296 A YEAR IN BRAZIL. 



Liberals and Conservatives, considered it improper as a Liberal to remain 

 in power, there not being a Liberal majority in the Chamber, and it being 

 certain that the bill would meet with no opposition in the Senate. " 



{Reuter's Telegram.] 



Rio Janeiro, September zj. 

 The Government bill for the gradual abolition of slavery has been passed (24th) 

 by both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. 



On September 28, 1885, the fourteenth anniversary of the 

 passing of the Rio Branco law, the Emancipation of Slaves Act, 

 received the Imperial sanction ; it is known as the Saraiva law, 

 the principal items of which I have already given. Within ten 

 years it is supposed that slavery will have ceased to exist in 

 Brazil. Before long it will be seen that a great victory has been 

 gained ; and although, the Act is not perfect, and it cannot be 

 expected that Abolitionists will be pleased with all its details, yet 

 a sudden revolution or entire dislocation of the present order of 

 things has been avoided, and the long-desired aim of freeing this 

 vast empire as speedily as may be from the curse of slavery is 

 now ensured by a gradual and peaceful process. Deo gratias. 



Rio de Janeiro, January 15, 1886. 

 The elections to the Brazilian Chambers have resulted very favourably to the 

 Conservatives, who will have a majority in the new Chamber. The 

 position of parties is thus reversed, the Conservatives having been in 

 a minority in the former Chamber. 



The return of a Conservative Ministry to power in September 

 last restored confidence, and I am informed that the state of 

 affairs generally has since then greatly improved, while, with 

 a Conservative majority in the Chambers, the outlook for the 

 future is very satisfactory. 



The Origin of Savage Communities or Tribes by 

 Degradation. 



Some time ago, when studying evolution from the standpoint 

 of the Christian religion, I was especially led to consider how 

 vastly more numerous are examples of degradation and degenera- 

 tion than are those suggestive of evolution, or the doctrine of a 

 lower form producing a higher. 



