t points fittest to oppose any enemy's force approaching by sea;
and in the defiles of the hills, to oppose the approach of an enemy
already landed, (which would not be easy,) entrenchments, forts,
redoubts, abatis, and batteries. The barracks of the Carioca are built,
and the other barracks are prepared. That in the Praca da Acclamaca[)o] is
almost finished, and that ordered for the grenadiers will shortly be
so.

"The fleet consisted only of the frigate Piranga, then called the Union,
not fitted; the corvette Liberal, only a hull; and of a few other small
and insignificant vessels. Now we have the ship of the line, Pedro
Primeiro; the frigates Piranga, Carolina, and Netherohy; the corvettes
Maria da Gloria and Liberal, ready; a corvette, in Alagoas, which will
soon be ready, named the Massaio: of the brigs of war, Guarani ready,
and the Cacique and Caboclo under repair; besides several ships in
ordinary, and various schooners.

"I expect six frigates of fifty guns, manned and armed, and completely
formed for action, for the purchase of which I have already given
orders; and according to the information I have received, they will not
cost above thirteen contos of rees.

"In the dock-yard, the works are the following:--all the ships now
actually employed have been repaired; gun-boats, and others of small
size, which I need not name, have been built; and many others, which,
altogether, are numerous and important.

"I intend this year, in the same place, where for thirteen years back
nothing has been done but caulking, rigging, and careening
vessels,--swallowing immense sums, which might have been more usefully
employed for the nation,--to lay down the keel of a forty-gun frigate;
which, if the calculation I have made, the orders I have given, and the
measures I have taken do not fail, I hope will be finished this year, or
in the middle of the next, and will be called the _Campista_.

"As to public works, much has been done. The police office in the Praca
da Acclamaca[)o] has been rebuilt: that large square has been drained of
the marsh water, and has become an agreeable walk, with paved paths on
all sides, and others across, and we are still continuing to embellish
it. The greater part of the aqueduct of Carioca and Maracana[)o], have been
repaired; besides the numerous bridges of wood and stone which have been
renewed, several new ones have been made, and a great extent of roads
has been mended.

"Besides what I