Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-08-21

privilege of freeman, in showing that
assent is at least not universal.
ANTIMANIA.
| LETTERS FROM LOUISIANA.
From gentleman now in that country, to his
friend in the village of Springfield, Massa-
chusetts. e
LETTER III.
My Dear &r--The public buildings
in the city of Ncw-Orleans, with but
one or two exceptions, are indeed very
poor, and scarcely worth noticing as you
pass them in the street, much less to
trouble you with description of them.
Contrasted with the public buildings in
Boston or New-York, they bear nocom-
parison whatever. The theatre, which
was nearly destroyed by fire, a short
time since, is again rebuilding with con-
siderable additions, and when finished,
will be nearly as large, | should ina
CINE, as the New-York theatre. 1t will
be fine, large, spacious building, built
entirely with brick. Adjoining to this
is the NewOrleans Hall, or, as it is
more generally called, the "Orleans
Ball Room," which appears but indif-
ferently as you pass it in the street, be-
ing built of wood, and but two stories
high. The inside of it, however, upon
the second story, is all in one large spa
cious room, about 90 feet long, / should
think, and about 40 feet wide, elegantly
painted and ornamented; and lighted
with about IS or so large beautiful chan
deliers, which make every thing appear
to great advantage. 1t is, however, pri-
vate property, and owned at present by
an American gentleman. Here are held
what are called the Condo Balls, to
which any person of decent appearance
can be admitted, as at the theatre, by
paying his dollar at the door for a ticket.
Sometimes, on particular occasions, the
price is two dollars, which was the case
when curiosity, that most expensive and
troublesome ingredient of our natures,
among many Others, directed me thither.
1t was the evening of Washington's birth
day--of course, every thing was fitted
up in superior style. 1t was indeed ye-
~ elegant. l was much delighted with
it, and for few hours, thought / was
about to " shuttle off this mortal coil"
to inhabit region Of fairy land. But
however, Notwithstanding all its dazzling
splendor of elegance and beauty, l left
it about ten O'Clock, and went home to
my lodgings with one of old SoIomon's
declarations in my mouth, call is vani-
ty and vexation of spirit The city
contains no other buildings, either pub
lie or private, worthy of notice. 1t con-
tains, however, town house, hospital,
one market-house, tzvo meeting houses,
one convent of nuns, five banks, and FIVE
printing offices, from each of which is
issued a daily paper for the city, and
one every other day for the country.
The country around New-Orlcans is
far from being pleasant AS with the
city, you would alike be disguised with
it. Unlike the country around our
northern citics--no rich cultivate fields
no variegated scenery--no delightful
groves-no cheering landscapes, meet
the eye, as it wandcrs anxiousiy around
for something to rest upon. Directly
below the city, and Immediately along
upon the bank of the river, for about
or 10 miles, are few plantations, which,
however, appear tolerably well, but
every where else the land is low, wet,
and swampy, and of course, but very lit
tie cultivated. Wherever / have been,
my dear H., have never seen
place surrounded with such gloomy,
sickly prospect.
Continuing my description of New
Orleans, now come to that part of the
subject which know will be disagree
able to you, because your feelings and
imagination must necessarily be excited
and disguised at the relation of so much
vice and dissipation--scenes which you
are entirely unacquainted with-and
which are always painful to the feelings
ofvirtue. Take man from New Eng
land, which is SO emphatically, though
rather sarcastically called by the people
of the south, the land of steady habits
who has been taught from the cradle of
his infancy the sacred obligations i'm
posed upon him by the dictates of mo-
rality and virtue, around whose heart
and memory are twined thousand fond
ly recollected scenes of his yonth-1