A BRAZILIAN LADY. 



time of advancement was come, and men, who 

 had for many years gone on without making any 

 change either in the interior or exterior of their 

 houses, were now painting and glazing on the 

 outside, and new furnishing within ; modern- 

 izing themselves, their families, and their dwel- 

 lings. 



This spirit of alteration produced, in one case, 

 rather ludicrous consequences. There was a 

 lady of considerable dimensions, who had en- 

 tered into this love of innovation, and carried it 

 to a vast extent. She was almost equal in cir- 

 cumference and height, but notwithstanding 

 this unfortunate circumstance, personal embel- 

 lishments were not to be despised ; she wished 

 to dress in English fashion, and was herself de- 

 cidedly of opinion that she had succeeded. 

 Upon her head she wore a very small gypsey-hat 

 tied under the chin. Stays have only lately 

 been introduced, but this improvement she had 

 not yet adopted ; still her gown was to be in 



tween St. Antonio and Boa Vista, had been raised, and 

 houses had been built upon it. The principal street of 

 St. Antonio has been paved. The bridge of Boa Vista has 

 been rebuilt of timber; and that between St. Antonio and 

 Recife was about to undergo considerable repair. The hos- 

 pitals, likewise, were to be improved ; and as I have heard 

 since my arrival in England, of the appointment of a most 

 worthy man to the direction, of one of them, I trust that 

 thit. intention has been acted upon. 



