Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-08-31
VOYAGE mo- SOUTH AMERlcA.

4 we puDHc ksdyS lne baiLImOfe
Chronicle1 on the appearance of the first vol
ume of 6 II Vcyage to South America, per.
| formed By order Of the american Government,
in the gears 1917 and 1918, in tie Ffigate
Congress-By H. NJ BRACKBNRIDGE, Esq
Secretary 70 the Mission We present our
readers with the following extract from this
valuable and interesting publication. Speaking
of Rio Janeiro, MIR. B. observes:
&c L he whole district Of Rio Janeiro is
Exceedingly mountainous, and its vallies
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 COW
cred with SNOW, they sometimes let loose
upon the vallies, what is even more dread
ia! than the Avalanche huge masses oil
earth loosening from the rocks, by the
moisture insnuated between them ia the
rainy seasons, slip down, and overwhelm
every thing below. tits not long since an
instance of this kind occurred, when more
than hundred families were buried alive.
In the afternoon, the sun having disap.
peared behind the mountain, its broad
shape was now spread over us, and we
seated ourselves on the terrace, in order
to enjoy the cool air. 1t was not long be-
fore we discovered cavaicade coming
along the road. Mr.. Sumpter the Amer.
lean 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 gal
Hoped up, their swords rafting by their
sides. They were followed at very
considerable distance by several indiffer-
ent old fashioned carriages, carrying the
great people.
" On approaching the house they stop,
ped few moments, and spoke in a very
familiar, friendly manner TO Miss Stump
ter. The queen and princesses, were
plain in their dress, and 10 their manners
affabIe 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 10 the peo-
pie of our own country. should have
felt, must confess, less respect for roy
atty, if | had seen it on this occasion
arrayed in the pomp and magnificence |
had figured to my imagination. Although
l had read great deal of kings, and
queens, and princesses, had no idea that
/ should feel SO little of that awe and
dread, supposed TO be produced by the
irraaiGtions of majesty. Paine observes,
e that kings, among themselves, are good
republicans = and being myself of coun-
Try where every citizen is 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 fairness Of her COM
plexion; l saw nothing remarkable in her
appearance and there are thousands Of
my country women | would choose in
preference for wife. 1t is said her stu
alton is extremely unpleasant in this barba-
rous land, a land removed so far from the
Commonwealth Of courts, aud seemingly
fitted only for vulgar republcanism. A
number of scandalous stories are related,
respecting the chickering's, and quarrel
ings, and parties, in the palace; for the
house is said to be divided against itself.*
The cavaIcade 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 polite.
ness by touching their hats, and received
in return most gracious inclination Of
the head from mighty queens and peerless
princesses.
" Royalty stopped some minutes to con-
template the manly erect figures and open
countenances of free men, glowing with
the youth and health Of our northern eli
mate; 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
10 initiate the Portuguese, by falling on
their knees, until majesty should have
passed by species of idolatry which
experienced salutary check in the per-
son OF Mr.. Sumpter, some time ago. The
incident has been related in our newspa-
pers: / shall here give it as had il from
the minister himself. The guards who
precede her majesty, were in the habit,
without regard TO persons, Of compelling
them to dismount and stand with the hat
off, until the whole retinne had passed
by the insult had been borne without re-
sistance by all the foreign agents here,
except the American, whose republican
pride could no, be brought to stoop to this
degradation. He was, however, DESTROYS
to avoid, if possible, bringing the matter
to issue, 1t was at last thrown upon him
by necessity; being unable to avoid the
cavalcade, he stopped his horse, and sa-
Among the people heard of no parties ae.
fairs of government do not concern them "a in
Venice, it would be as dangerous to applaud he
government as to speak against it. If they ven.
lure to sneak on these subjects at ALI Il must IL