The Express.
London, England, 1848-04-04 00:00:00

BRAZILS.

The Seagull packet, Lieut. Lewis, commanding,
arrived at Falmouth on Sunday from Brazils. Her date of
sailing from Rio J•niero has already been announced by a
later arrival ; she proceeded thence on Feb. 10, and commu-
nicated off Pernambuco on the 25th. Her freight amounted
to about 21,0001. Two passengers, Messrs. Butterworth and
Edmith, died at sea.
Lord Bowden had failed in all his endeavours to contract
a treaty with the Basilian government, and it was appre-
hended that unless our government decided upon acting in
what they consider in Rio a fair and truly reciprocal spirit
with Brazil no commercial compact would be arranged, and
that British interests would suffer materially in cnisequence.
But affairs bore a still mere untoward aspect by the circum.
tance of the resignat.en of the Minister of For. ign Affairs
(Senor Saturnine), well known as an unflinching advocate of
British interests, and the appointment to the vacant office of
Senor Firemen,. Buono, a recognised tool and toady of Senor
Alves Branco. The decree of the Ist October, to which we
alluded in a former article, had given rise to great excite-
ment on the Rio Exchange, and could not be satisfactorily
interpreted, diplomacy having signally succeeded is making
this edict as vague as the most Jesuitical use of language is
capable of. Her Majesty's consul had communicated to
the merchants that British merchandise imported in British
bottoms will not be ameeable to the differential duty, and
gave as authority the verbal declaration of the late Minister.
But adminisurctions are liable to constant change, and
every needy employe, mey form his own version of the
decree. It was understood, from 'very authentic source,
that the execution of the decree would be postponed until
the Ist of January, 1849, hut the letter from which we obtain
the above information adds, that " everything in intrudes
only, and we are all of us placed in an awkward predica-
ment," and suggests the expediency of some active measure'
being adopted on this side.
It was not known at Rio to whom the ministerial
meats would be committed for the new governmierr:;',nt
Emperor being absent in the provinces. Nearly cinched; of
the inhabitants of Rio were suffering from a complaint
termed " the polka f, ver." The Hon. Captain (lore, the
British minister appointed to the River Plate, would pro-
ceed thy. rtly after the Seagull &Laid. Matters in the river
are reported to be unchanged.
Front Bahia, of the 20th February, there are "deices of
that market being in a state of extreme dulnets, few sales
being recorded of British manufactures, while the absence of
purchaser. bad depressed produce ; yet, notwithstanding
the limited shipments to Europe, they were in excess of the
available tonnage, and every vessel in port, both British and
foreign, wee engaged. Freights consequently were looking
up, 6as. to 70s. being the figures for the latest engagements.
The stock of sugar in the trapixes was about 16,813 cases,
989 boxes, and 6dl barrels, and prices were 12s. ed. to 15v Id.
for muscovadoes, and 161. Ild. to 20s. 7d. per cwt. for whites
free on board. No purchases of cotton having transpired,
the prices of that article were nominal ; the stock of which
was iiiiignificant, only 1,712 bags being in the pren9as.
The translations in exchange by the Antelope were upwards
of 40,000/., at rates from 27td. to 28d. er milreie, according
to the character of the paper. The Antelope LaL, brought
about 10,0001. in specie.