The roads in the interior are generally indifferent. The common mode of travelling is by mules, by which means are transported to the towns on the coast cotton, sugar, coffee, grain, and the other produce of the country. In return are procured iron, steel, salt, woollens, cottons, common and finer earthen ware, and glass. In the towns of the interior Mr Mawe saw all sorts of English goods, which were by no means dear.
The most remarkable incident in the recent tory of Brasil is the emigration to its capital of the royal family of Portugal from Europe. In the long wars which have been recently concluded between France and Britain, it was obviously the interest of the minor powers, such as Portugal, to preserve s strict neutrality. But this was rendered difficult, as well as by the inveterate hostility of the two nit• thins at war, as by the preponderating power whirl both had acquired on their respective elements o land and sea. Portugal, from her sitqation, was en tirely exposed to the vast military power of France and it was well understood, when France had gain ed the undisputed ascendancy in Europe, that th( inferior states could only hope to purchase a nomina independence by acceding to, and rigorously exe outing within their territories, the system devised bj Bonaparte, for the proscription of the British trade The Court of Portugal, terrified by the menaces o so powerful a state, agreed, about the end of tin e 1807, though with reluctance, to adopt tha system ; but delaying, under various pretences to seize the property and persons of British mer chants, which was prescribed as an condition of her alliance with France, the Frencl ambassador quitted Lisbon, which was the prelude to more decisive measures. A French army was di rected to march against Portugal, and there beini no resistance, it was rapidly advancing to the capi tal. In the meantime, war bad been declare( against England by the Court of' Lisbon, a fleet ha( been fitted out, and all the severe measures dictate( by Prance against Britain had been agreed to ; bu the secret connections of Portugal with this counts were but imperfectly disguised by this affected hos tility ; and it had accordingly no effect in retarding the march of the invading army. In this emergen gy, it was resolved by the Court to escape thl danger by embarking for Brasil, under the protec Lion of Sir Sidney Smith. whose squadron was a that time blockading the mouth of the Tagut This revolution was aandericed tb the people by a ' royal decree. A council of regency was established, the public archives and treasure were embarked, the royal family followed, and on the 19th Novem ber 1806, the Portuguese fleet, joined by the Eng 'fish squadron, finally departed from Europe, and ar rived at Bahia on the 19th January following. 'the royal family were received with every demonstration of attachment and respect ; and the inhabitants of Bahia even offered to contribute a large sum of money in order to build a suitable palace for their reception, provided they wodld agree to reside in that place. Rio Janeiro, however, was thought more suitable for the residence ofthe Prince, and this capital, to which the court of Portugal soon after wards removed, now became the seat of the Portu guese monarchy.
In considering the emigration of the royal family of Portugal to Brasil, some speculative writers have indulged in the most fanciful anticipations of im provement from this event. They seem to have ima gibed, that the presence of the Supreme Govern ment of Portugal in its colonies would revive the languishing industry of these countries ; that it would remove the corruptions and abuses of their domestic administration ; and that, by opening to them a free trade, it would enable them, in some degree, to rival the North American States in their rapid ;Idvanceii to wealth and improvement. But in order to realize those pleasing expectations, it would have been neces sary that the Portuguese government, which was fee ble and corrupt in Europe, ahould have•otallychanged its character in removing to Brasil, and • this unhap pily does not appear to have been the case. Abuses and corruptions still pretatil in that country ; the ad ministration of justice is not 'amended ;--the royal monopolies for the sole of ivory, Brasil wood, dia• minds, gold dust, gunpowder, tobacco, and snuff, are upheld in all 'their rigour ; and, In general, the government is regulated upon the same principles as before.' All the advantages of this translation of the government from the mother country to the colonies, seem therefore to be comprised in !he commercial treaty connected with the the effect of which is to open all the ports of Brasil tb the vessels and produce of Great Britain, on payment of a duty of 15 per cell. The former•ystem of restraint being removed by this treaty, there will thus be a greater stimulus to improvement of every son; and industry, • freed from the pernicious restrictions under which it formerly laboured, will be excited to new and active ekertions by a higher price for its produce. These effects have accordingly, to 'a certain degree, taken place. We are informed by Mr Koster, who quitted Pernambuco in April 1811, and returned in the end of. December in the same year, that, during this short interval, he observed a remarkable change thethe better in the aspect of the place, and of the adjacent country. The houses bad been greatly the ladies, in imitation of some families who had ar rived from England and Portugal, began to 'walk abroad during the day,--the English fashions • in clothes had become general among bath sexes,—the equipages bad assumed a gayer appearance,—A greeter number of country residences bad been built,—lands had re en in price,---lahour w in re queat,—and the adjacent grounds, which had been covered with brushwood, were now cleared, and were laid out for building and for gardens. Before Mr Roster quitted the country, in 1815, various other local improvements had been carried into effect ; all which clearly indicate, that the free trade and the unrestrained intercourse with strangers, had diffused a general spirit of amelioration through. out this hitherto languishing ce .