NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



569 



people, the source of their security, the focus and fountain of their wealth 

 and their honour. The first effort toward accomplishing this important work 

 was made when the ports of Brazil were opened to foreign commerce, 

 and a wonderful alteration it produced in the people's views and modes 

 of thinking ; yet it left them without any strong bias to one particular 

 country, and served rather to incline each province, without regard 

 to the general interest, to the side where its commercial advantage was 

 most considerable. But no sooner was the country declared a Kingdom, 

 than it displayed an individuality of sentiment, and joined in one 

 common act of homage to the throne. Addresses of exultation and 

 gratitude to the Sovereign poured in, by one simultaneous movement, 

 from every part of the country, and the most remote and obscure 

 township felt proud of the privilege which admitted it to address its own 

 Sovereign under a Brazilian title, on Brazilian ground ; it perceived itself 

 to be, however humble, an integral part of the extended whole. All the 

 blessings of a Revolution, which the people had formerly wished for, 

 had fallen upon the country, almost without their being sensible of the 

 change. 



This feeling of Nationality was still further promoted, soon after- 

 wards, by an event of a different nature. Within a few months Brazil 

 had to mourn the death of its first Queen, whose funeral obsequies 

 being celebrated by every city, town, and considerable village in the 

 Kingdom, called the people again together, with their attention fixed 

 upon one common object. On this occasion they displayed all the 

 talent for show, all the taste for decoration, sculpture, oratory, and verse, 

 which the country possessed. By such attractions the Brazilians were 

 induced to leave, for a time, their recesses in woods and deserts, to 

 assemble in the principal towns of their districts, became better acquainted 

 with each other, and with their rulers ; they acquired and riveted new 

 degrees of civilization, new attachment to the Sovereign Avho succeeded 

 to the throne, who was already known, and had been long beloved 

 as Regent. 



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