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appointed to attend me, under an injunction on the part of His 

 Excellency that their future promotion would depend entirely on the 

 report which I should give of their conduct after my return. I am 

 happy to say that their services merited every commendation. 



The occurrence to which I allude was this: — A free negro of Villa 

 do Principe, about nine hundred miles distant, had the assurance 

 to write a letter to the Prince Regent, announcing that he possessed 

 an amazingly large diamond which he had received from a deceased 

 friend some years ago, and which he begged he might have the 

 honour to present to His Royal Highness in person. As the mag- 

 nitude which this poor fellow ascribed to his diamond was such as to 

 raise imagination to its highest pitch, an order was immediately 

 dispatched to the commander of Villa do Principe, to send him 

 forthwith to Rio de Janeiro, he was accommodated with a convey- 

 ance and escorted by two soldiers. As he passed along the road, all 

 who had heard the report hailed him as already honoured with a 

 cross of the order of St. Bento, and as sure of being rewarded with 

 the pay of a general of brigade. The soldiers also anticipated great 

 promotion ; and all persons envied the fortunate negro. At length, 

 after a journey which occupied about twenty-eight days, he arrived 

 at the capital, and was straightway conveyed to the palace. His 

 happiness was now about to be consummated, in a few moments the 

 hopes which he had for so many years indulged would be realized, 

 and he should be exalted from a low and obscure condition to a 

 state of affluence and distinction ; such no doubt were the thoughts 

 which agitated him during the moments of suspence. At length he 

 was admitted into the presence ; he threw himself at the Prince's 

 feet, and delivered his wonderful gem ; His Highness was astonished 

 at its magnitude ; a pause ensued ; the attendants waited to hear 

 the Prince's opinion, and what he said they seconded. A round 

 diamond nearly a pound in weight filled them all with wonder ; 

 some ready calculators reckoned the millions it was worth ; others 

 Jound it difficult to numerate the jsum at which it would be valued. 



