Star.
London, England, 1824-07-24 00:00:00

BRAZIL.

An interesting pamphlet has just appeared in Paris,
entitled L'lndependence de (Empire du Bresil, prlsente'e
aux Monurques Europiens, which has excited an unusual
sensation in the French capital. It is from the pen of,
M.Beaucharnp, well known in the literary and political
'world ; and a pamphlet on Brazilian affairs, most as-
suredly could not have appeared at a more seasonable
moment than the present, when the attention of the
European Powers is particularly called to this import-
ant subject. The object of the author is avowedly to
prove that it is the real interest of Portugal to acknow-
ledge the independence of Brazil, and also of the Eu-
ropean States to enter into political and commercial re-
lations with that extended empire ; and as if anticipa-
ting that the Monarchs of Europe would have a voice
in the approaching discussions on Brazilian indepen•
dente, has addressed the result of his labours to them,
c.nsidering that it was essential for them to be possessed
of authentic information on so new a subject, and also
prepared to appreciate the advantages held out to them,
by an enumeration of the resources of the empire with
which they are invited to establish relations of amity
and commerce. With this view he enters into a detail
of the cathes which led to the emancipation of Brazil,
and next thaws an outline of the political conduct of
the Emperor. These two divisions of his subject are
handled in so masterly a manner as to enable his
readers to form a correct judgment upon them, and he
then treats of the separation of Brazil in a political
point of view. The utility of the independence of that
country to Portugal, its relations with Europe, and an
examination into the question, whether or not it would
be possible to bring Brazil again under the dominion of
Portugal, are the other important topics discussed.—
The latter part of the pamphlet describes the present
state of Brazil, and from it we have taken the follow-
ing interesting particulars :
_ll The empire of Brazil contains in extent more than two millions

~`.

of square leagues ; its limits are not yet properly defined, but the
most natural ones are those of the Rivers Plate and Amazons. It
is vided into nineteen provinces, and its population equal to four
mTUions or persons, 843,000 of whom are whites, 426,000 free mu-
lattos, 259,400 Indians, and 159,500 free blacks. The remainder
of the population consists of 1,930,600 slaves.
" With a Government of her own, Brazil will soon possess a
national navy. Nearly 1,200 leagues of coast, the navigation of the
Amazons and the River Plate, the best ports in the universe, an
immense interior navigation, superb fisheries, a geographical posi-
tion the most enviable, and also the most durable materials for the
construction of vessels, are among the advantages which must ren-
der Brazil the most imposing maritime State in the Southern he-
misphere. Monopolies alone had hitherto prevented the develope-
ment of these resources, and now monopolies no longer exist.
" Li all the towns, schools for the teaching of the first rudi-
ments are to be found. The Laneasterian system is also in use. In
all the large towns, masters of Greek and Latin, and professors of
philosophy, rhetoric, geometry, chemistry, &c. are established. Ili°
Janeiro has a handsome Museum, a School for Engineers, and a
Naval College. Botany and mineralogy are also taught. There
are public libraries at Bahia and Rio Janeiro, and printing offices
throughout all Brazil. Bahia has Schools of Medicinei and Surgery,
and Pernambuco a Botanical Garden."

" The Brasilim army is composed of about 30,000 regulars and
50.000 militia ; distributed, 6.000 regulars and 15,000 tnilitia at Rio
Janeiro ; 3,600 regulars and 42,000 militia at Bahia ; 6,000 regulars
at Rio Grande. The remaining 10,100 regulars and 15,000 militia
are scattered among the other provinces. The Brazilian Navy is
already composed of 30 vessels of all sizes.
" The Revenue of Brazil, in 1811., was equal t0:66,743,566 francs;
and in ISO, to 94,71.1,960 francs. Brazil has no public debt, for
although her financial returns present one of thirty millions oreen.
zados, they also embrace a credit of thirty-three millions. Brasil
besides possesses Immense advantages, which enable the Govern-
men, to dispense with loans, or furnish it with the means of reambursing them. These consist in the sale of public lands."
The progressive increase of the revenue of Brazil is
shewn by the following returns, from 1803 to 1820, in-
clu.ive, in francs:

1815 • 30,818,267
1816 - 37,521,254
1817 - 44,922,991
1811 - 49,794,486
1819 - 54,477,877
1820 • 61,069,824

1809 - 14.361,900
1809 - 18,424,381
1810 - 33,018,093
1611 - 23,253,031
181! - 20,428,832
1813 - 36,751,264
1814 - 27,423,354
IMPROVEMENT OF. THE THAMES.

We understand that the Chevalier Wiebeking, one ofl
the most celebrated German Architects and Engineers
of the day, Privy Cour.cillor to the King of Bavaria,
Member of the Bench Institute, and of several other
learned Societies, is at present in Englandoexamining
our btidges, docks, canals, &c. with a view to describe
them in a large work he is preparing on Civil Architec-
ture ; and, in his opinion, they surpass all the works of
the same description of which antiquity could boast. This
Gentleman has not been an uninterested spectator of the
plan lately talked of for forming a quay on the north
side of the River from London-bridge upwards. Indeed
he drew up a plan for forming a quay and dock, which
was published eight years ago, in a work on Hydraulic
Architecture, and made known to the English reader by
being printed in The Philosophical Magazine. It may be
of some consequence to the Conservators of the River,
to know, that in his opinion, when the present London
Bridge is removed, the tide will flaw somewhat higher,
and ebb lower than at present, which will make quays
more necessary. His idea is,. that on the north side of
the Aver a basin should be dug 1,900 feet in length,
and ninety-six in breadth ; commtinicating with the river
by means of two openings or locks, having a spacious
quay towards the river, proper storehouses, atc. and
being walled in on the land side; with such a basin the
Thames would lose none of its breadth, and there would
be no mud left at low water, giving out noxious exha-
lations. We need not observe how much it would tend
to keep the stream clear of coal-lighters, how much
easier their cargoes would be landed, and at how much
less expense. We are glad to see that a similar project
has lately been taken up by some of our most influen-
tial persons, and there can be no doubt, if it were car-
ried into execution, it would not only improve the ap-
pearance, but render the river more convenient.
There is at present the fossil skeleton of a human
being exhibiting at Paris, and two literary characters
are now employed in drawing up an account of this
astonishing petrefaction.
_

A steam-boat, on a novel construction, which passed
through Lincoln on Sunday and Monday last, excited
considerable attention. Her paddles, instead of being
fixed on each side, are placed quite at the extremity, so
as to occupy nearly the whole width of the stern; and
they communicate with the boiler and engine by means
ef long rods, through more than half the vessel's length.
She appears to ha. ebeen built at Leicester, and is on her
way to Lynn, for the purpose of plying between that
place and Cambridge, the slenderness of her construc-
tion allowing her to pass through the narrowest looks,
whilst her small draught of water (said to be 18 inches)

is expected by the projectors to ensure her success in
the shoal parts of that navigation.

A letter from Mayence mentions that Prince MIT•
TERNICH had gained considerable popularity there by
his liberal patronage of a young artist of the name of
KNAPP. On going on board a vessel on the Rhine to
proceed to Coblentz, he observed a landscape of consi-
derable merit, and on learning that the narrow means
of the painter rendered/him unable effectually to pur-
sue his studies, he sent for him to Johannisberg. He
proceeded thence to Vienna, there to pass two years un-
der the protection of the Prince, as then to visit Rome.
The discovery recently announced, as having been
made for the first time, of POPE'S Translation of Homer
-being written on the backs of letters, was told to the
Public nearly 30 years ago by Mr. D. ISRAELI, in his
Curiosities of Literature, who at the same time gave an
engraved fac-simile of POPS S translation.

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