19th.—I saw the Empress, who is pleased to allow me to sail for England in the packet, the day after to-morrow. I confess I am sorry to go before Lord Cochrane's return. I had set my heart on seeing my best friend in this country, after his exertions and triumph. But I have now put my hand to the plough, and I must not turn back.
October 21st.—I embarked on board the packet for England. Mrs. May walked to the shore with me. Sir Murray Maxwell lent me his boats to bring myself and goods on board. I had previously taken leave of every body I knew, English and foreign.
After I embarked, Mr. Anderson brought me the latest newspapers. The following are the principal ones published in Rio:—The Diario da Assemblea, which contains nothing but the proceedings of the Assembly; it appears as fast as the short-hand writers can publish it. The Government Gazette, which has all official articles, appointments, naval intelligence, and sometimes a few advertisements. The Diario Do Rio, which has nothing but advertisements, and ship news, and prices current; it used to print a meteorological table. The Correiro, a democratic journal, which the editor wrote from prison, only occasionally for some time, but lately it has been a daily paper. The Sentinela Da Liberdad E A Beira Do Mar Da Praya Grande is edited by a Genoese, assisted by one of the deputies, and is said to be pure carbonarism. The Sylpho, also an occasional paper, moderately ministerial, and engaged in a war of words with several others. The Atalaia, an advocate for limited monarchy, whose editor is a deputy of considerable reputation, is another occasional paper; as is also the Tamoyo, entirely devoted to the Andradas: it is, in my opinion, the best-written of all. The Sentinela Da Paŏn d'Asucar is on the same side; its editor formerly published the Regulador, but this has ceased to appear since the change of ministry. The Espelho was a government paper; but the writer has discontinued it, having become a member of the Assembly. The Malaguetta was a paper whose first number attracted a great deal of attention; it fell off afterwards, and ceased on the declaration of the independence of Brazil. It was remarkable for its hostility to the Andradas. Indeed the war of words the author waged against the family was so virulent, that they were suspected of being the instigators of an attempt to assassinate him. This they indignantly denied, and satisfactorily disproved; and the man being almost maniacal with passion, accused any and every person of consequence in the state, and conceived himself, even wounded as he was, not safe. In vain did all persons, even the Emperor himself, visit him, to reassure him; his terrors continued, and he withdrew himself the moment he was sufficiently recovered from his wounds. He was by birth a Portuguese, and his strong passions had probably rendered him an object of hatred or jealousy to some inferior person, the consequences of which his vanity made him attribute to a higher source.—I believe there are some other occasional papers, but I have not seen them.
Oct. 25th.—Happily for me there are no passengers in the packet, and still more happily, the captain's wife and daughter are on board; so that I feel as if lodging in a quiet English family, all is so decent, orderly, and, above all, clean. I am under no restraint, but walk, read, write, and draw, as if at home: every body, even to the monkey on board, looks kindly at me; and I receive all manner of friendly attention consistent with perfect liberty.
Nov. 1st.—"The longest way about is often the nearest, way home," says the proverb; and, on that principle, ships bound for England from Brazil at this time of the year stand far to the eastward. We are still in the latitude of Rio de Janeiro, though in long. 29° W., and shall probably stand still nearer to the coast of Africa, before we shall be able to look to the northward. To-day the thermometer is at 75°, the temperature of the sea 72°.
9th.—Lat. 14° 19' S., long. 24° W., thermometer 74°, sea 74½°.
17th.—Lat. 5° N., long. 25° W. For several days the thermometer at 80°; the temperature of the sea at noon 82°. We spoke the Pambinha, 60 days from Maranham. She says Lord Cochrane had gone himself to Para, whence he meant to proceed directly for Rio; so that he would probably be there by this time, as the Pedro Primeiro sails well. I had no opportunity of learning more, as the vessel passed hastily.
We have, generally speaking, had hot winds from Africa, and there is a sultry feel in the air which the state of the thermometer hardly accounts for. I perceive that the sails are all tinged with a reddish colour; and wherever a rope has chafed upon them, they appear almost as if iron-moulded. This the captain and officers attribute to the wind from Africa. They were certainly perfectly white long after we left Rio; they have not been either furled or unbent. What may be the nature of the dust or sand that thus on the wings of the wind crosses so many miles of ocean, and stains the canvass? Can it be this minute dust affecting the lungs which makes us breathe as if in the sultry hours preceding a thunder-storm?