NOTES ON BRAZIL. 557 



manifest the feeling of a benevolent man and a righteous ruler. " How 

 is it," he said, " that my subjects revolt ; — I have always tried to do them 

 good ; — I do not know that I have injured any one ; — what do they wish 

 for?" Such feelings, however, before the next morning, gave way to 

 vigour; the disaster was met with great firmness, and gave rise to 

 unusual exertion in every department of the State. The King himself 

 forgot his usual character and habits, ordered an expedition to be 

 prepared when there was little hope of fitting out any thing formidable ; 

 visited, in his own person, accompanied by the Heir apparent, the Trea- 

 sury, the Arsenal, and other Offices of the State ; examined the Stores, 

 the Storekeepers, and their books ; saw what was at hand, and w^hat must 

 be procured. By a well timed severity to a few negligent officers, and 

 replacing them by humbler but better men, he created among the people 

 a confidence, an alertness, a devotion, which had never been witnessed 

 in Brazil, and perhaps will never be exceeded. 



The Palace soon became crowded with bodies of people, who went 

 to offer either personal services or money for the occasion. The City of 

 Kio alone produced full seven thousand volunteers, and 200,000,000 

 Reis, or £60,000 sterling. The performances at the Theatre, on Monday 

 evening, were not merely interrupted, but absolutely suspended, by 

 repeated and general bursts of loyalty and patriotism, and by singing in 

 chorus a national hymn, hastily composed for the occasion. On the 

 Wednesday evening the same enthusiasm was displayed, and white 

 handkerchiefs, of which nearly ten thousand had been prepared, either 

 with the profile of the King, or some loyal sentiment or device, waved 

 as the banner under which every one rallied. I confess that, though a 

 foreigner, and interested only in general with domestic politics, this 

 burst of national sentiment thrilled to my very soul. I saw a whole 

 people at once forget the execrable mode in which the administration of 

 the country had been conducted, and the oppression under which almost 

 every man had laboured. I saw them bury it all beneath the love of a 

 Sovereign whom they knew to be benevolent, though inactive ; deceived, 

 but not personally cruel. 



