The Sun.
London, England, 1842-04-01 00:00:00

GERMAN CORRESPONDENCE.

ENGLAND AND BRAZIL.—In the present year of 1842,
the treaty of commerce between England and Brazil ex-
pires, according to the interpretation of the latter, which
gave notice two years ago of this expiry, and of its disin-
clination to renew the treaty. England, on the other hand,
requires its continuance for two years more, considering
the term of notice as something different from the term
of duration of the treaty of commerce, and from which
the said two years are not to be deducted. It might be
difficult to understand the importance and the possible con-
sequences of this difference between the two countries,
without throwing a retrospective look on the history of
Brazil, and taking a clear review of its present situation.
Although 8ra,.7.il did not enjoy a better administration
than the Spanish colonies, that is, it was impoverished
in every feasible manner, and kept back as much as
could be from any development that might give it
strength of its own—yet Brazil, by its unmeasurable na-
tural richness, soon became a rich country.
When Don John landed there in 1808, with all his
Court retinue, the only circulating medium was gold and
silver, and copper—coin so scarce, that it was quite in-
sufficient for the necessities of the lower classes, and at

a very high premium.
With the Court a new element was imported—a Court
with great wants, and what was worse, fiscal eyes,
which from Lisbon had not been able to discern
well the resources of the land. The consequences were
soon visible. The silver coin was deteriorated by 20
per cent., and the gold, which thus received an unnatural,
much above its intrinsic value, left the country. An im-
mense copper coinage was then resorted to, and as this
invited an enormous introduction of false coin, a paper

circulating medium was finally adopted.
In the short time of 14 years Brazil was impoverished,
and on the return of Don John to Portugal in 1822,
gold and silver had entirely vanished from circulation,
being replaced by copper and paper, and the exchange
had fallen from 84 to 47.
It can therefore not be said that Don Pedro entered
upon the Government of Brazil under very favourable
circumstances. Dilapidation and confusion existed then
already and were still increased by the war with Portu-
gal, and later by that with Buenos Ayres.
Brazil was bent upon attaining its independence at any
sacrifice, and one of them was a loan made in 1834, of
3,000,0001., to which an addition of 1,400,0001. was after-
wards made for the Portuguese loan. Thus Brazil at
once became a prey to the European capitalists. In the
year 1827, the treaty of commerce with England was
concluded, the worst stipulation of which was that
Brazil was bound down not to levy a higher duty than 15

per cent. on any British goods imported. -Now there was no
reciprocity on tine side of England, for on some of the
principal articles of exportation from Brazil England
exacted as high a duty as 200 per cent. Then Brazil
had its hands bound also with respect to other foreign
nations, for though for the purpose of raising a greater
revenue it exacted from them a higher duty, (24 per
cent.) yet this served only to secure the trade to the
English, and to expel all foreign goods from the market.
Thus one of the chief sources of revenue was diminished;
for under these circumstances Brazil could not levy ge-
nerally more than an import duty of 15 per cent., be the
goods whatever they were, or whatever their origin ;
and this was the reason why in subsequent treaties with
foreign countries this difference was necessarily waived.
In 1831 the Convention for the Cessation of the Slave
Trade took effect, and by this again Brazil was a con-
siderable loser in its revenue, because previously it had
been in the receipt of considerable custom-dues not Only
for Africans imported, but also for the goods exported
to purchase or barter for them. It is quite true that now
there is exacted a rather high exportation duty for all
goods going to Africa (we believe 25 per cent.), but
this measure is quite circumvented by the shipment of
the goods required for this. traffic to Monte Video, and
thence to ,the coast of Africa, or by their being alto-
gether smuggled out of port.
The Brazilians think that they cannot as yet dispense
with the importation of blacks, for labour is scarce, and
the land fertile and without value, because it has been
granted in excessive portions, and no solid means to
attract free immigration have as yet been adopted by
the Legislature. Africans are therefore still smuggled
into the country, and so great is their value, that if one
cargo out of four is brought home, the speculation is a
most profitable one.
The number of negroes imported since 1830 is com-
puted at 300,000, besides about 4,000 prize negroes
which have been put at the disposal of the Brazilian Go-
vernment, to serve an apprenticeship of seven years,
after which they are to be free. The interdiction by law
of the slave trade on one side, and. the great call for
slave labour as long as no solvaasures for immigra-
tion are adopted on the other, uces moreover a dan-
gerous moral evil, since most of the public functionaries
are obliged to connive at it. In the above there
are briefly contained the main causes which operate
against the welfare and due development of Brazil, and
now let us look at results :
The financial position of Brazil is stated in a few
words, by first, an annual deficit of from 500,0001. to
600,0001., or from 1-4th to 1-sth of the amount of reve-
nue ; secondly, the Exchange between Brazil and Eng-
land has receded from 55 to 28 to 30 de., and in con-
sequence, the interest payable by Brazil to the British
capitalist costs it now twice as much as formerly, and
the British goods consumed by Brazil require for their
payment twice as much of the present money as
in former times. But everything has its limits.
If things are to go on as heretofore, and that the English
continue to sell to the Brazilians, without admitting their
produce in return, these will not be able to pay much
longer. Merchants well conversant with Brlizil compute
the outstanding debts due to British merchants and capi-
talists at fourteen millions sterling, of which six millions
are State bonds or loans. Thus far, therefore, the posi-
tion of Brazil, as regards future negotiation, is not dis-
advantageous, since it is to the evident advantage of
England to grant Brazil more equitable conditions. It
Would be unjust to assert that England had caused this
state of things, or that it even contributed towards it ;
but certain it is, that the treaties Brazil entered into
with England, in its impatience to have its independence
secured, have increased the financial derangements en-
tailed upon it by the above-mentioned causes, and pre-
vented it from recovering itself, which, with its immense
resources, would be an easy task under a judicious and
honest Government, comprehending the position of that
country, and its own obligations.
According to report, the diplomatic negotiations be-
tween the two countries are actively proceeding. Brazil
has, nevertheless, from these circumstances, some reason
for complaints :-
Ist. The treaty of commerce, which confines Brazilian
commerce, and prevents Government increasing its im-
port duties, if so thinking fit.
2d. The conduct of the British crusiers, who are said
to have taken Brazilian vessels suspected of slave-trade
all but under the walls of the Brazilian fortresses, thus
offending national independence, and frequently ex-
posing the Government to losing its influence with the
nation.
On the other hand also, England gives these reasons
for complaints :—lt says, the stipulations for the sup-
pression of the slave-trade made in 1831, have by no
means as yet been complied with in Brazil, the traffic
being still carried on actively, and in many instances
with the connivance of the local authorities ; and what
is worse, the prize negroes who, according to the con-
vention, were to be apprentices only for seven years, and
efterwards free, have as yet been retained like actual
slaves, and in many cases with evident connivance of the
authorities.
Nor is an explanation or excuse for Brazil difljcult to
find.
A constitutional Government is an excellent thing
where the Government is in the wrong ; but who is to
assist Government when the wrong is all on the side of
the Chambers and the public ? It is even said that some
members of the Legislature are at least indirectly inte-
rested in the trade themselves, which is natural enough,