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CHAP. XX. 



General Observations on the Trade from England to Brazil. 



TTAVING, in a preceding part of this work, stated the importance 

 -'■ of Rio de Janeiro as a port which, from its locahty, appears 

 destined by nature to become the metropohs of a vast empire, and 

 the centre of an extensive commerce, it may not be improper in this 

 place to treat more at large on this interesting subject. 



The ships best calculated for trade from England are those which 

 carry about four hundred tons, and sail well : it is particularly neces- 

 sary that they should have the latter quality ; for, if they have not, 

 the voyage from thence to England is frequently rendered very 

 tedious by their being driven so far to the westward by the north-east 

 trade-wind. Owing to this circumstance, it is not uncommon for a 

 packet, or fast-sailing ship, to make a passage from the coast of 

 Brazil to England in five or six weeks, when a heavy-sailing vessel 

 is double that time in arriving at her destination. The best season 

 for sailing from England, and that which affords the greatest proba- 

 bility of making a short passage, is the month of February or March, 

 because then the north-east winds prevail. I should advise crossing 

 the line in not less than 22°, nor more than 25** west longitude, if 

 the destination be the Plata or Rio de Janeiro, as I have twice ex- 

 perienced very heavy calms in crossing the line between 39^ and 20^ 

 Ships bound to Bahia, Pernambuco, and ports more northerly, will 

 of course cross the line more to the westward, as they will have 

 nothing to fear ; but the south-west trade-wind would generally 

 cause ships going farther south to fall in with the land too soon. 

 Should that be the case, I would advise them, if they make the land 



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