[^ 136 ] [^August, 



don pedro, and the brazilian revolution. 



The revolutionary earthquake which, in July last, hurled the Bour- 

 bon from his throne, and which still continues to agitate the political 

 substratum of the European world, has vibrated with powerful effect 

 across the Atlantic. Like the cholera at present raging in the natural 

 world, spreading its devastating ravages with equal fury amid the 

 snows of Russia, as on the burning plains of Hindostan, the headlong 

 course of the revolutionary scourge is marked by undiscriminating 

 features ; uprooting, in its fearfid progress, both liberal and despotic — • 

 the upholder of the divine right of kings, and the defender of popular 

 institutions. 



The prediction so confidently set forth at the outbreak of the French 

 revolution, by La Fayette, was no idle prophecy — " Revolutionary 

 principles appear destined to make le tour du mondc." Witliin the nar- 

 row circle of a year, Cherbourg has beheld two fugitive monarchs seek- 

 ing refuge in its port — both the victims of revolution, but whose political 

 careers and principles are distinguished by features certainly as opposite 

 as the hemispheres in which they reigned. 



When Don Pedro d' Alcantara, in the year 1822, raised the standard of 

 Brazilian independence, he presented to the world the novel spectacle of 

 a prince, cradled in tlie lap of despotism, and whose mind was strongly 

 imbued with ultra notions of kingly prerogative, casting at once aside 

 the prejudices of birth and education, coming boldly forward as the 

 champion of liberalism,, and erecting his new-made throne on the basis of 

 revolutionary principles. As the star of independence rose majestically 

 on the political horizon of Brazil, there arose, at the same time, a small 

 cloud, which announced a future tempest. The recollection of the prin- 

 ciples in which he had been educated has proved as fatal to the emperor 

 as the misguided policy of his government ; for, from the very com- 

 mencement of liis reign, it inspired his subjects with well-founded 

 suspicions of the sincerity of his professions. On the day of his coro- 

 nation, when, to the superficial observer, all appeared coulcur de rose, a 

 trifling incident betrayed the existence of this feeling. On the termina- 

 tion of the ceremony, Don Pedro — his brows encircled with the impe- 

 rial diadem — harangued, from the window of the palace, the crowd 

 assembled in the square beneath. After a speech of considerable length 

 —of course admirably calculated to flatter the vanity, and gratify the 

 hyperbolical taste, of the Brazilian people — he concluded by swearing to 

 defend the independence of Brazil, and the constitution wliich the 

 Cortes should frame for it. In repeating these words with great empha- 

 sis of tone, the emperor carried his hand to the hilt of liis sword. The 

 abruptness of the action loosened the crown from his brows, which 

 would have fallen but for the hand of the emperor, which restored it 

 to its place. This little incident was by many regarded as a favourable 

 omen of the short duration and instability of his authority. 



The position of Don Pedro was, from the first, one of peculiar diffi- 

 culty. The only monarch in a region encompassed on all sides by new- 

 founded republics, and aware that a similar spirit was gradually spread- 

 ing among his own subjects, with admirable skill and sagacity he 

 sought, on every occasion, rather to lead than oppose the expression of 

 popular feeling ; and, by thus forestalling the tide of events, he effec- 

 tually, for a time, baffled the machinations of the republican party. The 



