This object was on the point of being very suddenly accomplished. Encouraged by the state of torpor in which the Dutch government was sunk, an individual conceived the idea of overturning it. In Maurice-town, which had become the capital of Fernambuco, there still resided a number of Portuguese, who were treated with great lenity. One of these, named Cavalcantc, who j exercised even the office of judge among his country men, formed a daring conspiracy for the massacre of all the Dutch who were at the head of the government. The occasion fixed for the perpetration r of this enor mity, was a festival, by which he was to celebrate the marriage of his daughter. The plot was discovered ; but Cavalcantc, and the principal conspirators, found means to escape, and having collected a number of their countrymen, began to lay waste the Dutch territories. A petite guerre was then begun, and carried on with great animosity on both sides ; and though publickly disavowed, was secretly supported and encouraged by the Portuguese governor. This was pretty evident, when the insurgents were so well provided with artil lery and ammunition, as to be able to lay siege to the strong places in Dutch Brasil. Yet so much was the government of Holland lulled by the assurances of the Portuguese governor, that they allowed a fleet from Por tugal to touch and water at the port of Olinda. The same fleet then proceeded to the Rio Formoso, and there disembarked 1500 men, who immediately joined the army of the insurgents, and enabled them to gain con siderable advantages. The Dutch, now roused, began to make warm and serious remonstrances to the court of Portugal. The king omitted nothing by which, with out sacrificing his object, he could pacify them, and lull their vigilance. After representing the difficulties which they would experience in reducing the insurgents, he offered to take that task upon himself; he granted them advantageous treaties of commerce, and lavished upon them promises of every kind. The Dutch had then engaged with England in a most sanguinary and desperate contest, which was to determine which of the two powers should henceforth have the dominion of the sea. They were therefore easily deceived, and induced to shut their eyes to remoter interests. In consequence of this neglect, the Portuguese interest silently strength ened itself in Brasil ; their force was augmented, and new places of strength were added to those which they had already taken from the enemy. In 1654, therefore., \ vhen the republic had concluded peace with England, and when it was evident that the professions of the court of Lisbon were wholly insincere, they determined to apply themselves vigorously to the preservation of this important possession. Preparations were accord ingly made to equip a fleet of thirty sail, with a corres ponding number of land troops on board. But while they were still involved in the bustle of preparation fur this armament, news arrived, that its object was no more ; that the Portuguese were now entire masters of Brasil.
In consequence of the neglect of the government at home, affairs at Olinda had been becoming continually worse. The troops were not only diminished in num ber; but those who remained not being regularly paid 'or supplied with provisions, and not being allowed to return home at the expiration of their period of service, began to spew strong symptoms of discontent and irri tation. The warlike stores, disposed of by the economy of the board which succeeded Prince Maurice, had never been replaced ; and the naval force of the colony had been reduced to a single vessel. The Portuguese, judging this a favourable moment, drew out their whole force, both naval and military, and having formed a large army, with a fleet of sixty sail, which accompanied its progress, and supplied it with provisions, they proceed ed directly against the city of Olinda. They were ex pected there, not as enemies, but as deliverers. Schoup pe. the governor, surrendered without striking a blow, on receiving permission for his garrison to return to Europe. The capitulation was signed on the 20th Ja nuary, 1654.
The Dutch were struck with equal concern and in dignation at seeing themselves deprived of so valuable a possession, by an ally who had lavished on them so many professions of amity. Hostilities were immediate ly commenced against Portugal, both in Europe and in the East and West Indies ; but no attempt was made for the recovery of Brasil. The war was prosecuted for
six years with great animosity, but without any success that could compensate for the burdens which it impos ed. At length, on the 1st March, 1661, the province of Holland addressed a memorial to the others, represent ing the absolute necessity of thinking on peace. The rest, however, though they agreed to open a negotia tion, expressed their determination to remain satisfied with nothing less than the entire restoration of their former possessions in Brasil. They allowed, however, the ambassadors to meet, on its being conceded by the Portuguese, that this should take place at the Hague. The Dutch plenipotentiaries immediately opened their demand of Brasil, declaring, that unless they were sa tisfied, no treaty could be brought to a conclusion. The Portuguese, however, justly represented, that, in the present state of affairs, such restitution was entirely out of the question ; but that they were willing to give a liberal pecuniary compensation. All the states acknow ledged the necessity of contenting themselves with this oiler, excepting the maritime province of Zealand, which, being deeply embarked in the West India Company, protested against a treaty founded on any other basis, than the entire restoration of the provinces which they had lost. Its remonstrances, however, were overruled, and on the tenth of August, a treaty was signed, by which the whole of Brasil was finally ceded to Portugal. That power agreed to pay in return eight millions of florins, by sixteen instalments, in salt and West India commodities. Dutch vessels were likewise allowed to sail from Portugal to Brasil, and from Brasil to Portu gal, importing and exporting all commodities whatever, with the single exception of Brasil wood. Large pri vileges were likewise granted to the Dutch trade with other parts of the Portuguese dominions. But the con cession, with regard to Brasil, was found, in practice, to be of very small value. The ports of that country are little open to those who profess any other religion than the Catholic. The arbitrary' conduct, besides, of the governors, and other officers, exposed them to con tinual outrages, for It hich redress was not easily obtain ed. The Dutch, therefore, have long ceased to avail themselves of this permission.
Not to interrupt the thread of this narrative, we have omitted to notice some transactions which had mean time occurred in the interior of Brasil. The race of maLfactors with which its coast waS at first peopled, could ill brook the restraints of law and government. A number found means to emancipate themselves by flight ; and the district of St Paul, in the interior and southern part of Brasil, presented them with an inviting retreat. Here they formed intermarriages with Bra silian females, and the mixed class thus produced, re ceived the name of Alameluss, in allusion to the servile race which has held the dominion of Egypt. The coun try in which they settled was of the most luxuriant fer tili,y, and being surrounded by forests and vast moun tains, presented a secure asylum. Instead, however, of applying to cultivation and peaceful pursuits, they aban doned themselves entirely to rapine and disorder. They plundered alike all their neighbours, Portuguese, Spa niards, and natives; the latter they carried off as slaves. In order to accomplish this more effectually, they prac tised a most atrocious stratagem. The Jesuits, by their benevolent exertions, had gained the full confidence of the Indians bordering on the La Plata, and had convert ed many of them to the Christian faith. The Paulists assumed the dress and character of Jesuits, and having after their example, persuaded the natives to embrace Christianity, they then, on plausible pretences, seduced them into their own settlements, where the unhappy vic tims were immediately converted into slaves. By these criminal methods, they were enabled to cultivate their fertile lands, and to acquire some wealth. Hence they were gradually softened into a degree of civilization, and were induced, by the combined influence of fear and persuasion, to acknowledge the supremacy of the Portuguese government, and to pay a certain annual tribute.