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.

When the procession had passed, I found it was expected that we should
await its return, which I was well pleased to do. My young friend Dona
Carlota improves on acquaintance; and as I begin to venture to speak
Portuguese, I am becoming intimate with the elder part of the family. I
was taken into the study, and for the first time saw a Brazilian private
gentleman's library. As he is a judge, of course the greater part is
law; but there are history and general literature, chiefly French, and
some English books. I was introduced to several Portuguese authors; and
Don Carlota, who reads remarkably well, did me the favour to read some
of Diniz's fine verses to me, and to lend me his works. We then returned
to our station at the window, and saw the procession return in the order
in which it came, when our pleasant party dispersed.

Yesterday, the assembly having finished its preliminary sittings, sent a
deputation, headed by Jose Bonifacio, to His Imperial Majesty, to
entreat that he would honour the assembly with his presence at their
first sitting as a legislative body, and he was pleased to name half
past eleven o'clock to-day for that purpose.[105]

[Note 105: Various ordinances of the 3d and 19th June and the 3d of
August, 1822, and of the 20th and 22d February, 1823, had