'98 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



does not grow naturally in the neighbourhood of the city, nor under the 

 trees of a forest. Black people were sent out to cut the common Gramma 

 of the country, a species of low growing flag, and the young Tacoara, 

 a sort of cane, which flourishes in the woods. After every exertion was 

 made, the supply of green food, for the horses and mules, was very 

 scanty ; until the two Capims, now so common, had been planted, and 

 were fit to cvit. There was, moreover, no stock of dry food in hand, 

 and any thing answerable to hay-making is never practised in hot 

 countries. There were then, also, neither stables attached to the palace, 

 sufficient for the necessary beasts of draught, nor sheds for the carriages. 

 Some idea of the low state of the colony, — low in the ai'ts and conveni- 

 ences of life, — may be formed from the fact, that on the anniversary of 

 the Queen's birth-day, which occurred some months after my arrival, 

 there were only six carriages mustered on the occasion, and these all 

 open ones, with two wheels, each drawn by a miserable pair of mules, 

 and driven by dirty negroes. Yet this was a gala-day, and the wealthy 

 part of the community had done their utmost to make a show. 



Poor as was the resource to which the Court of Portugal flew, when 

 driven from its ancient station, the change could hardly have taken place 

 under more favourable circumstances. Had the Queen possessed the full 

 vigour of her mind, and the Regent a more acute sensibility, the removal 

 and its many inconveniences must have been more distressing to both. 

 He found, indeed, that Royalty is no protection against misfortune ; he 

 felt as a man, and manifested the feelings of a good one. A Prince of 

 more uniform vigour might, probably, have been less teased ; one of 

 more penetration miglit have detected the selfish views of those about 

 him. Yet there was one of these who appeared to have no such views, 

 his first minister, Don Rodrigo, — afterward Conde de Linhares. He 

 nobly supported his Prince, not only acting with energy himself, but 

 compelling others, in every department of government, to do the same. 

 He saw the true interests of the state, and pursued them with an ardent 

 affection to his sovereign and his country. He succeeded in attaching to 

 both the good and the useful of every nation, who had been drawn within 



