Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-12-05

ments.
rFrom t1e Nesc- York Ds;ty Advertiser.
We have been fsvored with some letters
written BY young lady from this country wht
has been for several wears resident in one o
the Western Islands. We consider the style
in (Which they are written highly creditable Il
the talents of the writer; and AS they contain
descriptions of scenery not only new, put stri
kingiy picturesque and romantic, We have OBJ
tam {, prrinissiunto make extracts from then
for puohcation, and we hatter ourselves they
vii. De found Interesting to our readers.
LETTERS FROM THE AZORES. 4,
"Fayai, Dec Is, lS24.-Many Of the
accounts send you are copied from
memoranda, made at the time the E.
vents occurred, for / have found that
much of the vividness Of description
is lost with the first impression | was
never more convinced of this than v hen
a feet arrived here some time ago from
Brazil. AT the time my feelings were
SO enthusiastic, on beholding the beau
tifal sight, that could scarcely contain
tears Of rapture and delight But the
next day, although the water was still
as blue, the sky as serene, and the float
ing clouds as gossamer like, my fancy
had had twice to cool, and to lose the
glow aud colouring with which novelty
had clothed it. Itappeared in its plain
matter Of fact dress; aud my sensations
had eyaporated in the excitement they
had produced.
AS last evening was Christmas eve,
Twill tell you how it is generally passed
here. About nine O'Clock, all the
churches were lighted up as brightly
as possible, candles being placed in the
chandeliers, which are generally Of
wool, sometimes gilt, suspended from
the ceiling Lighted candles were al
so disposed before the images Of The
saints, on the affairs, SC. and decorated
with artificial flowers. Soon after, all
the ladies and gentlemen, and all who
could 20, assembled at one of the
churches. Al twelve high mass was
performed, and at one all returned
The fine singing Of the nuns. (for it was
at one Of their churches that ] attend
edlthe sanctity of the place, the kneel-
ing crowd, might have produced those
feelings which the commemoration of
such an event is calculated to excite.
The forms of the Catholic religion
are certainly very imposing. When l
frs, entered, the solemn peal Of the Or
gan, the blaze Of lights, and the sight
OF the kneeling multitude, caused a
thrill Of mysterious awe and devotion
to run through my heart; but after a
few moments the delusion vanished
In the faces Of the kneeling devotees
were traced the same trifling ideas, the
same attention to dress which are too
often evinced in similar situations; and
the whisper of scandal circulated with
like facility. The candles too were
bu ming on the altar Of a saint, or light
ed the image Of the Virgin.
Nothing could present more stri-
king contrast, than the weather OIL
Christmas here, and the las, one spcn,
in america. The breath OF Heaven is
mud as spring; and the sun shines as
gloiiously. as il to Commemorate with
his beams the birth OF the Son Of RICH.
teousness. recoilect it showed all
day at -; but the sun shone on,
just before its setting, chasing, with its
brightness, the clouds and storms tina,
had obscured its effulgence. Even
such will be the end Of the good; tho
sorrow and adversely may darken the
morning and midday Of their life, the
setting sun will dispel the clouds and
sinS in glory.
On Christmas morning We visited
the principal church, which is very
old building, with six or eight stone
Columns on each side 10 support the
roof. Fronting the entrance is the
Grand Altar, and on both sides are o.
ther affairs and shrines, one Of which is
called the Holy Of Holes. There is a
single lamp KEEP, constantly burning,
ana the crimson curtai Of the recess
are usually drawn closely before it,
There is fine organ here; but as the
church is without galleries, it is placed
between the columns and considerably
raised. The pipes are seen on the top
Gthe organ: whether to produce any
improvement in the music or not can.
not tell; but the instiument certainly
sounds finely.
We next went TO see the converts Of
the nuns, ofwhich there are two: those
Of ~ John and The Gloria, Their
churchc, arr aol handsome. You have
only ic Imagine q hisn spi,ding arch
cd and without galleries; much half