The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 2 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 2 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
the mines, being twenty-six millions, might be counted on for effecting a
revolution. Besides the arms in the hands of the people, there are public
magazines. They have abundance of horses, but only a part of their country
would admit the service of horses. They would want cannon, ammunition,
ships, sailors, soldiers and officers, for which they are disposed to
look to the United States, it being always understood that every service
and furniture will be well paid. Corn costs about twenty livres the one
hundred pounds. They have flesh in the greatest abundance, insomuch, that
in some parts they kill beeves for the skin only. The whale fishery is
carried on by Brazilians altogether, and not by Portuguese; but in very
small vessels, so that the fishermen know nothing of managing a large
ship. They would want of us, at all times, shipping, corn and salt fish.
The latter is a great article, and they are at present supplied with it
from Portugal. Portugal, being without either army or navy, could not
attempt an invasion under a twelvemonth. Considering of what it would
be composed, it would not be much to be feared, and, if it failed, they
would probably never attempt a second. Indeed, this source of their
wealth being intercepted, they are scarcely capable of a first effort. The
thinking part of the nation are so sensible of this, that they consider
an early separation inevitable. There is an implacable hatred between the
Brazilians and Portuguese; to reconcile which, a former minister adopted
the policy of letting the Brazilians into a participation of public
offices, but subsequent administrations have reverted to the ancient
policy of keeping the administration in the hands of native Portuguese.
There is a mixture of natives of the old appointments still remaining in
office. If Spain should invade them on their southern extremities, these
are so distant from the body of their settlements, that they could not
penetrate thence; and Spanish enterprise is not formidable. The mines
d'or are among mountains inaccessible to any army, and Rio Janeiro is
considered the strongest port in the world after Gibraltar. In case of
a successful revolution, a republican government in a single body would
probably be established."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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