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mighty rivers and inland seas, which intersect our country with a magnificence and grandeur unknown in any other region of the globe, gave evidence that restless and destroying man had early tracked the untilled soil with steps of blood, and awakened the startled echoes of this new world, with the discord of his mad ambition.

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"Villages and towns now rise on the site of those forests which, forty-five years since, witnessed the fierce encounters of two adverse armies; and future patriots and statesmen occupy the spot, where the cruel savage immolated his unfortunate captive, or performed the superstitious rites of his untutored worship. The frowning wilderness has become the scene of gaiety and splendor, where the bloom and brightness of beauty, the enchanting vagaries of fashion, and the luxurious refinements of wealth unite their witching influence; where the graceful dance, the ravishments of music, and every varying pleasure which invention can devise, conspire to charm away the hours of the gay and idle throng, who annually resort to taste the far famed waters of Saratoga. Nor can the foot of the un-American press the soil, mingled, as it is, with the dust of the great and the brave, without a thrill of national pride, as he recalls the events of the year so glorious in the annals of his country, and which have shed a tinge of romantic, we had almost said of classic interest over the wild scenery of the north." See Vol. I. pp. 134-5.

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ton Journal of Philosophy and the Arts, intended to exhibit a view of the Progress of Discovery in Natural Philosophy, Mechanics, Chemistry, Geology and Minerology, Natural History, Comparative Anatomy and Physiology, Geography, Statistics, and the Fine and Useful Arts. Conducted By John W. Webster, M. D., John Ware, M. D., and Mr Daniel Treadwell. No. VIII. September, 1824.

CONTENTS.

ART. XV.-On Rock Formations, by Baron Hum

boldt.

ART. XVI.-Transactions of the Royal Society of
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ART. XVII.--Notice of the Attempts to reach the
Sea by Mackenzie's River, &c.
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BY CUMMINGS, HILLIARD, & Co. and for
sale at their Bookstore, No. 1. Cornhill,
Boston, "Saratoga, a Tale of the Revolu-
tion." The portion of American History
with which this Tale is interwoven is that
of the Northern Campaign of 1777, which
terminated in the surrender of General
Burgoyne's army to General Gates. The
following extract is a fair sample of the au-
thor's manner of writing, and will serve, it
is hoped, to bring into more general notice
a work, which, in the popular style of ro-bridge.-American Geological Society.--Perkins'
mance, recapitulates a series of events
highly interesting to every citizen of the
United States.

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That part of New York which in the year 1777 was the scene of contest between the two experiencBlair's Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles ed Generals, Burgoyne and Gates, exhibited at that period few marks of cultivation or improvement, exLetters. 2 vols. cept such as might be occasionally observed around the log hut of some enterprizing settler, who had De Lolme on the Constitution of England. ventured to invade the solitary wilderness. The remains of several forts also on the borders of those 1 vol.

Gibbon's Works. 12 vols.

GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. Comet of 1823.-Cabinet of Minerals at CamSteam Engine.--Method of Cleaning Gold Trinkets, and of Preserving engraved Copper-Plates.--Height of Mount Rosa.-New Vesuvian Minerals.-Seal and Walrus.-Obituary.

CAMBRIDGE:

PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS,

BY

HILLIARD AND METCALF.

THE UNITED STATES LITERARY GAZETTE.

Published on the first and fifteenth day of every month, by Cummings, Hilliard, & Co. No. 1 Cornhill, Boston.-
VOL. I.

REVIEWS.

Extracts from a Journal written on the Coasts of Chili, Peru, and Mexico, in the Years 1820, 1821, 1822. By Captain Basil Hall, Royal Navy, Author of a Voyage to Loo Choo. Reprinted from the last London edition. Boston. 1824.

12mo.

WE, the people of the United States, in common with most of the nations of Europe, have hitherto been, in a great degree, strangers to the inhabitants of South America, and their concerns. This ignorance has not been altogether our fault. The jealous and short-sighted policy of the nation which held dominion over these extensive regions, carefully shut up every avenue by which we might have access to them; their intercourse with other nations was almost totally prohibited; strangers were forbidden to enter their territories without special license of the Spanish government; they were debarred from light and knowledge as much as possible, that, in their ignorance they might be more easily reconciled to their degraded situation;-and thus were ruled with a rod of iron, in comparison of which even Turkish despotism might be accounted a blessing. In such a state of things, the name of American, has been almost exclusively appropriated to our republic, though it occupies but a small portion of the map of this extensive continent. This distinction the nations of Europe have voluntarily conceded to us; for, until the last few years, whenever their views have been turned toward this continent, all that they have seen to animate, to encourage, or to alarm them, all that could promise to rival or to surpass them in commerce, in arts, or in arms, all, in short, which they had to hope or to fear from this quarter, seemed to be comprised within the boundaries of the Mississippi, the St Lawrence, and the Atlantic.

But these times are rapidly passing away. The termination of Spanish misrule is near, if it has not come. Our Southern brethren are beginning to be known among the nations, and the enterprize and curiosity of the civilized world is aroused. Information about their domestic and political relations is sought with avidity, and no where more earnestly than with us; for no people are more nearly interested in their present situation, or their future prospects, than the people of these United States. It is highly improbable, nay, in the present aspect of their affairs, we may pronounce it morally impossible, that the authority of Spain should ever again be exercised in any part of her

BOSTON, NOVEMBER 1, 1824.

former American possessions, the islands
alone excepted. For the time is come,
when this western continent shall be no
longer the seat of one only, but of many

nations.

-Terms, $5 per annum, payable in July.

No. 14.

availed himself of these opportunities to mingle with different classes of the people of various ranks and occupations, to learn their domestic manners and customs, and to enable himself to form a judgment from the condition and views of the mass of the people, of the political prospects and destiny of these countries.

This work has been published for many months; but, perhaps, we should apologize not so much for the delay, as for reviewing at all, and yet more for reviewing at so The seventh chapter gives an account of much length, in a journal professedly na- a cruise to the southern coast of Chili, durtional, a foreign work not immediately re- ing which our author visited Conception, lating to this country. But we think our that city of Chili which has suffered more readers will be contented to become better than all the others from the storms and acquainted with a book declared to be very tempests of the revolution. He there reinteresting by testimony which cannot de- lates many interesting particulars of Benceive; our principal newspapers have teem-evides, the pirate, in a short sketch of his ed with extracts from it; and we have seen announced in a late number of an English magazine, the third English edition.

The name of Capt. Hall must be known to many of our readers from his interesting account of the Loo-Choo Islands, published several years ago. And, we think they who open the present volumes with their expectations founded on the pleasure which they derived from the perusal of our author's former work, will not be disappointed. If, indeed, the British Navy can boast of many such men as Capt. Hall and Capt. Parry, it way well be said, that "Grim-visaged War has smoothed his wrinkled front." The influence of that empire, while she employs such agents, will be spread more widely by her arts than by her arms. But we would not raise the anticipations of our readers too high; and we know that they will exercise the privilege of judging for themselves, whether we grant it or not.

Capt. Hall, in the British Frigate Conway, under his command, arrived at Valparaiso in December, 1820, and remained on the western coast of America until June, 1822, during which period he visited all the ports of any importance in Chili and Peru, and those of the republic of Colombia and of Mexico, situated on the Pacific Ocean. The ports of Valparaiso and Callao, with the cities of Santiago and Lima, were visited several times. At that period a regular commercial intercourse between England and those countries, as well as between them and the United States, began to be established; but there were as yet no English consuls, or accredited commercial agents residing there; and Capt. Hall was authorized, in all cases where the functions of such officers would be necessary, to act in their stead. In discharge of this duty, he had occasion to be more frequently on shore, and in communication with the constituted authorities of the different towns, than his duties as commander of a ship of war would otherwise have permitted. He

career. But the events connected with his proceedings are, perhaps, better known in this country, than almost any other occurrence of the South American revolution, as several of our whaling ships and merchantmen were so unfortunate as to fall within the reach of his depredations; and some of their officers and crews, after being detained a long time in confinement, have escaped, and returned home, to recount their stories.

The next chapter describes an excursion to the mining districts of Chili. On this occasion Capt. Hall ascertained a fact which may surprise some of our readers, viz., that the working of the copper mines, on an average, yielded a handsome profit to the miner; that the profits arising from the silver mines were more precarious and uncertain; while the working of the gold mines proved a ruinous business to the greater part of those who engaged in it. To one gold mine, there are about fifteen of silver, and not less than fifty of copper, in operation.

In the course of our walk, we discovered a grove of trees near the stream; in the centre of which stood a neatly built cottage, surrounded by a farmyard, offices and garden, with every thing in the most rural style, except a gold will, which, though characteristic enough of Copiapó, certainly looked somewhat out of place. This establishment belonged to a man who was making a sure fortune by a copper mine, till, unfortunately, it gradually degenerated into a mine of gold: from that moment since on the ebb. This, which at first looks a little the tide of his fortunes turned, and has been ever paradoxical, is precisely what might be expected, for it is the scarcity of gold, the uncertainty of its extent in any given situation, and the consequent great cost of production, which, while they give it so high an exchangeable value render mining speccountries, therefore, it has become a common sayulations in gold invariably hazardous. In these ing, that a diligent man who works a copper mine is sure to gain; that he who works one of silver may either gain or lose; but that if the mine be of gold, he is certainly ruined.

His description of the mines, and the various processes by which the metals are separated from the ores, and made ready for exportation, will be found interesting.

210

He accompanies these accounts with a ta-
ble of the comparative prices of different
articles before and after the revolution.
By this it appears that copper, at present
the staple commodity of the country, has
nearly doubled its value in consequence of
this change in their political relations. Steel,
on the other hand, an important item of
their imports, is reduced from fifty dollars
to sixteen dollars per quintal of one hun-
dred Spanish pounds, and iron in the same
proportion. Woollen cloths are reduced
nearly one half.
Printed cotton goods,
which were formerly from eighteen to
twenty-four reals per yard, may now be
bought at from two and a half to three reals
only! Velveteens are fallen from twenty-
six reals to two reals! Crockery per crate,
from three hundred and fifty reals to forty
reals! Hardware and glass may be bought
at about one third the former price. The
enormous difference in these prices may
seem incredible to those who are unac-
quainted with the various methods by which
Spanish ingenuity, through the famous
Council of the Indies, contrived to tax her
American dependencies; but let them once
be made to understand the operation of the
monopolies, the transit duties, the sale of
Bulls, and that monstrous engine of oppres-
sion, the Alcavala of the Spanish Colonial
System, and their incredulity can exist no
longer. These statements carry with them
an evidence of the real and substantial
benefits which that country has already de-
rived from its independence; benefits not
confined to the higher classes only, but felt
and realized in their full proportion by the
most obscure and unpretending citizen;
and they need no further comment. In
connexion with this subject, we have an al-
lusion to the policy of the new governments
in regulating the affairs of trade. It ap-
pears they have adopted that true policy,
which some older States have yet to learn,
of leaving it to itself. They had suffered
severely, through many generations, from
the evils of too much legislation; a system
of government in which Spain has long
stood preeminent, and which she has ap-
plied with redoubled severity in her colo-
nial regulations. They, we speak of the
Chilians more particularly, have opened
their ports to an unrestricted commerce,
and it is already pouring out upon them its
abundant blessings.

We extract from this chapter some account of those tremendous earthquakes which often bring utter desolation upon the finest cities of South America. Long may it continue to be difficult for a citizen of this country to form an adequate conception of them.

We rose early this morning, being impatient to see the effects of the earthquake. Over night, indeed, some of these effects had been visible by candle-light, for the house, the only one in this part of the town which had not been thrown down, was cracked and twisted in the most extraordinary

manner.

It was built of wood, plastered over, and the main uprights having been thrust deep into the ground, the heaving of the earth had wrenched the parts of the house asunder, but without demolishing it altogether, and given it the torn appear ance it still retained. In the Plaza, every house,

three days-somebody said there was one last night, but I knew nothing of it-I am tired of these earthquakes-and would never think of them again if I were once at dear Coquimbo!'

On putting the same question to another person present, he said they had not experienced one since April, meaning, as I discovered, April, 1819, two years and a half before; not conceiving we could possibly take any interest in such petty shocks as would not demolish a town. An old man in company, seeing that we had been misunderstood, explained, that it was a long time since they had felt a shock of any consequence; and upon our pressing him closely to say what he considered long, replied, at least a month!

We

except this one, and one small chapel, were com-
pletely destroyed. The walls had fallen in all di-
rections, some inwards, some outwards, presenting
a scene singularly ruinous and melancholy; for it
was obvious at a glance, that what we saw was not
the work of years, but of a cause at once general
and rapid in its effects. In a climate without rain,
the footsteps of time fall so very lightly, that it is
probable these ruins were much in the same state
as on the day they were cast down, two years
and a half before. The walls, being from three to
four feet thick, none of them above twelve feet
high, and built of large flat sun-dried bricks, were
calculated, it might have been supposed, to with-
stand the shocks even of an earthquake, yet not-
withstanding their strength, they seem to have been On our return we were gratified by meeting two
tumbled down like so many castles of cards. The agreeable and intelligent men, whom our host had
little chapel mentioned above, was built by the Jes- considerately invited to meet us; they were most
uits, who had bolstered it up with a set of monstrous willing to exchange local information for news
buttresses, occupying an area considerably greater about the rest of the world, with which they ap-
than the chapel itself, which, nevertheless, was so peared to have extremely little intercourse.
twisted about, that the roof fell in, and the walls soon engaged them in conversation about the great
cracked in all directions. Some houses had been earthquake. It began, they said, between eight and
so shaken, that not a brick retained its original nine in the morning of the 3d of April, and contin-
place, yet the walls were standing, though with a ued with gentle shocks during that day and the
most ghost-like appearance, and at such an angle, next. At four in the afternoon of the 4th, there
that, in passing, we felt not quite free from appre-came a violent shock, which produced a waving or
hension of their falling upon us; indeed, there rolling motion in the ground, like that of a ship at
was hardly a single wall which was not sloping sea, which lasted for two minutes. In every case.
over more or less. In some places the buttresses these shocks were preceded by a loud rolling noise,
were shaken down and gone, but the shattered wall compared by one person to the echo of thunder
was left standing, and in many cases they had been amongst the hills; and by another to the roar of a
forced apart from each other, and were inclined in subterranean torrent, carrying along an enormous
opposite directions. The great church, called La mass of rocks and stones. Every person spoke of
Merced, fell on the 4th of April 1819, one day af- this sound with an expression of the greatest hor-
the earthquake began, and seven days before the ror. One of the gentlemen said, it was 'espanto-
great shock which destroyed the town. The side so!" (frightful) 'Yes,' added the other, shuddering
walls, and part of one end, were left standing, in a at the recollection, horroroso!'
dislocated and inclined state, and rent from top to
bottom; but what was curious, the buttresses,
which appear to have been broad and substantial
ones, were nearly all thrown down. One of them
which still remained was fairly wrenched apart
from the building it had been intended to support,
the wall touching it at the ground, but standing a
yard and a half from it at the top. It appears,
therefore, as ought to have been anticipated, that
these supports contribute nothing to the stability of
a wall exposed to the shaking of an earthquake;
their real use being to resist a lateral thrust out-
wards, not to act against a vibratory motion of the
ground on which they stand. ***

It was interesting to notice how constantly the earthquake occupied all people's thoughts at this place, however much they might seem to be engrossed by other objects. In the early part of the evening, an English gentleman, resident at Copiapó, took me to visit a family of his acquaintance living in the undestroyed suburb, called the Chimba. Though almost worn out with the day's work, I was tempted to go, by the promise of being presented to the handsomest young woman in Chili. We had come, it is true, to Copiapó, with our thoughts full of mines and earthquakes; or, if we had originally any thoughts of mixing with society, the desolate appearance of the town had chased them away; nevertheless, we could not refuse to visit a lady with such pretensions. We found her very pretty and agreeable; but what entertained us particularly, was her vehement desire to have a wider field for the display of her charms, which, to do the secluded beauty no more than justice, were of a very high order, even in this land of fascination. The accounts she had heard from others of the fashionable world of Santiago, and of Coquimbo, had so completely turned the young lady's head, that earthquakes had ceased to make the usual impression. I see,' cried she, other people running out of their houses, full of terror, beating their breasts and imploring mercy; and decency, of course, obliges me to do the same; but I feel no alarm-my thoughts are all at Coquimbo. How can my uncle be so unkind as not to repeat his invitation!' We consoled the damsel as well as we could, and as she had spoken of earthquakes, asked her if there had been one lately? No,' she answered, not for some time I really do not think I have felt one myself for

Something peculiar in the shocks of the 4th of April had excited more than ordinary fear in the minds of the inhabitants, and, at a particular moment, no one could tell distinctly why they all rushed in a body to the great church called La Merced. The gentleman who related this to us happened to be standing near the church at the time, and thinking it would probably soon fall, called out loudly to the people not to enter, but rather to bring the images into the streets, where their intercessions would prove equally efficacious. Fortunately, the prior of the church, who was just entering the porch, saw the value of this advice, and seconded by his authority, ordering the people to remain without, and desiring those who had already entered to bring the images instantly into the street. The last man had scarcely passed the threshold, when a shock came which in a moment shook down the roof and one end of the church, leaving it in the state already described. Had not the people been thus judiciously detained in the open air, almost the whole population of Copiapó must have perished.

After the fall of La Merced, the inhabitants fled to the neighbouring hills, leaving only one or two fool-hardy people who chose to remain. Aniongst these was a German, who, as he told me himself, divided his time in the Plaza between taking notes of the various passing phenomena, and drinking aguardiente, the spirits of the country. Slight shocks occasionally succeeded that on the 4th, but it was not till the 11th of April, seven days after the fall of the Merced, that the formidable one occurred, which, in an instant, laid the whole town in ruins. It was accompanied by a subterranean sound, which, though at first of a low tone, gradually swelled to a clear dreadtul loudness, of which no one, I observed, even at this distance of time, could speak without an involuntary shudder.

After the first great shock, which levelled the town, the ground continued in motion for seven minutes, sometimes rising and falling, but more frequently vibrating with great rapidity; it then became still for some minutes, then vibrated again, and so on, without an intermission longer than a quarter of an hour for several days. The violence of the earthquake now abated a little; the intervals became longer, and the shocks not quite so violent; but it was not till six months afterwards that it

could be said to be entirely over; for the ground during that period was never long steady, and the frightful noises in the earth constantly portended In the course of these interesting descriptions,

fresh calamities.

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a short time little will be left of its once
formidable power, but the name and the
recollection. An anecdote related by our
author confirms these cheering hopes.

A gentleman had thought fit to commence instructing his daughter in French,--a circumstance which the girl, unconscious of any crime, mentioned in the course of her confession to the priest, who expressed the greatest horror at what he heard, denounced the vengeance of Heaven upon her and her father, refused to give her absolution, and sent the poor creature home in an agony of fear. The father soon discovered the cause, and after some correspondence with the confessor, went to the head of the government, who sent for the priest, questioned him on the subject, and charged him with having directly interfered with the letter and spirit of the constitution, which gave encouragement to every species of learning. The priest affected to carry matters with a high hand, and even ventured to censure the director for meddling with things beyond his authority. This was soon settled: a council was immediately called, and the next day it was known throughout the city, that the priest had been seen crossing the frontiers, escorted by a military guard. An account of the whole transaction, with the correspondence between the parent and the confessor, were also published officially in the Gazette, and full authority given, in future, to every person to teach any branch of knowledge not inconsistent with morals and religion.

we were struck with the occasional introduction of The following anecdote was, at this time, cur-
minute characteristic circumstances, which, how-rent in the city; and from all we heard during our
ever trivial in themselves, served to stamp the au- short stay at Santiago, we were satisfied that the
thenticity of the whole. One of the party, for in- influence of the priests had been gradually on the
stance, was describing the effect of a severe shock, decline, and that a more liberal spirit, especially in
which, he said, happened at four o'clock in the af- matters of education, had recently been introduc-
ternoon. Oh no,' said another, it was later, I ed, and was fast spreading over the country.
assure you. Indeed it was not,' answered the
first; don't you remember we were playing at
bowls at the time, and when the sound was heard
I stopped playing, and you called out to me to look
what o'clock it was; I took out my watch and told
you it was past four? Upon another occasion our
host said, I was just going to look what the hour
was, at which one of those sounds were first heard,
when my attention was diverted from the watch by
a hideous scream of terror from a person near me.
He was such a little insignificant wretch, that I had
not conceived so loud a yell could possibly have
come from his puny body; and so we all forgot the
shock in quizzing this little manikin,' (hombrecito).
'Nevertheless,' added he, gravely, although I am
not a man to cry out and play the fool on such oc-
casions, yet I do fairly own that these earthquakes
are very awful; and, indeed, must be felt, to be un-
derstood in their true extent. Before we hear the
sound, or, at least, are fully conscious of hearing it,
we are made sensible, I do not well know how,
that something uncommon is going to happen; eve-
ry thing seems to change colour; our thoughts are
chained immoveably down; the whole world ap-
pears to be in disorder; all nature looks different
from what it was wont to do; we feel quite sub-
dued and overwhelmed by some invisible power,
beyond human control or comprehension. Then
comes the horrible sound, distinctly heard, and, im-
mediately, the solid earth is all in motion, waving
to and fro, like the surface of the sea. Depend
upon it, sir, a severe earthquake is enough to shake
the firmest mind. Custom enables us to restrain
the expression of alem; but no custom can teach
any one to witness such earthquakes without the
deepest emotion of terror.'

to the eaves of the cottages. On one side of the hive, half-way between the ends, there is a small hole made, just large enough for a loaded bee to enter, and shaded by a projection to prevent the rain from trickling in. In this hole, generally representing the mouth of a man, or some monster, the head of which is moulded in the clay of the hive, a bee is continually stationed, whose office is no sinecure, for the hole is so small, he has to draw back every time a bee wishes to enter or to leave the hive. A gentleman told me that the experiment had been made by marking the centinel, when it was observed that the same bee continued at his post a whole day.

When it is ascertained by the weight that the hive is full, the end pieces are removed, and the honey withdrawn. The hive we saw opened was only partly filled, which enabled us to see the economy of the interior to more advantage. The honey is not contained in the elegant hexagonal cells of our hives, but in wax bags, not quite so large as an egg. These bags, or bladders, are hung round the sides of the hive, and appear about half full, 'the quantity being probably just as great as the strength of the wax will bear without tearing. Those near the bottom, being better supported, are more filled than the upper ones. In the centre of the lower part of the hive, we observed an irregular shaped mass of comb furnished with cells, like those of our bees, all containing young ones, in such an advanced state, that when we broke the comb and let them out, they flew merrily away. During this examination of the hive, the comb and the honey were taken out, and the bees disturbed in every way, but they never stung us, though our faces and hands were covered with them. It is said, however, that there is a bee in the country which does sting; but the kind we saw seem to have neither the power nor the inclination, for they certainly did not hurt After his final departure from Valparaiso, manso, very tame, and never stung any one. The us, and our friends said they were always' muy Capt. Hall sailed along the coast, again vis-honey gave out a rich aromatic perfume and tasted iting Lima, and stopping at Guayaquil, Pa- differently from ours; but possessed an agreeable nama, and several places of inferior note, flavour. on the coasts of Colombia and Mexico, bordering on the Pacific Ocean.

inland from San Blas, the very name of
which till now had scarce reached our ears,
he remained several weeks, and improved
the opportunity as he had done in the towns
farther south, in making himself acquainted
with the habits and feelings of all classes of
the people.

When, in our author's former publication, he described a race of men, harmless and Our author gives many interesting par- unoffending, without implements of war, or ticulars of the cities at which he stopped preparations for defence, yet living comThis work has given us more favourable during this voyage, and of their inhabitants, fortably and happily, some of the more deimpressions of the character of the people which we are compelled to pass over with- termined advocates of the doctrine, that of Chili than we had before entertained. out special notice. The northernmost limit self-defence is the first law of nature, took Capt. Hall found them, and in this re- of his voyages was San Blas in Mexico, alarm at a statement which threatened so mark may be included all the inhabitants called San Blas de California, to distin-seriously to overturn their favorite theory. of the western shores of America whom he guish it from other Mexican towns of the This account of another animal, which has visited, exceedingly kind and hospitable. same name. At this port and at Tepee, a been thought to resemble the "lord of the He mingled in their amusements, and visit-large and beautiful town, a short distance creation" in several points, and in none ed with the most perfect freedom in their more than in its promptitude to repel an domestic and social circles. Stranger as injury, and retaliate upon the aggressor, he was, and among them at a time pecunow found unprovided with weapons of ofliarly critical, and in the midst of a revofence,-a bee without a sting,-may appear lution not yet completed, this intercourse a still severer tax upon their credulity. If was but rarely, and for short seasons interthese accounts should lead one such person rupted. And though the culture of their to reconsider his belief of the essential neminds had been sadly neglected, he found cessity of strife, they may produce one good them ready and ingenious, and desirous to effect which the writer, probably has not acquire information, as the means should be placed in their power. But the policy anticipated. Almost unqualified praise must be given of their religion had united with the policy to our author's simple and natural style; of their government, or rather had formed free from all affectation of ornament, which a part of it, in suppressing, heretofore, would be no where more out of place, than every effort to that purpose. In this reliin such a narration and description as congion they have been educated, and as no stitute the body of this work. His error, people change their religion suddenly, in such as it is, is on the other hand a degree the practice of its forms and ceremonies of negligence, which sometimes betrays they will doubtless continue for a long time Some people, instead of the clumsy apparatus of him into inelegance if not impropriety of to come. But the heavy hand of the hierar- wood, have a cylindrical hive made of earthen- expression; as in his frequent use of the chy which has so long oppressed them, must ware, and relieved with raised figures and circular word past as a preposition, not now admithenceforth bear less heavily upon them. Its rings, so as to form rather handsome ornaments ted by good authorities; another instance grasp will be relaxed with the spreading of pended by cords from the roof, in the same man-is the termination of a sentence with light and liberty among the people, and inner that the wooden ones in the villages are hung" where he had got to," and a few others

The economy of the Mexican bees, described in the eleventh chapter, exhibits a curious phenomenon in natural history.

From the Plaza, we went to a house where a bee-hive of the country was opened in our presence. The bees, the honeycomb, and the hive, differ essentially from those in England. The hive is generally made out of a log of wood from two to three feet long, and eight or ten inches in diameter, hollowed out, and closed at the ends by circular doors, cemented closely to the wood, but capable of being removed at pleasure.

in the verandah of a house, where they are sus

have been avoided.

which we noticed of a similar character. | street, were soon filled. I happened to be at a These are minor faults, it is true, in a work house in the neighbourhood, and reached the aulike this; still they are faults, and should dience-room before the crowd became impassable. I was desirous of seeing how the General would behave through a scene of no ordinary difficulty; and he certainly acquitted himself very well. There was, as may be supposed, a large allowance of enthusiasm, and high-wrought expression, upon the occasion; and to a man innately modest, and naturally averse to show, or ostentation of any kind, it was not an easy matter to receive such praises without betraying impatience.

We do not feel ourselves qualified to add much to what we have already said on the political relations of the southern peninsula. The web of South American politics is too intricate for us to attempt to unravel. Even the history of their revolution has been but imperfectly known in this country; while At the time I entered the room, a middle-aged many of the impelling causes, the motives, fine-looking woman was presenting herself to the the secret springs which have set all this General; as he leaned forward to embrace her, she fell at his feet, clasped his knees, and looking up, vast machinery in operation, are still more exclaimed, that she had three sons at his service, entirely concealed from our view. There who, she hoped, would now become useful memis much valuable information relative to bers of society, instead of being slaves as heretothese subjects in the work before us. Capt. fore. San Martin, with much discretion, did not Hall was in Lima during the most import-attempt to raise the lady from the ground, but allowed her to make her appeal in the situation she ant events of the Peruvian revolution, and had chosen, and which, of course, she considered became personally acquainted with Gene- the best suited to give force to her eloquence; but ral San Martin, the commander of the Lib- he stooped low to hear all she said, and when her erating Army of Peru. We will give his first burst was over, gently raised her; upon which description of this distinguished personage, her speech while hanging on his breast. His reply she threw her arms around his neck, and concluded as he appeared at the first interview; and was made with suitable earnestness, and the poor afterwards after he had accepted the invi- woman's heart seemed ready to burst with gratitation of the citizens of Lima, and entered tude for his attention and affability. their city.

I had an interview this day with General San Martin on board a little schooner, a yacht of his own, anchored in Callao Roads for the convenience of communicating with the deputies, who, during the armistice, had held their sittings on board a ship in the anchorage.

He was next assailed by five ladies, all of whom wished to clasp his knees at once; but as this could not be managed, two of them fastened themselves round his neck, and all five clamoured so loudly to gain his attention, and weighed so heavily upon him, that he had some difficulty in supporting himself. He soon satisfied each of them with a kind word or two, and then seeing a little girl of ten or twelve years of age belonging to this party, but who had been afraid to come forward before, he lifted up the astonished child, and kissing her cheek, set her down again in such ecstacy, that the poor thing scarcely knew where she was.

fashion I made way for a beautiful young woman, who, by great efforts had got through the crowd. She threw herself into the General's arms, and lay there full half a minute, without being able to utter more than Oh mi General! mi General!' She then tried to disengage herself, but San Martin, who had been struck with her enthusiasm and beauty, drew her gently and respectfully back, and holding his head a little on one side, said, with a smile, that he must be permitted to show his grateful sense of such good will by one affectionate salute. This completely bewildered the blushing beauty, who, turning round, sought support in the arms of an officer standing near the General, who asked her if she were now content: 'Contenta!" she cried, 'Oh Senor !'

It is perhaps worthy of remark, that, during all this time there were no tears shed, and that, even in the most theatrical parts, there was nothing carried so far as to look ridiculous. It is clear that the General would gladly have missed such a scene altogether, and had his own plan succeeded he would have avoided it; for he intended to have entered the city at four or five in the morning. His dislike of pomp and show was evinced in a similar manner when he returned to Buenos Ayres, after 1817. He there managed matters with more suchaving conquered Chili from the Spaniards, in cess than at Lima; for, although the inhabitants were prepared to give him a public reception, he contrived to enter that capital without being discovered.

Various and contradictory opinions appear to be entertained of this distinguished man, even in the countries where he is most known. He certainly has done more than almost any other individual for the cause of South American Independence. He was a conspicuous actor in the revolution of Buenos Ayres; he afterwards crossed the mountains and commanded the Chilian for ces in two great battles, in which they defeated the Royalists, and for which they awarded him the title of Twice Liberator; and lastly, he commanded the Chilian expedition which took possession of Lima, and first raised the standard of indedendence in "the silver city of the kings." He refused the office of President of Chili, which was offered him after his first victory at the battle of Chacabuco. He assumed the title of Protector of Peru, after having expelled the Viceroy, and overturned the government, but resigned it as soon as a Peruvian Congress could be assembled-too soon, as the event proved, for the proper security of the great object which he came to accomplish. He refused longer to retain the command of the army, to which he was re-appointed by the new congress; and leaving Peru, where he considered his presence would be improper, after the power which he had so recently exercised, he retired to private life. For this last step, taken at such a crisis, he has been much censured; but in his parting adOld men, and old women, and young women, crowded fast upon him; to every one he had some dress, he declared his willingness to return, thing kind and appropriate to say, always going if the circumstances of the country should beyond the expectation of each person he address-ever require it, and in the capacity of a ed. During this scene I was near enough to watch him closely, but I could not detect, either match private citizen, render them all the assistance in his power. And if, as he had manner or in his expressions, the least affectation there was nothing assumed, or got up; nothing throughout his public career professed, his which seemed to refer to self; I could not even happiness was placed in the retirement of discover the least trace of a self-approving smile. private life, and had been sacrificed for the But his manner, at the same time, was the reverse general good when he came forth to take a of cold, for he was sufficiently animated, although his satisfaction seemed to be caused solely by the conspicuous part in the scenes of the revopleasure reflected from others. While I was thus lution, we cannot blame him in our hearts, watching him, he happened to recognise me, and for withdrawing from them as soon as he drawing me to him, embraced me in the Spanish conceived the public exigencies would per

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There was little, at first sight, in his appearance to engage the attention, but when he rose up and began to speak, his superiority was apparent. He received us in very homely style, on the deck of his vessel, dressed in a loose surtout coat, and a large fur cap, and seated at a table made of a few His manner was quite different to the next person loose planks laid along the top of some empty who came forward; a tall, raw-boned, pale-faced casks. He is a tall, erect, well-proportioned, hand- friar, a young man, with deep-set, dark-blue eyes, some man, with a large aquiline nose, thick black and a cloud of care and disappointment wandering hair, and immense bushy dark whiskers, extending across his features. San Martin assumed a look of from ear to ear under the chin; his complexion is serious earnestness while he listened to the speech deep olive, and his eye, which is large, prominent, of the monk, who applauded him for the peaceful and piercing, is jet black; his whole appearance and Christian-like manner of his entrance into this being highly military. He is thoroughly well-bred, great city, conduct which, he trusted, was only a and unaffectedly simple in his manners, exceed- forerunner of the gentle character of his future ingly cordial and engaging, and possessed evidently government. The General's answer was in a simof great kindliness of disposition; in short, I have ilar strain, only pitched a few notes higher, and it never seen any person, the enchantment of whose was curious to observe how the formal cold manaddress was more irresistible. In conversation he ner of the priest became animated under the influwent at once to the strong points of the topic, dis-ence of San Martin's eloquence; for at last, losing daining, as it were, to trifle with its minor parts; all recollection of his sedate character, the young he listened earnestly, and replied with distinctness man clapped his hands and shouted, Viva! viva! and fairness, showing wonderful resources in argu- nuestra General!'-' Nay, nay,' said the other, do ment, and a most happy fertility of illustration, the not say so, but join with me in calling, Viva la effect of which was, to make his audience feel they Independencia del Peru!' were understood in the sense they wished. Yet The Cabildo, or town-council, hastily drawn tothere was nothing showy or ingenious in his dis-gether, next entered, and as many of them were nacourse, and he certainly seemed, at all times, per- tives of the place, and liberal men, they had enough fectly in earnest, and deeply possessed with his to do to conceal their emotion, and to maintain the subject. At times his animation rose to a high proper degree of stateliness, belonging to so grave pitch, when the flash of his eye, and the whole a body, when they came, for the first time, into the turn of his expression, became so exceedingly en- presence of their liberator. ergetic as to rivet the attention of his audience beyond the possibility of evading his arguments. This was most remarkable when the topic was politics, on which subject I consider myself fortunate in having heard him express himself frequently. But bis quiet manner was not less striking, and indicative of a mind of no ordinary stamp ; and he could even be playful and familiar, were such the tone of the moment; and whatever effect the subsequent possession of great political power may have had on his mind, I feel confident that his natural disposition is kind and benevolent. * * *

Instead of going straight to the palace, San Martin called at the Marquis of Montemire's on his way, and the circumstance of his arrival becoming known in a moment, the house, the court, and the

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