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the 15 provinces which composed the colony, had already submitted to them, and they flattered themselves that one or two campaigns would make them masters of the remainder, when they were suddenly checked by the revolution, which banished Philip IV. from the throne of Portugal, and gave to the Portuguese independence, and a native sovereign. The seven provinces of Brazil, which had remained unsubdued, imitated the example of the mother-country, by throwing off the Spanish yoke. The Dutch, then, as enemies of the Spaniards, became friends to the Portuguese. The two parties soon came to an agreement. The Dutch relinquished that part of Brazil which they had not conquered, to the Portuguese, and the latter, in their turn, confirmed the title of the Dutch to the seven provinces of which they were in actual possession. This division gave rise to the name of the Brazils, in place of the former appellation. The Dutch government soon began to oppress the Portuguese colonists, who took up arms in selfdefence; and, after an obstinate contest, and without an open support from the mother-country, drove them out of several of the provinces. Finding they were not able to retain possession of the country, the Dutch entered into a treaty, by which they ceded all their interest to the Portuguese, for a pecuniary compensation. The dominion of Portugal was now extended over all Brazil, which was honored by giving title to the presumptive heir of the crown. During the 18th century, Brazil remained in the peaceful possession of the Portuguese, with no other exception than the transient occupation of the fortress of St. Sacrament, by the Spaniards, which was restored soon afterwards by the treaty of peace.

From that period until the beginning of the present century, no event of importance appears to have occurred in Brazilian history In the year 1806, Portugal having been invaded by the French, the royal family, to escape the danger of captivity, embarked for Brazil, under convoy of a British squadron, which was at that time blockading the mouth of the Tagus. From the moment of their arrival at Brazil, a revolution took place in the character and situation of the country. From the station of a province, Brazil rose at once to the dignity and importance of an independent nation, and Portugal sunk from her ancient superiority to the appearance of a province. The consequences of this change were in the highest degree favorable to the prosperity of Brazil. Commerce was thrown open with other nations, and a sudden spring was given to improvement, which even the impolitic regulations of the court did not check. The revolutionary ferment which had displayed itself in other parts of South America, extended to Brazil. In 1817, an insurrection broke out in Pernambuco, which it was first supposed would spread over the whole country: but the port of Pernambuco being blockaded, and troops arriving from the surrounding provinces, the insurgents were overpowered, and their leaders executed.

The revolution of Portugal, in 1820, and the adoption of the constitution in 1821, recalled the king again to Lisbon. Soon after these events, a struggle commenced between the Portuguese, who wished to recover their former ascendency over Brazil, and the Brazilians, who were resolved to preserve their newly-acquired liberties, which ended in the complete separation of all connection, other than subsists with independent states, between the two countries. The government of Brazil having been entrusted to the crown prince, Don Pedro, he refused to admit the troops sent out by Portugal to support his authority, or obey the instructions of the king, his father. In the following year, 1822, Brazil was declared to be a free and independent state, and Don Pedro was proclaimed emperor. After many stormy

esent emperor, was born 2d December, 1825, and e to govern the country, until 1842. A provisional uncil of Regency," was formed on the abdication of three members, named by the Senate. This council ..y another, but the power was shortly afterwards vested The emperor assumed the powers on his attaining his wach time the prosperity of Brazil has been onwards; its expanded, and in spite of the nefarious system pursued by ty, the resources of the empire have been developed in a Minary degree.

GUAYANA.

Mis name was formerly applied to all that vast region of country which between the rivers Amazon and Orinoco; but since the revolt of the och Americans from colonial dependence, the greater portions (formerly radish and Portuguese Guayana) have been attached to the Republic of Venezuela and the Empire of Brazil. At present, the term Guayana, is Contined to the colonies of England, France and Holland, which occupy but A small strip of coast, and some inland territory, between lat. 8° 40′ and N., and long. 57° 30′ and 60° W.

BRITISH GUAYANA,

(ESSE QUIBO, DEMERARA AND BERBICE,)

Occupies the most westerly portion of this region, and comprises more than one half of the territory. It is separated from the Dutch colony by the river Corentyn, having Venezuela on the north and west, and Brazil on the south, the exact boundaries of which are not well defined. The whole territory is said to have an area of 76,000 square miles, but the title to a great portion of this is disputed by Venezuela and Brazil.

The physical geography of this country presents an alluvial flat, extending from the coast inland, varying in breadth from 10 to 40 miles, and terminating at the foot of a range of sand hills from 30 to 130 feet high. The inland country is traversed by several ranges of mountains, which frequently rise 1,000 to 5,000 feet above the ocean. These chains form many rapids and cataracts in the greater rivers, and contain the sources of the Berbice and Mazaruni rivers. The highest point is Mount Roraima, lat. 5° 9′ 30′′ N. and long, 60° 47' W., which has an elevation of 7,500 feet. Between the first and second chains of hills are some extensive savannas, which approach the sea-shore, east of the river Berbice. With the exception of these savannas and the swamps of the Berbice, the interior is mostly covered with hill ranges and dense forests.

The principal rivers of the country flow in a northerly direction, following the general slope of the coast. The Essequibo rises in the mountains, 0° 40' north of the equator, and after a course of about 600 miles, discharges its waters into the Atlantic, by an estuary, nearly 20 miles wide. Its entrance is impeded by shoals, and it is navigable for vessels only 50 miles from its mouth. The Corentyn rises in lat. 1° 30′ N. and long. 57° W., and enters the ocean about latitude 5° 30'. Between these are the rivers Berbice and Demerara; the former may be ascended for 165 miles, by vessels drawing seven feet of water: the latter is navigable 85 miles from its mouth. The Mazaruni, Cuyuni, &c., are affluents of the Essequibo, and of considerable size. All the large rivers bring down great quantities of detritus, which being deposited around their mouths and estuaries, renders the whole coast shoal. For 12 or 15 miles seaward, the mud bottom is covered by only three or four feet of water, in consequence of which, the approach to the coast is difficult, and at times, even to small boats, impracticable.

These deposits around the coasts rest upon deep strata of strong clay of different kinds, alternating with others of sand and beds of small shells; and these again on a granitic formation, which begins to appear on the surface of the second chain of mountains. The granite rocks, in the interior, sometimes assume the most astonishing and imposing shapes: mural precipices, with cascades, 1,400 or 1,500 feet high, descending over them, and granite boulders, of huge size, spread over immense tracts. A natural pyramid, called the Ataraipu, wooded to the height of 350 feet, rises in latitude 2° 55′ N., and from this point ascends in naked grandeur to a further elevation of 900 feet. The other chief rocks are porphyry, and various kinds of trap, gneiss, clay-slate, sandstone, colored ochres, &c.: there is a total absence of limestone and its modifications. Traces of iron are frequent, but none of the precious metals have been discovered. Next to granite, excellent pipe and other clays are the most valuable and useful mineral productions of the country.

Situated but a few degrees north of the equator, Guayana partakes essentially of the characteristics of a tropical climate. The mean temperature at Georgetown is 81° 2′ Fahr., the maximum 90°, and the minimum 74°, on the coast. Two wet and two dry seasons constitute the changes of the year the great dry season begins at the latter end of August, and continues to the end of November, after which, showers of rain follow till the end of January the dry season thence commences, and lasts until the middle of August, when the rain comes down in torrents, and the swollen rivers, unable to retain their beds, break over their banks and inundate the country. During the rains, the winds generally blow from the west, and in the dry season mostly from the ocean, particularly in the day time. Hurricanes are unknown, gales unfrequent: thunder and lightning occur at the changes of the seasons, but then only slightly. The settlements on the coast are unhealthy, but the interior, on the contrary, rejoices in perpetual spring, and possesses as fine a climate as any tropical country.

The animals and vegetables of Guayana are chiefly those common to the northern half of South America: among the first are the jaguar, puma, peccari, &c.; and among the latter, many valuable trees and shrubs, yielding timber and other valuable commercial commodities. Arnatto, used extensively for cheese-coloring, grows wild in profusion on the banks of the Upper Corentyn. Sugar-canes, cotton and coffee are staple agricultural products

Large quantities are grown, but the culture has materially diminished since 1837, no doubt owing to the cessation of slave-labor, which had been used previous to that date.

British Guayana consists of three separate colonies. They are as follows:

Beside the population above stated, there are 15,000 or 20,000 native Indians in the territory, and, of late, a large number of Coolies have been imported from Asia, to supply the place of the emancipated slaves; together, these will make an aggregate population of about 120,000. The whites are partly Dutch and partly English; but most of them Protestants. The schools of the colonies educate about 11,000 children.

The

The commerce of Guayana, as well as the amount of products raised, has materially declined; in many cases, indeed, as much as 30 per cent. property annually created by the products of the soil, trades, manufactures, &c., is about 17 millions of dollars, and the value of property in the colonies may be set down at 125,000,000 dollars. The staples, at the present time, are sugar, rum, coffee, and cotton; cotton and coffee were formerly almost exclusively grown, but now in a great measure they have been superseded by the culture of sugar.

The Indians have generally some indigenous cotton growing round their huts, and among the Macusis, (on the Rupununi,) it is raised to a considerable extent. It comes to perfection in most parts of the country; but it is cultivated by the colonists only on the coasts, and even there it has been almost abandoned, the planters being undersold by those of the United States. There are numerous other products, which, as yet, neither form articles of export nor of internal consumption, for which both the soil and climate are suitable, and which might be raised to advantage, if laborers were attainable. Among these are rice, maize, millet, wheat, cocoa, vanilla, (a native of Guayana,) tobacco, cinnamon, &c. Between the Berbice and Essequibo there is a tract of many thousand acres, possessing the means of constant irrigation, on a small portion of which three crops a year have been repeatedly raised; but, at present, it is all a complete wilderness. The coast region, which is covered with a deep layer of vegetable mould, is capable of raising from 6,000 to 8,000 lbs. of sugar, and from 20,000 to 30,000 lbs. of plantains to the acre; but to cultivate this soil dams and embankments are necessary, and agriculture is conducted at a great outlay, and on vast estates. At present the whole country is lying waste for want of hands to cultivate it.

The government is vested in a governor and court of policy, consisting, beside the governor, of the chief-justice, attorney-general, collector of the customs and government secretary, and an equal number of official persons elected by the colonists, through the college of electors. The laws are chiefly a modification of English common law. The general policy of government does not, however, satisfy the people, and it is probable, since

they have joined the "West India League," that before long they will take the management of their affairs into their own hands.

The public revenue is derived from taxes on produce; on incomes of 500 dollars and upwards; on imports not of the growth and manufacture of England, and from assessments on horses, carriages, wine and spirit licenses, &c. In 1846, it amounted to 600,000 dollars, and the expenses to a somewhat larger amount. The portion of the £20,000,000 falling to this country, as compensation for emancipating the slaves, was £4,268,809.

The means of travelling and transportation are ample for so small a colony; four steamers, of 90 horse-power, ply regularly between Georgetown and New-Amsterdam, and a railway has been projected from the capital to Mahaica. There are about 300 miles of public highways in the territory.

The colonists use the English imperial measures in all commercial transactions, but those of Holland in the retail trade. The monies of England, France and Holland: in fact, the monies of all nations, pass current, or are taken as bullion.

The provision for religious purposes is liberal; in 1839, it amounted to £22,942, which sum was distributed among 18 ministers of the English Church, two of the church of Holland, five Roman Catholic, five church of Scotland, and several of dissenting churches.

The military establishment consists of one regiment of the line, and a detachment of another. The colonial militia has been disbanded.

The only towns worthy of note are Georgetown and New-Amsterdam GEORGETOWN, formerly Stabroek, is the capital, and seat of government. It lies on the east bank of the Demerara, near its mouth; latitude 6° 49′ 20′′, longitude 58° 11' 30" west. Population, about 20,000, of which 16,000 are colored. It is said to be a handsome city, adorned with good public buildings, and several charitable institutions; the houses of private citizens are generally built of wood, two stories high, with projecting roofs, having verandahs and porticos, and surrounded by gardens separated by trenches. The streets are wide, regularly laid out, and traversed by canals. Shops and stores are well supplied with European goods; the markets are also wellprovided. Fort William Frederic, a small mud erection, about a mile from the city, overlooks the mouth of the river.

NEW AMSTERDAM, on the Berbice, in latitude 6° 15′ north, longitude 570 27' west, extending about 11⁄2 miles along the river, is intersected by canals, and has about 3,000 inhabitants. It has all the conveniences of a commercial port, and institutions for religious and educational purposes. The wharves and warehouses are commodious. It is less unhealthy than Georgetown.

The coast of Guayana was discovered by Vasco Nunez, in 1504. The Dutch, who were the first European settlers, established some colonies near the Pomeroon, and elsewhere, in its neighborhood, in 1580, and several farther to the east a few years afterwards. The first English settlement was made in 1630. Most of Guayana, however, remained in the hands of the Dutch, until 1796, when Essequibo and Demerara were surrendered to England. They were restored to the Republic in 1802, but re-captured by the British during the subsequent year. The present territory, called "British Guayana," has remained in the hands of the English ever since, out Surinam was relinquished at the general pacification in 1814.