ECCLESIASTICAL GOVERNMENT. 



17 



years, and the term may be renewed. * It is 

 in these departments of the government that 

 the opportunities of amassing large fortunes 

 are most numerous ; and certain it is that some 

 individuals take advantage of them in a manner 

 which renders justice but a name. The go- 

 vernor can determine in a criminal cause with- 

 out appeal, but, if he pleases, he refers it to the 

 competent judge. The Procurador da Coroa, 

 attorney-general, is an officer of considerable 

 weight. The Intendente da Marinha, port ad- 

 miral, is likewise consulted on matters of first 

 importance ; as are also the Escrivam da Fazen- 

 da Real, chief of the treasury, and the Jutz da 

 Alfandega, comptroller of the customs. These 

 seven officers form the Junta, or council, which 

 occasionally meets to arrange and decide upon 

 the affairs of the captaincy to which they 

 belong. 



The ecclesiastical government is scarcely con- 

 nected with that above-mentioned, and is admi- 

 nistered by a bishop and a dean and chapter, 



* A Juiz Conservator, Judge Conservator, of the British 

 nation has been appointed for Pernambuco, but at the period 

 of my departure from Recife he was not arrived. Very 

 soon after the commencement of a direct commercial inter- 

 course with Great Britain, a vice-consul was appointed for 

 Pernambuco, by the consul-general at Rio de Janeiro ; this 

 person was superseded by a consul sent out direct from Eng- 

 land, who is subject to the consul-general of Brazil, but the 

 place i-- disposed of bv the government at ho 



