to make valuable additions to the stock of general knowledge.*

To estimate the American empires by their present importance in the scale of nations, without taking into view what they are destined to be, at no distant day, is like comparing a young giant to a full grown dwarf. As an American, I cannot but feel a kind of pride in looking forward to the lofty destinies of this new world,

"A seat where gods might dwell,

Or wander with delight."

The only empires that can be compared to the Brazil, in point of magnitude, are those of China, Russia, and the United States; and although at present the least in point of population, the day will come, when

*The king of Brazil deserves high praise for the facilities offered to literary and scientific men, in exploring this country. Several of the courts of Europe, and many learned societies, have sent out persons for this purpose. Mr. Swainson, F. R. S. during the two last years, made extensive journeys through the provinces of Pernambuco and Bahia; Mr. Freyeries, and Dr. Sellow, sent out by the Prussian government, had explored the coast from Bahia to Rio Janeiro, in which they had occupied eighteen months. In the same expedition which brought out the princess Leopoldina, a scientific mission also arrived, consisting of the following persons: Professor Mecken, botanist; Mr. Schott, gardener; Dr. Pohl, mineralogist; Mr. Buckberger, botanical painter; and Mr. Euter, landscape painter; Mr. Nataer, zoologist, with assistants. Some of them have set off for Mato Grosso. Mr. Aug. de St. Hilair, a French naturalist, has explored the province of Minas, and the banks of the St. Francisco. Mr. Langsdorf, the present Russian minister, is engaged in studying the natural history. The principality of Tuscany, has sent professor Raddi, of Florence; and the king of Bavaria has sent two naturalists, Messrs. Spix and Martins, who are still in the interior.

it will be the greatest. Brazil is, in fact, the body and heart of South America; although covering a less extent than the part which belongs to Spain, it possesses great superiority in being more compact, and possessing greater facilities of internal communication. It may seem premature at this day to institute a comparison between the Brazils and our country; but the time will come, when such a comparison will appear natural, and even unavoidable. The fate of the Spanish colonies, contending for independence under the banners of republicanism, is still enveloped in doubt and conjecture. Should the contest with Spain terminate fortunately, a much greater uncertainty hangs over them, as to the extent and nature of their confederacy, whether they will form a republic on a territorial scale, similar to that of the United States, or separate into small unconnected republics. There is, without doubt, in the countries now contending for independence, an infinitely greater tendency to anarchy among the members, than prevailed with us, with much fewer means of binding them together under one common head. This is not the case with the

Brazils; it is one and indivisible, and the probability is, will continue so, unless the royal family should resolve to return to Portugal. Here then, when we consider the vast capacities and resources of Brazil, it is not visionary to say, that this empire is destined to be our rival. If formed by the mighty genius of a Peter the Great, and developed on a scale commensurate with its extraordinary extent, resources, and advantages, it would not be long before the truth of these observations would be made evident. Looking at the Brazils therefore as a rival, and in the nature of things

she must be such, it may be well that she is placed under a race of kings, not likely to inspire the nation with the formidable energy of our republic, but rather to dissipate the force of the body politic, in childish projects, and royal extravagance. Without some master spirit at the head of the government, the avowed and bold enemy, like Pombal, of the power which stands between the people and the throne, there is no likelihood of correcting the mass of abuses, which must powerfully retard its growth, and vitiate its formation. Obedience will be the first thing to be secured; and a free enlightened, enterprising American population, can never be sufficiently passive for the best of kings. It is very certain, that a young American nation, if left to itself, might outgrow many of the original vices of its constitution; but it will be the policy of a monarchial government, to perpetuate the worst, and correct only the least of them.

A nearer survey of the empire of Brazil, will give a more adequate idea of its importance. Its shores are washed by the waves of the Atlantic from the river Arauary, north of the entrance of the Amazon in two degrees north, to Rio de St. Pedro in thirtythree, south. On the north it is bounded by the Amazon, as high up as the mouth of the Javari, and up that river to the seventy-fourth degree of west longitude, and thence in a southerly direction to the great river Madeira, and along the river Items, and ranges of mountains to the Paraguay; across this river and along a range of mountains to the south of Rio Grande St. Pedro, terminating as before mentioned. The disputes between Spain and Portugal, with respect to boundaries are well known. These unavoidably arose

in the same manner as in other parts of America, on the gradual approximation of the settlements of different nations, commenced in the first instance at sufficient distances from each other. The Portuguese from the earliest period claimed the whole left bank of the Parana and La Plata, while their progress in this direction was considered by the Spaniards as encroachments. There was no rational principle for the termination of disputes of this nature, but that of the more complete occupancy, or express stipulation. In both of these particulars the cause of Spain was decidedly the best. The quarrels which arose from time to time, were settled by the treaties of 1680, 1750, and 1760, which however produced but temporary suspensions, until finally settled by the treaty of Ildefonso, of the first of October, 1777, confirmed by the treaty of Pardo of the year following. By this treaty the boundaries were settled as far as they could be by mere description, and they were perhaps the most extensive ever agreed upon between two sovereigns. Except the boundary of the United States settled by the treaty of '83, I know of none that can be compared with it. The articles of treaty, from the third to the tenth inclusive, trace this wonderful boundary along the ridges and mountains, and along the courses of rivers, leaving the connecting links where these natural boundaries fail, to be settled by commissioners whom the parties agree to appoint for this purpose. One of these on the part of Spain, (Azara) was actually sent out, but in the preface of his valuable work on South America, he complains of a want of good faith on the part of the Portuguese government, in the fulfilment of its engagements. After remaining nine

years in the country, the business was left unfinished. Although the line was therefore never formally established; yet the natural boundaries are in general, of so bold and permanent a chaarcter, as to leave little room for dispute. The Portuguese geographers, however, still continue to claim the same extent as if no treaties had been entered into.

Some writers in describing the Brazil, speak of it as an immense triangle, each of its sides two thousand miles in length. The Corografia Brazilica, calls it a peninsula formed by the Atlantic ocean on the east, on the west by the Madeira, and on the south by the Paraguay, which interlocks with this river. The isthmus of no great width, and formed by the dividing ridge between the waters of the two greatest rivers in the world. Lying within the tropics, or immediately on their borders, the diversity of climate, is of course not striking as respects the variations of the seasons, or the productions of the earth. Although generally a hilly, and mountainous country, it has no mountains that approach the elevation of those of Peru, where under the torrid zone there may be found the temperature of the mildest climates. Their height is sufficient, however, in many parts to influence the temperature considerably, although elevated plains, similar to those described by Humboldt, are probably not to be met with. There are powerful causes however, which cannot but have great influence on the temperature of Brazil. The piercing south-west winds sweeping over the pampass of Buenos Ayres, pass over a great part of it, and the cool air from the immense snowy ridges of the east, must no doubt have a great effect in tempering the heat to which the im