POLITICAL STATE OF BRAZIL. 81 



it to be, by plebeian usurpation of the royal prerogative ; but hitherto 

 they have failed. 



Causes of dissatisfaction are not wanting to produce discontent. 

 They are indeed numerous, and among them are a total want of 

 justice in the administration of the laws ; the neglect of all petitions 

 for political reform and the remedy of abuses; the onerous and 

 injurious regulations imposed by the government; and the haughty 

 conduct and absolute power of those who hold office. Notwith- 

 standing all these discouragements, well-informed residents perceive 

 an improvement within the last few years, on the part of the govern- 

 ment and of the people also. The establishment of a public press has 

 had its effect in producing this change, by enlightening the public 

 mind, and will gradually acquire the same control here that it exercises 

 elsewhere; and education is better attended to than it used to be, 

 although as yet it is far in the background. 



According to the best information, the present government was 

 established by, and is under the guidance of, a few leading men, a 

 small party in Rio, who manage all the political concerns of the 

 empire. They seem to act without any desire of personal aggrandize- 

 ment, and apparently without ambition to be distinguished beyond the 

 circle of their party. From what has already been said of the 

 interior and the character of its inhabitants, it will be seen that there 

 is no great difficulty in managing the provinces by means of a few 

 influential men, and thus the whole power seems concentrated within 

 the city of Rio, where it is easy to direct things to the issue that they 

 may desire. 



It was this party which overthrew or effected the reform in the con- 

 stitution under Don Pedro I. in 1823, and established the new Congress, 

 consisting of a senatorial body of fifty, who were chosen for life, and 

 of one hundred deputies, for three years. The reformed constitution 

 provided that the succession should devolve on the eldest son of 

 Pedro I., during whose minority there should be three regents chosen 

 for life. 



Things went on badly after the beginning of the new order of 

 government, principally in consequence of the disastrous Banda 

 Oriental war, which caused a great sacrifice of money and resources, 

 deranged the currency, and involved the nation in debt. In 1831, Don 

 Pedro abdicated the throne, and went to Europe ; the regency came 

 into power, and this band of leading men formed themselves into an 

 opposition to the government. They succeeded in making some 

 important changes, setting aside the three regents for life, substituting 

 one elected for four years, and introducing a federal system, which 



vol. i. 11 



