The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-05-07

Dining one day Mt Rio lie Janeirp with
| venerable old gentleman. who FOR
| ,unny years had been established there
as merchant prince, the conversation
took n turn on Dom Pedro. the Second.
aud his court. Speaking of the I'm
peror. 50 great. said Mr. MAXWELL. Is his
affability and oondascens siou that were
YOU to extend to him on invita-
| tion to visit vour steamer,
in all probability he would
accept it. On the following day men
toned the subject to Mr.. Kent. United
States Consul. who expressed his appio-
hation. and seemed much pleased at the
idea Of exhibiting to His Majesty So
splendid n specimen II American naval
! architecture as the "tjity of Fittshurg.
/ Several days had elapsed. during
which nothing further was said on the
subject Du tho morning of tho ath of
September we again discussed The mat
ter. when il was decided to plotre, The
invitation. MI Kent addressed n note
10 the Minister for Ioteigh Affairs. On
whom. in company with MI Fletcher
Secretary of American legation !
waited The court being at tho Palace
IT San thlistoyal. no arrangements 8
could then be otTe"teJ On the follow
Ing day the visit to the Ministers re4i
conversation said. in all probability tho
Invitation would be accepted, but that
the unanimous consent IF His Majesty 9
Ministers would have to be obtained
We took our leave and at q o'clock that
evening the Secretary Of American Is-
cation informed me tho Emperor had
accepted The invitation
The City Of fittsbuIg had just finished
ooalpg and was preparing fot sea. As
heir Maiesties were to visit the ship on
the following dav. arrangements had to
be made for their reception. The rain
that night foil IN Torrents. and day
1awned with a misty. disagteeable et
pospheie. which made IT. doubtful
whether tho Visit would be accom-
plished. Every part Of the ship, how
over. was scrubbed, washed and put In
order The angling. gangway ladders
aud platforms were oai peted, the ban
nistols festooned with llBgs. Tho set-
tees on The promenade dock were cush.
iouad and dressed with laes. Two
richly covered arm chairs wore placed
under the awning MS chairs Of state
The American ensign WIS hoisitd NJ the
peak. and The brazilian national fleg NJ
the main.
Shortly after o'clodk on tho morning
If the 10Th September ! received note
from Mr.. Fletcher. Informing me tliat
the Emperor would embark In the
imperial barge precisely at II O'Clock n
m. rain OF shiue, aud that being a man
Of punotualty, ] might expect him Mt
the stated time
At nine O'Clock. tho SUM- as If to favor
The pleasure Of Princes and enhances
the satisfaction Of those who were to 70
eeve ,hem burst forth in MI its splrn
dor. In u few minutes the mist dis
..I ~, ,..I
The temperature Of the air bechlne dc
lightfnllv cool All Mature seemed to
indicate that the excursion would be u
pleasant ono.
1t had previously href understood,
hs communicated t. mr In Mr. Flotchers
frat note. that no invitations wcre to be
extended to private individuals nlao.
that no person whatever was 10 br in
tro1uced to the Emperor, who desired
- be- free from all annoyance Garry.
ing out these instructions vhvc rise 10
much comment and "ngendnred lib
ttal fnelings.
About ten O'Clock Nj and Mrs Kent.
Nj. nud Mrs. Fletcher with Count dc
and few official gentlemen,
came on board.
Al II o'clock ~ N. the salute ~ can
non from the imperial ships Of war an
nolnced that the Imperial Court had
embarked Tho steps. platforms and
passage ways of the steamer were now
strewn with prorusion of flowers.
Whom the imperial barge. followed in
lins by two others those Inst coptnin-
ing courtiers. naval aud military Off
GERS of high rank in tho Imperial ser
vice had arrived within n short dis.
tnnce or our ship, the band stationed on
tho promenade deck played the Brazil
ian national anthem After arriving
alongside the steamer tho Emperor
waited on the Empress mp tho steps.
They were received at tho enngwny by
IN ysclf aud officers. by Mnssrs Fletcher
aud Kent. and welcomed on bonrd the
City of PtttHburg. They were uahrfod
into tho ladies saloon where the Em-
press brcume secuted now placed
the ship ut the disposal
Of the Emperor. The cavhl-
! cade then n4c"pded 10 the
promenade dock. IN the meantime the
anchor was weighed, and our ship in
gallant style steamed down the most
magnificent and picturesque bay and
hnrbor in the world. The ships Of war
brazilian, French and English, with
their yards fully manned, fired u salute
IA the City Of Pittsbirg passed. also
the fOrtrcsses, situnted on both shores
Of the harbor.
Mr. Maxwell had informed me that the
Emperor had much taste for the study of
machinery. This was corroborafed. Be
sides examining every accessible part
Of tho steamer, he descended into the
engine room where he closely inspected
the engines, which, 10 him, as they
worked with the trunk cylinders, must
have been u novelty. He entered into
the officers messroom, and asked Of the
chief engineer, through Mr. Fletcher in
French, many questions. or Mr.
Grundy, Engineer in Chief Of the
Brazilian Navy, he inquired minutely
respecting the plans and working Of
the propeller. A drawing Of the en-
gines was presented To him this he ex
amined with great attention. and gave
Mr.. Grundy orders TO have n model
constructed When examining the
saloons he frequently exclaimed, tres
mdgnifque, tres maJnifqne. The only
English ! heard him speak was u
request for me to put on my hat
put on your hat Every person on