The first act was to name two committees; one of five members, to hold a scrutiny on the election of the deputies generally; and the other of three, to examine those of the five. This necessary business, and some consequent discussion, occupied the whole of the first and greater part of the second session; towards the end of the latter, the form of the oath to be administered to the members, was decided:—

"I swear to fulfil, faithfully and truly, the obligations of deputy to the General Constituent and Legislative Assembly of Brazil, convoked in order to frame a political constitution for the empire of Brazil, and to make indispensable and urgent reforms. Maintaining always the Roman Catholic and Apostolic religion, and the integrity and independence of the empire; without admitting any other nation whatever to any bond of union or federation which might oppose that independence. Maintaining also the constitutional empire, and the dynasty of the Lord Don Peter, our first Emperor, and his issue."

The third session was occupied in regulating the forms of the assembly. The throne to be placed at one end of the hall; on the first step on the right-hand side, the President shall have his chair when the Emperor presides, otherwise the chair to be in front of the throne, with a small table, separate from the table of the members, and on it the Gospel, a copy of the constitution, and a list of the members. When the Emperor opens the assembly, his great officers may accompany him, and the ministers may sit on his right; proper places are appointed for ambassadors, and a gallery is open to strangers. Some other forms as to the reception of the Emperor, or a regent, or a minister commissioned by him, were also settled; and then the 1st of May was fixed on for the whole body of the members to go to the chapel royal, and after hearing the mass of the Holy Ghost, to take their oaths. The 2d was appointed for a deputation to wait on the Emperor, and inform him that they were ready to proceed on the 3d, and with his assistance to open the important business on which they had met.

[106] The crown is of a purple velvet, enriched with diamonds. There was some mistake or misunderstanding about the fact of wearing the crown at the opening of the assembly. As the crown is only a ceremonial badge of dignity, it should have been worn during the ceremony; but owing to the mistake alluded to, it was not.

[107] Nearly 2000 feet high.

[108]


Brazilian Ships.
Line-of-battle ship D. Pedro I.—64 guns,—really,—78guns
Frigate Uniăo—44—do.—50
Frigate Carolina—36—do.—44
Frigate Successo[*]—36—do.—38
Corvette Maria da Gloria—32—do.—32
Corvette Liberal—22—do.—22
Schooner Real—16—do.—16
— Nightingale—20
Total250guns. —
— 300
There is besides one fire-ship and one gun-boat.—
Note: *(Now Nitherohy.)
Ships of the Portuguese Squadron.
Guns.
Line-of-battle ship D. Joăo 6—74Commandante Capităo de Fragata Joaquin José da Cunha
Frigate Constituiçăo—50Capităo de Fragata Joaquim Maria Bruno de Moraes.
Dita Perola—44Capităo de Fragata José Joaquim d'Amorim.
Corvette Princeza Real—28Capităo Tenente Francisco Borja Pereira de Sá.
Dita Calypso—22Capităo Tenente Joaquim Antonio de Castro.
Dita Regeneraçăo—26Capităo de Fragata Joăo Ignacio da Silveira e Motta.
Dita Dez de Fevereiro—26Capităo de Fragata Miguel Gil de Noronha.
Dita Activa—22Capităo Lieut. Isidoro Francisco Guimarăes.
Brig Audaz—20Capităo Tenente Joăo da Costa Carvalho.
Corvette S. Gaulter—261º Lieut. Graduado Manoel de Jesus.
Corvette Principe do Brazil—26Lieut. Antonio Feliciano Rodrigues.
Dita Restauraçăo—261º Tenente Graduado Flores.
Sumaca Conceiçăo—82º Tenente Carvalho.
—
Total398guns.
—

[ [109] One ship of the line, five frigates, five corvettes, a brig, and a schooner.

[ [110] Semanario Civico of the 5th June.