Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-09-18
VOYAGE To SOUTH AMERICA.


we congratulate the public on the appear
ance of the first volume of's voyage to South
America, performed by order of the American
government, in the years 1917 and 1918, in the
trigate Congress by II. M. Breckenridge, Esq.
Secretary to the Mission" We present our
readers with the following extract from this
valuable and interesting publication.
Baltimore Chronicle.
Speaking of Rio Janeiro, Mr.. B. observes:
"The whole district of Rio Janeiro is
exceedingly mountainous, and its valleys
are, in general, deep and narrow. The
mountains are not as lofty as those of
Switzerland, but resemble them more
than our Alleghanies. Though not cov-
cred with snow, they sometimes let loose
upon the valles what is even more dread
full than the avalanche; huge masses of
earth loosening from the rock, by the
moisture lnsinuated between them in the
rainy seasons, slip down, and overwhelm
every thing below. 1t is not long since
an instance of this kind occurred, when
more than a hundred families were buried
alive. In the afternoon, the sun having
disappeared behind the mountain, its
broad shade was now spread over US,
and we seated ourselves on the terrace,
IN order TO enjoy the cool air. 1t was not
long before we discovered a cavalcade
coming along the road. Mr.. Sumpter,
the American minister, informed US it
was some of the royal family taking an
airing, and that they very frequently
passed this way. A couple of Indian
looking dragons galloped up, their
swords rafting by their sides. They
were followed at very considerable dis
lance by several Indifferent old fashioned
carriages, carrying the great people.
On approaching the house they stop
ped Jew moments, and spoke in very
familiar, friendly manner to Miss Stump
ter. The queen and princesses were
plain in their dress, and in their manners
affable and polite, but, for the guards and
retinue, should have taken them to be
Of the respectable class of citizens.
have seen much more parade in the great
people OF our own country. l should
have felt, | must confess, less respect for
royalty, if had seen it, on this occasion,
arrayed in the pomp and magnifcence l
had figured to my imagination. Although
l had read great deal of kings and
queens, and princesses, l had no idea
that should feel so little of that awe
and dread, supposed to be produced by
the irradiations Of majesty. Paine OBJ
serves, that kings, among themselves,
are good republicans : and being myself
of a country where every citizen is a
sovereign, thought myself entitled to
meet any king or his family on terms of
equality. The princess Leopoldina was
distinguished from the rest by the fair
ness of her complexion; l saw nothing
remarkable In her appearance; and there
are thousands of my countrywomen l
would choose in preference for wife.
1t is said her situation is extremely un-
pleasant in this barbarous land-a land
removed so far from the commonwealth
Of courts, and seemingly fitted only for
vulgar republicanism. A number of
scandalous stories are related respecting
the chickering's, and quarrcllings, and
parties, in the palace; for the house is
said to be divided against itself* The
cavalcade proceeded along the beach :;
ON passing the barge crew, composed of
twenty -four of our best looking men,
and such as could hardly be picked out
of the whole city these manifested their
politeness by touching their hats, and
received, in return, most gracious in
clination of the head from mighty queens
and peerless princesses.
Royalty stopped some minutes to con-
template the manly, erect figures, and
open countenances of freemen, glowing
with the youth and health of our northern
climate; and was no doubt struck with
the contrast between these modern
Greeks, and its own vile, degraded slaves
Of the same calling or occupation. Our
proud-spirited fellows did not, however,
choose to initiate the Portuguese, by
falling on their knees untilmajesty should
have passed by; aspecies of idolatry
which experienced salutary check in
the person of Mr.. Sumpter some time
ago. The incident has been related in
our newspapers: / shall here give it as
2 = Among the people heard of no parties;
affairs of government do not concern them;
as in Venice, it would be as dangerous to APP
plaud the government as to speak against it,
If they venture to speak on these subjects at
oil, it must be with great caution, and even Sc
crecy. Ina word, the government 10 a despo-
tisu.