The death of Dom Pedro, lately Emperor of Brazil, oat
Saturday morning, though of no political importance, deserves record on account of his unique personality. He was a man of insatiable curiosity, always wanting to know the newest thing in science or literature or art, and trying to get informa- tion by incessant questions. He flitted, however, from sub- ject to subject, like Mr. Brooke in Middlemarch," and, like him, whenever serious duty was on hand, proved himself incom- petent,. He had, nevertheless, one or two definite opinions, one of them being that slavery was an iniquity, and he succeeded in abolishing it in Brazil. He gained the affection of the Blacks, but the lighter Brazilians had no respect for his eagerness to gain knowledge, and a great contempt for his philanthropy. No dynast, perhaps, of the ancient families was ever so little protected by loyalty, or ever cared so little about a throne. He pro. fessed great love for Brazil ; but we fancy it was very like the love of a Viceroy for India,—that is, it was quite sincere in good-will, and quite consistent with an anxious desire to get away to a livelier society and a less relaxing climate. His 'daughter Isabel, wife of the Comte d'Eu, of the Orleans family, succeeds to the shadowy Crown.
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