s small, as we were only three persons, but excellently
dressed. Soup of wild-fowl, a variety of small birds, and sweetmeats of
the country, were rarities to me: the rest of the dinner might have been
English or French; it was served in plate. I heard a great many
anecdotes to-day of a great many persons of all degrees, for which M.
Dutems would have given any price to enrich the _souvenirs_ of the
_voyageur qui se repose_ withal, but which I will not write, because I
think it neither honest nor womanly to take the protection of the laws
and the feelings of a foreign country, and--record the foibles of its
inhabitants so as to give others the opportunity of laughing at them. We
know well enough the weak parts of human nature: if they are treated
tenderly, they may mend. Vice indeed may require the lash, but weakness
and folly should meet with indulgence. In a society rising like this, I
am persuaded that men may be flattered into virtue. If a general calls
his soldiers brave before the battle, it becomes a point of honour to
prove so. And were it in my power, I had rather persuade the Brazilians
that they have every virtue under heaven, than make them so familiar
with the least of their failings, as to lose the shame of it.

_May 1st_.--I have this day seen the Val Longo; it is the slave-market
of Rio. Almost every house in this very long street is a depot for
slaves. On passing by the doors this evening, I saw in most of them long
benches placed near the walls, on which rows of young creatures were
sitting, their heads shaved, their bodies emaciated, and the marks of
recent itch upon their skins. In some places the poor creatures were
lying on mats, evidently too sick to sit up. At one house the half-doors
were shut, and a group of boys and girls, apparently not above fifteen
years old, and some much under, were leaning over the hatches, and
gazing into the street with wondering faces. They were evidently quite
new negroes. As I approached them, it appears that something about me
attracted their attention; they touched one another, to be sure that all
saw me, and then chattered in their own African dialect with great
eagerness. I went and stood near them, and though certainly more
disposed to weep, I forced myself to smile to them, and look cheerfully,
and kissed my hand to them, with all which they seemed delighted, and
jumped about and danced, as if returning my civilities. Poor things! I
would not, if I could, shorte