unite herself with Portugal; and in spite of our advantages for defence, we could not make it effectual, or, at least, it would be imprudent to hazard the attempt, without some assurance of success.  In this state of affairs, Sir, we can, with propriety, look only to the United States, not only because we are following her example, but, moreover, because nature, in making us inhabitants of the same continent, has in some sort united us in the bonds of a common patriotism.  On our part, we are prepared to furnish the necessary supplies of money, and at all times to acknowledge the debt of gratitude due to our benefactors.  I have thus, Sir, laid before you a summary of my views.  It is in discharge of this commission that I have come to France, since I could not effect it in America without exciting suspicion.  It now remains for you to decide whether those views can be accomplished.  Should you desire to consult your nation on them, it is in my power to give you all the information you may require.’

As by this time, I had been advised to try the waters of Aix, I wrote to the gentleman my design, and that I would go off my road as far as Nismes, under the pretext of seeing the antiquities of that place, if he would meet me there.  He met me, and the following is the sum of the information I received from him.  ’Brazil contains as many inhabitants as Portugal.  They are, 1.  Portuguese. 2.  Native whites. 3.  Black and mulatto slaves. 4.  Indians, civilized and savage. 1.  The Portuguese are few in number, mostly married there, have lost sight of their native country, as well as the prospect of returning to it, and are disposed to become independent. 2.  The native whites form the body of their nation. 3.  The slaves are as numerous as the free. 4.  The civilized Indians have no energy, and the savage would not meddle.  There are twenty thousand regular troops.  Originally these were Portuguese.  But as they died off, they were replaced by natives, so that these compose at present the mass of the troops, and may be counted on by their native country.  The officers are partly Portuguese, partly Brazilians:  their bravery is not doubted, and they understand the parade, but not the science of their profession.  They have no bias for Portugal, but no energy either for any thing.  The priests are partly Portuguese, partly Brazilians, and will not interest themselves much.  The Noblesse are scarcely known as such.  They will, in no manner, be distinguished from the people.  The men of letters are those most desirous of a revolution.  The people are not much under the influence of their priests, most of them read and write, possess arms, and are in the habit of using them for hunting.  The slaves will take the side of their masters.  In short, as to the question of revolution, there is but one mind in that Country.  But there appears no person capable of conducting a revolution, or willing to venture himself at its head, without the aid of some powerful nation, as the