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Brazils, under the escort of a British squadron, dispatched by 

 Sir Sidney Smith. This intelhgence was most joyfully received by 

 the Brazilians ; they considered, indeed, that the occupation of 

 Portugal by the French was a disaster very likely to ensue, but 

 they consoled themselves with the hope of receiving a Prince, in 

 whose praise every tongue was eloquent, and to whose cause every 

 heart was loyal. The Brazilian empire was considered as established; 

 and the worthy bishop consecrated the auspicious era by ordaining 

 daily prayers in the cathedral, to invoke fi'om Divine Providence the 

 safe arrival of the Royal Family. News of their having touched at 

 Bahia arrived in about ten days, and was welcomed by every de- 

 monstration of public joy, processions, fire-works. Sec. Hoping 

 every day to hear of their arrival at Rio de Janeiro, I made all ready 

 for my departure, and devoted the few remaining days to a second 

 excursion to the gold-mines, and to some farewell visits among my 

 friends in the vicinity of St. Paul's. The governor and many of the 

 principal inhabitants gave us parting invitations, and by their urba- 

 nity rendered the last hours we passed with them at once delightful 

 and melancholy. Some of the latter accompanied us two leagues on 

 our way, and on separating testified the warmest wishes for our 

 welfare. 



I never recall to mind the civilities I received at this city without 

 the most grateful emotions, in which those will best sympathize who 

 have known what it is to visit a remote city in a strange country, 

 where, according to the narratives of preceding travellers, nothing 

 prevailed but barbarism and inhospitality, and where they have been 

 agreeably undeceived. It may easily be supposed that I found it 

 difficult to reconcile the character of the Paulistas, such as I beheld 

 it, with the strange accounts of their spurious origin, quoted by 

 modern geographers. These accounts, founded on the suspicious 

 testimony of the jesuits of Paraguay, and at variance with the best 

 Portugueze historians, have been of late most ably confuted by an 



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