96 



PROVINCE OF RIO DE JANEIRO, 



It may be here observed, that in all serious difficulties the English prefer 

 j^oing direct to the King, rather than encounter the different ramifications of 

 intrigue publicly known to exist in many departments of the state ; and in 

 all those applications his Majesty concedes a ready hearing ; and, as far as 

 depends upon himself, the English have, indeed, every reason to acknowledge 

 his readiness to accede to all justly founded requests. 



The custom-house door at Rio de Janeiro, is the rendezvous of the mer- 

 chants, hitherto, not having the accommodation of an exchange. An edifice, 

 however, was commenced by the government, upon a jyrainha, or small beach, 

 behind the custom-house, and it was anticipated that this praca do commercio, 

 of which I obtained a plan from the architect, would be completed early in 

 the year 1820. • 



I was present when the foundation-stone of the first protestant church, 

 in South America, was laid at Rio de Janeiro on the 12th of August, 

 1819. It is for the use of the English, who at present assemble in a room for 

 divine service : the site is in the Rua dos Borbanes, near the convent of Ajuda, 

 and adjoining the house of the Spanish Ambassador. Mr. Stevenson, the trea- 

 surer, and the committee for the management of the contribution fund, attended, 

 together with a great portion of the resident English merchants, when a very 

 animated and appropriate address was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Crane. Some 

 coins of Great Britain, a glass bottle securely sealed up, and containing two or 

 three English newspapers of the latest date, (14th of June,) a gazette of Rio 

 de Janeiro, and a navy list, were deposited in the stone. This main stone 

 was dedicated to St. George and St. John, in honour of the sovereigns of 

 England and Brazil. Mr. Johnson, before-mentioned, is the architect, and a 

 Portuguese the builder. Judging from the plan, the structure will be neat, 

 and calculated to contain about five hundred persons, and many more if 

 galleries are added at any subsequent period. The Spanish Ambassador, who 

 was looking out of a window during the ceremony, had made an offer of part 

 of the ground upon which his stables stood, it being deemed necessary to com- 

 plete the ground-work, which offer was considered highly honourable to him> 

 and no obstacle was foreseen in forwarding this good woi k with all possible 

 despatch. Three months afterwards, however, nothing further had been done, 

 in consequence, I have heard, of the Portuguese dono of the ambassador's 

 premises, objecting to the transfer of the small portion of ground required, 

 unless he was paid some exorbitant sum. I understand, that an application 



