138 Don Pedro, and the Brazilian Revolution. QAugust, 



system proclaimed in Portugal in 1820 was adopted, a few months 

 afterwards, by Brazil — a political event which has brought on both coun- 

 tries all the evils attributed to the fabulous box of Pandora. The real 

 cause of the revolution was a feeling of deadly hatred to every thing 

 European — a feeling produced solely by intrigue, and which was dis- 

 seminated with inconceivable rapidity from the Amazon to the Rio de 

 la Plata. Unfortunately for the peace and prosperity of the country, 

 there existed but too many elements admirably fitted to the views of the 

 revolutionary party. The European-Portuguese were by far the most 

 intelligent portion of the population, who, by their steady industry and 

 superior activity, were in possession almost exclusively of the whole 

 commerce of the country. Hinc illas lachrijmcE. The revolutionary party 

 appealed rather to the wounded vanity of the Brazilians than to their 

 sense of wrongs ; and they touched a chord which vibrated with power- 

 ful effect. The long-smothered flame suddenly burst forth, and led to 

 acts of atrocity against the defenceless European population at which 

 humanity shudders, and which will ever be a stain on the annals of the 

 country. Even the emperor, from the policy of the moment, appeared 

 to have strongly imbibed this anti-European feehng. 



Having thus cursorily detailed the principal causes which led to the 

 separation of Brazil from Poi-tugal, we shall proceed to investigate those 

 which have lost Don Pedro his crown, and which appear fated to plunge 

 his dominions into the most frightful state of anarchy and confusion. 

 They may be classed under three heads : — 

 1st. The war with Buenos Ayres. 



2dly. The crusade against Portugal, in the cause of the young 

 queen, Donna INIaria. 



3dly. The abolition of the slave trade, and the venality and cor- 

 ruption of the Brazilian people. 

 The war with Buenos Ayres — one of ambition and territorial aggran- 

 dizement, undertaken without any just grounds — proved disgraceful to 

 the arms of the empire, ruined its trade, exhausted its finances, and 

 fostered a deep-rooted spirit of discontent throughout every one of its 

 provinces. But it was the intervention in the affairs of Portugal which 

 was the most fatal stroke of policy, and which effectually undermined 

 the popularity of the emperor. This measure was a gross deviation 

 from the grand principles of the revolution, in diametrical opposition 

 to the best interests of the country, and one that the public voice was 

 loud in their deprecation of. In fact, in so anti-national a light was this 

 course of policy viewed by the chambers, that they refused to ratify the 

 conditions of the loan contracted in London for the service of the young 

 queen. The republican partjr, on the other hand, hailed with delight 

 the arrival of the moment so favourable for the consummation of their 

 darling plans. With Machiavelian skill they fanned the flame,' excited 

 the fears, and inflamed the passions of the people, by inculcating on their 

 minds that it was the intention of the emperor to reduce Brazil to its 

 ancient state of a colony of Portugal. The arrogance and presumption 

 of the Portuguese refugees at Rio de Janeiro went far to give a strong 

 colouring of probability to the report. But, after all, the intervention 

 in the affairs of Portugal was rather the remote than the proximate cause 

 of the late revolution, which has hurled Don Pedro from his throne with 

 the same rapidity that he ascended it. The real cause is of deeper 

 growth, and must be sought for in the character of his people, of whose 



