NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



549 



of events and circumstances in which I was personally concerned, but 

 they would not be generally interesting. At length it was absolutely 

 necessary to suspend the corps, in order to reform it, and though at the 

 time when I left Rio, it had been re-established, every party of three 

 soldiers consisted of two from the regiment of Police Guards, and one 

 from the Militia or the Regulars ; the latter being considered as a check 

 upon the former. A little time previous to this, a great number of 

 Frenchmen had arrived, whose characters had been transmitted from the 

 Police Office at Paris, and they justly excited some anxiety. This gave 

 rise to a sort of Alien Office, where every Foreigner was compelled to 

 enrol his name, and take out a licence of residence, which placed him 

 immediately under surveillance. To the old resident British, this order 

 was communicated in the most handsome form possible, and I believe 

 was not offensive to any one among them, who enjoyed or deserved the 

 confidence of Government. 



Other branches of the Military Establishment had received their 

 share of attention. So early as 1813, measures had been taken to fill 

 up the ranks, and some severe ones had been resorted to. The Intendants 

 of Districts were commanded to inquire into the state of families, and 

 where a man had two sons of sufficient age, to impress one of them into 

 the Royal Service. Such powers, placed in the hands of men not 

 accustomed to authority, were naturally abused, and the people groaned 

 under heavy oppression ; while many of the recruits which were thus 

 raised, joined their Regiments with a dislike to their profession, and 

 rancour in their hearts. About the same time, a Military Academy 

 was established in Rio, for the instruction of Officers ; and books on 

 tactics, and other parts of the Soldier's duty, were translated by Royal 

 order, and published for their use. A Military Junta or Committee also, 

 was appointed, for effecting the more complete subjugation of the 

 country, by reclaiming it from the Indians; opening roads in their 

 territories, particularly in the Province of Minas Geraes, and for advancing 

 the civilization of such as did not flee. About a year later, orders were 

 issued for taking care of the families, and particularly of the children of 



