RIO JANEIRO. 
9 
eminence of his flag, is perhaps on ordinary occasions the leading 
sentiment of his mind. — In many of his officers, an escape from 
subordination to the independence of a rove on shore, with all 
the importance really and in imagination attached to the character 
of a British naval officer, may be the chief pleasurable expect- 
ation. In one or two of them, indeed, very different feelings 
may arise. Habit sometimes acts so powerfully on a seaman’s 
nature, that all his pleasing associations are of a nautical cha- 
racter, and whatever interrupts their train is to him a positive evil. 
To such a character the appearance of land, so dear to others, 
brings with it no pleasing emotion, and is irksome in proportion to 
his chances of delay. — The professor, or admirer of the pictorial art, 
dwells on the exterior characters of the scene, collects all the 
great traits by which a sublime picture is formed, and anticipates 
the interior beauties of the country of which he contemplates the 
outline. — The speculator on human character, varied by the mo- 
difying influence of climate, religion, and government, takes his 
own species as the subject of his examination. As the inhabitants 
of different classes appear, he combines them in an imaginary so- 
ciety, owing its character to his previous conclusions, but which he 
expects will be found consistent with reality. — Over all these, the 
naturalist has many advantages both with respect to pleasurable ex- 
pectation and the chances of its fulfilment. The objects of his 
studies are infinitely numerous, and each in its simple relations is so 
completely a centre of observation, that he must always be repaid for 
the labour of research. On first entering the harbour of Rio Janeiro, 
he feels unutterable delight. No apprehension of disappointment 
darkens his prospect. The certainty of meeting Nature in her gayest 
and most exalted colours, in all her varied and attracted forms, gives 
him unmixed enjoyment. The brilliant tints of the mountain foliage 
feed his botanical imagination, whilst the dazzling insects which 
flutter about the ship tell to him the stores of animated nature. As 
a geologist, he may almost remain on the deck of the vessel and pro- 
