NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



551 



re-model the troops, which remained there. Impressment and drilling, 

 under the superintendence of these Officers, went on with great activity ; 

 and the exertion required, soon excited disgust in several Figurantes, 

 who had paraded for years, but had never seen an enemy, nor even 

 witnessed what may properly be called discipline. Such were therefore 

 replaced by better Soldiers, although they expressed their disapprobation 

 of the new measures, and ridiculously talked of dying with their swords 

 in their hands. But this was no time for intimidation ; Government 

 proceeded steadily, and with vigour. The grievances of the privates 

 were soon redressed ; they began to love their officers, honour their 

 profession, and value their own characters; their equipments, their 

 appearance, and precision in duty, were astonishingly improved ; the 

 men had become actually stronger and more healthy ; they could endure 

 more labour, and bear a fiercer sun. 



It has been already observed, that so early as the year 1809, troops 

 had been sent from Rio Grande to the frontiers of the province, perhaps 

 without any ultimate view to a war in that quarter. Yet soon after- 

 wards symptoms of disaffection with the Government of Spain began 

 to show themselves, in the countries on the left side of the Plata, as 

 they had done for some time on tlie right, and the people united under 

 the banner of Artigas, — a man of great landed property, but of low 

 birth, and whose habits and manners qualified him well to take the 

 command of half civilized hordes. Vigodet, indeed, held for the King 

 of Spain the important post of Monte Video, which, in the year 1812, 

 was besieged by those forces, united with troops from Buenos Ayres. 

 The Spanish Governor retaliated by capturing the vessels which belonged 

 to the latter place, and carried in several which navigated between Rio 

 de Janeiro and the Plata. It was usual, during the prevalence of the 

 Colonial system, for such vessels to have two husbands, one in Brazil, 

 the other in the Spanish provinces, in order that they might trade with 

 security, and avoid the breach of navigation laws by appearing 

 as Portuguese in Brazil, as Spaniards in the Plata. The system 

 was continued even after Buenos Ayres had declared herself inde- 



