American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-02-14

,or there IS now no external splendcur, and III.
houses being built as / have described, without
windows to the street, it has a elomy appearance !:
put every thing IS quite unique, and the first time
visited that famous city, kept constantly in the
sreef, 10 gaze upon the assembsge of strange look
inH persons ana thiDgs ladies' moving in every
direction, masked BY the Ssya y-Manto. one eve
peeping out Of the opening others in carriages. the
bodies OF which are exactly like the Boston Booty
tiuts, Ga kind OF large, close sleigh used therel
painted light blue or pink, with landscape. or H9ures
OF animals, and covered with gliding ;-h. machine
IS hung between an enormous pair Of wheels and
Is drawn by TWO mules; Of which the diver
slis upon saddle so large that it seems Of sefsoc
great ba den for the poor beast i; but no thouob,
save to overload and III treat the animals ever en-
tiers Spaniards mind, and | am often shocbed to
witness their cruelty and inhumani,y The saddle.
are very large and covered with TWO or three sheep
skins, the long wool remaining, and dyed various
colours, and TO those who travel in the interior tbev
serve Tor bed and covering.
he ladies drive in The afternoon in their carriages
IN fol dress, without any covering upon their heads
the carriages are called Valencines, and the windows
all being OF glass one has opportunity to witness
their manGuvres with their fans, and all the little
arts they practice to attract observation
There are great number of Churches in Lima
immensely large, and some extremely Splendid
although now stripped Of their gold and silver, and
precious stones: TO each is attached a convent.
They are very poor as their resources former.
Ely derived from large landed estates, which are
now entirely neglected.
visited one of the gardens belonging to the
Cathedral which, before the last Revolution was
filled with every fruit and flower; but at that
time The Royasts turned six hundred horses into it,
and every thing was destroyed but the orange trees
which in their country, are magnificent: you see
them IN every direction about the city, rearing their
'al heads, covered with rich yellow fru, and fra
grant white blossoms, filing the air with their deli
cious perfume
The second time went to Lima, we visited the
Church Of St. Francisco some part of being shut,
the Padre said if we would come the next morning
at SIX O'Clock, we might examine the whole. ! en-
treated him to obtain permission for TO see the
monastery, and he Promised to use hi. influence
with the Bishop, though no foreign lady had ever
been allowed; ba, he thought lce would not be rs.
fused.
Our expectations were so much excited that BY
SIX we were at the Church, where the pade awaited
US we were requested TO take off our bonnets, and
were allowed to enter without any ceremony. The
deep solemn tone OF the organ reverberated through
The Church, which lighted by an immense
number of lamps, and we saw the Bishop and six
priests at an altar, at the extreme end Of the Church.
in their white and flowing robes the Bishop was
covered with gold. They were performing
my knees and offer my alterations and my thanks TO
one God but every feeling Of devotion was quickly
dispelled by seeing the groups which were every
moment entering and going out, from the ladies in
their saya-y manos, who dipped their fingers in the
holy water, fell upon their knees, and then turned
to gaze upon US TO the mule drivers and The mar.
ket women, with their loaded baskets upon their
arms, and troops of ragged dirty children, all Of
whom seemed TO 60 through the er0tations in a
most mechanical manner They al entered at on.
DIOR, by which stood large marble basin filled with
holy water, which they touched, crossed them
selves fell upon their knees the stone aoor their
bodies upright, and then marched out at an oppo-
site door, after dipping their fingers in another vase
OF holy water and crossing themselves
In truth, the only hing imposing in that cera
lnony was the profound stiffness, for not a sound
was heard, but an occasional note of the organ,
which echoed solemnly through the high arches of
The most remote parts and rooms of the church
Many persons were at confession the priests
were seated in chairs, formed like our easy chairs,
he back s. side very high, with PANEL TO slide over
he front, so as to conceal the face of the priest.
The penitent knees the out side, with the face
close to the chair, the side OF which is filed with
title holes to admit the voice without the person
icing seen.
The most impressive ceremony of the Catholic
eligion is the evening oracion there is something
uhlime in the idea of whole psople at the same
moment. lifting their hearts in silent hankfuness To
he Eternal for preservation through the day and
0 foreigner it is deeply touching IL shall never
orgrt my sensations when first witnessed it, A
arge party chevai was returning from the country,
nd was just passing through one of the most busy
reeis of Lima, when the bell of the Cathedral
,lled it only strikes once; in instant every has
taken off, all labour or amusements suspended,
nd not sound through bout the city is heard the horr
IS involuntarily stop, and | recollect was very
ear being thrown.
But to return to the Church, the Padre " no had
tended us the day before was one of the choir, and
hen he saw US he came down, and TO our great
w snih he had receiyed nrders 10 nhoyu u .rsru