PROVINCE OF RIO DE JANEIRO. 



C3 



the gates from the Duke of Northumberland, and who has been since em- 

 ployed by the King in superintending the progressive enlargement of the 

 palace. On this day, all hands were fully employed in finishing a suite of rooms 

 which his Majesty had a great wish to occupy that evening. 



On descending a hill from the palace, we perceived Prince Don Miguel in a 

 field below, dressed in a pair of great jack-boots, a cocked hat, and a star 

 upon his breast, with a pole about 10 feet long in his hand, attending a plough 

 with one handle, drawn by six bullocks, followed by five or six negro drivers 

 and a feitor* They executed their work very imperfectly, allowing the greatest 

 portion of the turf to fall down again. From the superfluity of animal power 

 employed in this defective specimen of agriculture, our attention was directed to 

 the royal stables, which contained about three hundred mules and horses of a 

 diminutive size, with double the number of persons to look after them that 

 would have been deemed necessary in England. 



Prince Don Pedro had been breaking horses into harness all that morning, 

 and we met him with the fourth pair ; he used a large unwieldy whip, 

 which, however, he administered pretty freely, making as much noise as a 

 French postilion would, on announcing his arrival at a town, by the cracking 

 of his whip. On passing him we stood still and took oflT our hats, which was 

 only returned by an ungracious look. We also met Prince Don Miguel, re- 

 turning from his agricultural amusement, accompanied by his feitor. He is a 

 spare and pale-looking person, about sixteen years of age. Passing close to 

 his elbow, we paid him the most respectful obeisance, but we were not honoured 

 even with the least inclination of his head. 



I walked one evening to see the fire-works, which had been preparing for some 

 time for the celebration of a saint's day, in front of the palace, ranged along, and 

 a few yards distant from the gates and palisades. The veranda was filled with 

 a great many priests and friars, and others about the person of the King. His 

 Majesty and the rest of the family took their station at the fifth window, on 

 the right of the handsome flight of stairs erected by Mr. Johnson. The fire- 

 works were ill executed, and could not be put in comparison with such exhi- 

 bitions in Europe, which is much to be wondered at, considering the immense 

 revenue here annually expended in this way, and the great number of persons 

 that live by it and follow no other pursuit. Every evening at eight' o'clock, 

 excepting holidays and Sundays, the King receives the public, in a room 

 appropriated for the purpose, at St. Christovao, to the honour of beija-mao;^ and 

 * An overlooker of negroes. f To kiss his hand. 



