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In others when the Dues of Government | ject, and will be best obviated, by estab have been concerned, I trust it will have lishing both on the part of the Chiefs and been observed that moderate exaction and of the Resident, some rules by which every a tender consideration for the people have complainant, whenever he presents himself, never been lost sight of. shall have his name and cause entered, and be appointed for a certain fixed time to appear again.

The article of Revenue has been very sparingly pressed in any quarter, so that the country and all classes of the Inhabitants, have had a full opportunity of recovering from the effects of the late troubles.

If the establishment and provisioning of new Military stations has led to extensive calls for labour, it has not been exacted on the bare ground of public service, but the inducement of money allowances has been added in almost all cases, without any

have been demanded by Government as a right, free of any charge.

receive a distinct auswer, and instruction That whenever he does appear he may for his further proceeding-and in all stages of the case be fairly and patiently heard, and fully informed of the state and progress of his cause, and of the next appointed time for proceeding in it.

With regard to the references to Colombo or to the Resident, when once made

strict inquiry how much of the duty might have already explained at a former audience, that it is an indispensible part of my public duty and of that of the British Agent, to return au answer to the party; first, taking proper means to be accurately informed of all proceedings in the case, with the decision, and the reasons on which it is grounded.

Connected with this subject I have to mention a change which is about to take place in the branch of Revenue and Public Service. In order to relieve the Hou. the Resident of some part of the multifarious Occupations which engross his valuable time, it is proposed to transfer the charge of the Revenue aud Public services, to Simon Sawers, Esq. by the title of Revenue Agent.

Under the guidance of Mr. D'Oyly's experience, and by virtue of special and peremptory instructions which will be communicated from Government, the system of Mr. Sawers's department will be strictly governed by established rules and usages, and as i undertake to promise for that gentleman, that his intercourse with the Chiefs

will be conducted with all that respect, politeness, and circumspection, so necessary to the maintenance of mutual cordiality, I must express my hope that the Chiefs with whom he may from time to time have occasion to communicate, will regard him as a gentleman, who at the same time that he holds a respectable rank in His Majesty's Civil service, and a high station in the Government of the Interior, occupies also an eminent place in my good opinion and favour.

Mr. D'Oyły wili make arrangements for conducting all such cases in a regular progress, until the final report for my infor

mation.

Sudden, and informal changes of possession in landed property, and the unauthorized seizure of produce, have appeared in the course of my business here to be a fertile source of litigation and complaint, and barrassment which attends the disposal one great cause of the difficulty and emof disputed titles-as the original relative state of the parties in the suit is in most ing himself into actual possession, and instances reversed, by the Claimant forcobliging the other party to prove his title instead of defending it.

In almost all cases of change of posses sion, there is an allegation of personal violence and spoilation of moveable property

These complaints are, no doubt, exag gerated, and, perhaps, in many instances entirely false-Their existence however suggests the necessity of much precaution and regularity, in carrying even judicial process into execution.

Proceeding to offer some practical remarks ou the course of public business, ! shall principally (though perhaps not enI shall therefore conclude this long adtirely) deduce them from the subjects which dress with a few remarks of a more general have occupied our deliberations for the lastature, as to those duties which attach to Chiefs of Provinces, and other Chiefs hav

month.

Among these, the resort of complainantsing appointments of authority over any to Colombo, and the retrence of their classes of the lubabitants, cases back for decision here, is one which has drawn my particular attention.

1st. To make themselves thoroughly acquainted with the condition and circumstanTo prevent the necessity, and occasion ces of those under their jurisdiction as the of such reference, is a most desirable ob-necessary ground work of an administration

just and humane towards the People, and advantageous to the State.

2dly. To shew every countenance and encouragement to moral conduct and orderly behaviour, and mark all contrary instances with their displeasure.

3dly. To promote industrious pursuits, encourage manufactures, and give every facility and protection to commercial dealings and trading intercourse.

Travels in Brazil. By Henry Koster. 4to. Price 2. 2s. Longman and Co. London. 1816.

WE opened this volume with considerable expectations; knowing that the residence of the Sovereign in this distant province has produced important changes among its inhabitants, which, to the philosophic mind, afford a specIn these attentions, the most effectual tacle of great interest, and well worthy meaus will be found of suppressing vice and preventing crimes, but where such contemplation. In this we were disapprecautions fail, the coercion and penal-pointed; the writer visited a part only ties of criminal justice must be enforced, of Brazil; and that distant from the and the peace of the country will be essen- metropolis: nevertheless, he describes tially promoted by the prompt apprehen- the people as they are, at Pernambuco, sion of offenders, and a strict watch over and its neighbourhood, who may, propersons known to be of dangerous charac.bably, be taken as a fair specimen of ter-observing however as to culprits of what the whole province was, a few every description, the necessity of public and regular proceedings, fair and patient years ago. enquiry, and a strict adherence to established rules.

What can we expect from settlers seated on their farms respectively, at great distances from each other? with Of Revenue and Public Services I have little or no intercourse, because, each already delivered all that I intend to observe-But as the Chiefs may have remark- family endeavours to supply its own ed a great anxiety on my part to have the wants from resources within itself, and country opened by clearing the principal because the wants of its neighbours, roads, it is proper to explain, that this being exactly similar to its own, no vaoperation (which I avow to have much at riety is to be looked for, in any useful heart, is one of those which will most of or desirable forin. If the land produces all conduce to secure the general benefits freely, the inhabitant lounges away life, deriveable from the intercourse of different in lazy enjoyment of the sunshine or the provinces with each other, but more par-shade; he has nothing to rouze his faticularly to make way for the free progress of trade from the Sea Coast, by which the culties, nothing on which his talent or Interior Country has every thing to gain.

strength may exert themselves. Hence he contracts habits of indolence, he beI cannot entirely quit the subject of Pub-comes inert, and almost incapable of aclic Improvements, and that of facilitating

tivity, and all that can be said of him the intercourse between the British Go. vernment and the Kandyan Chiefs and when he quits this mortal scene is, he People, without mentioning my intention has lived, and is dead. Where less ferof establishing at this place, a Seminary tile spots bewilder the occupant, either for teaching the English Language, the he sinks into absolute poverty, and is cultivation of which by the younger destitute of all things, or he becomes the branches of Families here, and the atten- driver of herds, scarcely more wild than tion of English Gentlemen to acquire ahimself, and he roams with his unruly knowledge of the Cingalese, will furnish those means of acquaintance, which must necessarily tend to promote mutual esteem and cordiality.

It is with much pleasure 1 have learnt that the leads of Families, both in and out of office look forward with satisfaction

to the intended pan of education for their young men and express an anxiety to have them thus qualified for public employ.

property over a domain extensive, indeed, but unproductive. In either case, the mind, which is the nobler part of man, continues barren: the highest powers of intellect, supposing them to be bestowed on such individuals, are completely lost, and rendered nothing worth. Ingenuity has no object on which to exert itself, no purpose, or end in view, by which to be influenced or

than men.

guided. Nor is this the worst: for es- | present case, would be false in regard tablishments, thus isolated, separated to human life, to fact, and to daily exfrom all the world, become the prey of perience. the most unworthy prejudices. They scarcely acknowledge the existence of other men on the earth; and instances are not wanting-in fact, this volume affords several of their excessive credulity, in believing strangers to be rather animals To say truth, a general reluctance prevails among all mankind, to admit the existence of fellow mortals superior to themselves the whole race conceive readily, and pronounce decisively on foreigners as their inferiorsas below them in the most valuable attainments; and those who are themselves the lowest, on the scale of existence as men, attribute to others not a few of the properties of brutes, in order to preserve the gradation.

Brazil has, at present, no overgrown Metropolis; and the much humbler town of Recife, better known among us as the port of Pernambuco, is in no immediate danger of suffering the evils incident to great cities. The chief value of this volume perhaps, is the description it includes of the changing state of society, in this town and its neighbourhood, produced by-Commerce. Formerly, Recife exported ten thousand bags of Cotton;-it was thought a prodigious traffic. Now, it exports between sixty and seventy thousand-can it be supposed that this yearly augmenting spur to diligence, as well as increasing source of wealth-has no influence on the manners of the people? The first be-symptom of improvement is, the dislike of idleness as a profession of life: vert into a monk or friar, an able-bodied there is now something to do; why conman capable of attending to business?

The advantages of intercourse tween country and country consist in no inconsiderable degree in counteracting these prejudices. Whoever has travelled into foreign parts knows, that nature has not been niggard of her bounties to them; that they also enjoy appropriate and often peculiar advantages; advantages, which if duly improved, place the natives on a fair level with others; if neglected, the fault is not in nature, or in situation, but in themselves.

which he mentions the subject, incidentSays Mr. Koster, on one occasion, on ally;

Formerly, of every family at least one member was a friar, but now this is not the custom; children are brought up to trade, to the army, to any thing ra ther than a monastic life, which is fast losing its reputation. None of the convents are full, and some of them are nearly without iuhabitants.

The same advantages, slightly varied, perhaps, but not essentially, attend the association of mankind in cities and towns. A nation of mere shepherds, must be It will be observed from what I have ignorant and rude; but rudeness cerdescribed, and from what I still have to tainly wears off by the collision of senti-meution, that no rule can be laid down for ments, the interchange of thoughts and the society of the place in question; famiopinions, the judgments of the well-lies of equal rank, and of equal wealth and informed, and even the caprices of the importauce, are often of mauners totally fickle and fastidious. Whatever tends different. The fact is, that society is unto excite a desire after excellence, tends dergoing a rapid change; not that the peoat the same time, to promote civiliza-ple imitate European customs, though tion; and generally, whatever tends to promote civilization, tends by some means or other, to urge to excellence. It is not possible to deny that great cities, metropolitan towns, so immense as some we read of, and some we know of, have their attendant evils, and very great evils they are; but, to argue from the abuse of a principle, to the entire suppression of it, is usually considered as false logic; and certainly, in the

these have some effect, but as there is more wealth, more luxuries are required; as there is more education, higher and as the mind becomes more enlarged, from more polished amusements are sought for; intercourse with other nations, and from reading, many customs are seen in a different light; so that, the same persons insensibly change, and in a few years ridicule and are disgusted with many of those very habits which, if they reflect for a moment, they will recollect were practised but a short time before by themselves.........

nitely more important than the branch from which it proceeded; and though the season of this maturity is far distant, yet the rapidity of its advance or tardiness of its growth greatly depends upon the fostering care or indifferent negligence of its rulers. Still whatever the conduct of these may be, its extent, its fertility, and other numerous advantages must, in the course of time, give to it, that rank which it has a right to claim among the great nations of the world.

The gentleman, chiefly by whose kind. | country, and the benefits which it imparts ness I had been introduced, and enabled to are daily augmenting. This shoot from partake of the pleasantest society of Per- our European continent will ultimately innambuco, was among the first British sub-crease, and a plant will spring up, infijects, who availed themselves of the free communication between England and Brazil, and he even already observed a cousiderable change of manners in the higher class of people. The decrease in the price of all articles of dress, the facility of obtaining at a low rate, earthenware, cutlery, and table linen; in fact, the very spur given to the mind by this appearance of a new people among them; the hope of a better state of things, that their country was about to become of more importance; renewed in many persons, ideas which had long lain dormant; made them wish to show that they had money to expend, and that they knew how it should be expended.

It should appear that M. Koster arrived in the Pernambucan part of this province at a very unfortunate time; and he visited the interior, so far as opporNor is this change confined to the tunity permitted him, at a period when towns; it is carried into the country, the distress of the country for want of more or less, and in proportion to their rain, and consequently for want of food, was extreme. Hence we read, of barconvenience, or their relation with the ports, in their improvement in personal ren soils, and forsaken dwellings, where, appearance, in the acquisition of do- probably, a few years before, or a few mestic conveniencies, and in their ge-years after, another traveller would have neral desire after the comforts and de

cencies of life.

Mr. Koster speaking gonerally of this country, says

The suppineness of the ancient system upon which Brazil was ruled, is still too apparent throughout; but the removal of the Sovereign to that country has roused many persons who had been long influenced by habits of indolence, and has increased the activity of others who have impatiently awaited a field for its display. The Bra zilians feel of more importance, their native soil now gives law to the mother country; their spirit, long kept under severe subjection to ancient colonial rules and re

gulations, has now had some opportunities of showing itself,—has proved, that though of long suffering, and patient of endurance, it does exist, and that if its possessors are not treated as men instead of children, it will break forth, and rend asunder those shackles to which they have forbearingly submitted. I hope, however, most sin cerely, that the supreme Government may see the necessity of reformation, and that the people will not expect too much, but consider that many hardships are preferable to a generation of bloodshed, confusion, and misery.

Freedom of communication with other pations has already been of service to the

found verdure and plenty. On the whole, we must acknowledge, that this part of Brazil does not strongly tempt us, to take up our residence in it. We have

too long been inmates in the "Green Island", to wish to change; especially for a country so unfinished, and so slightly inviting.

Mr. K. describes the town and harbour of Recife, or Pernambuco, and gives a plan of it, from which it appears to be one of the most singular. The port is formed by a double ridge of rocks, and the entrance requires an experienced pilot to conduct vessels into it.

The nature of the Government, the multiplicity of religious observances, the manner in which they are observed, the Public Institutions, Taxes, Police, Military Establishments, &c. engage the Writer's attention in an orderly and instructive manner. Mr. K. had some advantages in attending Public Officers in high stations, in their tours of duty, whence he saw much from which to this he does not report as free from vexjudge on the condition of the people; ation on the part of authority. He became a farmer, and well describes the management of a farm, and the people

necessarily employed. He has not, how-I The difficulties under which mental ever, tempted us by a schedule of the improvement lies will be understood small expenses required, and the large from the following observations. We, profits, arising from that profession. who have pretty correct information of Cotton, for exportation is the chief ob- the state of things in the back settleject of cultivation, now popular, and ments of North America, know, that that being fetched away in British ships, could a tolerably regular supply of itiwith considerable avidity, will, no doubt, nerant clergy be established, it would be continue to be the main article of the to their infinite advantage. At present, planter's attention, as well as a source they hear and know so little about reliof wealth to the merchant who exports,gion, that they might almost envy the and to the government. While this Pernambucan settlers. raw commodity is principally paid for by the exchange of British Goods, the intercourse is reciprocally profitable; and we cannot object to Pernambucos and Maranhams obtaining fair prices in Liverpool and London.

these parts of the country that are so I heard of a strange custom existing in thinly inhabited, which arises from this state of things. Certain priests obtain a licence from the bishop (of Pernambuco,) and travel through these regions with a small altar constructed for the purpose; of

The increase of this trade may easily a size to be placed upon one side of a be inferred.

The following is a statement of the export of Cotton from Pernambuco, from the year 1808 to 1813. It was furnished to me by my friend Mr. I. C. Pagen, who resided at Recife during a considerable part of the time.

1808

1811

.26,877

47,512

.50,108

28,245

pack-saddle, and they have with them all their apparatus for saying mass. Thos with a horse conveying the necessary paraphernalia, and a boy to drive it, who likewise assists in saying mass, and another and carries his own small portmanteau, horse on which the priest himself rides, these men make in the course of the year between 150 and 2004.—a large income in Brazil, but hardly earned, if the inconve niences and privations which they must ondergo to obtain it are taken into considera tion. They stop and erect the altar wherever a sufficient number of persons who are willing to pay for the mass is collected. This will sometimes be said for three or four shillings, but at other times, if a rich man takes a fancy to a priest, or has a fit of Maranham seems to have been less extreme devotion upon him, he will favoured; from what cause we know give eight or ten mil reis, two or three not; but, probably, from the uncertain-dred mil reis are received for saying a mass, pounds, and it does happen, that one hunty of the crops in the vicinity of that port.

1812

1813......

58,824 ..65,827

But it will be seen that the increase has been considerable from 1812 to 1813, and I know that it still continues to increase as rapidly, if not more so.

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but this is very rare ;-at times an ox or an horse, or two or three, are given.I have just in time received the following These men have their use in the world; if statement of the exportation of Cotton from this custom did not exist, all form of worMaranham, from the year 1809 to 1815: ship would be completely out of the reach Vessels. Bags. of the inhabitants of many districts, or at 55,835 any rate they would not be able to attend 21,006 more than once or twice in the course of 40,684 the year, for it must be remembered that 11,793 there is no church within twenty or thirty 48,705 leagues of some parts; besides, where there 6,053 is no law, nor real, rational religion, any 35,767 thing is better than nothing. They chris 4,80S ten and marry, and thus preserve these 50,072 necessary forms of religion, and prevent a 10,101 total forgetfulness of the established rules 31,205 of civilized society; a sufficient link is 14,436 kept up to make any of these people, if 28,539 they removed into more populous districts, 22,216conform to received ideas.

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