3ViAJ©R SEMPLE LISLE. 285 



The receipt of this epiftle, far from roufing 

 him to vindicate his honour, only induced him 

 to confine himfelf as clofely to his (liip, as he 

 had done to his lodgings at Rio de Janeiro ; nor 

 did I ever fee him till we were on the point of 

 failing. He then fent the Mafter of the veflel, 

 in which he was, to our Rear-Admiral Francifco 

 de Paula Leite^ to folicit his leave to remain be- 

 hind ; his pretence being that he was fo afflicfled 

 with the fcurvy that his life would be endanger- 

 ed by purfuing his voyage. 



During our ftay at Bahia I principally fpent 

 my time with the military, or at the houfe of an 

 eminent merchant named Lilboa, a gentleman 

 whofe doors are open to every ftranger of de- 

 cent appearance; and where there is at all times 

 a large and good focicty. I likewife frequently 

 faw the Count Barbafini, Governor of the pro- 

 vince of MinaSy fo called from the mines there, 

 who, with his lady and family, had come in 

 the Admiral's fhip from Rio de Janeiro, To 

 this nobleman the Governor gave frequent y^/^j, 

 to all which I had the honour of being invited; 

 in fhort, the utmoft harmony fubfifted between 

 them, for both were accomplifhed literary cha- 

 radlers. With them I too aflifted at a very 

 grand ceremony performed annually here, upon 

 a holiday whofe name I have forgotten. On 

 that day the Governor, attended by all the 



principal 



