SPECTATOR'S LIBRARY.

BketChes Of Residence and Travels in Brazil; embracing Historical and Geographical

• Notices of the Empire and its several Provinces. By the Reverend Daniel P.

Kidder, A.M. In two volumes, with Illustrations Wiley and Putnam. El'Teat, ' Memoirs of the Reign of King George the Third. By Horace Walpole, youngest Son of Sir Robert Walpole, Earl of Orford. Now first published from the Original 5158. Edited, with Notes, by Sir Denis Le Marehant, Bart. Vols. III. IV. Bentley. The Foster-Brother; a Tale of the War of Chiozza. In three volumes. Edited by Leigh Hunt Newby.

THE REVEREND D. P. KIDDER'S BRAZIL.

Ma. KIDDER is an American clergyman, who spent some years in Bra- zil, as an assistant missionary to Mr. Spaulding; a main object of the mission being the circulation of Bibles and tracts in the Portuguese fugue, besides the general attention of clergymen to Protestant residents end Protestant crews in the harbour of Rio Janeiro. In the course of kis duties Mr. Kidder made a land-tour through the province of San Paulo, which adjoins that of Rio Janeiro on the South ; and subsequently undertook a coasting steam-voyage from Rio to the river Amazon, sojourning for a time at all the intermediate ports ; of which the best- known are Bahia, Pernambuco, Paranham, and Para, situate on the Southern estuary of the Amazon. The knowledge acquired during his residence In Brazil Mr. Kidder has presented to the world in the volumes before us ; which embrace an outline of its history, a narrative of the author's journeyings, with general observations upon the country, and its social, political, and religious condition. Except the common touching-place for vessels of all kinds Rio Janeiro, we have had little information of late years respecting Brazil: for Lieutenant Smyth's Journey from Lima to Para only embraced a descent of the Amazon, and even that was published in 1836. Mr. Kid- der's work may therefore be welcomed as an addition to our library, though his Sketches are scarcely equal to his time and opportunity. To judge him by an English test, some of his matter was needless; and ins arrangement is certainly none of the best. Part of his work is a mere compilation of the history of Brazil, mostly compiled if not quoted from Southey and Armitage. Many of his own accounts are of a simi- tar cast, though of a more original character. He describes a town as if he were writing a guide-book, and a province in the style of an article for a cycloptedia ; and many of his political sketches, involving narratives of late events or notices of contemporary persons, have a vague and general style of description. This, however, might have been of less consequence, had history, topography, and public affairs, been kept distinct from the personal narrative, so as to form entire and separate sections of the honk for those who wished to consult them. Unfortunately, they are mixed up together in a continuous order, separated only by Chapters, and not always that. The order, too, is not chronological, but accidental. The time of telling the story of a town or province depends upon the period of Mr. Kidder's reaching it. The reader has consequently to drone through much that he may not care about knowing, and after all cannot get a complete or consecutive view of the history or topography Abridged.

This arrangement necessarily militates against the effect of Mr. Kidder's narrative of his journeyings, because the reader arrives at them with a wearied mind. But, putting this aside, he cannot be considered a power- ful or graphic describer. Something of the vagueness of the pulpit and

the platform hangs about his style. The diffuseness which the necessity Of extemporaneous address is apt to produce in men who must speak upon ill occasions, and find words if they lack matter, is visible in Sketches of Residence and Travels in Brazil. Perhaps, too, the author is by nature somewhat deficienkin that penetrating acumen which, seizing the essential qualities of things, presents to the reader a characteristic por- trait. A better arrangement and better training would have produced a better work, but scarcely have given to Mr. Kidder this last excellence. As it is, his Sketches are often jogtrot, unless the incident or the image Is so striking in itself that its leading features can scarcely escape. Such Is the case with many of the sketches especially of the Amazon, and of Para, a decaying city on the banks of the most magnificent river in the World. Here it is.

A BRAZILIAN CITY.

This neglect of improvement is not the worst consequence that has followed She revolutions and disorders that for many years prevailed at intervals in this ill-fated town. Many are the finely-located streets where scarcely a solitary foot- path penetrates the thick and ever-growing bushes that overspread them; while Oroughout the suburbs one is momentarily passing forsaken tenements and the malls of homes, many of them of a superior order, no longer occupied. Beyond the actual precincts of the city, one may instantly bury himself in a dense forest, mid become shut out from every indication of the near residence of man. The coolness of these silent shades is always inviting; but the stranger must beware lest he loses his way and never return. Many stories are told of persons nho became bewildered in the Mazes of these thickets, and though but a short distance off; were utterly unable to find their way back to town. Several are be- lieved to have perished in this manner.

AN AMAZONIAN FOREST.

The road leads nearly the whole way through a deep unbroken forest, of a density and a magnitude of which I had before penetrating it but a faint concep- Sim. Notwithstanding this is one of the most public roads leading to or from the city, yet it is only for a short distance passable for carriages: indeed, the branches of trees are not nnfrequently in the way of the rider on horseback. A Negro is sent through the path periodically with a sabre to clip the increasing tehage and branches before they become too formidable: thus the road is kept ppen and pleasant. Notwithstanding the heat of the sun in these regions at noonday, and the danger of too much exposure to its rays, yet an agreeable cool- ness always pervades those retreats of an Amazonian forest, whose lofty and 'Umbrageous canopy is almost impenetrable. The brilliancy of the sun's glare is =Bowed by innumerable reflections upon the polished surface of the leaves. itany I the trees are remarkably straight, and very tall. Seine of them are decked from top to bottom with splendid flowers and parasites, while the trunks and boughs of nearly all are interlaced with innamentble runners and creeping vines. These plants form a singular feature of the more fertile regions of Brazil. Bt it is on the borders of the Amazon that they appear in their greatest strength and luxuriance. They twist around the trees, climbing up to their tope, then grow down to the ground, and taking root, spring im again, and erase from bough to bough and from tree to tree, wherever the wind carries their limber shoots, till the whole woods are hung with their garlanding. This vegetable cordage is some- times so closely interwoven that it has the appearance of net-work, which neither birds nor beasts can easily pass through. Some of the stems are as thick as a man's arm. They are round or square, and sometimes triangular, and even pentangular. They grow in knots and screws, and indeed in every possible con- tortion to which they may be bent. To break them is impossible. Sometimes they kill the tree which supports them and occasionally remain standing erect, like a twisted column, after the trunk which they have strangled has mouldered within- their involutions. Monkeys delight to play their gambols upon this wild rigging; but they are now scarce in the neighbourhood of Para. Occasionally their chatter is heard at a distance, mingled with the shrill cries of birds; but generally a deep stillness prevails, adding grandeur to the native majesty of these forests.

The hospitable attentions he personally received, and the amenity of the Southern manner, seem to have impressed Mr. Kidder with a more favourable feeling towards the upper classes of the Brazilians and indeed towards the people and the prospects of the country in general, than his facts support, or than he himself would maintain as a direct proposition. Except at Rio where foreign residents and a continual influx of foreigners enforce something like activity and industry, and where the seat of government maintains order, assisted a little by foreign men-of-war, the country appears to be in a state of anarchy or stagnation. Under the first condition there is a species of convulsive energy, the energy of ban- ditti and murderers, which respects neither property nor life, and when subdued by exhaustion or external force leaves behind the decay we have seen at Para. Where quiet prevails, it is rather lassitude than order or repose. "Dolce for niente," or "Pleased let me trifle life away," might be the motto of the Brazilians, as of the genuine Spaniard. Independence has given them the liberty—of doing nothing ; which in their fertile soil and genial climate can be managed at the least possible outlay. Rapid decay is overtaking the public buildings and monuments of utility, created by the energy of a Portuguese Governor, the power of the Church, and the old principle that there exists in the state some- thing higher and greater than the individuals who compose it, or their particular convenience ; unless some direct and instant use compels reparation, and even this seems patchingly and insufficiently done. In some closing remarks on the magnificence of the country and the scanty backward state of its population, Mr. Kidder suggests greater encourage- ment to colonization. With Texas in view the Brazilians might not be very wise to adopt this advice. The Americans of the United States are the only people likely to colonize Southern America to any great extent; and to invite them would be to invite the wolf to the door. At present, distance, time, and the barrier of the European Guiauaa, will save theta from annexation ; but the future state of South America is a curious problem.

The religion of the Brazilians, like other parts of the social fabria, seems in a state of decay; and it is quite as problematical whether is will revive. Essentially a religion of forms, these forms are kept up wherever they have a festal character ; but the religious spirit and bigotry seem to have departed together. The monastic establishments are restricted by law, and there [items little disposition in the people te enter them. The vices and ignorance of the clergy are topics of common discourse, and even of official rebuke. No obstacles were thrown in the way of the mission's distribution of Bibles and tracts, by Government or by public opinion ; and though a dignified clergyman was occasionall5r worked up by some subordinates to publish a denunciation, little or no attention was paid to it. Mr. Kidder naturally attributes a hopeful result to his distribution, that, we fear, will not be produced. In some places, the books were evidently given on chance; for the recipients could not read, and it is by no means clear that the accomplishment was rife in the district. Generally speaking, it strikes us, the cariosity was literary or critical, or even bibliographical, rather than religious. A spirit more anxiously devout unquestionably animated some; but these were persons of a thoughtful turn of mind, or clergymen, and are perhaps to be considered as individual cases. At the same time, a religious reform would offer the best chance for stirring the Brazilian mind, if we could find a Brazilian Luther.

During our author's residence at Rio, a temporal improvement was effected, in the establishment of omnibuses ; of which he gives this Ite. count, and of Brazilian etiquette.

"Nothing like such a means of public conveyance had been before known in any part of the empire. The beautiful coaches constructed for this object were each drawn by four mules, and presented an appearance quite as interesting as that of their prototypes in Broadway. "'This was little, however, in comparison with the actual convenience they offered to persons who desired such a means of locomotion. Within these coaches might be witnessed perfect specimens of Brazilian manners. A person accustomed to the distant and care-for-no-one airs which are generally observed in the New York stages, might be a little surprised that so much friendly wen- tion and politeness could prevail among perfect strangers, who might happen to meet each other in these vehicles. It might be equally surprising to see that no one was excluded on account of colour. Condition is the test of respectability iti Brasil. No slaves can be admitted to an omnibus, except in the single case of -a female wet-nurse to some lady, whose child she carries. At the same time, no free person who is decently dressed, and has money to purchase a ticket, is ex- cluded. It is.presumed that every respectable person will dress well, not only .ia fact, but also in form. Hence, none are allowed to go into the public offices, or into the National Museum or Library, who are not dressed in coats. A jacket Is the special abhorrence of the Brazilian laws of etiquette ; and although more adapted than any other garment to the climate, and generally worn by gentlemen within their own houses, yet it is sternly proscribed abroad; and he that would be respectable must put on a coat whenever he goes out, and if he please, a tolerably heavy coat of cloth."

A BRAZILIAN PADRE.

On showing me his library, a very respectable collection of books, he distin- guished as his favourite work Calmees Bible, in French, in twenty-six volumes. Be had no Bible or Testament in Portuguese. I told him I had heard that an edition was about to be published at. Rio, with notes and comments, under the patronage and sanction of the Archbishop. This project had been set on foot fit order to counteract the circulation of the editions of the Bible Societies, but was never carried into effect. He knew nothing of it. Ile had heard, however, that 'Bibles in the vulgar tongue had been sent to Rio de Janeiro, as to other parts of the world, which could be procured gratis, or for a trifling consideration. Judge of the happy surprise with which I heard from his lips, that some of these Bibles had already appeared in this neighbourhood, three hundred miles distant from our depository at Rio. His first remark was, that he did not know how much good would come from their perusal, on account of the bad example of their 'bishops and priests. I informed him frankly that I was one of the persons -engaged in distributing these Bibles, and endeavoured to explain the motives of our enterprise, which he seemed to appretiate.

He said, Catholicism was nearly abandoned here, and all the world over. I assured him that I saw abundant proofs of its existence and influence; but he seemed to consider these "the form without the power." Our conversation was here interrupted; but having an opportunity to renew it in the evening, I re- marked, that knowing me to be a minister of religion, he had reason to suppose I would have more pleasure in conversing on that subject than upon any other.

then told him, I did not comprehend what he meant by saying that Catholi- cism was nearly abandoned. He proceeded to explain, that there was scarcely any- Thing of the spirit of religion among either priests or people. He being only a dfacono, had the privilege of criticising others. He was strong in the opinion that the laws enjoining clerical celibacy should be abolished, since the clergy were almost all de facto much worse than married, to the infinite scandal of religion; that such was their ignorance, that many of them ought to sit at the feet of their own people, to be instructed in the common doctrines of Christianity; that the spirit of infidelity had been of late rapidly spreading, and infecting the young, to the destruction of that external respect for religion and fear of God .which used to be hereditary. Infidel books were common, especially Volney's Ruins. I asked whether things were growing better or worse. "Worse," he .;eplied, "worse continually !" "What means are taken to render them better?" " None ! We are waiting the interference of Providence." I told him there were many pious persons who would gladly come to their aid, if it were Certain they would be permitted to do the work of the Lord.

The book is illustrated by a variety of cuts, some of them buildings, others portraits with a staring wooden kind of likeness. The majority, 'however, are illustrations of the descriptive letterpress ; for which par- :pose they are highly useful. The canoes, rafts, sedans, and many other articles of use, are seen at once; whilst the text instructs the mind in the _mechanism.