NOTICES OF BRAZIL. 



51 



lowed the chamberlain through the left hand door. The Ame- 

 rican Legation was last. Our Charge preceded, and the officers 

 followed according to rank, at about three yards from each 

 other. On entering the presence, we all bowed ; and again, 

 when half way up to the dais, and repeated the reverence im- 

 mediately before his Highness. Then retreating, with our faces 

 towards the throne, and making three bows, we made our exit 

 through the right hand door. This movement in a large room, 

 is far from being graceful ; and from the impediment experi- 

 enced by the clergy, in consequence of wearing long robes, 

 they have been excused from this retrograde step. We halted 

 in the room where the chamberlain had met us, to observe 

 those who were still entering to pay their court to the infant 

 emperor. 



The throne room was richly hung with green velvet, sprink- 

 led with gold and silver stars, and the floor was covered with a 

 bright colored carpet, with a centre medallion figure. Dom 

 Pedro II., who bears a striking resemblance to his father, 

 stood upon the dais — an elevation of one step, on which the 

 throne is usually placed — with the regency on his right, and 

 his two younger sisters on his left hand. His large, liquid eyes, 

 wandered from one person to another with an expression of 

 half indifference. His salutations were stiff, and the princesses, 

 who are his seniors*' (he is not six years old), seemed to suffer 

 a kind of mauvaise honte. Ladies and lords, and officers bear- 

 ing their respective insignia, stood along the walls on either 

 hand. Many of the courtiers were arrayed in rich suits of vel- 

 vet of antiquated fashion, and wore those decorations of honor 

 which it may have pleased royalty to bestow upon them. 



The crowd soon began to move out of the palace towards 

 their carriages. The music continued ; conversation was gay ; 

 every body wore a holy-day face, and self approbation might 

 be read in every countenance ! 



* The late empress left five children. 



Dona Maria de Gloria, Queen of Portugal, born April 4th, 1819. 

 Dona Januaria, - - - . «< March 11th, 1821. 

 Dona Paulina Mariana, r - - " February 17th, 1823. 

 Dona Francisca Carolina, - - - « August 2d, 1824. 

 Dom Pedro d' Alcantara, (now Dom Pedro II.) " December 2d, 1825. 



