are articles in which the Brasilian gentry endeavour to excel; and sometimes they proceed in this point to the most ridiculous extreme. I once observed at Rio a chair completely loaded with cupids and other emblematic carving, and carried by two robust blacks, clothed in a light blue silk jacket, short pantaloons, and a petticoat over them (similar to that of a waterman,) the whole deeply vandyked with a red pink. This flaming dress formed so strange a contrast with their delicate skins, for they were without either shoes or stockings, that it seemed altogether the completest burlesque on equipage that could possibly have been attempted. "It appears to foreigners a strange deprivation to which the females of this country are subjected, who cannot pass the streets without being closely shut up in a chair, or secluded in a cabriole; yet such is the force of custom, that none are seen openly except within doors. "Bahia has a Portuguese comic theatre, under the management of an Italian. The house, with us, would be termed a barn, and its avenues are so dirty as to render the going to it very disagreeable. The actors, drama, and scenery, are equally wretched; the music is the best, and only tolerable, part of the performance. "The chief amusements of the citizens are the feasts of the different saints, professions of nuns, sumptuous funerals, the holy or passion week, &c. which are all celebrated in rotation with grand ceremonics, a full concert, and frequent processions. Scarcely a day passes that some one or other of these festivals does not occur; and thus is presented a continued round of opportunities for uniting devotion and pleasure, which is eagerly embraced, particularly by the ladies. On grand occasions of this kind, after coming from church, they visit each other, and have a more plentiful dinner than common under the term banquet ;* during and after which they drink unusual quantities of wine; and, when elevated to an extraordinary pitch, the guitar or violin is introduced, and singing commences but the song soon gives way to the enticing negro dance. I use this term as best assimilating with the amusement in question, which is a mixture of the dances of Africa, and the fandangoes of Spain and Portugal. It consists of an individual of each sex dancing to an insipid thrumming of the instrument, always to one measure, with scarcely any action of the legs, but with every licentious motion of the body, joining in contact during the dance in a manner strangely immodest. The spectators, aiding the music with an extemporary chorus, and clapping of the hands, enjoy the scene with an undescribable zest. The orgies of the dancing girls in India never equalled the flagrancy of this diversion. It is not that minuets or country dances are not known, and practised by the higher circles; but this is the national dance, and all classes are happy when, throwing aside punctilio and reserve, and, I may add, decency, they can indulge in the interest and raptures it excites. The effect of this scene on a stranger can hardly be A few of the superior classes give elegant entertainments, have family concerts, balls, and card parties. be conceived; and though, as an amusement, it may be intentionally harmless, it certainly breaks down the barriers of decency, and of course paves the way to depravity and vice. "These amusements, with par ties into the country, and a few others of a trifling nature, added to the enervating idleness in which the Brasilians are plunged, constitute their whole happiness; a happiness very incomplete and unsatisfactory, while subject to the effects of those baleful passions, avarice, revenge, and cruelty. Happily, however, the two latter have considerably declined from Bahia to the southward; as. sassination there is seldom known to take place, and never but on the greatest provocation: though still in use, the lurking knife is sheathed, and murders are scarcely more common than with us." VOL. XLVII. 32 CONTENTS: CONTENTS. HISTORY OF EUROPE. CHAP. I. Opening of the Session of Parliament-Substance of his Majesty's Speech- 1 CHAP. II. Parliamentary Proceedings continued-Motion made by Sir Evan Nepean sion. 9 CHAP. III. Parliamentary Proceedings continued.-Discussion of the Rupture with Spain 322 ported ported by Earl Temple-Speech of Sir John Nicholl-Debate adjourned- 20 CHAP. IV. Parliamentary proceedings continued.-Motion of Lord Darnly, in the 29 CHAP. V. Parliamentary Proceedings continued.-Short Discussion in the House of 34 CHAP. VI. Parliamentary Proceedings continued.—Irish Budget.—Division in the House |