CHAPTER VIII. 



RIO DE JANEIRO. 



A. D. 1813. 



IMPROVEMENT OF THE CITY. BUILDINGS. POPULATION. COURT. CONDUCT AND 



POPULARITY OF THE REGENT. THEATRE. ECCLESIASTICAL MATTERS. THEIR 



INFLUENCE UPON MANNERS. ARMY, AND MILITARY AFFAIRS. INTERNAL 



CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY. FOREIGN RELATIONS. MARRIAGE OF A PRIN- 

 CESS. COMMERCIAL IMPROVEMENTS. DOMESTIC COMFORTS. THE MIDDLE 



HARBOUR. HOSPITAL DOS ENCHADOS. ROCKS AND ISLANDS. PARTY OF PLEA- 

 SURE. LAZARETTO. GAMBo'a. BRITISH BURIAL-GROUND. DESICCATION. 



PONTE CAJU'. MARICANa'. NEVAS ISLANDS. ST. LORENZO. PRAIA GRANDE'. 



ISLAND OF VILLEGAGNON. 



DURING the period from the Queen's arrival a favourable altera- 

 tion in the Brazilian capital, now more commonly called by its proper 

 name, St.- Sebastian, made considerable advances. New streets were 

 added to the city, and new markets established ; old ones were greatly 

 improved in cleanliness. The houses were more generally and symmetri- 

 cally whitened and painted, the ugly looking jealousies were removed, 

 and some of the balconies, which remained, ornamented with plants and 

 flowers. Many small villas and gardens adorned the neighbourhood, and 

 patches of ground were carefully cultivated for grass, for vegetables, 

 and for flowers. The roads were widened in various directions, and kept 

 more clear of brushwood and other similar impediments ; and a new one 

 was in progress across the marshes West of the city, to the village of St. 

 Christophe, whither the Royal Family frequently retired. 



