THE BRAZILS. J09 
cause he is sent to promote. To couiinence a discourse witli 
a savage on the bhss of liis sou], of which he has no con- 
scious existence, whilst hunger, disease, and ])ain torment 
his body, would be absurd and preposterous. Those have 
the better cause in hand ^vho endeavour to render pleasure 
and profit compatible with religion, and to give the savage 
a taste of happiness in this world, as. the surest means of 
awakening- in him the desire of extendino' it to the next. To 
direct his mind to objects of which he can comprehend the 
ntihtj ; to convince him, by example, that liis (fuantity of ' 
happiness is capable of being extended ; to give him i\otions 
of property, and the comforts it is capable of procuring ; — 
these are the more effectual means 
*' To make man mild and sociable to man, 
*' To cultivate the wild licentious savage 
*' With wisdom, discipline, and liberal arts j" 
than Ijy compelling his assent to doctrines, of which he 
can neither comprehend tlie reasoning, nor feel the benefit. 
This is beginning entirely at the wrong end ; and the ob- 
stinate adherence to such a system, by the more rigid orders 
of Catholics in the Brazils, obliged them, after the destruc- 
tion of the Jesuits, to abandon the cause altogether. The 
consequence of which was, that the greater part of the na- 
tives are at this moment as uncivilized as, and perhaps more 
so than, when the countrj^ was first discovered. 
The antipatli>' of the Brazilians to the Portugueze is so 
great, that the Viceroy is not able, without some difficulty, 
to kec]) up an establishment of twelve rowers of the state 
