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tual labours, that several towns of baptised Indians are established in the dis- trict of the mines.
The harbour of Rio Janeiro is well defended by forts and batteries on every commanding position, which are garri- soned by about 4,000 regular troops, who make a very respectable appear- ance, and seem to be extremely well disciplined. The whites of every de- scription, amounting to 10,000, are en- rolled in a militia, and exercised once a month. From this motley group, how- ever, little service could be expected in the hour of attack, and we might justly exclaim,
'Twas not the spawn of such as these
That dar'd the elements on pathless seas,
And made proud Asian monarchs feel
How weak their gold was against Europe's steel;
But soldiers of another mould,
Rough, hardy, season'd, manly, bold.
