humanity; in capital cases, the witnesses which there would be no delay, if social conare incarcerated, as well as the criminal, un- fidence existed between the parties when butil the trial is completed. The forced judge siness began. escaped from his awkward predicament, by suggesting a compromise, which was accepted by the parties. A few nights since, a gentleman found a man who had been stabbed, in the street. He reported the case to the police, who urged that he should carry the wounded man to the hospital, because said they, we cannot go near him on your report. Had we ourselves found him, we should have been obliged to do so. It is remarkable, that men, all things being equal, have more confidence in those persons whom they have seen often, than in those they have met only once. Even in the same city, persons are prone to fancy that their own friends and acquaintances are more worthy, and better people than those whom they have not known at all; yet it is presumed there are few individuals of any degree of respectability whatever, who are without friends and acquaintances who apThese anecdotes are illustrative of some of preciate their good qualities. There is althe remarkable notions which exist among most always a degree of reserve between these people. strangers, which is removed by intercourse We have an abundance of mosquitoes on in a short time; it seems to banish that sort shore, and more than are contentedly borne of shyness or distrust which strangers mutuon board ship. A lump of camphor suspended in a state-room or cabin, causes them to desert the apartment. ally entertain for each other, for no other reason than because they are strangers. The influence of constant meeting may be seen in the rapid progress in acquaintanceship and friendship, between men who come together as shipmates and messmates at sea, and between youngsters at schools and colleges.. There is an aphorism among seafaring men: An old resident remarked to me that although Brazilians are great consumers of cigars, gentlemen never smoke in the streets; none but artizans and shopmen smoke in the public highways of the city. From this circumstance, all foreigners seen with cigars in a messmate before a shipmate, and a shiptheir mouths when walking the streets, are presumed to belong to inferior classes in their respective countries. mate before a stranger, which seamen act upon, although changing from ship to ship very many times in the course of their lives. The same gentleman expressed his opinion, Juxtaposition of residence or neighborhood that only those gentlemen who can speak alone, begets kindliness, which seems to bear French fluently, should be employed to repre- some proportion to distance. Men are wont sent us in a diplomatic capacity in Brazil. With to imagine they have more claims on their this qualification, they would be able, almost adjoining neighbors than upon those who are always, to settle questions conversationally, removed from them fifty or sixty yards or before instituting a correspondence in rela- more. A common interest or common purtion to them. It would enable them to occu- pose is productive of personal kindness. Men py advantageously, a social position, which of different vocations, of different politics and they cannot possibly attain while ignorant of of various character, are made to fraternize the language. A man of tact and knowledge through a religious or sectarian creed; and of refined society, should he entertain hos- social intercourse often creates friendship pitably, would speedily gain the confidence between men of opposite views in religion of this people, and be able to exercise an in- and politics. And so strong is this feeling of fluence sufficiently powerful to obtain for his friendship which springs from association government any thing reasonable. Under alone, that men sometimes permit themselves the present system, letters are written and to dislike those who do not go with them. translated on both sides, and both are embar- In some of our large cities, we find perpeturassed for want of means of easy intercourse. ated feuds between fire companies, which, Both fear deception, and the caution thus be- probably had their origin in a spirit of rivalry got, renders diplomatic communication tedi- alone: yet, to an entirely disinterested perous, and unsuccessful in many instances, in son, it would be extremely difficult to show any reason whatever, why they should mu- like the lilies of the field," spin not," or if tually complain of each other, and fight when- they do, not enough to meet their wants; ever opportunity offers. they may be moderately dishonest, untruthFrequent and extended intercourse with ful, heedless, and be excused, provided they our fellows, teaches, that men generally are possess hearts and stomachs fitted for good worthy and disposed to be just and benevo- fellowship. I mean simply to urge that, in lent and are intrinsically neither better nor the eyes of the multitude, good-fellowship worse, because we have not seen them or stands in lieu of many virtues; a social, joknown them. The true merits of men do vial fellow, without brains for business of not depend upon social position, nor upon any kind, will obtain and retain political ofthe virtues or fame of their ancestors. There fice, in competition with the most capable are few families including any considerable and least exceptionable candidates who are number of persons, of which one or more deficient in social qualities. A deep drink and members are not deficient either in moral or a good joke, are proofs of discretion and abilmental constitution. And it is well known ity, and will convince a great number of vothat all men distinguished for wealth are not ters; they are often more extensively influunencumbered by poor relatives. Then, is ential than a plain statement of truth, urged it not remarkable that a man should be proud in accordance with rhetorical rule. of his relatives, living or dead; because if he Superior intelligence, honesty and sinscrutinize closely, he may find among them cerity are requisite in those who reprefellows without many claims to consideration sent the country at foreign courts; but if or respect, although one among the crowd they are not united with social powers, with may be or have been possessed of brilliant the faculty of amusing and the means of virtues. It is just to regard every man for gastronomically entertaining, their influence his own qualifications, and not respect him is comparatively nothing. The exercise of more or less on account of his propinquities, the social virtues is very expensive, but they or on account of the conduct of family con- are so much admired in all parts of the world nexions. But to estimate fairly the merits by all classes of men, that adequate reof men, is very difficult, and should be un- sources should be furnished to diplomatic dertaken always with due caution and re- agents by every government desirous to be serve, for we may, through ignorance, cen- effectually represented. The stolidity of a sure unjustly. A proud man, if poor, may man must be very great, if he fail to peracquire a reputation for meanness, while he ceive sound arguments in good dinners, good is actually as generous and liberal as his cir- wine and good company: besides, it requires cumstances will permit; and at the same great moral courage to refuse the request of time, another may win a name for generosi- a man who has the faculty of providing suty, by meanly giving away, not from his own, perb dinners. It is said the agents for claims but from the pockets of his companions. Yet, the man whose want of integrity permits him to spend freely what is not his own in showy hospitalities, enjoys, at least for a time, more popularity, and exercises greater influence in society than he who honestly measures his expenses by his own revenue. How many whose duty consists in giving agreeable din"noble, good fellows" have won favorable ners to such distinguished politicians as are opinions of the many, by preying upon the not easily accessible during business hours. purse or fortune of a few; "noble fellows," They may be named prandial caterers of who are ever ready to borrow money to spend claim agencies; they are generally much in wine and wassail for "good fellows" at courted by wine dealers, and from habitually restaurants and taverns;" "brave fellows," feasting with the great are suspected to be who despise a creditor mean enough to de-"good fellows" of great wealth who delight mand from them his just dues. Good fel- in the society of the capital. They are lows of every genus and species flourish, who, doubtlessly "good fellows;" but there is not resident at Washington are aware that the weak side of legislators and statesmen is located in the stomach through which is a route to the "soft place" in the head or heart, if it exist; and they have created, in this belief, an occupation for a class of assistants, the smallest reason to suspect them of pos- and blossom and bud and fruit are common sessing riches. companions, even on the same tree. Brazilians are not destitute of genius; we Sunday, May 28th. At seven o'clock this have evidences in the recent issues from the morning the ship was under sail. Though press. They respect foreigners who are not we had not gained much of an "offing," by Portuguese, for whom they entertain a feelten o'clock the shores of Brazil, owing to a ing of rivalry or colonial jealousy: and the foggy condition of the atmosphere, were no government, in its political relations with longer visible. We spoke a brig bound to other countries is confiding and liberal, at Rio, which had been 79 days at sea from least in appearance. Perhaps the United Boston. The day has been passed in arran- States stands first in their regard. They are ging matters for sea, and as sailors say in vain of their country and its institutions, and proudly associate the great names and deeds "making all snug." I here transcribe a sketch made some which shine so brightly in the early history years ago. of Portugal with the high destinies which, in Nature has been lavish of her choicest their dreams of political greatness, they have gifts to Brazil; in the soil, the scenery, the marked out for Brazil. They are ceremonimineral and vegetable productions. This ous and punctilious; suspicious in disposifavored country possesses great rivers; a tion, but easily flattered; courteous though sea-board extending from four degrees north dilatory in conduct; selfish, but assuming to thirty-five degrees south latitude, bathed frankness and generosity; cunning, but eaby a peaceful ocean: abundant forests of sily overreached by a bold and confident deenduring timber; graceful trees and plants mand of what is claimed as a right; timid, for ornament and use; some affording food, but presumptuous; unsteady in purpose, and some in their medicinal properties sources without any large or comprehensive views of of comfort to afflicted humanity, and others political affairs. Religion is merely nominal dyes of unrivalled beauty and great value. among the youth; the aged attend to its The naturalist contemplates with delight the forms and ceremonies. beauty and variety of her insects, and the The population of the empire is estimated gorgeous plumage of the feathered race, by the government at 5,200,000 souls. Of while he shrinks from the boa-constrictor the whole two-thirds are supposed to be and her many poisonous reptiles. She has slaves; the proportion of Indians and mua genial climate varying in temperature with lattoes and free blacks to the white populathe degrees of latitude which mark her lim- tion is not estimated. The relative number its, or, as mountain or valley may prevail on of slaves varies in different provinces. In the face of the country, and she is compar- that of St. Paul, for example, they are supatively free from those periodical diseases posed to constitute one-third; in Las Minas which, in similar parallels of north latitude, and in Rio de Janeiro, two-fifths; in Rio are sometimes so desolating. Grande do Sur and in Goiaz, little more than It is a region in which the study of na- one-fourth. ture does not tire, where art finds ample em- No danger is apprehended from the slave ployment, commerce a wide field for enter- population; because, being from different prise, and agriculture a full reward. Here, parts of Africa, and belonging to hostile the philanthropist may indulge in conjectures tribes, they retain much of their national anon the destiny of man, and erect religious tipathy to each other, and, in point of inteltemples amidst the richest of nature's scenes; ligence, are considered but little above the and the heart thus inspired with gratitude brute creation. They are kindly treated, swells in devotion and breaks forth in holy and are attached to the families of their masadoration of the Great First Cause" the ters, rather from a clannish feeling or habit Architect divine." of mind, than from any sense of gratitude, Nature nowhere frowns upon Brazil. Her a sentiment of which they seem to be destimountains are covered with verdure to their tute. They are baptized by their owners as summits; her forests are in perennial leaf; soon as purchased, and generally, in the cities, go regularly to mass and confession. [ spread over a wide extent of country where They never become entirely civilized; even communication is difficult, and social interthose who obtain their freedom, in reward of course is embarrassed and restrained from faithful services, are less intelligent than the influence of old habits and customs. their descendants born in Brazil. Hence we may infer that a long time will Although the slave trade has been abol- elapse before there will be any violent poished by law, there is still a contraband im- litical struggles among them, except of a portation amounting, it has been asserted, to local nature; particularly as they are prosan annual average of from eight to ten thou- pering in their individual affairs, and theresand slaves. About one-third perish in the fore content with "the goods the gods proact of importation; that is, about two-thirds vide them," without a desire to grasp at reof those who leave the African coast are mote and problematical benefits. available for labor in the country. The revenue is derived from a commercial Male slaves are instructed in the craft or tariff, and from tithes on produce, and on trade of their masters, and perform the rents of city property, and on the sale of greater part of the mechanical labor of the property; the tithe on produce being paid country; and the females learn the duties of by the exporting merchant, who regulates house-servants, become mantua-makers, mil- his prices accordingly, the producer is not liners, &c. Many families in Rio de Janeiro so sensible of the tax as he would be were depend exclusively on the labor of their he to pay it to the government from his own slaves for daily support; and for the finery pocket. Yet, with the enormous tax of displayed at balls and on other occasions, the twenty per cent upon property, in addition ladies are indebted to the manual labor of to the commercial duties, which are low, the their female slaves. The slave population revenue is not equal to the current expendiincreases slowly. The blacks are admitted tures. into the church as priests, and as officers into the army, in which, in former times, they attained to the grade of major. Even the national legislature includes some who would not be received as white men in the United of elections to decide upon the qualifications States. Suffrage is limited to persons who have, from labor, craft, trade, or property, an annual income of at least two hundred mil reis. The vigario of the parish sits with the judges of voters. Friars and members of religious fraternities are not entitled to vote. Blacks are not excluded from the civil rights of white men. The people take little interest in the politics of the empire. They are of a temper so mild, so averse to mental exertion, and so little calculated by education or habit to ex- The standing army of Brazil is so small pand their views beyond local interests or as scarcely to merit the name. There is personal affairs, that it would be difficult to a military staff, however, supported on a excite in them any very active feeling in po- large scale, and a corps of military political matters. They have not yet entirely lice. A national guard is organized by law, shaken off that state of mental apathy and in which all males from the age of eighteen sense of political inferiority into which the to forty-five are enrolled. They are equipmother country had brought them by pursu-ped at their own cost, the nation furnishing ing the common policy of European govern- them only arms and ammunition. Detachments towards their colonies, before the ments of this guard are daily on duty at the voice of liberty broke upon them, which, palace and public offices. being imperfectly understood, was listened The navy is not effective, and having no to with apprehension. Except in the large mercantile marine to create seamen, there is seaport towns, they have not yet more than no prospect of improvement. The navy list begun to feel the invigorating sense of indi- includes one admiral by brevet (?), one vicevidual right and political freedom. The ad- admiral; three commodores, two chiefs of vantage of free and frequent interchange of division; eight chiefs of division by brevet; sentiments and comparison of views, is not four captains, three graduated captains; 24 afforded them, because the population is captains of frigate; 58 lieutenant captains, (commanders?); 67 first lieutenants; 129 and are not women always patriots? To second lieutenants; besides a retired list of them and to their influence on society nathree vice-admirals, 5 commodores; 5 chiefs tions are indebted for their great men. The of division 4 captains, 6 captains of fri- taste for literature is increasing; the number gate; 1 commander; 11 first lieutenants and of bookstores is augmented, and the labors and 11 second lieutenants. There are 32 of native authors are kindly received. Invessels in commission, among which is one cluding the daily press, there are seventyfrigate, 5 corvettes and 5 steamers; the rest eight periodicals of all kinds published in are small craft. In ordinary there are 12 Brazil, to supply the demand of five millions frigates and 4 smaller vessels. Including 5 of people. transports or store vessels, the whole Bra zilian navy consists of 42 vessels. The number of guns is not reported. According to official reports the Brazilian navy is employed, in three fleets or squadrons, on the coast; and from absence of foreign service, officers have been occasionally LINES. Jackson, produced by Mr. Clark Mills, of Approach and reverence! Art hath left her home placed on board of the public ships of Eng- On the Inauguration of the Equestrian Statue of Andrew land and the United States to acquire nautical experience. A system of apprentices for the naval service has been put in operation; machine shops, building yards, and dry docks have been recommended by the Minister of Marine to be constructed, and the acquisition of large war steamers is urged upon the national legislature. Persons of intelligence have been despatched to Europe and the United States to improve themselves in naval architecture and in the manufacture of arms. Behold this brazen pomp with deepest awe! Till by the sight the very eye is pained, While such Bucephalus he well befits- But we may not look to genial climates and luxuriant soil for men of hardy adventure and daring enterprise; and it is not unjust to Brazil to say she cannot become an important naval power, notwithstanding her extensive coast, fine harbors and abundant forests. Moral laws seem to oppose her ambition in this field of national glory. Yet she must in the future appear gloriously in the history of nations. In point of morals and intelligence the people are in advance of the government, and the spirit of improvement is active amongst them. They have passed through a long night of despotism; but the light of freedom has begun to shed its rays, and is dispelling the mists of superstition and ignorance which have so long concealed from them their own degra- Here now not less than Rome proud Art may bring ded condition. Since the departure of John The vows and incense of her earliest Spring, VI. much has been done. Agriculture is And to this fane the pilgrim well may come extended; the slave trade is prohibited, the And Sculpture find an altar and a home. army is disbanded, schools have been established; women are receiving instruction VOL. XIX-2 Thou and thy deathless horse alike shall stand Washington, D, C. M. |