Rio de Janeiro, or January River, so called because discovered by Dias de Solis on the feast of St. Januarius, (Sept. 19) 1525, is not in fact a river, though its name denotes that it was then supposed to be so:  it is an arm of the sea, into which a considerable number of small rivers descends.

The city of Rio de Janeiro, called by some writers St. Sebastian, from the name of its tutelar patron, is situated on the west side of this bay, within less than a degree of the tropic of Capricorn, and about 43 deg. west of Greenwich.  It is at present the capital of all Brasil, and has been for some time the residence of the Viceroy.  These distinctions it obtained in preference to St. Salvador, which was formerly the capital, by means of the diamond mines discovered in its vicinity, in the year 1730.  The place increasing rapidly by the wealth thus brought to it, was fortified and put under the care of a governor in 1738.  The port is one of the finest in the world, very narrow at the entrance, and within capacious enough to contain more ships than ever were assembled at one station.  It has soundings from twenty to one hundred and twenty fathoms.  A hill shaped like a sugar loaf, situated on the west side, marks the proper bearing for entering the harbour:  the situation of which is fully pointed out at the distance of two leagues and a half by some small islands, one of which, called Rodonda, is very high, and in form not unlike a haycock.  The mouth of the harbour is defended by forts, particularly two, called Santa Cruz and Lozia; and the usual anchorage within it is before the city, north of a small island named Dos Cobras.

There are in this port established fees, which are paid by all merchant ships, Portuguese as well as strangers:  3l. 12s. each on entering the bay, the same on going out, and 5s. 6d. a day while they remain at anchor.  The entrance fee was demanded for the transports in this expedition, but when Governor Phillip had alledged that they were loaded with King’s stores, the payment was no more insisted upon.  Nevertheless, the Captain of the Port gave his attendance, with his boat’s crew, to assist the ships in coming in, there being at that time only a light air, hardly sufficient to carry them up the bay.

In the narrative of Captain Cook’s Voyage in 1768, we find, on his arrival at this place, great appearance of suspicion on the part of the Viceroy, harsh prohibitions of landing, even to the gentlemen employed in philosophical researches, and some proceedings rather of a violent nature.  The reception given by the present Viceroy to Governor Phillip and his officers was very different:  it was polite and flattering to a great degree, and free from every tincture of jealous caution.