But those who know Brazil well, think such a thing most absurd to attempt, and impossible to achieve. The people are not Portuguese, and there is no party in the country who are disposed to imitate their political conduct. The Brazilians are essentially Americans, and have deeply imbibed the opinions of all the American states; too intelligent not to be well acquainted with their rights, and too powerful to surrender them; and I have heard the best informed persons say, that if once they were convinced that there was no alternative between despotism and democracy, they would not, for a moment, hesitate to choose the latter. The emperor, whatever his inherent propensities may be, is too prudent and sagacious not to see this. The country, with all its impediments, has proceeded, under the present system, in a career of unexampled prosperity, and neither the emperor nor the people will be so unwise as to wish to change it.

But the circumstance, perhaps, which has caused his popularity to decline, more than any other, is his open contempt for public opinion on certain moral duties. There are no people whom I have met with, who form a more just appreciation of character in this respect, than the Brazilians; and as the blameless and irreproachable conduct of the late empress was the theme of their highest praise, so the cause of her domestic unhappiness was an object of their deepest sympathy and reprobation. Over such a people, the influence of character is not to be despised with impunity; and he who governs them should be cautious to establish it. Under this impression, the emperor was very anxious to enter into another matrimonial engagement with an European princess, and redeem that estimation in the minds of his subjects, which he had neglected. It was reported in Brazil, that he had not succeeded in this object, and had therefore intended to elevate another person to the throne; but the deep mortification and dismay with which this suspicion was communicated to me by several, was a proof how seriously it was considered by the people, and how much moral influence would have been sacrificed by such a disregard to public opinion. Happily, however, such fears were groundless; the negotiation has succeeded; and a princess of the house of Bavaria, as good and amiable, it is said, as her predecessor, is about to add dignity and respect to the throne of Brazil, and to afford another bright example of moral conduct to the people.' Vol. II. pp. 462-468.

After travelling seven or eight hundred miles through remote and unfrequented parts of the country, and mixing, during several weeks, with people of every class, Dr. Walsh found his estimate of the national character totally changed from that with which he had left England.

Though sometimes rough and unpolished, they are remarkably kind and good-natured; and their former prejudice against strangers, never renders them hostile, never uncivil. On the contrary, stranger seems, with them, a sacred name, when he stands in need of their assistance. If they are indolent, it has hitherto been for want of a proper stimulant, and the baneful and enervating effects of having all their labour performed, and their wants supplied, by slaves. Where a due incentive is applied, there are no people more active. Since the

opening of the interior, and a free communication with other countries, new roads have been pushed into deserts where human foot, except that of the savage, never trod, and plantations of food begun, where nothing but wood and bushes had before been since the creation. Indeed, the increasing intercourse on the roads, and the transportation of produce from place to place, is more active than I have seen it in any country, except England. All the wild mountain passes were covered with troperos; the ranchos were never empty of their mules; and the bustle and activity of Porto d'Estrella, which continues every day, and all day long, is such as I have seen only at crowded fairs or markets which recur periodically in other countries.

If they are ignorant, it is not from any want of a desire for knowledge, or of a disposition to learn. . . . . Every provincial town has now a newspaper of its own. In the serra of Lenheiros, they have esta blished a respectable public library at St. John del Rey, with a literary society; and schools of primary instruction are opened, wherever there is a collection of houses to supply scholars. They are so eager to learn, that, in some places, for want of books, they are instructed out of manuscripts; and along the roads, the humblest people were glad to receive, and ready to give, any useful information.

If they are a people of a quick or irritable temper, it is the constitutional fault of a tropical climate, and they seldom carry it to a fatal excess. Duelling, that flagrant violation of the laws of God and man, so common among us, is never heard of in Brazil, and assassinations are more talked of than committed. It is a vulgar prejudice, that all crosses set up intimate murder. Of the hundreds we met, there were but two, as far as we could learn, that denoted it; and but one murder attended with robbery; the rest were land-marks, roadmarks, pious-marks, or marks to indicate sudden death from accidental or natural causes; most of them now very old and rotten; and apparently the most recent of those we saw, was dated in the year 1810, affording a presumption, that no accident of the kind it intimates, had occurred for twenty years.

If they are not inclined to invite people to their houses, it is not from a churlish disposition, but because their houses are not fitted up for, or they themselves in the habit of such intercourse. Their females are retiring and domestic, and our modes of company would break in on the whole economy of their establishment. They are, however, prompt and pleased in returning the obligation by any other courtesy or civility in their power. A mercenary people, I should suppose, they are not at all. Whenever I paid for any thing, the demand was something exceedingly fair and moderate; and on some occasions, when I received money's worth, no remuneration would be accepted. The proprietor of a topaz mine suffered me to pick up his gems, and put them in my pocket; and the proprietor of a gold mine presented me with a paper of his precious metal, and positively declined any return.

If they indulge in illicit intercourse, we should recollect, that one of the baneful effects of slavery, is to form such connexions; that a Brazilian residing by himself, insulated in a desert, and having none of the restraints which the opinions of society impose, to hinder him, 3 E

VOL. III.-N.S.

readily adopts such a practice, and lives with his female slaves, as with persons who are unworthy of the rank or station of his wife. When he does form a legitimate connexion, the laws of marriage are as much respected as in any country in Europe; and almost every Brazilian has a greater number than usual of lawful children, by women who are remarkable for correctness of conduct and domestic duties.

But of all charges, that of dishonesty and robbery seems most unfounded; and I know no country through which I would now travel with a greater feeling of security. In the vicinity of Rio, a robbery is sometimes committed on the hills by fugitive slaves, and in the low grounds, about the bay, by vagrant sailors; but when the serra is once passed, there is no further danger. My friend, Mr. Duval, travelled for weeks together through the country, by night and day; he no where hesitated to enter a wood, or stop at a solitary rancho, and never felt himself, nor heard from others, any cause for the apprehension of danger. Whatever is forgotten at the little ranchos on the road, is found untouched when the passenger returns. Mr. Milward left articles coming up, which had escaped his memory; they were kept for him as a solemn deposit, and delivered to him when we were going back. The miserable places called quartos, afford little protection against thieves, and the open ranchos still less; yet we never lost the smallest article when together, nor I by myself, when we separated. But there is one experiment of mine, which, I cannot help thinking, is highly creditable to the native integrity of the people. It was universally believed, and the report went every where before me, that I was bringing with me a chest of gold from the mines; and I was in a state utterly helpless and unprotected, being myself a total stranger, and having no one with me but a poor despised negro for a guide, who was held in no more estimation than the mule he led. I passed through solitary countries, where there was neither police to hunt out a delinquent, a prison to put him in if he was caught, nor a judge to condemn him if he was guilty. I was carrying an object of great temptation and cupidity, inviting, as it were, the people to come and carry it off, who were themselves prejudiced and angry at the very act of my taking it out of the country, and I met them every day in lonely mountains and wild woods, where I might disappear with my treasure, and no question or inquiry be ever made after me again. Yet, I brought my chest of supposed gold, perfectly safe, through a people who seemed to think it was their property, and that I had no right to take it away; an instance of forbearance in this law less country, as you and others are pleased to call it, which, I doubt, would not happen in England at the present day, or in Ireland either, since the days of "rich and rare".' Vol. II. pp. 292-297.

This description of the people agrees very nearly, in the main points, with that which Mr. Koster gives of the sertanejos of Pernambuco; and though, in a country of so vast extent, the national character may be expected to exhibit considerable modifications, its general features would seem to be decidedly amiable. What may such a people not become, under the influence of genuine Christianity! With respect to the

state of religion in Brazil, our Traveller gives the following

statement.

The observance of Sunday, being dedicated only to God, does not require, in their estimation, any of that display which marks their' devotion for inferior beings. The sabbath, therefore, is a day of rational piety, and it is observed by some Brazilian families with great propriety and decorum. I have never seen a more pleasing or edifying sight, than one of these families going to church on Sunday morning; first, the father and mother, dressed with that attention which respect for the day dictated; then their children of different ages, attired with equal care, having each their prayer-book or breviary in their hand: last followed the domestic slaves, male and female, dressed with similar neatness, particularly the female negroes. I have, sometimes counted groupes of twelve or fourteen persons of this description, proceeding to their parish churches; and I believe there is no Brazilian family which does not think worship on that day indispensably requisite, either public or domestic. I had more than once occasion to call at their houses, about nine o'clock on Sunday morning, and I always found them engaged in private devotion; this was the case twice at the residence of the minister of the interior. He and all his family, and several of the neighbours, formed a large and serious congregation; and it appeared to me, that the imputation of his indifference to religion was very unfounded.

'It is true, that, after having attended divine service in the morning, many shops are opened, and artisans are frequently seen following their ordinary trade; and this, to one accustomed to our rigid restrictions on the sabbath, is really a painful sight, as breaking down the partition which should separate this prescribed period of rest from ordinary days; but then you are not shocked by that awful display of drunkenness and blasphemy which our sabbaths present ;-you do not see the squalid masses of men and women besetting gin-shops, and resting from their ordinary labours, only to indulge in the excesses of intoxication. The Brazilians consider that the sabbath commences on Saturday evening after sunset, and terminates at the same time the following day, founding their opinion on the expression, that "the evening and the morning were the first day"; and this they allege as a justification for opening the opera after sunset on Sunday evening. We very properly close our theatres, but we open our taverns and what are miscalled tea-gardens, where about one hundred thousand persons in London and the vicinity, commit more riot and excess on the sabbath-day, than are found in the whole extent of Brazil in a year. I mention this, to remind you, that all our own usages are not the perfection of human wisdom, as we are apt to consider them; nor ought we to despise, as we do, those who deviate from them. The greatest violations of the Lord's day which I have seen at Rio, were committed at the Palace-square, where the crews land from ships in the bay. Here I witnessed, one Sunday evening, a desperate riot of drunken blasphemers; but I am sorry to inform you, they all swore in English, and were subjects either of the United States or the United Kingdom...

It appears to me, that the Brazilians are losing much of their respect for saints' days and ceremonial processions, but that they still retain a deep impression of rational piety; and while they are attached to the essential parts of their own doctrines and discipline, are almost entirely free from bigotry and intolerance towards those who differ from them. I have heard some of the clergy complain, that infidel opinions were making a rapid progress among them; and so, perhaps, they are, among a very small class of anarchists, such as are to be found in all revolutionary times; but, as far as I have seen, the great body of the people are zealously attached to their religion, and are every day beginning to entertain more rational and enlightened views on the subject.' Vol. I. pp. 379–382.

The lengthened extracts we have given from these interesting volumes, will render unnecessary any critical observations. Dr. Walsh is, indeed, sufficiently well known by his former work, as an observant, liberal-minded, and accomplished traveller; and the Irish warmth and Christian benevolence which are conspicuous qualities in his character, communicate a charm to his writings. The first volume is chiefly occupied with historical and political details, relating to the affairs of Brazil, and the recent quarrel with Portugal; the secret history of the Court of Rio; and the manners, customs, &c. of the capital. Vol. II. contains an account of the Author's journey to Minas Geraes. The volumes abound with matter for entertaining extract, but we must resist the temptation, and satisfy ourselves with strongly recommending them to the perusal of our readers.

Art. VI. Transactions of the Royal Society of Literature of the United Kingdom. Vol. I. Part II. 4to. pp. 284, xlii. Plates. London, 1829.

THE former part of this first volume of Literary Transac

tions was noticed on its publication early in 1827 *; and we were not aware till very recently, that the Society had put forth a second portion. The volume before us contains thirteen papers. Arts. I. and XIII., which occupy together considerably more than a third of the part, are communications from Colonel Leake, whose work on the Morea is reviewed in a preceding article of our present Number. The first is a short paper giving an account of an Ionic Inscription on a bronze figure of a hare, brought from the neighbourhood of Priene. The last is a very elaborate historical and topographical dissertation on the Demi (duo, parishes or communes) of Attica, accompanied with six maps. This highly valuable con

* See Ecl. Rev. N.S. Vol. XXVII. (March 1827,) p. 220.