American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-04-04
SOUTH AMERICAN CORRESPONDENTS.
PERNANGgCo, January, 2ath, l845

SOUTH AMERICAN CORRESPONDENTS
PERN.NGgco, January oath, l945.
.MeSsrS. EiitorS:-L trust that my previous
letter reached its destination. In that epistle,
said nothing concerning the public edfices of
this place, and in very truth but little of a COM
plmentary character could be urged in their
favor; but slight commentator could be be-
slowed on either the prevailing style of their
architecture, or on the taste or public spirit of
its denizens; for exclusive of the churches $50
numerous that cannot undertake TO designate
or describe them, that generally are of an anti
que air and solemn and imposing aspect,) the
buildings Of note resemble what has been said
of angels visits, and are also confined in num-
Der, possessing neither beauty of design, execu-
ton or grandeur of outline, Those edfces
which should be exempt from condemnation
are those of the Afandcga, or Custom House,
the new Opera House, and the residence of the
President of the Province, usually designated
as the Palace. The old building bearing that
title, originally erected by the Dutch, when in
possession of the country, still remains: it is an
ancient, venerable looking pile, bearing the inl-
press of the peculiar style of building, charac-
terizlng the countrymen CT old Van Tromp, its
storm-beaten towers grim and black with age,
still appearing to defy the assaults of time. A
portion of the out-buidngs are used as a bar
rack-the main one by the Government for va
nous purposes, the square and lofty towers
serving as signal staten. The Custom House
IS worthy of particular notice, being massive in
its proportions covering large space ofground,
built nearly in perfect square, with towers on
each of its four sides. Were | to attempt de-
scrbing it, there would be host of ink shed
without conveying an idea of the thing as it
really exists; suffice il to remark, therefore
that by its mode of arrangement, extent and
excellent situation, appears admirably calcula-
ted for the purpose to which it is now applied,
although lover of the "good old tmes'' might
readily fancy that in deys of old neither shaven
monk nor lady abbess prim, young devotee or
dark-eyed nun, could ever have Imagined
while counting over their beads or hymning
songs of praise to the Virgin, that the hour
would arrive when hundreds of the halfnaked
and swarthy sons of Africa would shout their
ribald gees within those venerated and holy
walls, while fulfilling their daily tasks; that
keen-eyed and vigilant ministers of the revenue
would hold their councils in the halls that had
oft resounded to the sublime thunder of the
Del ProftndiS, or rude officials sit in power
where foot of man meier trod, the recesses of
the nuns themselves. By what means it came
into possession of the Government, | did not
learn.
The letters and restrictions placed by the Go
vernment of Brazil on their commercial inter-
course with other nations, are highly onerous;
and harassed as the foreigner is by the many
and apparently needless vexations and useless
delays he is compelled TO encounter, from the
, strctness and the jealousy Of the law or its ex-
ecutors, he is still further exposed to whatever
annoyances these ministers of power may eth
er from pque or any real or mag lined cause of
complaint think proper to impose upon him.
hn aIa r 4
guardauaor is highly disagreeable, and the eal-
Gus watchfulness of the greedy swarm of Off
Gals who prowl about the landings as well as
on the water, ready to pounce On any unfortu-
nate individual who through ignorance of the
law may have come within its pale, is especial
ly unpleasant and grating to the feelings and
selt-pride of an American who does not, like
these good people of Brazil, talk of freedom,
and at the same time practice the worst sort of
despotism. What think you, for example, of
Government Selling, from boat bound to the
shore, novel in the pamphlet form, (price IL
l-2 cents,l though informed of its destination!
But what can or should BIZ hoped or expected
from race emasculated by superstitions of the
most puerle and slavish character? Clinging
to the exploded forms of R,onarchical govern
ment; enwrapted in bigotry, priest ridden and
shackled by letters of the .mnd; encircled in
gross ignorance; enchanted with savish ideas
'ofthe divine right of emperors and kings, and
yet attempting to WELD the energetic, wide
sweeping, resistless and Herculean club of de-
mocracy: Pshaw! "great Alcides shoes upon an
ass, for like unto parallel lines purs uing each
their course, the two systems can never unite:
and as for the race themselves, all the water in
great Neptune's sea cannot wash swans
black legs to white.
Particularly adverse to labor, the BraziaRs,
by the aid of muttudinous laws, contrivc to
extract great deal from other nations, the ex-
ceeding fertility and peculiar nature Of the pro-
ductiens Of their noble land enabling them to
do so without the fear of retaliation, conside-
ration that nearly all civilized countries are
compelled IN some measure to observe. So nu-
merous are the regulations and laws and Of so
e1acting nature that one is nearly tempted
to subscribe to the opinion of Jack Cade, that it
is "a lamentable thing that of the skin of an
innocent lamb should be made parchment. y
The same sage legislator asserts that the bees
do not sting, but the bees tcag, and certainly
gives convicng proof of the latter fact in this
favored land, sting which of them may, it GER
taDy IS not the native who feels the smart
The fees () demanded in the ports of Brazil,
for the execution of appointed duties, are as re-
gularly expected by the officer in attendance,
and are as regularly paid, as is their lawful com
pensation itself. Thus, if vessel wishes to
have despatch in unladng, she is compelled to
present to the officer, one of whom ALWAYS su-
perintends the discharge of cargo, fee Of five
mreis (s25O) per diem, to attend to what is
his prescribed duty. True it is, they will tell
you that there is no necessity for complying with