nople," first introduced him to our acquaintance, and we entertain the flattering belief that we rendered some little assistance towards obtaining for that work the popularity which has already most deservedly passed it through three editions. From the perusal of the two volumes now before us, we have risen with feelings of increased admiration for the author. The interior of Brazil had already been visited and described by Mr. Mawe, and other travellers; and there is scarcely a scribbling politician, a soldier, merchant, or captain of a ship, who has touched at Rio de Janeiro, within the last twenty years, who has not given us some account of that capital. Mr. Southey's history comprehends also several charming descriptions of the country. Nevertheless, Dr. Walsh has found many novelties to communicate, and scenes or customs which were known before, he contrives to reproduce in a way that imparts to them fresh interest. He writes with singular tact. There is scarcely a circumstance that happened to him which he does not turn to account. On every occasion, he displays in an eminent degree that most valuable of gifts-good sense, and its attendant virtues, cheerfulness, liberality, consideration for the peculiarities, and even the prejudices, of the strangers whom he visits, and whose hospitality he receives. He does not laugh at their religion, or libel their clergy, like most of our John Bull travellers; he does not treat with contempt their political institutions, and turn every apparent breach of morality into a vice and a crime. Full of kindness towards his species, he looks upon men as his brothers wherever he finds them; he sympathizes in their interests, allows for the circumstances in which they are placed, exhibits the favourable parts of their character in the best light, and, without railing at defects, touches them with a gentle hand, leaving their amendment to time, and the extension of civilization. In writing a work of travels in this way, Dr. Walsh gives us the pleasing picture of an amiable man, and a worthy minister of the church to which he belongs; and we sincerely hope that those of his brethren who may hereafter commit to the press their observations upon foreign countries, will profit by his excellent example.

The mission of Lord Strangford to Rio, in the summer of 1828, afforded Dr. Walsh, his lordship's chaplain, the desirable opportunity of visiting Brazil. The object of the mission,-viz. to induce the Emperor to accede to the completion of the marriage (already legally celebrated by procuration). of his daughter with Don Miguel,-is known to have failed. Pedro, who was exceedingly indignant with his brother for placing himself on the throne of Portugal, would scarcely allow the subject even to be mentioned. Dr. Walsh, however, made the best use of the short time which was allowed him before the legation returned to England, and we have little doubt that the two volumes which contain what he modestly terms his 'Notices of Brazil,' will be quite as popular as the duodecimo which detailed his route from Constantinople.

To be candid, however, we think that much of the matter which occupies the first volume might have been omitted, without the slightest injury to the work. We allude to the details concerning Madeira, which have been repeated in a thousand ways by as many voyagers. The chapters also which are devoted to the history of Brazil, from the period of its discovery down to that of his arrival, have a suspicious aspect, coming from the Chaplain of Lord Strangford. These might also have been safely left out, as besides the questionable authenticity of some of the particulars, the whole of the historical portion may be said to incumber the first volume. The second volume is free from any fault of this kind. It contains an account of the author's excursion in the province of Minas Geraes, and is more like a romance than a book of travels. It abounds in the most delightful reading.

The Galatea frigate, which was appointed to convey the mission to Brazil, sailed from Portsmouth, on the 26th of August, 1828, and taking the usual course, arrived at Rio, about the middle of October. We pass over the journal of the voyage, noticing only the author's observations on that most interesting little ornament of the deep, the flying fish.

*

The flying fish is distinguished by its immense fins, situated immediately behind the gills, which it uses as wings when it wishes to change its element. They generally flew forty or fifty yards, when they met a wave, and plunging into the bosom of it, disappeared. A few rose over the crest, and apparently bathing their wings in the spray, pursued their flight with renovated powers. I know no object of natural history more interesting than a flock of stormy petterels sporting among a shoal of flying-fish, and alternating with each other's element-the little bird descending into the depths of the sea, and becoming an inhabitant of the water, the fish ascending to the heights of the atmosphere, and becoming an inhabitant of the air. It is one of those exquisitely curious and beautiful links in the great chain of creation, by which we suppose spiritual, and we know corporeal beings are connected; forming a regular and insensible gradation of existences, from the ministering angels below God's throne, to the lowest mass of unorganized matter.

A singular occurrence took place in the evening. About eight o'clock a boy had got into his hammock, which was swung on the main deck, opposite a port. He was suddenly startled from his sleep by some living thing exceedingly cold, fluttering about his breast, and finally nestling in his bosom. He started out of bed in affright, and searching his hammock, he found a large flying-fish panting and gasping under the clothes. It was immediately brought to me as a curiosity, and I examined and sketched it. It was nine inches long, blue and mottled on the back like a mackerel, the head scaly, and the mouth toothless; the belly was white, flat, and angular; the tail was unequal, the lower division being longer than the upper; the wings were two membranaceous fins, of a triangular shape, about four inches long, consisting of eleven strong ribs, branching off from a point, dividing

and subdividing with great regularity as they expanded, and connected by a transparent and very beautiful membrane, which presented a considerable surface to the air. They were attached to the shoulders of the fish, between the gills, at the apex of the angle, by muscles uncommonly strong, and of a solidity and tenacity very different from the substance of the body. I ate part of the fish broiled, and found it very good, exceeding a herring in firmness and flavour. The roe, however, was very strong, and to a certain degree, pungent and caustic.

'A rare and beautiful species or variety of this fish is sometimes found in the Mediterranean, having four wings or long fins inserted behind the gills; the body is a bright violet colour, covered with scales, which easily come off; the head flat and smooth, and the frontal bone so transparent that the brain is seen through it.

'The apparent motive which induces this fish to leave its proper element, is to avoid the pursuit of its numerous enemies, which every where persecute it-bonitos, albicores, but particularly dolphins. These last we constantly saw bounding after them, and frequently out of the water, their bright green backs and silver bellies presenting very beautiful objects. When this pursuit takes place at night, and near a ship, the flying-fish, like all its finny tribe, is strongly attracted by light, flies towards it, perhaps for protection, and enters any part of the vessel where it may be placed. Lanterns are sometimes set for this purpose in the chains and another caught there was afterwards brought to me. It was the light between decks, gleaming through the port-holes, that attracted the fish to the boy's hammock, when the little creature accidentally took refuge in the lad's bosom. Had such an incident occurred in the days of Ovid, no doubt he would have invented some mythological metamorphosis to account for it, and have made a pretty tale of the loves of the sailor boy and the flying-fish!'-vol. i. pp. 101-104.

We must also stop to notice the effect produced upon the author on seeing, for the first time, the sublime aspect of the southern heavens. We cordially subscribe to the truth of his remark in another place, that to one whose eye is made familiar with the visible starry firmament, any change of position presents objects more new, interesting and beautiful, than the finest landscape on the surface of the earth.' The cross of the south is a particularly splendid constellation.

As soon as we had passed the line, we experienced a delightful alteration of weather; and the damp, hazy, sultry heat was exchanged for a dry, bracing, elastic atmosphere, a bright sun, a clear blue sky, and a refreshing temperature, in which the thermometer stood at 78. The constellations of the southern hemisphere were glittering brilliantly above our horizon every night, and among them the southern cross was very conspicuous, and compensated us for the disappearance of the bears, which were no longer afraid, as in the days of Homer and Virgil, to bathe in the streams of the ocean. The cross rose after midnight, and at four in the morning I went on deck to see it. The aspect of the heavens was singularly beautiful. In the east was Venus just risen, with a brilliancy and lustre which she does not display

"Arctos oceani metuentes equore tingi."- Virgil, Georg. lib. i. 1. 240.

in the foggy hemisphere. She gave a light equal to that of a young moon, casting a slight shadow from opaque bodies on the deck, and rendering objects very distinct, both at sea and on board. It was the alma lux nautis affulgens; and surely nothing could be conceived more bland and bounteous than the lights of the lovely star. Orion was in the zenith, glittering with his belt and other appendages, and so bright with so many smaller stars about him, all now vivid and distinct, that he was hardly to be recognized. Among the new objects presented, were the nebulæ Magellanicæ, or Magellan's clouds, two patches of lighter matter than the dark blue sky, and which seemed to be fragments broken from the milký way, and floated to this spot; a third appeared more distant towards the pole. They were fixed, like the constellations, on the starry vault, and with them revolved round its axle. In the south was a vast cluster of brilliant stars, many of them of the first magnitude, figuring the ship and other constellations; and among these, and well defined, was a brilliant cross formed of four stars-the sacred Cynosure of the southern hemisphere. The stars which mark the top and bottom have the same right ascension, and therefore the figure of the cross is perpendicular when on the meridian, as I often saw it afterwards. In this position it is watched in South America, and they ascertain that it is past midnight when the cross begins to decline !'— vol. i. pp. 119-121.

We have always maintained that African regions were as susceptible of improvement from cultivation as any other race of men. Dr. Walsh, who appears to be of the same opinion, had scarcely set his foot on shore at Rio de Janeiro, than he had a remarkable opportunity of putting this opinion to the test, by observing the Negro under four different aspects of society, clearly demonstrating that his character in each depended on the state in which he was placed, and the estimation in which he was held.' He saw the negro first as a slave, despised, and far lower than other animals around him,' Next, the poor African appeared advanced to the grade of a soldier, 'clean and neat in his person, amenable to discipline, expert at his exercises, and showing the port and bearing of a white man, similarly placed. Thirdly, our author had occasion to respect the negro as a citizen, remarkable for the respectability of his appearance, and the decorum of his manners. And fourthly, to admire him as a priest of the living GOD; and, says Mr. Walsh, in a grade in which moral and intellectual fitness is required, and a certain degree of superiority is expected, he seemed even more devout in his impressions, and more correct in his manners, than his white associates.' This is valuable testimony in favour of the Negro character. Let us now walk into one of our countrymen's houses at Rio, and after seeing how it is arranged, take an evening lounge through the streets of that singular city.

The next day I visited Mr. Price, an intelligent English merchant, to whom I had letters. He lived in the Rua dos Pescadores, or Fisherman's street, because it was originally inhabited by some of this class when the sea came up to their doors. His house was large and massive, built of hewn stone; and as it was a representative of all the houses of the British

merchants, I will briefly describe it. Below was a large shop, or store, filled with all kinds of goods: between it and the main wall, was a long narrow entry to a flight of stone stairs, which led to the second floor, in which was a large apartment, half of it appropriated to the purposes of an office, and the other half filled with boots, saddles, hats, and other articles of English manufacture. He invited me to dine with him at two o'clock, and on my return at that hour, I found all the streets deserted, the houses closed up, and the whole town in this commercial part, like a city of the dead-as silent and solitary at mid-day, as at midnight. All the inhabitants were at their dinner, or taking their siesta; and during that time all business is suspended; every place below was shut up, so I made my way to the top of the house. Here I found Mr. Price and his family assembled. I returned with my host to his apartment, and dressed for dinner, by taking off my coat, and putting on a calico jacket; and this preparatory luxury is part of the entertainment a Brazilian host always provides for his guests as regularly as napkins.

In the evening I proceeded along the Rua dos Pescadores, to where it terminated in a large open square, called the Campo de Sta. Anna. The shops were again opened, and filled with all kinds of European merchandize, particularly Manchester shawls, handkerchiefs, cottons, and calicoes of the most showy colours, broad-cloths, silks, hats, boots, shoes, and stockings, all hung out in front of the houses, and covering the doors and windows with their rich drapery. These things were sent out in such profusion, and the market was so overstocked, that they were selling in the Rua dos Pescadores, for less money than in Cheapside.

On the

Having passed the shops, I arrived at that part of the street towards the country, where no business was carried on. The solitude and seclusion of the houses were strikingly contrasted. The windows were barred up like those of the Turks, with lattices of close cross-barred laths, which scarcely admitted the light, and through which it was impossible to see or be seen. These were suspended from above by a hinge, and opened from below, and when any of the inmates wish to look out, they thrust their heads against them, and push them forward. In almost every house as I went along, I saw some woman's forehead pressed on this blind; and in the opening was a black, brown, or sallow visage, with dark eyes, gleaming obliquely through the aperture, one up and the other down the street. arrival of the Court, the windows of all the houses of the town were hung with these gelosias, projecting into the narrow streets when opened, and intercepting the passage; but an edict was then published, that as Rio was elevated to a high destiny, it should show its sense of it, by abolishing all its Gothic customs, and assimilating itself to the improvements of Europe: that those barred up windows were as unwholesome, as they were barbarous and unseemly, by interrupting the free current of air: that, therefore, within six months, they should all be removed, except from claybuilt houses. This edict had the desired effect, and they have now disappeared, except from the low edifices of this description, in the remote streets.

The aspect of the streets was extraordinary; they were narrow, and crossed one another at right angles, and were called Rua and Travessa. The Rua commenced on the shore of the bay, and ran in a right line till it terminated in a large open space, inland. The Travessa, or cross street, was