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Misunderstandings frequently arose between the English and the 

 Portugueze, either in making contracts, or in not complying with 

 them ; and they were continually prosecuting each other for injuries 

 which both parties professed to have sustained. These litigations 

 might have terminated very expensively, if not otherwise seriously, 

 had not the wise measures of the Judge Conservador, approved by 

 His Excellency Lord Strangford, prevented the perplexities of legal 

 proceedings. The appeals of the English were always heard ; they 

 were strangers whom His Royal Highness protected, and they ever 

 found in the Conde de Linhares a firm and powerful friend, and in 

 the British Ambassador a wise and prudent supporter of their claims. 

 They were allowed peculiar privileges, similar to those enjoyed by 

 the nobles in Portugal : they could also claim the possession of houses 

 inhabited by useless families ; their rents could not be raised ; and, 

 in case of embarrassment in tlieir affairs, an appeal to the Prince 

 procured them a term of ten years, during which their creditors could 

 not iliolest them. These and many other acts of favour toward the 

 English certainly excited the jealousy of the resident Portugueze, 

 who frequently exclaimed, that to live in Brazil it was necessary to 

 become an Englishman. 



Had it been possible to bring the whole trade to Brazil under one 

 interest, many of these fatal consequences might have been pre- 

 vented. It should have been under the control and direction of ex- 

 perienced merchants, who would have sent out such articles as were 

 known to be wanted, and Avhose agents would have been actively 

 employed in obtaining intelligence respecting the population of the 

 country, its produce, and its consumption, particularly in goods of 

 English manufacture. Interest would naturally prompt them to 

 order and buy all that the country required, and return to this coun- 

 try those articles which were most likely to answer the general demand. 



If the trade had been properly conducted, we should have received 

 for a fifth of the produce which has been sold the same amount 

 which has been paid for the whole, and it is certain that the pur- 



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