THE EMPEROR DOM PEDRO. 337 



bursting into flower in mid-winter should have also 

 flowered three or four months before. The only 

 remains of fruit that I found were dry, empty capsules 

 that had apparently survived the preceding summer. 



Although I reached Rio some time before midday, 

 so many matters required my attention that I found 

 it impossible to return for a fuller visit to the Botanic 

 Garden. Mr. Corbett had kindly offered to present 

 me to the emperor, and, if time had permitted, I 

 should have gladly taken the opportunity of making 

 the personal acquaintance of a sovereign who stands 

 alone among living rulers for the extent and variety 

 of his scientific attainments, and for the active interest 

 he has shown in the progress of natural knowledge. 

 Irrespective of the qualities that appeal to the 

 sympathies of men of science, Dom Pedro is evidently 

 one of the remarkable men of our time. His excep- 

 tional energies, physical and mental, are incessantly 

 devoted to every branch of public affairs, and it is 

 said that he has even succeeded in inspiring some of 

 his subjects with a share of his own zeal. But, so far 

 as I could learn, he cannot be said to have achieved 

 popularity. Among indolent and listless people, 

 indefatigable industry produces an unpleasant effect. 

 Improvements may or may not be desirable, but they 

 are certain to give some trouble : it would be far 

 pleasanter to let things remain as they are. Perhaps, 

 whenever the time comes for Brazil to be deprived of 

 the guidance of the present emperor, its people will 

 become sensible of the loss they have sustained. 



The steamer of the Royal Mail Company was to 

 depart on July 24, so that no time was to be lost in 



z 



