ery, a house proper for the establishment
was built, where there are upwards of thirty beds, almost as many nurses
as children, and on the whole, much better management. All these things
of which I have now spoken merit your particular attention.--After this
province was settled, and important provisions made for the rest, I felt
it necessary to call together a council of state; and, therefore, by the
degree of the 16th of February of last year, I convoked one, composed of
procurators-general, chosen by the people, being desirous that they
should have some persons near me to represent them, and who might at the
same time advise me, and demand such things as should be conducive to
the good of each of the respective provinces. Nor was this the only end
and motive for which I called such a council together: I wished
particularly that the Brazilians might know my constitutional feelings.
How I delighted to govern to the satisfaction of the people, and how
much my paternal heart desired (though at that time secretly, because
circumstances did not then permit me to manifest such wishes,) that this
loyal, grateful, brave, and heroic nation, should be represented in a
general constituent and legislative assembly; which, thank God, has been
brought about in consequence of the degree of the 3d of June of the last
year, at the request of the people conveyed through their camaras, their
procurators, and my counsellors of state!

"It has been very painful to me that, till now, Brazil should not have
enjoyed a national representation, and to be forced by circumstances to
take upon myself to legislate on some points: but my measures cannot
appear to have arisen from ambition to legislate, arrogating to myself
the whole power, of which I only could claim a part--for they were taken
to save Brazil,--because when some of them were adopted the assembly
had not been convoked, and when others were necessary it had not yet
met; therefore, as Brazil was totally independent of Portugal, the three
powers then existed in fact and by right in the person of the supreme
chief of the nation, and much the more as he was its perpetual defender.

"It is true that some measures appeared extremely strong; but as the
peril was imminent, and the enemies who surrounded us were innumerable
(and would to God they were not even now so many), it was necessary they
should be proportionate.

"I have not spared myself; nor will I ever spare toil, however great, i