128 



A VOYAGE TO 



he knew very little on the subjects I was desirous of 

 being informed. He contented himself with declama- 

 tion on the magnificence of the Brazilian empire, and 

 spoke with some warmth, of the endeavors of the Bri- 

 tish government to persuade the royal family to returft 

 to Lisbon. He declared, that they would never be 

 able to prevail on the king to exchange his present 

 high and independent situation, in order to place him- 

 self once more under the wing of English protection. 

 The English had been greatly disappointed and cha- 

 grined by this resolution, but had not yet abandoned 

 the hope of prevailing on him to change it. There 

 may be a more powerful reason than the mere pride 

 of royalty, for not taking this step; it is the uncertainty 

 of his being able to retain this immense country by 

 any other mode than a permanent transfer of his resi- 

 dence. It would be utterly impossible to reduce the 

 Brazils once more to the colonial state, after having 

 once enjoyed an exemption from the colonial restric- 

 tions. It is as diflBcult as it is disagreeable, to contract 

 one's self after having filled a considerable space. 

 One might as well expect to see a youth who had es- 

 caped the restraint of his tutor, return to his pupilage 

 without a struggle. The Portuguese royal family ne- 

 ver will, nor ever can, quit the Brazils, unless driven 

 away by the inhabitants. The numerous restraints 

 that have been taken off since they ceased to be a co- 

 lony, and their rapid expansion, each day increases 

 the difficulty of putting them back to the colonial state. 



After dinner we strolled into the garden, shaded 

 with a great many beautiful trees, and adorned with 

 all the rich luxuriance of tropical vegetation. The 

 country seats along the road on each side, reminded 



