Brazil
became the one empire in America, and was destined not to become a
republic until many years later. Such are the themes with which we here
propose to deal.
To begin this tale we must go back to those stirring times in Europe when
Napoleon, the great conqueror, was in the height of his career, and was
disposing of countries at his will, much as a chess-player moves the king,
queen, and knights upon his board. In 1807 one of his armies, led by
Marshal Junot, was marching on Lisbon, with the purpose of punishing
Portugal for the crime of being a friend of the English realm.
John, then the prince regent of Portugal, was a weak-minded, feeble
specimen of royalty, who did not keep of one mind two days together. Now
he clung to England; now, scared by Napoleon, he claimed to be a friend of
France; and thus he shifted back and forward until the French despot sent
an army to his kingdom to help him make up his mind. The people were ready
to fight for their country, but the prince still wobbled between two
opinions, until Junot had crossed the borders and was fast making his way
to Lisbon.
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