Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-11-20

hdhc a Wy atShNihs tue lnere
are very few OF those neat dwellings which
are seen about our cities; the honses here are
chiefly small and built Of very indifferent
brick. The grape vine, however, with which
they are fond OF adorping their houses, had 10
me very pleasing appearance, particularly
when loaded with their exquisite fruit. We
stepped into one, where our friend was ac-
qnainted, and ~ere received with much 20.
likeness aud civiiity by the inhabitanis; their
countenances seeming to brighten mp when
told we were Americans OF the north. They
treated us with hne peaches, pears, grapes,
aud melons. Instead OF palss, or ieuces,
hedges of the prickly pear are invariably used,
which are planted ON .As mound Ut earth
The soil is like that of orr best river bottoms,
and It's particles tine that the road at
this season OF the year is intolerably dusty.
On our way back tn town, oar tricsd induced
us To stop at spacious mansion, where there
resided gentleman whom he knew, named La
kocca. This geutemans establishment forms
prominent exception to what have just been
descfibingj his grounds are surrounded By a
brick wall his buildings, gardens, &c. all up
OIL more extensive scale. We entered thre'
lofty gate why, into a spacious court. The
servant Informed us, that his master with &C.
Verai other gentlemen, was Oh the terrace al
Inc top OF the house, aud III our request, con
Quoted us mp. was glad of the occasion. as /
WAS told that there was a fife view from this
place. We were treated by La Rocca with
great attention, and we found him a MAI of
liberal and enlightened mind He is IA native
OF old Spain, bnt has been mai uralized. and has
taken am active part in the revolution. He
pointed out to us beautiful grove OF olives,
whics he had planted after the Spanish sys-
tenn, which forbade The cultivation of this in
valuable plant, had been abolished. The other
gentlemen who were. with him, were his
neie hbours, natives of the country, and were
sensible and well informed. l armed from
them, that our arrival had excited great inte-
resi- throughout the city, and that many con-
lectures rs to our object. were afloat. They
seemed all to agree, that nothing Of an ui
friendly nature coHld be expected from our
government, and seemed TO be very much hurt
at Tie unfavorable impressions, which had
been madam the United States, as to the state
OF things In this country, by pubicat, ons in the
newspapers. They said that they had no riph,
10 expect any friendship, or sympathy from us
" their institutions were really so vile as had
been represented. They said il was Iaiural
To expect that as their enemies were NOT able
10 subdne them they would endeavour TO ruin
taelr character, and for this pHrpose they
would seize and magnify, every real, or alleged
error, or niiscosduct. La Rocca here drew ai
animated comparison between the state of
things IN Spain, and ia this country, highly ia.
voraoe as yoa may suppose To the latter He
toid me- IL was their intention TO establish
government as nearly resembling that of the
United States, as circumstances would per
nut he enquired with considerable earnest.
ness as TO the trntii of a report. of our govern
ment having endeavoured Ia obtain IA crssion
OF territory from Ike king OF Naples, and laid
great stress Oh the circumstances Of our hay-
ing COLONIES, and from the uaTare Of our con.
stitnt0L not beiRg permitted TO have any
hey SAID, II was impossible for them to reposo
inll confidence in the friendship of nations
holding colonies, and they were sorry To see us
u"'iatins IN The slightest degree, from what
they had understood was with rs tuadamen
tai maxim. Ii we could have coieniesin ItaIy.
We might have themin America, in Africa. and
Asia.
As the house stood upon ground somewhat
more eieVaied than tho city, and not more than
hree hundred yards from the river there was
very extensive horizon in every direction. In
clear day, C0ionia oil the opposite side ofIhe
RIVER. Is visible from this place; but at present
as the 2tnos phere was somewhat o secured and
sun noith easter blowing, nothing was pre-
sentes to The eye, but a vast expanse of water,
ne Musqnsto fleet OF sloops and small coast
my vessels, tossing about below us, and those
OF larger Kind anchored in the outer roads:
me wh0le having very dreary appearance.
On the land side, we seemed to look over the
CITY, which covers an extent OF ground nearly
as great as Philadelphia, with quintas up and
down The river, whose varieties of fruit trees
WIN hefeand there a Lombardy poplar, inter
mixed, exhibited a very lively and pleasing an
psarahce; while TO The westward, at the dis
tango OF few miles, there seems TO be bound
iess waste OF pampaS, or grassy plains, without
'ree or shrub. Ike whole population of the
country IS not greater than III the city. In
ID "A
mgly cIrchmscribed. About forty miles north
OF TINS, Is large village, called Luxas. AT
which the road branches off, for Cordova and
Hiehdoza, there commences a line of pyesilios.
eN'ehulng sontheriy across The Saiado 10 the
river Colorado, which marks the southern
boundary ot the prosince. This line of posts
WAS originally established for the purpose of
protecting The settlements from the incnrsion.
VI the wild pampas Indians. who were then a
most dangerous and formidable enemy. But
OF late years, they have ceased To he dreaded
aud their incursiOns have only for their object
stealing cattle and horses. While I am anon
'his subject, will say something as TO the
;hou CT ~ Wbich Tue population is distributed
III ,his country, intending to enlarge on the |
SubJect, on some future OCCASION
onuef me vice royalty, line of two hmm
ured and nifty miles Enrth aud south. and nm |
hhhafea miles, east and west, would have in. |
ciudeu tue Whole population Of the province
but this was distributed in a manner si,guIar, |
~ unequal; some parts being as IhickIy ,nha.
biied as the neigbbourhood OF PhiiadeIphia
ana ihe rest n Wild as the pIains of the Mis-,
SOUR. since The resolution, the frontier has
Deeh considerably extended and this province
as wen as Tie others of the union vh,cI, haze
bceh exempt from the Immediate devaStations
OF war, have bad considerable increase of
inhabitants. The city Of Buenos Ayres. and
It's viclnity, probably ten miles square con
ians aboni seventy thousand inhabitants a.
villages Oi LuXdn, Eusenada Las CoucIlas aud
&c" OthefS, with their circunis cribed v,ciua
ges may contain from TWO To FIVE thousand
ava as ne Whole population does not exceed
one , nnndfed a;d tive thousand. all the remain |
Der OF the province is left for the balance moi
exceeding hiteen or twenty thousand in 1um.
her Immediately aroued The towns and villa. |
ges, are The qnintas OF winch have spoken.
eIlehy appropriated 10 the raising of vegeta |
b c AVID fruits next cowe the larrey FARMS n, |
ohacIaS where wheat, Indian cor n barley S,c
are raised as With us but according to yerv
dnfrfent,a aud as taT as can learn. a very inf.
nor System Ell agriculture. They have moi the
s,Hnie aversion I" "eighbonrbood, az the old
Virginia planter, who declared. h.. neSar
Would Wish to live so near as TO hear the bark
ing OF ms neighbours dogs. The mode of chi.
hvdiing Tie earth. of enclosing their grounds
ana her rural economy IN general, wonId
ihIhNh many cnfious topics, but these I
must wave Tor Tie present. Their soil is nm.
donbiedy Tie iImesl IN tie world. LII L.. y.