The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-12-02

II - $50
ErtraclS from tie Journal Of Residence II
Chiii. Or y0ung .4mericnr. detained IN TINT
country, during ne Revolutionary scenes 81
/ 18I7-I8-l9.
GUALeUT, AUGUST, 1918.
The month OF August is tie most unpleas-
ant Of their winter months: but after the mid
die of il, they generally consider the spring
as having commenced. The first ten days OF
the month. were tempestuous, with high nor
tberly winds and constant rain. The wealth
er is now settled, and this day, August 18th,
| is like the finest Of ours in June. The rains
henceforth gradually lessen in duration, till,
in the latter part Of September, they become
rare.
The vineyards are now trimming and put
ting in order, and the wheat and garden veg
etables are high ont Of ground, and promise a.
bundantly. There is but little variation in
their wears. one with another, and their crops
can always be calculated upon with certainty.
| They never suffer from drought, and their
spring rains are never so abundant as to drown
the seed in the earth. Their evergreens are
\ Of course beautiful at all seasons, and wild
flowers Of every variety are now sPringing up
in all directions
To balance all this fertility and beauty Of
soil and climate. (say our geographers) they
are subject to the most dreadful Of all natural
phenomena, earthquakes. il is no doubt true,
that the shocks are more frequent, than in
most parts of Europe or North America; and
| it is true that the inhabitants live ia constant
and superstitous dread Of them. Yet, after
often inquiring Of the oldest individuals have
met, | cannot Gnd one who can recoliect a
death, caused By an earthquake. This general
dread Of item, probably proceeds from the re-
moYal of the capital of the province TO IFS pres
ent site, in consequence of the humiliation and
ldestruct0Hsdf many OF the houses OF tire old
city, in the great earthquake, some eighty or
ninety years ago. For the year past, there has
been but one very perceptible shock in Con-
ception this was few evenings since. Some
eight or ten were at supper in the estancia,
when suddenly they all started up, and rushed
out of doors, overturning every thing that
might be in their way and shrieking I" mis-
ercordia, misericordla." The shock coRtin-
ued but for an instant, and was lighter than
one which was felt in Massachusetts few
DAYS before we sailed, and was the talk Of a
moment am told however that l can form
il, as the year past has been remarkably and
provideutially exempt from this calamity.
With all the variety Of complexiOus that
YOU meet in this province, there seems TO me
10 be no difference in language, and so far as
[ can Judge, there is 10 Uuigqr tdIom among
The lower classes. With Us, YOU may, gene
rally speaking, Judge Of a mans standing, and
the advantages of educa ton he has enjoyed,
by the style Of bis phraseoiogy. Bot here the
bishop and rustic, the sonora and her maid ser
yaut. express ideas and sensations, wishes and
wants. in the same words aud phrases The
half naked Guacho, will express ms pleasure
Al anv good, or sorrow at any i'll that may have
lbefalien YOU, 10 words which If literally trans
lated into our language, would be considered
lin an unlettered man as aHectation, and eX-
pose him to ridicule. Their language i de-
rived directly from the Latin, Is 10 fact little
else than corrupted Latin. In English, II
strikes me that the difference in the phrase
oogy Of the well and i'll bred, consists 10 2
good measure in this, that the one makes use
ofmany, and the other OF few or no words OF
classic derivation.
There i too. very great degree Of famili
arity between the different grades Of society
The servants, after the work of the day is o
yer, are generally permitted to sit in the SAME
room with the family, and as they almost Al
can either dance or sing. or have some raT'
4 eff about them. they are frequently called up
90 to amuse visitors 10 an evening. In many
families YOU meet with a young h1lrindiaE
hoy, who is taught mountebank tricks and i'm
itatIons, and acts somewhat such part as the
fools used TO do, who were maintained in ths
families Of princes, in the middle ages. In the
choice Of the companion of an hour, there
does not seem 10 me to be much regard paid Il
character, even among the females; ana tbs
richest Senior among them, will chat as famil
Iiariy with his groom a. with his brother
Hence, sort Of independence, aud ease o
lcarriage and conversation pervades all class
les, and hence. you never meet with any o
that aHkwardness and bashful tinidity, which
characterizes the peasants and lower order
with us, in the presence Of soperiors.