574 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



the Freedom of the Press, and seemed disposed to favour it ; he was 

 then prevented from following his inclination by the conduct of an 

 ignorant and injudicious Magistrate, and now many ignorant and inju- 

 dicious people exult in its continued restrictions. The Licensed Press 

 however, has produced some useful works besides these, which relate to 

 Military affairs. Among them, we reckon as the most useful, the 

 Thesouro dos Meninos, which treats of " Morals, Virtue, and good 

 Manners." It was dedicated, very properly, to Don Miguel, the King's 

 second son, for no boy can require such instructions more than he 

 does ; his education has been most limited and unfortunate. A book 

 entitled Lectures on Philosophy, contains too much of the dogmas of 

 Aristotle and the dark ages to evince that the Author is either enlight- 

 ened or judicious. We have also the History of Extravagant Illusions 

 and Supernatural Influence ; the Commercial Laws of Brazil ; Several 

 useful Works on Commerce and Navigation, particularly a Nautical 

 Almanack, calculated for the Meridian of Rio, a Work badly executed, 

 but followed by Tables of the Sun's Declination, of Latitudes, and Lo- 

 garithms ; one or two Works on Geography, and a Treatise on the 

 Diseases of Negroes. 



A Private Printing Press was established at the close of 1816 ; Phi- 

 losopliical Lectures were read and attended ; the Cabinet which formerly 

 belonged ^to the celebrated Werner was arranged and studied; Mineral 

 Waters, found in Minas Geraes and other places, had been analysed; 

 and Brazilians boasted of a native discovery, in the composition of Gun- 

 powder, but I apprehend without reason, for it consists simply in mixing 

 a quantity of fresh saw-dust with the grains ; a Patent had been granted 

 for making Bricks by Machinery, and another for the Navigation of the 

 Bay by a Steam Boat ; a Company had been formed even in Cuyaba, 

 under Royal patronage, for improvements in the art of Mining. 



The Arabian Camel had been introduced, and two small Goats from 

 India, which I imagine to be Cashmerian ; if they succeed, both animals 

 will prove useful to the country. 



In 1818, at a Sale of Books, English Works went off well, as did 



