166 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



after turn. Its importance is well undefstood by Brazilian Statesmen, 

 and nothing short of overwhelming force will avail to wrench it out of 

 their hands. 



Foiled in the only attempt which I ever made to enter Monte 

 Video, personal observation enables me to say little more than that it 

 hangs prettily towards the bay, which forms its harbour. The scene 

 around is sandy and naked ; even the best of the country-houses greatly 

 need the ornament of trees, and might be improved by plaster and 

 whitewash. 



While the place was besieged by the troops of Buenos Ayres, the 

 country was infested, in every direction, by a lawless rabble, who 

 respected no safe-conduct, by whomsoever granted, or for whatever 

 purpose. The commanders, on both sides, had no confidence in each 

 other, in their governments, their troops, nor even in themselves. The 

 war was conducted without skill or vigour, and quickly became a mere 

 trial of patience ; the besiegers depended upon famine for their success, 

 and the people of the town trusted for deliverance only on holding 

 out. Had not a fleet been employed, and its efforts better directed, no 

 result of importance would have followed. 



The road from Monte Video to Colonia, or Santo Sacramento, 

 passes near the coast, through an undulated coimtry, cut by a few unim- 

 portant streams. No place of any note intervenes, except Santa Luzia, 

 where there is a Port for small craft. The town of Colonia contains about 

 fifty inconsiderable houses, pleasantly situated, and neat in their appear- 

 ance, inhabited chiefly by Spanish families. The port is a valuable one, 

 but remained unimproved in consequence of the jealousy with which it 

 is regarded by Buenos Ayres. Besides several roads into the interior, 

 which commence here, there is a passage-boat to and from the last 

 mentioned city, which goes one way or the other almost every day. In 

 the year 1762, the British auxiliaries were defeated at this place, and 

 one of our ships was burned. Penrose, the poet, was in the action, and, 

 just before it began, addressed a beautiful sonnet to his mistress, which^ 

 I believe, was never published. 



