PROVINCE OF RIO DE JANEIRO. 



PI 



enjoy advantages which they are little sensible of, in the supply of British 

 capital, which, at the metropolis, where the longest credits are given, alone 

 extends to more thaji one million sterling, arising from the too great liberality 

 of the merchants resident there, in granting credits with goods. The number 

 of English establishments of all kinds at Rio amounts to about sixty, and a 

 spirit of competition consequently existing, the native merchants have had the 

 address to turn it greatly to their advantage. For instance, if they could pur- 

 chase goods from one house at four months credit, they would give the prefer- 

 ence to another that would give them six, and so on; till credits have extended, 

 in some instances, to nine, twelve, and even eighteen months, accumulating 

 in their hands the prodigious sum mentioned, and which the Brazilian laws 

 induce some few to take the unfair advantage of retaining as long as they 

 can, and in some cases altogether. English property, in this state of jeopardy, 

 may be computed at two hundred thousand pounds, resulting from the 

 tedious and imperfect mode of judicature. A Portuguese dealer, having 

 exhausted the patience of the English merchant, the latter obtains a sum- 

 mons from the English judge, Senhor Garces, for the former to appear before 

 him within three audiences, (he holds two a week,) when it is at the option 

 of the plaintiff, whether the defendant is put upon his oath or not. If he 

 is put upon his juramente d'ahna, and then swears he owes nothing, the 

 cause must finally end ; but if the plaintiff will not allow him to swear, he then 

 probably denies altogether owing the money, or admits the account, but says 

 he cannot at present pay, which produces the same delay. The plaintiff then 

 cites him for a libello, and proceeds to prove the fairness of his demand, which 

 the defendant opposes by counter declarations. Up to this point twelve months 

 may be calculated as already consumed. The judge, convinced by the clear 

 evidence of the plaintiff, gives a despatch in his favour, which the other imme- 

 diately embargos, when a plea for additional time is set up, under the pretence 

 of adducing some other evidence; and, after a further investigation, the judge 

 gives a similar despatch to the first, which is a second time embargoed, and 

 the cause is then removed to the Court of Relacam, consisting of six or seven 

 judges, three of whom must always attend. Similar delays occur in this court, 

 when the decision of the English judge conservator is confirmed, which, how- 

 ever, is not final ; the defendant can carry the case before the Conseil de Fazetides, 

 a supreme authority, consisting of many members, from whose decision there 

 IS no appeal. The plaintiff, whose verdict gives him a power over the property 

 only of the defendant, and not over his person, proceeds to take possession of 



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