Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-04-10
SOUTH AMERICA.

SOUTH AMERICA.
Brazit-This is but another name
Cor Portuguese dmsric0, and contains
nearly haIf the 'erritory OF south Anne
RIGA, with a population, according TO
Humboldt, Of 4, O00, 900 souls, including
slave. and Indians. Others state 1t at
three millions Our late biographies
ana gszs,seers, give all the necessary
infornatioa of he geographical state
of this extensive country, Or the eha-
raeter and situation OF lis present popu'
lat,on. we have little knowledge that
can be relied On as authentic. An ori
einaI, unpublished letter. from an In
telrgept Clergyman. resident at 10
Janei,o, dated inthat city, Feb. |, 1917
ami uow lying before the writer OF TINS
article, gives the pest Information OF
nh. n,e.eat rnte rnal state Of this eoun-
try of a;.y tina, has been communicated
% the public. From this letter we
make long extract. which we DOUBT
not viii De read with interest aud prom.
.Brazil," he says, twas proclaimed
akngio.u in lsl6. The style OF 'he
KIN 10, Ills Most Faithful MaJesIy,
the King Of Portugal, Brazil, and the
Algsrve. sc1.
The population of the city of RE ia
nsiro il said to exceed 100000, large
oor,iop of whom are slaves. The num-
Der of Indians 10 not known. but can'
not he great. They are divided into
.syeral tribes, come of which are SO sa'
wage that it would be dangerous going
among ,hem--others are IN measure
civ,lized. Maoy, if not all OF this lat
tar description are Catholics.
This city is the seat OF government.
IL HIS the appearance OF considerable
antiquity, and such are its mannefs ana
customs, that | can hardly persuade
my,elf tat an sill in the new worid.
Iii on sandy plain, and Is surrounds,
ed by country highly picturesque ana
romantic. Hills rising ABOVE hills ana
noun aims beyond them, form the land
scape of this part of the world. The
lands are exceedingly fertile, and tho
climate salu brious, though less so than
further south. The heat is less OPP
pres.ive than might be expected
being tempered by the land and SEQ
breezes.
There is one English Episcopal So
cisty in this city, the only Protestant
-cvmmvrcrsI-rrervy wreu- vhhtts nst1on
stipulated for the privilege of erecting
churches for the accommodation oil
Their own subjects. They are, how
ever, to have neither bells nor towers,
and no attempts whatever are to be
made to draw away the Catholics from
their church aud worship. They have
no, yet erected Church. but 1t is In
contemplation to build ono. The Rev.
Mr. c. cams from England sbou.
two years since to take charge Of this
Society. learn from him that there
are about four hundred English resi-.
dents here.
did not learn that aoy taD existed
which should preclude the Preachers,
Churc hes, Or worship Of the Protestant
nations. i was told that hey would not
be nolested, provided they did not in.
tBriere with the Catholics. But they
would doubles, find 1t necessary to ap-
ply to the Governor for permission, and
preludice. caprice, and the impulse Of
the moment, sway SO much the decision
OF a desPotic government, in regard to
the worship OF those whom they consi-
der aaretics, thai l conceive it impossi-
BILE to be we'll assured in respect to the
resuit.
The moral character Of this people
is deplorab!e. Altnoagb intemperance
10 not often seen to walk the streets,
and perhaps less known in this city
than in most of the large cities in our
own country, almost every other spe-
cies Of iniquity abouods. Profanepess
prevails to a very awful extent. From
the conversation of many, whose stand
ing 10 respectable, l should conclude
tina, they do not look upon it as evipc-
ing want Of religion. The people ge-
morally have no correct idea of the true
nature Of religion. Gambling is opens
ly and generally prsct.seo. the gross.
est and most abominable familiarity
frequently exists between masters and
their slaves. Bigotry, lust, and barba-
roas cruelty, not uufrequen,ly combine
In the ga &c individual. Ii seems here,
ss In heather lands, to have beeo the
effect OF their worthip OF images, to re.
move the Mos High far from their
Thoughts. In general they appear to
have little sense of moral obligation,
AMI 81 their accountability to God, and
DO fears that they are in danger OF ever
las y destruction. intrigue and Sc.
duction are so frequent, and redress