10 TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



diffusion of pure philosophy has been more speedy 

 for some centuries firom one hemisphere to an- 

 other, than it was formerly from Egypt to Greece, 

 and from Greece to Rome. The only library of 

 the city, besides that of the Carmelites, belongs 

 to the venerable bishop, who, although very far 

 advanced in years, still takes a lively interest in 

 scientific subjects, and showed it to us himself 

 with an expression of great pleasure. It con- 

 tains a great number of historical and canonical 

 works, and ancient classics, and materially con- 

 tributes to the instruction of young ecclesiastics, 

 wlio study several years at the theological semi- 

 nary, till they have received ordination, in con- 

 ferring which, they are said not to be so strict 

 here as in Rio, Pernambuco, and other places. 



The population of the city of S. Paulo, accord- 

 ing to the latest accounts, including the dependent 

 parishes, amounts to above 30,000 souls, of which 

 the half are whites, or such as are called so, and 

 the other blacks, or people of colour. T"he whole 

 population of the capitania of S. Paulo by the 

 latest official accounts annexed at the end of this 

 chapter *, was, in the year 1808, 200,478 ; in the 

 year 1814, 211,928; and in the year 1815, 215,021 

 souls. The table of population shows very striking 

 results with regard to the proportion of the births. 

 In general, one birth is reckoned for twenty-eight 



* See Note ]. page 32. 



