Social Position of the African Populatioti. 167 



humiliations, makes in Brazil no difference whatever. The 

 question here is not whether white or black, but whether free 

 or a slave. Free negroes may here occupy the highest places 

 in the State, and even exercise a certain influence on the destiny 

 of the white inhabitants. Slaves also are treated here with 

 more humanity and less prejudice than in any other country 

 visited by me, on which the curse of slavery yet rests ; yet 

 it must be confessed, without hesitation, that slavery, as be- 

 held in Brazil, seems even a greater misfortune to the white 

 population than to the black ; for neither agriculture nor 

 industry can thrive in a country where labour is not considered, 

 as in free States, an honourable occupation — but rather as a 

 xiisgrace — in consequence of its being performed by slaves. 

 Not merely the blacks, who have no interest in being industri- 

 ous, but their masters also are lazy, and approaching ruin be- 

 comes more and more certain. Free labour alone, by obtain- 

 ing the upper hand in the country, can remedy these things. 

 Slave labour cannot long compete with it. The intelligence, 

 activity, and perseverance of 100,000 free white labourers will 

 promote the prosperity and the happiness of Brazil, much 

 more than the compulsory labour of two millions of negroes 

 in bondage. 



In consequence of repeated and energetic remonstrances 

 on the part of the British Government, the slave-trade has 

 now ceased in Brazil, and "one of the grandest monuments 

 of our century," as the celebrated declaration by the Con- 

 gress of Vienna termed the entire suppression of the slave- 



