THE PALHEIRO 67 



(though this is of recent occurrence) fast going to 

 ruin. There are a few soldiers stationed near the 

 house to prevent any material damage, and these 

 are now the only persons to be seen on this once 

 splendid estate. The park, if we may so term it, 

 is more in the English style than we expected to 

 find it ; but when we came to the orange, lemon, 

 pomegranate and shaddock groves, which are in 

 fine foliage and planted in the best order, we at 

 once saw the effect of these Southern climes. 

 The flower-gardens, though not abounding in that 

 variety we might expect, are well arranged, but 

 begin to show more of the ' fallen state ' of things 

 than the other parts of the grounds. The house 

 itself is not on a large scale, yet it is built in good 

 style and keeping with the place, as well as the 

 chapel, which is a neat edifice at a short distance 

 from the house. Senhor Carvalhal used to employ 

 more than two hundred men on the estate, for the 

 purpose of keeping it in order. He was a kind 

 landlord, and much respected throughout the 

 whole of the island. Let us, then, hope that 

 Portugal will soon have a fixed Government, and 

 that Senhor Carvalhal will return to his country, 

 and again have the pleasure of enjoying his estates." 

 The hope here expressed was fulfilled, and the 



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