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62 



FERNANDO DE NORONHA. 



which Brazil was ruled, is still too apparent 

 throughout ; but the removal of the Sovereign 

 to that country has roused many persons who 

 had been long influenced by habits of indolence, 

 and has increased the activity of others who 

 have impatiently awaited a field for its display. 

 The Brazilians feel of more importance, their 

 native soil now gives law to the mother-country ; 

 their spirit, long kept under severe subjection to 

 ancient colonial rules and regulations, has now 

 had some opportunities of showing itself, — has 

 proved, that though of long suffering, and 

 patient of endurance, it does exist, and that if 

 its possessors are not treated as men instead of 

 children, it will break forth, and rend asunder 

 those shackles to which they have forbearingly 

 submitted. I hope, however, most sincerely, 

 that the supreme Government may see the ne- 

 cessity of reformation, and that the people will 

 not expect too much, but consider that many 

 hardships are preferable to a generation of blood- 

 shed, confusion, and misery. 



Freedom of communication with other na- 

 tions has already been of service to the country, 

 and the benefits which it imparts are daily aug- 

 menting. This shoot from our European con- 

 tinent will ultimately increase, and a plant will 

 spring up, infinitely more important than the 

 branch from which it proceeded; and though 

 the season of this maturity is far distant, yet the 



12 



