Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-10-26

80 .JANRIRO.


gate, dated the evening before that vessel
sailed from Rio JdueirO, was handed to me
few days ago. by gentleman in This city,
TO whom II was addressed, with permission
IN make extracts from ii Tor publication.
The character of the writer, for Intelligence
aud veracity, ought 10 have claimed an ear
lier attention 10 this Interesting letter: but
tue delay was III manner unavoidable.
He gives circnmstantial account of MIR.
Sumpter's digniied refusal TO submit to the
Illuminating ceremony, which had hitherto
been observed 10y all foreigners, without cx-
csptnu, OF dismounting and remaining un-
covered while the queens carriage was
passing. But as the American pRblic are al
ready iufornt d of the resolute aud honora-
bic condnct oi their minister IN tins instance,
the a'c count 81 Il is here mi't:d.
I'd. UaiSoa ULig.
Congress frigate, Rio Janeiro, =
July 18th, 1919.
This king, king John of Portugal, im6e-
cile IN his person aud mind weak and cnu-
teinptibie in his national character. grinds
down the faces OF his poor subjects, till heart
and frame sink alike into u Stale of listless
apathy and shameless dereliction of principle
compelled 10 pay first tythe, then something
less thap moiety-to tire king himself til en-
iVn or three GIbe cat mpnstS TO the revenues
which nre all far,ned out for five Years in ad-
vance, with certain reservations (which 70 di-
Iec,iN ne ros at coiirTs) an original commodi-
" 6wIndles to mere token of itself aud the
subject must flud some other means than ho-
nesty Ia live. To cheat tie King the customs
ana the laws, is u branch of dangerous theu-h
Cqntinsaily practlSed science. King, Dukes,
Lords, and subjects. have nearly all marks of
Characteristic meanness and depravity. The
women are iechPrOus aud upchaste the
SHs"h nepself Is not exempt from tile ciearesi
ana most direct impuiaiionS. Hated and
MAieu oS a,t' IT Is not 10 b8 wondered
ihat The kpeehng multitude who are cnmuel-
!eh tothiS attitude whenever her august ma
yeSty y passing IL, her carriage) should curse
tue cause OF TINS vile debasement. Wheue-
ter aoy sprlg OF the royal branch appears in
view. 80 ne REMAINS covered under auy cir
roriStaDce. Should they do So the attendant
guards without hesitation compel their oh.
scfvtJch AT the poipt of the baVonst or sabre
Mihch not uhtreqnPuiiy adds fresh victim TO
the reeking altar OF ROYALTY. Two DAYS since
ar the conservation Of The bell designed for
Tue KING S chapel, in ihe opera square in the
Mug pre- 'ence .-w' eye the priests were in
f9klng heaven-aud in tue face of an ASSEM-
bicu nutitude--wAS n poor portu,up,e ran
through the body bv The Guards yi,I,omt
exciting any cenunOtiOu, or drawing A siuglp
evidence ut cOInniSerdtion but from our own
oiEcers, who Witnessed The unfortunate CataS-
tfDphe, and Tor which they could find no one
10 assign any iurtheT cause than as il was done
ny the Kings Guards. it must be some in.
HihSeinent ct The royal prerOgaiive
u ~ tue custom Of King John to hold three
courts every week, at which his happy sub.
ItctS nave lie honor TO Kiss his royal hand.
Not lous since, being but few arrivals from
america, aud the supplies falling which are
brought from along the coast aud upon which
Tue city is dependent. the Inhabitants became
alarmeu, and, beginning TO dread d famine
TIE greatest excitement had commenced
amongst thetu, when Tue king adopted tie tOl.
lowing Judlcious and cheap mode of qnietibg
lheF approximations and relieving their dis.
Jesse ne issued his royal proclamation,
nated AZ the palace, that 10 consequence of Tie
b'rs"id@g scarcely of provisions, aud ihc snb-
seqneut severe suiferiugs of his loving sub
JeCtS, ne would Increase the number OF his
G"uTi days (callrd bdse,neH) to double what
tGcy then were. aud that instead of three
tiiHes, they should be allowed 10 kiss his hamd
slX times week which was as much as any
i"mSiling man ought 10 require. After this,
IIeFe sisted no logger any approximations o
starvation thousands were fed daily from the
gracious bounty, and those who cOuld not gain
admiiIauce, Toasted from the abundance Of
their friends aud neighbours who could.
All can discover with respect TO the sdmi.
niStrStiOD OF Justice, is, THAT almost every one
assumes the privilege OF ChdstISiug his inietIOr,
after his own manner There is,independgni
Of several minor Judges one " lao Is supIe
and WHO prpfpssss TO decide Cqnitably 81 law.
fhhy, "a iiIe case mas require, though | have
40 Hesitation ifi saying a yeTy small bfiDe
would warp his deci>IoB 30 that il would be
neither The one nor tbe oGher.
In architecture. they ave profGse Of orua.
menis -IeaVy aud III adapted. Tie Orders
for auglu / know, NAY be REGULAR and cor.
TeCt lint the tluislI Is incomplete aud rough.
~ mechanics, they ave thousand yoafs be-
hind Us aud even more There is 80 IMPROVE
nent possible, unless ibeir very natures are
changed, WHICH appear now T. be dcicfiolai-
ing dSiiy. Their streets are liaFrOW diriy
aud every way disagre,tlile: fhtif HOUSES par.
tane nf tie same qualities and other subjects
of disgust swarm at ali points tie hos, "nan
invariably rides upon she Sile-va'ts Vhete
there is uOt rnOn "UVUsh for ism aud tie foot
passengers, Whu, iH pas,ing hIn (as well as the
carriages, Witch are all drawn by mules per-
petually uuher the lash Ola heavy ledth ~
thoug) shelters himself IN any door be may be
opposite.
TIE opera honse is spacious and tolerably
handsome The performers bad. cXcr iu
dancing, Whlcllis reilly excellent. FOR lirs
however, hey are indebted TO Strain and
France, as 40 Portuguese dance j. abuve me.
dfocrity like tie Italians, they have valve
talent for music there Is ~ consequence
Great deal, -.si very good. The king las 80
veal ennneas VITO siuT 10 his Chapel Tich
aaG I.eu14diy dCCJ.alLG GCIG.g, buas AZ t..s