THIS translation is inscribed, probably by permission, to the Earl of Liverpool; and, in the very dedication, contains the following suggestion:

"At the present crisis, when it may be come a measure of policy and expedience, for Great Britain, to take under her protection the colonial possessions of Portugal, her overpowered, but faithful ally, every information, that relates to these colonies, must be highly valuable to the British administration. The delusive peace just concluded between Portugal on the one side, and France and Spain on the other, it must be obvious to every one, who is capable of reflecting on the subject, is only designed, by the latter powers, to avoid throwing the colonies of that country into the arms of Great Britain."

4

The original was inscribed to the Prince of Brazil by the author, who is a native of that country, and is published at the expence of the Academy of Sciences at Lisbon.

At page 5, the following fact is mentioned; it is strongly characteristic of that lazy inattention to the known arts of life which, in all the English colonies, have been so carefully infused, and so animatingly preserved:

"This superb country produces animals of every description. The number of cows is so great that they are, for the most part, only slaughtered for the sake of their skins. This is proved by the many thousand hides annually exported. Milk is, of course, no less abundant. The portion of meat, which suffices for the nourishment of the inhabitants, bears no comparison with the quantity that is lost. Birds and wild beasts, particularly tygers, profit of this circumstance. Dearness of salt is the sole cause of the loss

thus occssioned.

Nature, however, produces a great deal of sea-salt in Brasil. In Bajo, near Cabo Frio, and Cabo de St. Roque, this useful article is gathered in such abundance, that whole ships might be loaded with it."

Similar proofs of the deficient commercial exploitation of these colonies perpetually occur. So at p. 12 the ausays: "A handkerchief is sold for more at Rio Grande than a fat ox."

thor

Many paragraphs recommend the encouragement of the fisheries. Probably as many fish are caught as the inhabitants choose to eat. It is not probable that Europe could be supplied from a

new country, where all the forms of employing capital are very productive, and the wages of all labour very high: and consequently where the trade of fishing would be burdened with two heavy drawbacks of profit. The Indians of Brazil, our author thinks, are peculiarly adapted to make good sailors.

barbarous heroes, whom our epic poets The following passage celebrates some may be glad to hear of:

"The conquest of the government of St. Vicente, in Brasil, by the Portuguese, is wholly due to the celebrated Indian Tebiresa, that of Baja to the gallant Tabira, that of Fernambuco to the mettlesome Itagiba (implying in the Indian language iron-hand), and the great Piragiba, who, on account of his zeal in defending the Portuguese, was presented with a dress and tent of the Order of Jesus. The acquisition and subjection of Paro and Maranhao was chiefly the work of the fained Tomagica, and other Indians, who served in the army of the Portuguese in effect of the exploits of the invincible Camatheir wars against the Dutch; as likewise the roa, who immortalized his name, in the war waged, by the Portuguese, against the Dutch, for the re-conquest of Fernam

buco."

The whole sixth chapter, which contion of a tribe of Indians, called Weta. tains an account of the incipient civilizacatzes, furnishes a new proof that benevolence alone disbarbarizes the savage. It is by applying European art in a manner conformable to their own habits and wishes, that a taste for more convenient lodgment, apparel, and accommodation, bathing-room such as the Wetacatzes can alone be generated. By building a wanted, they are led to assemble, and it becomes a bazar, a perpetual fair før profitable interchange.

"1. The Indians of Ouetacazes have, like almost all other nations of Brasil, their faults and vices. But, on the other hand, they are endowed with virtues, worthy of the imitation of the most polished people of Europe. They distinguish themselves, in an eminent degree, by their love toward each other, and even towards strangers, who are their friends. and fidelity to benefactors is peculiarly sinAll property is common. Their gratitude lives for them. The long intercourse which cere and affecting: they often sacrifice their I have till now had with the Indians of

Quetacazes, and the fidelity which they have at all times evinced toward my family, enable me to speak, on this topic, with all the conviction and feeling of my own experience." "2. Though this people, the implacable enemy of the Portuguese, and all other European nations, nay, even of all the tribes of Brasil, retain still their independence; yet they live at least with their neighbours, the inhabitants of the provinces called campos dos Quetacazes, and Minas Geraes, in perfeet friendship. The many acts of kindness and benevolence which my ancestors conferred upon them, brought about that wonderful reconciliation, which force of arms could never effect. I am still in possession of the acts made, and the negociations carried on, under my own eyes, for the purpose of concluding a treaty with those Indians.

"3. Domingos Alvarez Pesanka, my mother's grandfather, and governor of the country of the Ouetacazes, at last, wholly gained over this invincible nation, by loading them with benefits, granting them certain liberties and immunities, and treating them in the most hospitable and affectionate manner.

"4. No sooner had this governor concluded treaties of friendship with those Indians, than, in order to render his well-acquired popularity more considerable, and to establish a greater intimacy between them and the Portuguese, he provided them with settlements at Santa Cruz, on the eastern bank of the river Paraibo do Sul, at the distance of one league from the town of San Salvador; and caused to be erected for them a large and spacious building, which was entirely fitted up and furnished according to their own taste. This edifice stands quite close to the water's edge, so that they may bathe themselves, according to custom, every morning and afternoon.

"5. This same building, which now serves them as a warehouse, is always crowded with strangers, who come from beyond the mountains, to deal with the inhabitants of this province.

"The chief branches of their trade, which consists wholly in bartering commodities, are wax and honey, of which there is here great plenty; birds and quadrupeds of the forest, and especially a certain kind of clay, of which pots and vessels are made, so strong as to resist the most violent fire. If they have not goods enough of these sorts to barter for swords, tools, salt, &c. &c. they fell trees, a business in which they excel in dexterity.

They never have occasion for any wearing apparel.

6. If any covenant or treaty be made with the Ouetacazes, let them be treated, on such occasion, with the fairest candour and greatest integrity, still a certain mistrust remains in their minds, which prevents them from finally entering into any engagement, however beneficial to them, without having previously taken the advice of their benefactor, or his sons, who have always treated them with the greatest candour. The moment these assure them that they may contract those engagements without risk or danger, they immediately come to a conclusion with the other contracting parties. They give to their benefactors such very frequent proofs of gratitude in this way, that they are fit patterns of imitation with regard to this

virtue.

7. Scarce had the Ouetacazes vanquish ed the people of Coropoko, before they made them members of their own state; so that, at present, they form but one nation, under the common name of Coroados, or shavedheads. They inhabit an extensive tract of country of one hundred leagues in length, extending from the northern bank of the river Paraiba, to the southern border of the river Xipoto, in the neighbourhood of Villa Rica.

8. When the inhabitants of Minas Ge raes began to open mines, and dig for precious metals, in the environs of their country, those Indians attacked them; and, notwithstanding all the efforts made by the invaded, notwithstanding the loss on their part of a great many men, and the expenditure of a large sum of money, they were never conquered or expelled. Tired, at last, of that cruel and long protracted war, they themselves craved peace of those very Indians in 1757. The latter, however, though the inhabitants of the fields of Quetacazes were their friends, would not conclude a peace, otherwise than with the consent of father Angelo Pesanka (my mother's brother), who, after the death of the governor before-mentioned, had become their patron.

19. Satisfied with this condition, the inhabitants of Minas Geraes, especially sen hor Silverio Teixera, then inspector of the royal treasury at Villa Rica, sent a letter to father Angelo, entreating him to put a speedy termination to that cruel and bloody

war.

"11. Being attacked by those new enemies, the people of Minas Geraes had again recourse to the governor. But, notwithstanding he gave them all the assistance in his power, they were baffled in every attempt to dislodge them. But no sooner had father Angelo summoned the Indians of Quetacazes to fight in defence of their friends and allies, than they rushed with such fury upon the Botocudos and Gamelas, that they forced them to a precipitate retreat as far as the Amazon river; and, since that time, these dangerous foes have never dared to molest the people of the mines.

12. Those very Botocudos and Gamelas became the heralds of the fame and reputation of the patron of their conquerors. His fame resounded from mouth to mouth, as far as the banks of the Meari, in the vicinage of Maranhao, where this event is still fresh in every body's memory. It will serve as an unperishable monument of the good faith and gratitude of the Indians of Onetacazes, who cherish the memory of their patrons, in the remotest part of their country, and even in the midst of their enemies.

"This warlike nation serves as an impenetrable bulwark to their neighbours, the inhabitants of Campos dos Ouecatazes and Minas Geraes. They live free from alarm, and in the most perfect security. The invincible Indians of Ouetacazes, our brave friends and allies, afford them the fullest protection against every attack of other races of Brasilians, who are hostilely disposed."

Many curious facts concerning the commercial wants of Brasil are scattered in this work, which merit the attention of those persons, who fit out vessels for the South Sea whale fishery, some of

whom carry on, it is said, an important contraband trade with the Portuguese and Spanish settlements.

Our author very properly recommends to open the ports of Brasil for the expor tation of timber. In fact, they should be opened for all trade whatsoever, and the profit of the patron-country, instead of being obtained through the medium of commercial monopoly, ought to be pursued through the medium of taxation.

The second part of this work specu lates concerning the practicable amelioration of the African and Asiatic colonies of the Portuguese. The author every where displays much of the appropriate information, a patriotic spirit, a flowery style, and a disposition to make those slight unalarming reforms, in the right direction, which would certainly benefit both the giver and the receiver. A bolder policy, and a deeper consideration, would probably begin to speculate on the eventual absorption of Portugal by Spain, on the extinction of its independence, its glories, and its name. Next would arise a doubt, whether the descendants of those who won their independence with Braganza, are all bound to resume the servitude they spurned; and whether that degree of approbation and aid would not be readily afforded by the maritime nations of Europe, which might be requisite to enable the transatlantic settlers, in their own name, and by their own right, to open their ports to the ships of every nation, and to establish that liberal system of unfettered commercial intercourse, which is certainly most conducive to the speedy enrichment, and consequent civilization and activity of an empire.

THESE excellent letters do great honour to the writer; they display the education of a scholar, the urbanity of a gentleman, and the information of a statist. They are addressed to the editor of the Porcupine, in which paper they were originally inserted, and form a victorious reply to Mr. Cobbett's Letters to the right honourable Henry Addington on the Peace with Bonaparte.

The first letter treats of the preliminaries; the second of the state of San Domingo; the third, of the balance of power; the fourth, on the conquest of Egypt. Sir Frederic Morton Eden estimates its value very justly; but we lament to hear him applauding the expedition against Copenhagen; of which both the conduct and the principle are surely open to criticism.

"In estimating the probability of future security, we do not appear to have attached sufficient importance to the events of the last campaign. The force of nations depends as much on their moral character, as on their territorial and financial resources. A people who think themselves inferior to their adversaries in military skill and martial prowess, are already half conquered. Doubt is the beginning of despair. Most of the successes of the French are ascribable to energy and confidence. Possunt quia posse videntur, The charm, however, which led them on from victory to victory, is at length, I trust for ever, dissolved. They now must know that, even with superior numbers, they are not more formidable to us in the field than on the occan. That a French army of equal force ever successfully withstood the British bayonet, no fair instance, I believe, can be adduced. From the nature, however, of a continental war, few opportunities have occurred for large bodies of our troops to act unconnected with foreigners. But the expedition to Egypt has proved that, in discipline, valour, endurance of fatigue, patient persevering exertion, the veterans of France may be excelled by the youth of Britain. Our army has added a never-fading wreath to the laurels won at Blenheim, Minden, and Quebec. Posterity will read with astonishment, that less than 14,000 of our troops, many of whom had been nearly a twelvemonth at sea, landed in a country above 8,000 miles distant from their own, a country too strongly fortified by nature, and garrisoned by 28,000 French, the flower of those victorious legions who had spread terror through Italy, and vanquished the best troops of Austria. By three battles, and two sieges, we re-conquered Egypt in less than six months, and sent home 23,000 Frenchmen,

disgusted with schemes of Indian conquest, and humbled by defeat. They will record our triumphs in every department of the republic, and teach their countrymen to reinember for many years to come, that the last events of the war were disastrous to France, and glorious to Great Britain. Our exploits at Aboukir, Alexandria, and Cairo, by impressing the French with correct notions of our means of defence, will add secu rity to peace. The Invincibles, who fled before us in Africa, will not intimidate us in Europe.

If a northern confederacy should again. be formed to invade our maritime rights, which have been formally recognised by the convention of Petersburg, the Sound will form no barrier to our fleets, the harbours of the Baltic will furnish no protection to an armed neutrality. In 1780 we were insulted with impunity:" in 1800, Denmark, Sweden, and Russia, again attempted to insult us; but the lesson they have received from the battle of Copenhagen will prevent the attempt from being repeated."

The fifth letter relates to the commerce of Great Britain, and the trade with the conquered islands. The sixth, to the trade with neutral powers. The seventh, to the trade with the British colonies: and the eighth and last, to the trade with the belligerent powers.

After reading such a pamphlet, and comparing it with the official harangues of modern ministers, one cannot but admit that the measures of government are sometimes more efficiently and satisfactorily defended from the press than in the house.

THE antijacobin war (for so that war, whose wounds are yet to heal, may with strict propriety be called) was con ducted with the usual unskilfulness of noisy anger. Our ministers were rich in words, and poor in deeds of injury. Our naval victories, brilliant beyond the example of history, or the hope of reason, were so contrived, that not one of them added an island, a province, or a friend, to the empire. Of our military expeditions, not any, except those to Holland, Egypt, and Malta, were justified by policy, or could have been productive, directly or indirectly, of national advantage. The opportunity of occupying the vast plains of Louisiana, was neglected for the feverish shore of Saint

Domingo. Dunkirk, Quiberon, Ferrol, Corsica, Minorca, were snatched at, like flies by children, to be winged and let go. Portugal, our ally, was meanly abandoned. Holland, our ally, was made to fur nish our acquisitions. The equivocal neutrality of Denmark, a satellite and prompted power, was captiously converted into hostility. Abandoned by all our allies, even the hired; cankered by our exorbitant expence; degraded by our very acquisitions; it required all the here. ditary diplomatic skill of Lord Hawkes. bury to negociate a respectable peace.

His coming into office was surrounded with every disadvantage. Not one of his colleagues was known to Europe by the experience of statemanship, or the