l up to this time to separate the productions of its
colonies, to reserve sugar for Brazil, and spices to the East Indies,
and to prohibit the cultivation of these in the African possessions.
Now, however, many plants were imported not only from Guiana but from
India and Africa, cultivated in the Royal Botanic Garden, and thence
distributed. The same principle which dictated the conquest of French
Guiana originated attempts to seize the Spanish colonies of Montevideo
and Buenos Aires, Portugal being also at war with Spain. The chiefs of
these colonies were invited to place them under the protection of the
Portuguese crown, but these at first affecting loyalty to Spain declined
the offer, then threw off the mask and declared themselves independent,
and the Spanish governor, Elio, was afterwards defeated by Artigas, the
leader of the independents.

Brazil declared an integral portion of the monarchy.

The inroads made on the frontiers of Rio Grande and Sao Paulo decided
the court of Rio to take possession of Montevideo; a force of 5000
troops was sent thither from Portugal, together with a Brazilian corps;
and the irregulars of Artigas, unable to withstand disciplined troops,
were forced, after a total defeat, to take refuge beyond the River
Uruguay. The Portuguese took possession of the city of Montevideo in
January 1817, and the territory of Misiones was afterwards occupied. The
importance which Brazil was acquiring decided the regent to give it the
title of kingdom, and by decree of the 16th January 1815, the Portuguese
sovereignty thenceforward took the title of the United Kingdom of
Portugal, Brazil and Algarves. Thus the old colonial government
disappeared even in name. In March 1816 the queen Donna Maria I. died,
and the prince regent became king under the title of Dom John VI.

Pedro proclaims the independence of Brazil, 1822.

Although Brazil had now become in fact the head of its own mother
country, the government was not in the hands of Brazilians, but of the
Portuguese, who had followed the court. The discontent arising among
Brazilians from this cause was heightened by a decree assigning a heavy
tax on the chief Brazilian custom houses, to be in operation for forty
years, for the benefit of the Portuguese noblemen who had suffered
during the war with France. The amiable character of the king preserved
his own popularity, but the government was ignorant and profligate,
justice was ill administered,