336 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



been converted into a Royal Chase, and the Baron, though no Sportsman, 

 is appointed its Ranger. 



We also visited St. Bento, one of the Royal Palaces, and were 

 kindly received by the resident Priests. The house was lately built by 

 the Order, presented to the King, and is now a favourite retreat. Its 

 situation renders it worthy of this distinction ; for it commands a view 

 of the middle and lower bays, of the mouth of the harbour, of the city, 

 and all the signal staffs ; and enjoys the full enlivening influence of the 

 sea breeze. The house has fourteen rooms all on one floor. The apart- 

 ments immediately devoted to the Sovereign's use, are a small sitting 

 room, furnished with a table, a writing desk, and tM O or three chairs ; 

 a dining room, somewhat larger, with a set of mahogany tables, a dozen 

 painted chairs, and two ordinary vases of imitative cut glass, to contain 

 candles; and communicating with these by a narrow passage, a 

 very close bed room, in which is a canopied bed with plain hangings, of 

 light blue silk. On the same scale are the rooms for the two Princes ; 

 each containing a small tent bed, furnished with Musquito curtains, and 

 each a marquesa for an attendant. Adjoining to these apartments, is a 

 broad varanda, at the end opposite to its entrance a chapel, and behind it 

 a well-sized room, finished and adorned in a superior style. It was 

 painted by a slave belonging the estate, who, according to his own 

 account, ran away, got on board a ship bound to London, was there 

 employed by a manufacturer of painted chairs, worked with him about 

 six months, became tired of England and freedom, and contrived to get 

 back to Brazil and to slavery. At his return, this house was building, 

 and his newly-acquired talent being observed, he was ordered to exercise 

 it on this room. On a broad border, above the surbase, he has represented 

 many of the fine flowers which the island produces, and we are 

 constrained to bear witness to the correctness of his imitations, though 

 sensible of the defects of his style. Whatever may be amiss in the 

 productions of his pencil, it is almost superfluous to add, that the man 

 certainly possesses genius ; and being now a faithful slave, as well as a 

 great artist, he is treated with much kindness. The attendants of royalty 



