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 garrison attending us was dispensed with
on our leaving our names and ranks, at the time of landing, with the adjutant
of orders at the palace. It happened, however, sometimes, that the presence
of a military man was necessary to prevent imposition in the shopkeepers,
who frequently made a practice of asking more for their goods than
the worth of them. In which case an officer, when applied to, always told us
the usual price of the commodity with the greatest readiness, and adjusted
the terms of the purchase.
On the morning of the fourth of September we left Rio de Janeiro,
amply furnished with the good things which its happy soil and clime
so abundantly produce.
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