Ilistorico-Geograpldcal Institute. 145 



instruction was given to 82,243 children of both sexes.* 

 A school of industry, having for its object the instruction of 

 able-bodied persons, was opened in 1856, and classes for 

 teaching natural philosophy and political administrative 

 science, are in process of being introduced. Amongst the 

 scientific establishments of the country, the Historico-Geogra- 

 phical Institute occupies the first place, the meetings of which 

 are generally attended by the Emperor as honorary president. 

 This institution, which occupies in Brazil about the same posi- 

 tion as the Academy of Sciences in Vienna, directs its special 

 attention to the publication of old documents and manuscripts 

 relating to the history of Brazil and the aboriginal population ; 

 but investigations relating to natural history are also in- 

 cluded in its domain of enquiry. The sittings are held every 

 alternate Friday. The naturalists of the Novara attended 

 one of these meetings, which took place in one of the wings 

 of the palace. At half-past 6 p.m., the Emperor entered 

 the hall, in plain clothes, attended by two chamberlains. 

 All the gentlemen present approached one after the other 

 and respectfully kissed the hand of their sovereign. On this 

 occasion we remarked that even ladies, when presented to the 

 head of the State, were accustomed to kiss his hand. The Im- 

 perial Honorary President, whose simple apparel was relieved 

 only by the star of some order worn on the breast, took his seat 

 at the upper end of a long, wide table, covered with green 



* Among the higher class of eclucatioual mstitutions, the College of Pedro 

 Segundo ranks foremost, and is at present attended by about 900 students. 



L 



