NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



ance of each other. In writing the process was better ; M'hen a number 

 of boys, about the same standing, had finished their copies, they were 

 turned into the street, and appealed to the judgment of any chance 

 passenger, whom, by his appearance, they thought capable of deciding 

 upon the merit of their respective productions. I have often admired 

 the vivacity with which each sought for a favourable verdict, and the 

 high gratification with which it was attained. It seemed as if there was 

 yet a spring in the Brazilian mind, notwithstanding its common degra- 

 dation, which, if rightly touched, might produce great effects. But 

 though schools became more numerous, they remained almost entirely 

 in the hands of the Portuguese ; though scholars were comparatively 

 multiplied, a great part of their time was wasted in chaunting Matinas 

 and Ave Marias. 



Education in the Colleges is almost entirely confined to the Priest- 

 hood and to lay -offices in the Church ; and, even for these exclusive 

 purposes, is at the lowest ebb. The teachers are not only altogether 

 unversed themselves in general science and literature, but hold such 

 things in contempt ; this is the case even with respect to the learning 

 which is usually accounted essential to the Clerical Profession, and the 

 Church is, accordingly, most wretchedly and disgracefully supplied. A 

 few of the young people educated in the Colleges are intended for 

 secular employments ; and of those whose early destination has been to 

 the Church, but who have not taken the vows, a few turn to the world 

 and its occupations. The College of St. Joaquim, as*has been stated, 

 together with its schools, which have been advantageously transferred to 

 the intended Church of the Jesuits, departs the most from the common 

 rule of such establishments, and professes to direct the attention of its 

 students to such branches of knowledge as may qualify them for offices 

 under the government, by which the College is said to be favoured and 

 patronized. 



From the scanty means of acquiring knowledge which the people of 

 Brazil possess, and their prevailing indifference, to say the least, with 

 respect to the acquisition of better, and even to the wise use of those 



