Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-06-29
INTERESTING FROM COLOMBIA.

INTERESTING FROM COLOMBIA.
The following interesting letter from an A
ner,can gentleman at the Seat of Government
of the aepnblic Of Colombia, to his friend IN
Washington, we have been obHsingly permit
ted to insert in our paper: Nat. Int.
BoeorA ll,h April. 1894.
After taxing a COLLATION. at my quin.
ia. our party, consisting of Colonies
Hamilton and Campbell, their seereis-
~, Mr.. Csds, Mr.. Santa Maria. Doctor
Maybe and myself, proceeded about
O'Clock IN the afternoon, on an excur-
sion to the country. for the Pnrpose OF
viewing the Falls of Salto OF 1ecuendd.
ma At about 6 o'clock, we reached
the village of Suacha. lying about w.
by 3 Of Bogota. distance three leagues.
Hero we were accommodated with
lodgings for the night, by Friar Cam
dia, Guardian Of the order of San Fran
cisco. This worthy man received Us
with cordially and fraukuess which
indicated his knowledge of the world
aud a liberal mind, and, in fact, we all
felt as much al home, as In the mansion
Of n English country gentleman-e'en
the brethren of the order, who were
present, seemed to partake OF the char
sc'er Of their superior. aud had nothing
Of the susterity and reserve usually
fnund among the disciples Vt San Fran
cis
Friar Gambia was one Of those who
had distinguished himself IN favor At
the Republican system. and had suffer
ed Imprisonment and persecution Gu
ring the reign of hlorlllo and other
Royal Chiefs, but was now considered
an apps lie OF liberty as well as religion.
He wa, about IS years old, urbane and
f,s"k IN his department, and, ap.
pesred eminently calculated 10 promote
tha, change in society which accorded
with the views Of liberal government,
and in UNISON with the spirit of the age:
q few oftbese kind of men would be Of
more utility to the infant government
and institutions of Colombia, than a
thousand Legislators, because, by a long
course Of M bit they have acquired a
powerful influence over the minds and
actions of the community, an influence
which requires time, perseverance and
talent, TO destroy; hence, such men as
Friar Gambia, are important instru.
ments in effecting the desirable change
In society, SD essential among the popu.
ls,ion OF Colombia. A village, or dis.
trict. In which an enlightened and il.
beral priest resides, already exhibits the
HT OF cfsfs lyman dWeIls,
ignorance, misery, and lana ,icism, pre-
walls in the same degree as two centu.
ries ago, and, unfortunately for Colon.
bia, the majority Of the priesthood. l
fear, belongs to tho latter class.
The next morning we proceeded on
our Journey to the falls 1t is about
2 leagues from Suacha, and the course
w oyN Half league from the vile
LACE, we came to the fertile and valua
bic Hacienda, called CanoqS, whose
proprietor derives revenue. from the
culture of wheat, and the pastnrase OF
cattle, fmore than $50, 900 annually.
but, from the extent OF the property,
and fertility of It's soil, 1t could by in
dustry and proper culture, be made to
produce Is or 20 times more than It's
present REVENGE, As we approached
chanted with the beauty and naive
luxurianc Of this part OF he great val.
ley Of Bogota. The river bearing that
noms wound around Us through the
plain, in every direction of the com.
pass. The sid End perpetual verdure
Of the scenery, barley aud wheat in all
their various stages of vege'a ion, hocks
of sheep, cattle, and horses, browsing IN
rich Pasturage, OF rowing on the decli
vities of the mountains, presented to ell
Of us rural scene equally splendid as
move, but, when we reached the sum
NIT Of the mountains, aud IN the scope
Of our vision embraced the G. eater part
of this delightful vale, the scene was
magnificent. realising all that poets
have sung of the celebrated charms Of
Arcadia. We beheld spacious lakes,
and the river meandering below us; and
altogether we enjoyed view of this in
terss,ing plain, and its,adjacen, noun.
tains, perhaps to greater advantage
than from any other position we could
have selected, at he Same time inbal.
Ing an atmosphere a. mild and saiubri
Gus - ever mor,sls bresthed. We haG
no thermometer with os, bot We judg.
cd the temperature at about IS =, 20 Of
farenbeit, rho summit from whence
we enjoyed THE superb prospect was a.
bout 5 or 600 feet above the valley
Even tho mountains which surrounded