, 34 T H E B R A Z I L S .
their masters ? The horrors attending such a revolution would
most infalliby not be less enormous than:tliose which disgraced
the revolution Of St. Domingc| In promoting such
revolutions I trust England will never beg concerned, being
fully convinced that however much South America might
gain by a quiet change of masters, she would very soon be
thrown back into a state of barbarism iSy revolutions.
For the security and convenience of the Indian trade the
situation of Rio de Janeiro is eminently advantageous, and
the harbour is well suited for every naval purpose; and
though it seems to be capable of an easy defence, yet it
scarcely can be considered as perfectly secure, unless the
same power has possession also of the windward port of
Bahia or St. Salvador to the northward. This port is said
to afford superior advantages for a naval arsenal and dockyards
even to those of Rio. The island of St. Catharine to
the southward is likewise an important station, so situated
that Rio de la P lata will always be entirely at thcrncrcy of
that power who is in the possession of it. We know little
more of this island than what the elegant writer of Anson s
voyage has said of it. I The soil of the island is truly lux--
“ uriant, producing fruits of most kinds spontaneously.; and
“ the ground is covered ovet with one continued forest of
“ trees of a perpetual verdureJ»which, from the exuberance
“ of the soil, arcaso entangled with briars, thorns, and under-
“ wood, as to form a'thicket absolutely impenetrable, except
' “ by some narrow footpath! which the inhabitants have made
“ for their own com cuiencC; The woods , are extremely
fra "rant, from the many aromatic trees and shrubs with
//
n
H o sp ital Island.
This noble harbour extends, to (he northwixrd near
thirty miles and. is terminated, by a screen, of lofty
mountains. The surface is studded, with, innumeraHe
islands
R e f e r e n c e s
ABCZo/uKw/»Sow in ÌCwithout the entrance defindtet by lines
D Stnedlworke on a height commanding FortZuace on thejrt1 E
F FortSantn Cm* on a rock tfgtumk hOftethigh.wilh M Oun. m
mat die oca. and to die westward and hardarard, it it flaahed l,atteri., and comnamded 3 8 l/v others on the Jtignai MUi j attaint, and haying the haricot nmscpàft dote under Or O BL Horn . J7of.»
I A reqy strong Fort commanding the Andwrage
K. Store, (flight Ordnance commanded ir a Square fort onUte heig.
M The Otadd on dot highestpointtfldn. Coirne about SO feet ai
See water. The Hand slatito on the east tide to about S feet
is aerified the wide wqy widl etonelieeee flanked at interrale:
MythmVude: 20 than to the South tSadhBasti: 26 on the oppodt,
w Common landing place. Hite fòt; nutshetqy 1c light guns intendi
extend the whole front of the Town
© Square fort commanding theUqyalDockJard
IP QK. Convents on eminences nwstd’ fortified
S T The only works on the East side of die hxxrbour ÌC of little
wq
U V Snudi- Works to prevent a landing on die sandy ot these p