Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-09-25
VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA.
E1tract from Mr.. Breckenridge
Work, lately published.


Work, lately published.
BRAzIL.-The coronation, for which
so much preparation had been made
was at last announced for the 9th of Fe.
bruary. The morning was ushered il
by salutes from all the forts, as we'll as
ships of war in the harbor AS a mark
of respect to the government OF the coun-
try whose hospitality we enjoyed, the
commodore joined the other comman-
ders of foreign vessels in firing salute.
All the ships were dressed in the colors
OF the different nations of the world, and
exhibited one of the most splendid ap-
pearances ever Witnessed; but whether
to be attributed to accident or design we
know not, on examining the different
flags, it was discovered that ours was not
among them.-The commodore, en- ma
king this discovery, resolved to go no
further in the demonstrations Of respect
for the occasion. The ceremony took
place about noon, in the Grecian temple
we had seen in the public square,
With the nature of the ceremony | am
nnacquainted, as none of us were near
enough TO see and hear. 1t was follow
ed by the shouts of the assembled null
titude, and tremendous discharges of ar
tillery, which l thought would never
cease. The regular troops, four or FIVE
Thousand, together with the disciplined
militia, about the same number, had been
drawn out, and at the close of the cere-
mony fred vollies of musquetry. At
sun down, the firing of cannon was re-
newed, first from the different forts in
succession, and then from the ships of
war and as the sound was repeated by
the echoes Of the mountains, tremen-
dous roaring continued even for some
time after the firing had ceased. 1t was
no sooner dark than the illuminations,
whose splendor eclipsed the starry vault
above us, displayed themselves along
the whole front of the city, and also from
the different forts, from the detached
building on the heights, and around the
harbor. All the vessels, except the Con-
gress which seemed to mourn the event,
were also Illuminated in the most curious
and tasteful manner. Nothing could
have finer effect than the glittering of
so many lights, ana their brilliant reflec-
ton upon the water. The ingenuity
displayed in the arrangement of the illu
limitations, was very great. BY the aid
of small glass lamps of various colors,
a great variety Of curious and beautiful
figures were formed, representing tri-
umphal arches, temples, and a number
of other OBJ jects. Columns and pyra-
mids were erected for the purpose of
enabling them to display curious fes-
ICONS and other figures. Large sums
were said to have been expended by in
dividuals, who We'd with each other in
the taste and splendor of their illumina-
tons; and, in particular, the owner of a
country seat fronting the harbor, is said
to have expended twenty thousand dol
lars; a number of large arches were
raised on high columns, SO contrived as
to represent crown, its base more than
q hundred feet, and beautifully proper
toned, displaying near the top the arms
of Portugal. The person who was thus
distinguished in the display of his loyal
~, we were informed, had in view title
of nobility, being only rich plebeian.
Thetwo succeeding days passed in the
same way, until eyes and ears could no
longer bear this dazzli ling and astounding
manifestation. 1t was natural for us to
draw comparison between the simple
and unaffected ceremony of installing
the chief magistrate chosen by free
people to guide their affairs, when the
appeal is made to reason and good sense,
and all this noise and glitter calculated
to intoxicate, astound, and Supply the
human intellect.
could not but reflect how small the
number among this wretched rabble that
could reason Justly and wisely on the
scene before them! Their sensations
were not the joyous emotions of the soul,
but were supplying amazement, produ-
ced by external objects. How different
is the enthusiasm of the free, from the
outward noisy reclamation of people,
who, without these articles and contri-
vances, would continue in Interchangeable
dulness. The enthusiasm of a freeman
stands in no need of these aids: he has
within himself that which passeth
show"-he has thought, sensations, re-
collections, interests, and feeling, capa-
bic of elevating his mind without the
aid of triAes like these.
The day after the coronation, went
on shore in company with some gentle
men of the ship. The city, as may be
supposed, was let loose; all was noise,
alnroar. and confusion. Seeing people