BEAZIL. 



BRECKENRIDGE, JOHN 0. 89 



There are in Rio de Janeiro five daily news- 

 papers, but the aggregate circulation thereof 

 is presumed not to exceed 50,000. 



The Brazilian Chambers were summoned to 

 meet in session extraordinary, on March 15, 

 1875, for the purpose set forth in the subjoined 

 extract from the speech from the throne on 

 that occasion : 



The urgency of the budget proposals and of the 

 bills upon electoral reform, the discussion of which 

 could not be terminated in your last session, has 

 necessitated the present session extraordinary. Pub- 

 lic order has been disturbed at various points in the 

 interior. In four of the northern provinces, sedi- 

 tious bands, excited by religious fanaticism and by 

 prejudice against the use of the new metrical system 

 of weights and measures, have destroyed the admin- 

 istrative archives and the standards of weight and 

 measure. This criminal movement was promptly 

 repressed, good citizens supporting the authorities. 

 The public health has improved as compared with 

 last year. Nothing has disturbed our international 

 relations. Postal treaties have been concluded with 

 France, Germany, Italy, and Belgium. Ever confid- 

 ing in the Divine protection and in your zeal, I rely 

 upon your cooperation in order to assure the con- 

 tinuance of the national prosperity. I declare the 

 session extraordinary of the Chambers to be opened. 



Here follows a transcript of some of the 

 leading points of the Emperor's speech of May 

 3d, closing the session extraordinary and open- 

 ing the regular session : 



The sanitary condition of the empire has sensi- 

 bly improved, and the government will do its ut- 

 most to remove the causes affecting the natural state 

 of the salubrity of the climate. Public order has 

 been completely restored. The negotiations with 

 the Argentine Eepublic and Paraguay continue. The 

 good-will and prudence of the negotiators inspire us 

 with confidence in an early and satisfactory result. 



The zeal manifested in the discussion of the 

 electoral reform bill is a guarantee that you will 

 one day bestow upon the nation this indispensable 

 reform, which will aid in correcting the generally 

 acknowledged defects of the present system. The 

 want of hands and capital, and of the technical 

 knowledge necessary for fertilizing the country ? pre- 

 sents a serious obstacle to the progress of agricult- 

 ure, the chief source of public and private wealth. 

 I am confident that our efforts will succeed in main- 



lining and increasing the prosperity of the nation, 

 'he abnormal condition of the dioceses of Olinda 



taininj 

 The 



and Para has. unfortunately, compelled the Govern- 

 ment to employ repressive measures. I believe the 

 Pope, thoroughly appreciating the painful circum- 

 stances of the case, will do his utmost to restore the 

 harmony which formerly existed ; if not, I rely upon 

 your assistance for enacting the laws which the cir- 

 cumstances require. The public revenue is again 

 showing its ordinary rate of progress, notwithstand- 

 ing the reduction of the customs dues, and the un- 

 favorable aspect of production and commerce in 

 some provinces. The ordinary expenditure does 

 not exceed the revenue, but the important loans to 

 be contracted for primary, secondary, and technical 

 education, and the establishment of credit institu- 

 tions in aid of labor, are urgent measures, worthy of 

 your consideration. 



August and honored representatives of the na- 

 tion : A young country like Brazil, possessing 

 wealth and territorial patrimony, requires great and 

 constant efforts in order to attain to the future re- 

 served for it, but at the same time it affords pow- 

 erful elements with which to overcome the difficul- 

 ties of the undertaking. We shall always most ar- 

 dently pursue this honorable task, invariably show- 

 ing ourselves worthy of the Divine protection, which 

 has never failed Brazil. 



I hereby close the session extraordinary and 

 open the regular session, the last of the present 

 Legislature. PEDRO II., 



Constitutional Emperor and Perpetual De- 

 fender of Brazil. 



Among the important bills laid before the 

 Chambers, besides those already referred to, 

 was one for the appropriation of government 

 funds for a farmers' aid fund ; and another on 

 trade-marks. 



On September 14th, an imperial decree was 

 issued granting the pardon of the Bishops of 

 Olinda and Para. 



Permission for an eighteen months' tour for 

 the Emperor through Europe and the United 

 States was solicited and obtained of the Gov- 

 ernment during the regular session. His Maj- 

 esty will first accompany the Empress to Eu- 

 rope, and then visit the United States during 

 the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia. 



BRECKENRIDGE, JOHN CABELL, Vice- 

 President of the United States in 1857, born 



