34 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



scenes like these. They are allowed, however, by competent judges, to 

 compose a landscape of almost unequalled magnificence and beauty. 

 Some of the smaller inlets of this capacious bay have been compared 

 to Sydney Cove, in New Holland, and something- like the whole, in 

 the same style, but on a smaller scale, is said to exist in Asia Minor, near 

 to Crete. 



Doubtless much of the pleasure we feel, when entering such a har- 

 bour as this, may be traced to novelty, much to contrast ; for t1ie stranger, 

 in a few hours, and almost minutes, exchanges the undulation and soli- 

 tariness of the ocean, the grey distant prospect, and the nearer view, of 

 an iron-bound coast, for a mirror-like surface, studded with boats and 

 vessels of a larger size ; near to him lies an extensive, populous, and 

 noisy city, highly beautiful at a distance, wherein are assembled 

 persons of every complexion, and from every quarter of the globe ; around 

 him is a landscape finished with nature's choicest pencil, clothed in a 

 richness of attire, which none but a tropical climate can produce. In the 

 last ten years, much, it is true, has been torn away from the skirts of 

 these garments, and they now appear somewhat ragged. We should 

 regret the change in these, till lately everlasting, woods, did we not 

 recollect that they have contributed their portion to the wants of man ; 

 furnished to the city below them the valuable article of fuel, and still are 

 employed in producing the necessaries, and many of the luxuries, of 

 life. Enough of wood-land, also, is still left to please ; and nature 

 here can never disgust, though in scenes unaided by artificial ornament. 



I have so often entered this delightful recess, have sailed about every 

 part of it so repeatedly, looked at it so many thousand times, and from 

 such a variety of stations, that upon me novelty can now have but little 

 influence; I have allowed all that it is possible to allow for the effect of 

 contrast ; but still I love, nay am passionately fond of, the place ; nor do I 

 envy the feelings of the man, who can look upon nature's brightest smiles, 

 and never smile again. The cold and phlegmatic Northern politician has 

 seldom calculated the effect of fine scenery upon the human mind, or he 

 would not have expected the Court of Portugal to leave its new abodes 



