe, where 

 there is no doubt as cordial a reception awaits him as he received in 

 that country five years ago. 



XV. 



A few words before closing this sketch in regard to the personal char- 

 acteristics of Dom Pedro, both as a man and as a sovereign. 



In respect to i^hysique, he is tall, well formed, with light hair and 

 complexion ; he has blue eyes, a benevolent expression, and wears a 

 full-grown beard, which is very gray, much more so than his hair; his 

 whole appearance is attractive and his manner sympathetic ; he will 

 be fifty-one years of age next December. 



Dom Pedro's activity is extraordinary. He rises at 6 o'clock, reads 

 certain news journals, while his secretary looks over others, and marks 

 passages worthy of consideration, attends to business until half past 9, 

 breakfasts rapidly,* then gives audience to the public ; after which he 

 generally visits the schools, arsenals, fortresses, or attends a session of 

 a scientific society, &c.t He dines at 5, again gives audience to the 

 people, and then resumes business,! if he does not go to the theater, (of 

 which he is very fond,) to a concert, a ball, or some private entertain- 

 ment. He never retires before midnight. 



When visiting the establishments for instruction, whether private or 

 belonging to the state, in the capital or in the provinces, he assists in 

 the examination of the pupils and in the distribution of prizes, and 

 makes note on these occasions of the name, family, and place of birth 



" Ho never remains more than half an hour at breakfast, nor at dinner, and has at his 

 table all his iiersoual attendants, who are on duty for a week. 



t Dom Pedro never fails to be present at the reunions of the Brazilian Institution of 

 History and Geography, of which ho is the honorary president. 



,Ho has a library, and a very comi^lete laboratory for natural and physical science. 

 Besides the study of these branches, as well as of political and moral science, ho is 

 much interested in ancient literature. In a synagogue iu London, during his visit in 

 1871, he delighted the rabbins by translating a page of their Hebrew Bible. 



