Journal of a Voyage to Brazil: And Residence There During Part of the Years 1821, 1822, 1823Callcott, Maria, Lady
History
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil: And Residence There During Part of the Years 1821, 1822, 1823
Callcott, Maria, Lady
Brazil -- Description and travel
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_May 3d_.--Early this morning the French naval captain, La Susse, called
on me to take me in his boat to town, for the purpose of going to Senhor
Luis Jose's house in the Rua do Ouvidor, to see the Emperor go in state
to the opening of the Constituent and Legislative Assembly. All the
great officers of state, all the gentlemen of the household, most of the
nobility, and several regiments accompanied him. First marched the
soldiers, then the carriages of the nobility and other persons having
the entree, nobody driving more than a pair, such being the express
order of the Emperor, in order that the rich might not mortify the poor;
then the royal carriages, containing the household, the ladies of
honour, and the young Princess Dona Maria da Gloria; the Emperor and
Empress followed in a state-coach with eight mules. The crown was on the
front seat. The Emperor wore the great cape of state, of yellow
feathers, over his green robes. The Empress, much wrapped up on account
of a recent indisposition, was seated by him, and the procession was
closed by more troops.
The carriages displayed to-day would form a curious collection for a
museum in London or Paris. Some were the indescribable sort of caleche
used here; and in the middle of these was a very gay pea-green and
silver chariot, evidently built in Europe, very light, with silver
ornaments, silver fellies to the wheels, silver where any kind of metal
could be used, and beautiful embossed silver plates on the harness of
the mules. Many other gala carriages seemed as if they had been built in
the age of Louis XIV. Such things! mounted on horizontal leathern bands,
and all other kind of savage hangings; besides paint and gilding, and,
by-the-bye, some very handsome silver and silver gilt harnesses. Then
there were splendid liveries, and all manner of gaudiness, not without
some taste.
The houses were hung with all the damask and satin of every colour that
they could supply; and the balconies stored with ladies, whose bright
eyes rain influence, dressed in gala dresses, with feathers and diamonds
in profusion; and as the royal carriages passed, we waved our
handkerchiefs, and scattered flowers on their heads.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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