[Illustration: THE SITE AND REMAINS OF FRIBOURG HOUSE, FORMERLY THE
RESIDENCE OF PRINCE MAURICE OF NASSAU.]
The population of Pernambuco is estimated at about sixty-five thousand
persons, St. Antonio containing much the greatest proportion. I
endeavoured to discover the site and remains of Fribourg House, the
first edifice built upon it by Prince Maurice of Nassau; and was
finally assured that its remains constitute the present Casa de
Fazenda Real, which, though exhibiting some antiquity in its aspect,
in consequence of being white-washed, could not be identified with
positive certainty. But its appearance, (pretty correctly represented
in the plate,) combined with the tradition that it is actually
the remains of Fribourg House, does not leave much room to doubt the
fact. The convent fronting it has a great many cocoa-nut trees, which
no doubt are the fruits of those he so copiously planted upon the
island. A Prince who did so much for Pernambuco, in so short a time,
and who here built the first two bridges that were known in the Brazil,
is not undeserving of some monument in this place to his memory. There
is a theatre in St. Antonio; but the performances are exceedingly
indifferent, and the house, which is small, but thinly attended, no
spirit existing for the encouragement of such an establishment.