slaves.

The police of the city is very good. Soldiers patrole the streets
frequently, and riots are seldom heard of. The dreadful custom of
stabbing, from motives of private resentment, is nearly at an end,
since the church has ceased to afford an asylum to murderers. In other
respects, the progress of improvement appears slow, and fettered by
obstacles almost insurmountable, whose baneful influence will continue,
until a more enlightened system of policy shall be adopted. From morning
to night the ears of a stranger are greeted by the tinkling of the
convent bells, and his eyes saluted by processions of devotees, whose
adoration and levity seem to keep equal pace, and succeed each other in
turns. "Do you want to make your son sick of soldiering? Shew him the
Trainbands of London on a field-day." Let him who would wish to give his
son a distaste to Popery, point out to him the sloth, the ignorance, and
the bigotry of this place.

Being nearly ready to depart by the 1st of September, as many officers
as possible went on that day to the palace to take leave of his
Excellency, the Viceroy of the Brazils, to whom we had been previously
introduced; who on this, and every other occasion, was pleased to honour
us with the most distinguished marks of regard and attention. Some part,
indeed, of the numerous indulgencies we experienced during our stay
here, must doubtless be attributed to the high respect in which the
Portuguese held Governor Phillip, who was for many years a captain in
their navy, and commanded a ship of war on this station: in consequence
of which, many privileges were extended to us, very unusual to be
granted to strangers. We were allowed the liberty of making short
excursions into the country, and on these occasions, as well as when
walking in the city, the mortifying custom of having an officer of the