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NOTES ON BRAZILo 



It has been mentioned that, among those who had the ear of the 

 Regent, were several Priests ; and it was natural that it should be so, 

 with respect to the dignified or confidential Ecclesiastics, who accompanied 

 him from Lisbon. The chief of the clergy in Rio seemed also called 

 upon, by their station, to attend his levees, and to have a claim on his 

 notice. Among them were, no doubt, truly pious men, faithfully 

 devoted to their duty ; but scarcely any pretensions were made to learn- 

 ing. It was in general, sufficient to be skilled in the Ceremonies of the 

 Church, and able decently to perform its offices. Of their habits and 

 character, the writer of these notes declines any formal and detailed 

 estimate, and any thing beyond a brief notice of their place and bearing 

 in the ranks of Brazilian society ; because he would be compelled, in 

 truth, so to represent them, as to some, might savour strongly of Pro- 

 testant bigotry, or individual prejudice. He has not scrupled, however, 

 nor will he scruple hereafter, to introduce such anecdotes of the priesthood 

 as made a part of his own experience. Lamenting that he had so little 

 to record to their advantage, and so much to vindicate the conclusion, 

 that their general spirit and conduct were infamously bad. He only 

 wishes it to be understood and remembered, that, whatever of this kind 

 may be brought forward, he is incapable of venting sarcasms against Reli- 

 gion, or of consigning a whole body to shame and indignation, on 

 account of the misconduct of many of its members. 



My first home in Rio brought me to the near observation of a large 

 and important class of the inhabitants. It was at the corner of Rua 

 d' Ouvidor, where it joins the Rua da Qui Tandi ; precisely on this spotj 

 every unhallowed morning, the Attorneys, together with the under 

 officers of the law, met to transact business. It was then, I believe, the 

 only place, where professional or commercial men assembled for such a 

 purpose ; thus the meeting became an object of peculiar notice to a 

 stranger. The generality of those, who composed it, were dressed in 

 old, rusty, black coats, some of them well patched, and so ill adapted to 

 the height and form of the wearers, as to excite a suspicion that they 



