570 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



The elevation of Brazil to the dignity of a Kingdom required a 

 new bearing for the country, and a new device for the flag. In that 

 which was adopted, the Government has been thought, by persons 

 ignorant of Heraldic mysteries, to have displayed a little of its vanity, 

 if not of its designs, and to have given to the people a lesson which they 

 are not slow to comprehend, nor reserved enough to conceal. The old 

 shields of Portugal and Algarva are placed upon a sphere, so as nearly 

 to cover one half of it, and the six banded crown is suspended over 

 the whole, destitute, as yet, of decoration. 



By those who have observed the influence of events upon national 

 character and union, the Acclamation of the first King of Brazil will not 

 be overlooked. The ceremony did not take place until many months 

 had elapsed after the death of the late Queen, and a variety of reasons 

 were given for the delay ; some of them, no doubt, the offspring of 

 fancy alone, others with at least the appearance of truth. It was said 

 that the King did not choose to be acclaimed, until his mother had been 

 dead full twelve months ; until she was not only gone from this world, 

 and had done with all sublunary things, but also until the priesthood 

 should declare, — and they only could know, — that she had passed 

 from the state of Purgatory. On this point the wise men unfor- 

 tunately differed ; the Priests of the Chapel Royal declaring, that she 

 had entered upon perfect bliss, while those of the Candelaria warmly 

 maintained, that she was not yet purified ; evincing to the people, if 

 such a people, or any people equally influenced by superstition, could 

 be convinced, that they knew nothing about the matter. Others stated 

 that the King was unwilling to be regularly installed in his office until the 

 arrival of the Austrian Princess, which would render the festival more 

 splendid, and more generally interesting. It was even maintained, that 

 it would be dangerous to bring the people together in the present temper 

 of the country and the military ; and I believe there were some weak 

 headed and timid men near to the throne, who whispered such insinu- 

 ations into the Royal ear. 



