

: &M- ' 0M 



^^H 



814 THE TREATIES OF FRIENDSHIP, &C. 



higher pitch of civilisation. In the discussions 

 which I have heard, Englishmen, by the argu- 

 ments which they used, appeared to think that 

 Brazil should have been treated over-bearingly, 

 as a country which had been humbled by mis- 

 fortune, and that of this circumstance advantage 

 should have been taken by Great Britain. The 

 idea which is entertained of the weakness of 

 Brazil, must proceed from the trifling defensive 

 preparations which are to be seen upon her 

 coasts. Her sea-ports might no doubt be much 

 injured by attacks from a maritime enemy ; 

 but the country is impregnable ; it possesses far 

 stronger fortresses than any which can be raised 

 by man ; in its extent, in its woods, and in a 

 hardy population, who are accustomed to live 

 on very little food, and that of a poor kind. 

 However, any ideas of conquest in South Ame- 

 rica by Europeans, against the wishes of the 

 people, experience has proved to be fallacious ; 

 the Dutch war with Pernambuco, and our own 

 errors at Buenos Ayres bear witness to this 

 fact. 



The Portuguese, on the other hand, seem to 

 have imbibed the idea that Great Britain has 

 taken undue advantage of the state of the Por- 

 tuguese monarchy, and has imposed heavy 

 terms, such as suited her own purposes. Many 

 of the arguments which are made use of by 

 the Portuguese, are brought forwards by them 



