100 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



even one. The same order extended to warehouses and shops, directing^ 

 that they should be given up, not to needy emigrants from the mother 

 country alone, but to commercial adventurers from every region. The 

 high and equitable spirit of our countrymen will hardly allow it to be 

 mentioned, as a thing much to their honour, that they unanimously 

 disdained to take advantage of this order, preferred paying liberal rents, 

 and making it the interest of the proprietors to accommodate them. Many 

 were glad to secure themselves, by means of such tenants, from the 

 rapacity of the Portuguese. 



There was little occasion for a Royal order to induce men of rank 

 and ability, among the Colonists, liberally to assist the unfortunate 

 Strangers. Either through policy, or a real feeling of the distress which 

 they witnessed, they were forward with their services, freely lending 

 their money, their houses, and almost every comfort. Ere long, however, 

 they discovered their error in supposing that, by such services, they were 

 laying the foundation of their own fortunes. They discerned, what a 

 small measure of consideration might have taught them before, that it 

 was impossible for the prince effectually to attend to all the various 

 conflicting claims of ambition with which he was assailed, and equally 

 impossible that they should now be gratified by such social freedoms with 

 the head of government as had been their delight in the viceregal times. 

 It was quite out of etiquette that Portuguese Royalty should be seen 

 in the house of a subject ; the Regent and his family, it was intimated, 

 were always at home in the evening, and ready to receive the compliments 

 of their vassals ; and, under such a government, an intimation differed 

 little from a command ; a command, if disregarded, was little short of 

 a sentence of confiscation. All that the greater part of the attendants at 

 Court had to expect in return for their compliance with its wishes, for 

 their sacrifices and their struggles, were a few gracious words and 

 unmeaning compliments from the Prince. Many, therefore, who had 

 parted with their houses, and friends, and servants, which had enabled 

 them to stand foremost in the ranks of their countrymen, and were 

 indignant at the sight of inferiors favoured and advanced above them, 



