^46 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



On different occasions the Regent had presented himself with confi- 

 dence in the midst of his people. He had opened, with his own hand, a 

 new public Fountain, which brought, from a distance of four or five miles, 

 the first of blessings in a climate Hke that of Rio. He had attended care- 

 fully to the management of the Police, appointed some excellent officers, 

 and promoted many Brazilians to places of honour and of trust. He had 

 gratified the troops by treating them with freedom, and by attending 

 reviews. To the people he had given consideration, and brought them to 

 feel their importance as a state. In consequence he was hailed as the 

 benefactor of the country, the founder of a new empire, and distinguished 

 by the title, as he was in fact, the only civilized " Monarch of the South." 



Theatrical amusements kept pace in improvement with matters of 

 more immediate importance. Not only did the Regent indulge what 

 seemed a strong personal taste, by his frequent attendance upon them, 

 but he appeared in the Theatre accompanied by his family. Hence it 

 became fashionable for all, who wished to be thought persons of conse- 

 quence, to show themselves there ; and the spell which bound the 

 Brazilian ladies to home and seclusion was broken. The multitude 

 followed ; some to wonder at the play, some to gaze at the fair. In the 

 pieces represented, the manners, vices, dialect, and other peculiarities of 

 the colony, were ridiculed ; and the public taste, in consequence, amended. 

 The people had even advanced so far as diffidently venturing to applaud, 

 when they were pleased ; but had not sufficient confidence to express 

 their disapprobation. 



Great alteration was also taking place in Ecclesiastical Affairs. A 

 Nuncio had arrived from the Pope ; rather to keep up the connexion of 

 the Holy Father with the country than to issue and enforce the Papal 

 mandates. A Bishop had been appointed to the widely extended See of 

 St. Sebastian, who, without being a bigot, dared to do his duty, and 

 managed with dexterity the multitude of ignorant and superstitious. 

 He travelled to some parts of his diocese, and looked carefully into 

 their religious state. He encouraged marriages, solemnized them in 

 person, dispensed frequently with the edicts of Rome, and set aside the 



