NOTICES OF BRAZIL. 



31 



themselves injured, and gave a voice to their grievances. Mur- 

 murs grew into complaints, and representations were made 

 which passed unnoticed, until the emperor was told, in pretty- 

 plain terms, that he must change his ministry. Even this step 

 was treated with contempt, and when Dom Pedro thought 

 seriously of regaining the confidence of the people, which he 

 had lost, it was too late. The ministry was changed and re- 

 changed successively, to please one or another of the many 

 political parties which, as a consequence to the state of thing?, 

 sprung forth like so many heads from that political hydra — 

 public discontent. These parties were composed of people who 

 had their views in elevating certain persons to a place near the 

 throne. The public ear was occupied by vague and contradic- 

 tory rumors and reports ; and the minds of the people became 

 filled with uncertainty and alarm. Among other groundless 

 and ridiculous reports, was one that there was a design against 

 the constitution, and the liberties of the people — that this con- 

 spiracy was the plotting of the Portuguese ; and, however pre- 

 posterous and unreasonable it may appear, it was said that Dom 

 Pedro was at the head of it ! 



"The emperor, about this time, had been on a visit of in- 

 spection to a neighboring province, and under the pretext of 

 receiving him, on the day of his return, the refugees, with 

 many Portuguese who have been long residing here, paraded 

 the streets with arms, in squads of forty or fifty, uttering cries 

 which were highly irritating to the feelings of the natives, and 

 even looked upon by them as seditious. The Brazilians were 

 exasperated, and attempted to put down the obnoxious party 

 by force, and in consequence several skirmishes took place in 

 the streets, and several lives were lost on both sides. This 

 happened on the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth of March. 

 The shops were shut up ; foreigners thought of taking refuge, 

 with their effects, on board of the men-of-war of their respec- 

 tive nations ; and all business was suspended for several days. 



"With a view of restoring peace, or of obtaining at least a 

 cessation of hostilities amongst all parties, and of soothing and 

 tranquillizing the public mind, the emperor at once appointed 



