THE GOVERNOR. 



181 



said to be the real state of the town. The dif- 

 ficulty of land-carriage, particularly in such a 

 country, the want of a good harbour, and the 

 dreadful droughts, prevent any sanguine hope 

 of its rise to opulence. The commerce of Seara 

 is very limited, and is not likely to increase ; the 

 long credits which it is necessary for the trader 

 to give, preclude the hope of quick returns, to 

 which British merchants are accustomed. 



I rode immediately on my arrival to the house 

 of Senhor Marcos Antonio Bricio, the chief of 

 the treasury and of the naval department, 

 with several other titles which are not transfer- 

 rable into our language ; to this gentleman I 

 had a letter of introduction from Senhor Bar- 

 rozo. I found several persons assembled at his 

 house to drink tea and play at cards. Senhor 

 Marcos is an intelligent and well-informed man, 

 who has seen good society in Lisbon, and had 

 held a high situation at Maranham before he 

 was appointed to Seara. I was introduced to 

 Senhor Lorenco, a merchant who had con- 

 nections in trade with England ; he recognised 

 my name, for he had been acquainted with 

 near relations of mine in Lisbon. I was invited 

 to stay with him, and received from him every 

 civility. 



The morning after my arrival I visited the 

 Governor, Luiz Barba Alardo de Menezes *, 



* This person has since been removed to a province of 

 more importance. 



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