TRAVELS IN BRAZIL, 



155 



upon closer examination, that it is at present by no 

 means adapted to the wants of the people, and 

 therefore cannot yet exert any extensive influ- 

 ence. Several French artists, historical and land- 

 scape painters, sculptors, engravers, and architects, 

 and at their head Lebreton, formerly secretary to 

 the Academy of Arts at Paris, (who however died, 

 at his country-house, near Rio de Janeiro, soon after 

 our arrival,) were invited from France in order 

 by their instructions and works to awaken and to 

 animate the disposition of the Brazilians for the 

 arts, upon which Araujo had confidently calculated : 

 but it could not fail soon to become evident that the 

 fine arts cannot take root here, till the mechanical 

 arts, which satisfy the first wants, have prepared a 

 way for their reception ; and that it is not till com- 

 merce, the activity of which is directed to external 

 objects is finally established, that endeavours after 

 'the enjoyments and refinements of the arts, can 

 arise in a nation. It is besides a necessary conse- 

 quence of the present state of Brazil, that the inha- 

 bitant of this tropical clime everywhere surrounded 

 by the poetical and picturesque natural beauties of 

 his country, feels himself more disposed to the vo- 

 luntarily offered enjoyments of so happy a chmate, 

 than those of art, which cannot be obtained without 

 exertion. This circumstance points out the course 

 which endeavours to introduce the arts and sciences 

 into America in general take, and may serve as a 

 hint to the sovereign, that the decoration of the 



