NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



559 



witli mercy. To punish her, however, and to prevent similar occurrenceSj 

 the Government has not only taken measures which are calculated to 

 draw a part of her commerce to Rio, and to produce a preference for this 

 port, not only enforced ancient laws, but prohibited the exportation of 

 cash to the Northward. 



When the Fleet had sailed, the City, for the Capital of a 

 Military Government, certainly appeared very destitute of troops, and 

 the duty fell hard upon the Militia and the few Regulars which remained; 

 but they were quickly relieved by corps from the different districts of 

 the Interior. The first which arrived, was from the immediate 

 neighbourhood of the City, and made such a respctable appearance, that 

 the exhibition of force on the 13th of May, the King's Birth-day, was 

 quite sufficient to inspire the most timid with confidence, and to abate 

 the courage of the ill-disposed, if there had been any persons of that 

 description. The disappearance of two or three from public life, gave 

 some reason for suspicions of this kind ; but such deductions cannot 

 always be relied upon under a Government, whose measures are gene- 

 rally concealed, and must often appear mysterious. The Country Divi- 

 sions were relieved every month ; and certainly some of them, whatever 

 credit they might obtain in their native Districts, excited in the City 

 feehngs of regret or contempt, as the spectators, who had lately been 

 accustomed to military show and precision in discipline, were inclined 

 toward Loyalty or Revolution. Many of these regiments had been 

 wretchedly neglected, were furnished with enormous helmets, uncouth 

 swords, unwieldly cartouch boxes, and worn-out accoutrements. Yet 

 the general effect was favourable to the State, for the troops were not 

 only placed in active service and found themselves obliged to become 

 better soldiers, but they were better clothed and better paid ; they no 

 longer considered the service as a severe drudgery, but as an honourable 

 profession, as the high road to distinction and preferment. In the Metro- 

 polis also, both as soldiers and citizens, they formed habits suitable to 

 the flew order of things, and carried them back to their native deserts, 

 diffusing additional civilization over a wide extent of the Continent. 



