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affix is not enough, and two or three titles are joined together, thus rendering the appellation more sounding. I have sometimes seen the greatest names of Portugal borne by tropeiros following their mules through the picadas or rough roads of the forest. The explanation, however, is very simple. Every freedman assumes at pleasure, the name of either his master, his godfather, or any other protector. The Portuguese is generally born a gentleman. There is not in fact a family whose ancestors have not borne arms against Islamism, in the long struggles for independence; and it is well known that the kings of Portugal, desirous of exalting the valor of their troops, conferred nobility on the battle-field upon all the soldiers of an army that had obtained a victory over the infidels, or carried a Mussulman town by assault.

Another subject of astonishment is that this country, surrounded on every side by people agitated with perpetual convulsions, nevertheless enjoys pro-found peace. The causes of this tranquillity appear sufficiently complex. The Portuguese character, deeper and more positive than the Castilian, is less liable to passing excitement. The immense stretches of wilderness that cross the southern continent, moreover prevent the agitations of the Spanish republics from affecting Brazil. Political feelings nevertheless manifest themselves there, and are especially observable at Rio Janeiro.

Being in company a few days ago with my two friends—A, an Englishman, who had spent much time in America, and B, an American of the democratic school of politics—the conversation turned upon the present civil war. We had conversed but a short time, when A made an attack upon our form of government, saying, among other things, that the Republic was fast proving itself a failure, as all other republics had done; the last sentiment being acquiesced in by several Americans present. B remarked that urgent business demanded his immediate attention, and as he separated from us, he said to A that he should like, at a more convenient season, to converse more fully with him on the subject on which they had touched.

The challenge having been accepted, I invited my friends to dine with me the next day, promising them that after dinner I would be a faithful listener to the conversation. They readily accepted the invitation, and were faithful to their promise.

After dinner I led the way to the library, where my friends, while occupied with their meerschaums, selected books, which they made free use of during the conversation. Seeing such preparations, I concluded that I would quietly make an occasional note of the conversation. As many things were said, both old and new, that are worthy of being considered and preserved, we give the entire conversation.

'I consider,' said A, 'all forms of government better than a pure democracy. An absolute monarchy is preferable to a republic, where universal suffrage prevails. For the simple reason that there is greater probability that one man will do right than there is that the multitude will. There is greater security for person and property where one man governs, than where the clamor of the multitude is the supreme law. In times of tranquillity there may be some