THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH BRAZIL.
Tan unsatisfactory issue of our negotiations with Brazil sur- prises nobody. Brazil and Britain are not at present in a condition to place their commercial relations on a footing to give hope of permanence. The question is not merely what the two Governments are willing to do, but what the state of public opinion in their respective countries will allow them to do. The British Government cannot brave the earnest resolution of the Anti-Slavery party to hold no terms with Slavery, or even the large pecuniary interests which Negro Emancipation has, in the words of Mr. DEACON Huila, "placed out of the category of free trade," for the present. The Brazilian Government cannot brave their countrymen's fear of the consequences of the abolition of slavery, or their anger at the interference of British cruisers with their slave-trade. Both Governments have their bands tied by the incompatible interests, feelings, and opinions, which pre- dominate in Brazil and Great Britain.
The fox• who discovered that the grapes which he could not reach were sour, was perhaps wiser than many who have laughed atohim. Or rather, we are inclined in the present instance to run the risk of being called disciples of his school of philosophy, by remarking, that, after all, this postponement of an adjustment of our commercial relations with Brazil is not so very great a disaster as many believe. We are quite aware of the immense natural re- sources of Brazil ; and, though we wish the Brazilians were more at one with us on the subject of slavery, we can see that there is much in their character to respect : but the inquiries, at once minute and comprehensive, upon which we have been obliged to enter in collecting materials for the Supplement published along with this week's Spectator, have considerably modified our previous estimate of the preeminent importance of Brazil as a market for British manufactures, or its capability of being materially extended for a good many years yet. The population is too straggling to admit of combined labour ; the country wants capital; and the inhabitants, highly to their credit, are seeking rather to diminish than increase their liabilities to foreign creditors. But, as matters now stand, the Brazilians have on the whole more to gain by standing well with England than we have to gain by standing well with them ; and if they will not come to our terms, and we cannot go to theirs— why, then,
" There are maidens in Scotland, her betters by far, Who would gladly be wed to the young Locbinvar."
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