The Sun.
London, England, 1825-04-28 00:00:00

SOUTH AMERICA.

We have been favoured with the sight,ofa

letter from an officer in the Diamond frigate, commanded .by
Lord Napier. This gentleman lately visited the interior of
South America, and as any thing authentic. respecting those
countries is interesting at this moment, and we can place per '-
feet reliance on the authority of the writer, we give a few ex-
tracts. The value of such slight notices evidently consists in
their authenticity ; for when this is the case, we are at liberty
to draw inferences with confidence—thus, when we see a party

. _
of strangers setting out to ride a thousand miles over a strange
country, without guides and without guards, and returning
after 11 weeks, in safety to their ship, we may infer, with more
confidence, that the country is really in a quiet state, than if we
were presented with a dozen paragraphs of eulogium, got up
for stock-jobbing purposes.
• " On our way out we called at Madeira, and traversed the
whole island, and was much gratified with a sight of the Coral,
it is an immense quebrada, or ravine. At Teneriffe thirteen of
us, with his Lordship, ascended the Peak, and•fbund it a more
difficult task than we could have imagined; we left Santa
Cruz about noon—arrived at Oratavo in the evening—having
so large a party to cater for, did not get away till II next day—
slept at the English station, and commenced our ascent about
two, and were on the summit of the Peak at half-past five • the
horizon was hazy, and we had not, therefore, the grand sight,of-
the sun's rising to such advantage as we could have wished
for; it was, however, most striking. We had, in consequence
of the haze, a view of the reflection of the Peak in the clouds--:-
it was so clearly defined, that I think our shadows would have,
been seen, had we thought of standing on the top of the Peak
ut the time. We ascertained the height, by our barometer, to
be 12,27 a feet ; we remained on the top two hours and a half.
In our descent we visited the Cave in the Mal-pays—returned
to Oratavo, where the ship awaited us, and sailed the same
evening, we watered at St. Kitts—called at Jamaica and the
Grand Cayman Island, and arrived at Vera Cruz on the 24th

of October last. .
" Here a party was made to visit the city of Mexico. We
purchased horses for ourselves, and hired mules for our luggage.
As we intended to ride only our own horses, we could not make
such rapid journies as we had been wont to do in Chili, and con-
fined ourselves to 10 and Pi leagues a-day. We commenced
without guide or servant, and arrived thus at the town of
Xalapa, distant from Vera Cruz about 10 miles. It is about
4000 feet above the level of the sea, enjoying the finest climate,
entirely free from the dreadful malady which rages in the lower
country. It is a remarkably fine town ; the views from it are •
rich,. A luxuriant valley, containing principally the liquid
amber tree, of some extent, with the mountain of Orizaba Ow
height upwards of 17,000 feet) in the distance, from which a
chain of mountains connects it with the Cofre de Pirote, much
nearer the town. All kinds of fruit and vegetables in the greatest
abundance, and cheap. We remained here several days,-and
met with great hospitality from Mr. 11.1‘Kenzie, the con-
sul. We were persuaded to take with us from hence 'an-
escort of five men, whom we found very useful. From
this we began to ascend rapidly, and. in two hours were in' the
region of Pines, and crossed the mountains to the town of Pis
rote, when we came to a complete table land, or plain, 700 U
feet. After leaVing this about a mile, we came in view of the
volcanoes of Puebla and Mexico on our right; the mountain of
Malincha a-head, and on our left the Cofre of Pirote and Ori-
zaba.. On this plain we were deceived with the appearance of
water. The deception of this mirage was so great, that it re-
flected trees, &c. as distinctly as in still water. Indeed we were
scarcely persuaded, that it was a deception, until turning our
heads towards the road we had left, the same appearance was
seen there also. The approach to the city of Puebla de los
Angelos, that is the appearance of the city,. is fine ; a number
of large churches and buildings present themselves to the view
some distance from it We remained here 'three days. It is a
remarkable fine city, larger than either Santiago (the capital of
Chili) or Lima, and better built, but not so clean.' This place
is famous, among other things,. for being one of the first ig de-
claring for Independence under its Bishop. • The same --holy
person remains. We visited him, and found him a lively ex-
cellent fellow ; he appeared to be a man of deep penetration,
and is living in all the splendour of a Prince. He had been
the most intimate friend of Iturbide, and was intended to have
been the Pope of the west. lt was to this place that the-.ex-
Emperor was bending his steps after landing, which, had-he
reached, the influence of the Bishop is such, that it is the opi-
nion of many that he might have succeeded in upsetting the
-present system. • •
" From this we visited the Pyramids of . Cholula ; at some
distance they look well, but on cloSe approach appear but hills
of rubbiSh- with here and there a few mud bricks ; the largest
is of considerable height, and has- now a chapel erected on it de-
dictited to Na. Sn. de los Remedios. • We passed on the plain
till reaching the-foot of the second -chain of mountains, 'natrch
higher than the one.of which Orizaba and Perote belong;
the
pass over whichis'.fiottietimes considered dangerous in conse-
quence of robbers; this appeared indeed to have been the ease
formerly, for at every ten yards crosses were- put up; .some for
six and eight who had been murdered on the spot. This:.pass
is nigh the mountains of Popocatepetel and Iztacciltuarle, and
it took us one day to complete it. The following morning we
had a view of the lake of Chaleo and plain of Mexico, and soon •
after,the lake of Teseuco, and in an hour's ride the famousTity
came in• Sight about 12 miles distant. The atmosphere here
Was so clear; that we could distinctly see objects at that distance
as• if they had been but half a mile. The approach to the -city
is by a good road or causeway, having the lake of Tescueo,' orthe greatest part of it, on the right, and Chaleo on the left. The'
city of Mexico far excels in 'appearance any of the South Ame-
rican cities, the houses all built on a grand scale, streets wide
and clean, and d good police kept. The city stands on more
ground than Ulna, though the population is not so great. We
were all introduced to the President, Guadaloupe Victoria, who
received us quite in a-republican style, with a dirty uec-kerchief,
anti • two or three days growth of beard, appears to be a shrewd
clever' man, but is supposed not to possess - sufficient ability.--;
The Vice-President Bravo has more talent, but I understand
'las not been all along quite so staunch to the cause as the

other. • .
" After remaining a week or two, we started afresh: for the
mines of Real del Monte, about•9o miles distant froni the city
they-are situated op a range of mountains beyond• the.hike of
St. Chrystobal; these are at present under the direction of Capt.
Veitcli,.R. E. . Clever enterprising gentlemanly man.; theY
have not yet comtnenced working the mines, but are employing
themselves in making roads for the conveyance. of the; ore to
the smelting places. We crossed the mountains, and got into
the finest country We had yet seen, and returned a different
route for the piirpose of visiting the famous Desagua or cut. to
carry off the water from Lake Chrystobal, to prevent it inun-
dating the city of Mexico. We returned to Mexico, which are,
finally left in Christmas week; and came back by, the way of.
Tescuco fOr the purpose of visiting the Pyramids of Tcoteliaa"
can ; and thence along the plains of •Appun. to the town of St.
Andre's, intending to have ascended the mountain of Orizaba,
but could get no' guides to attend us; we therefore pushed on,
toOrizaba and Cordova,.and arrived at Vera Cruz on the '2l
of January all well, have been absent about eleven weeks, acan"
having rodenpwards of 900 miles. -We visited. Tampico,' 11.,
ed at the Havannah, were we remained a fortnight, and also at
Bermuda.
" Until our leaving Vera Cruz the fever had-not shown itself,
Init the folloWing day a Son of Coldnel Lockhart, MA', was at-
tacked and died the following Morning ; we lost three men be-
sides, otherwise we have been all qUite well." -•
P.S.P• I had almost forgot to say, that,' the Mining Specula
tions in Mexico are supposed, in that country, .to be a bad eon'
cern. They ought- to have searched after- 'new rather tharA'
attempt ta
he old mines long given up by the Spaniards: t",`,
there is so much specUlation going on here, also about tosn'
Mines, that I cannot refrain from saying,• that in my oPini°
they never will repay to the adventurers the sums. expendeu•
Edinlnirgli Courant, A prj1.18.,),-- •

•
BIRTHS. • •
At Park farm, Waterperry, the lady of Joseph Warner I-10,
ley, Esq.,' of a daughter, • • •
Yesterday morning, at his house, 96, Great Russelb•streety
Bloomsbury, the lady of :James Loch, EN., of a son. ,
On the 27th inst., the lady of Mr. S. T. Bull, of Holles
street, Cavendish-square, of a son. •-•

D. "
On Saturday, the 23d instMARRIE , M., at Stary's, Newington, ,r
j
Nowell, of Pentonville, to Charlotte, only daughter of thel,ovit
Cosby Burrowes, Esq., of the Hon. East India Company's C'
Sery
Oice. 11.1 r.
On Wednesday, the 27th inst., at. St. Mary's, Lambeth, - of
Joseph Obbard, of St. Paul's, to Matilda, fourth daughter
Mr: Joseph Newton; of Prince's-place, Kennington. -

• DIED. eis,••
•
• Nr
On the 22d inst.,- at'herrn house;-NorthuberlaruLstreet, es
castle-upon•-Tyne, aged-65, Mrs. Row, relict of the late Jarfl"
Row; -E. merchant, f that town. • • ,„he
On Tiie sqsday evening, the 26th inst.; at his residence, of
.hoUse, Bermondsey, James Riley, Esq., in the gist year
, his age. hl
At Smyrna, on the 14th-of March, Mary, the wife al
William Atkinson, of that place. • • ilia 5
At Calcutta,- in 'December last, in his •33d year, Th°_,es
; Thompson, Esq., Civil Surgeon at Axrah, second' eon of J?""Of
Thompson, Esq., of• Ivy-cottage, Fulham, and formePY
GeOrgr-stitet; Hanover-square: • - ••••••• •

Printed and Published.foi the Pnb,nikTons, at the.
OFFICE, No. 112, Strand, by J. B. CARSTAIRS.