MADEIRA. 
white cottages clustered at the sea-shore, and gradually extending 
themselves upwards until the eye rests on the highest and most 
striking building, that of the convent of Nostra Senora de Monte. 
Through the western half of the island runs a central ridge, 
above five thousand feet high, on which is an extensive plain, 
called Paul de Serra, which is mostly overgrown, and is used 
especially for breeding mules and horses. The eastern portion of 
the island, though quite elevated, is less so than the western. 
The valleys usually contain a strip of land of extreme fertility, 
through which winds the bed of a streamlet that becomes a mountain 
torrent in the rainy seasons, but is nearly or quite dry in summer. 
The landing at Funchal is on a stony beach, and is accompanied 
with some little difficulty, partly on account of the surf, but more 
from the noise, confusion and uproar made by the native boatmen 
in their efforts to drag the boat up on the beach. This operation 
they however understand, and are well accustomed to, and those 
who desire to land dry, will be wise to employ them. 
On the 17th, we paid our respects, with a large party of officers to 
the civil governor the Baron de Lordello, field-marshal in the army, 
and administrator-general of the Province of Madeira and Porto 
Santo ; and also to the military governor Jose Teixcera Rebello, 
colonel in the army, and commandant of the district. 
The civil and military governments were formerly united in the 
same person, but, since the restoration after the reign of Don Miguel, 
they have been divided. The military governor is now obliged to 
consult, and is under the control of the civil governor. I was 
informed that on the appointment of the military governor this was 
expressly intimated to him, and that the arrangement was made in 
order to avoid placing too much power in the hands of any one 
man. 
His Excellency Baron Lordello, resides in the government house 
or palace, which is a large quadrangular building, occupied in part 
as barracks. His suite of apartments fronts the bay, and enjoys a 
beautiful view of it; they also have the enjoyment of the inbat 
or sea-breeze. They are very large, and but meagerly furnished. 
Around the large anteroom are hung the portraits of all the civil, 
ecclesiastical and military governors, which form an imposing array 
of hard outline, stiff figures and faces, with a variety of amusing 
costume. Those of later years, which have been lately hung up, 
