American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-04-21
faoY THE y. ?. COMMERCIAL A57EarIsER.
EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS
Written b Lady in South America, 70 her Friend N The
United States

There s only one convent OF nuns the city Of Concep
on and felt particularly anxious to VISIT IT. Tor they were
rather notorious for having fed from their convent some
years SINCE and put themselves under the protection
the Patriot army when the Spansrds we're entering TIC
town.
! With NJ Francisco, who speaks Spanish fueny, VT
went 10 the gate and asked admission of the porter he
replied that the prayers but would be HAPPY
10 admit us directly Ii had commenced raining and atte
ing church. we we're quite drenched-but the door va
then opened and were received by the Father Contes
sor, with and elegance OF manner that surprised
me. He showed into his cell, and said that the Lady
Ahbess would open her door, instead of speaking
me through the cylinder, which is the ordinary way Of
communicating with her The good old Father IN bus
great desire show kindness and respect forfeited his
reputation for absemiousness and sedenia fos he drew
from under his little COUCH trunk made of hides and
took delicious peaches from it, some exquisite grapes
and some nice little cakes, which he placed upon small
table made of rushes, covered with white napkin, and
placed i, before US: he pared the peaches with knife
from his pocket and presented them to me with courty
air We presented group for palnter;-the room v as
very and narrow lighted from one small window above;
ia one corner his couch made of hides with very
scan,y coverings Immediately il hung picture OF the
crucifxon and the foot skull and all the parapherna-
liza belonging his official characters his ordinary wardrobe
hung around the walls table covered with books an inch
thick with dust ard horn ink stand stone Jug with water,
and rush chair, all that it contained. felt
great desire obtain Of his valuable and very ancient
books, without d ecty asking him to give or sell them
5ut he said, "they were all his world"
There such expression of benevolence
and in all hes nd thatT
know something Of his early history but without ask
ing any questions be told me he was native Of Madrid
thai he educated for the chlrchthat after being in
sruced in all that could be taught in their colleges at the
age Of thirty he went 70 Chile where he embraced the
Of liberty, and lost all his worldly goods, the
Spanards having pundered the church and convent and
mn a thorn &c eysry th;no valuable
After had partaken Of. and enjoyed his hospitality
little boy entered and announced the readiness of the Lady
Abbess 10 receive Us, We followed the Priest into an adj
joining hail. and the folding doors thrown open, and
figures habed in loose white robes their faces and per.
sons entirely concealed ~ Iong black wells stood as mo-
oness statues for their Grand mover the Lady Abbess
had not vet appeared In few minutes they retreated
few sens and all majestic woman entered and with
animation said Where is the forepn lad, Who does
rs so much honor 20 advanced and she encrcled me
h her arms and bade me welcome with sweet kndne,
and courtesy and praciny extended her hand ia the
gentlemen Who s,ood outside the INNS then crowded
round and asked nermsson 10 embrace me- tie Abbess
et +h.,n tba a,srnria t., i;s,,, ~ a ana tbro.;r
over me so that we bob envened by Il and have
seldom seen face Of greater beauty or more majestic
form than hers which we're ned with uncommon dignity
and elegance of manner
Two Of the nuns allowed me to l their yeils and they
would have been considered pretty in any country SAID
to them. how tranouil and happy YOU must beone Of
them rened fand tbev an had an EXPRESSION Of deem sad
ness9 with melancholy tnne Of voice eyes Sonora We
are surrounded by beautiful flowers pointing 10 loye,
garden n..r ana De or renewed fro Tho ,rn h,es ~ ~
world and nj, sho,d we n, IL hannvn rha, g uhv
appeared to me 10 reveal ali that Was 10 know
about the;r banrinessi
Til, Abbess uas Wv ;ncrstvc ,hont NV conn.ry all
family and askeJ MANI sm1s;ng nns,,;ons b Ak nv,
show ne anv of he ar.r,ment H., aid nos NJ c.,
STRANGER thsy bad arsr $500 n;,l,; .b; S. ~.
patberad Fer ~. ths rboro.. al rnast s.aaan, a.
from ~ don phoh / .n.o,.d anttnsI. ~ ~ -
which e kent - contnnal ha,, ~ f:h ~ .u sl
founta;ns 1" es"S"ue' oeNu' a"4 'eo"'ie' y 'ne
before We dena,ted ne ascert.ned from he pr;ss, 10
~ t aeFatsea' We asce,ts,nea rom he fritst, mat
H. Abbess car ~ convs, - 81 ~
accordingly WHEN We too leave os her ~ IA mi o. aa
nur Offering. che ernhrsced me varv sffse,inn.eI
s,id shonId he re,,erhard g ~ X III 80, n"u
omr yis;, was soon no;.sd .hnn, ths ,o ANY ~
and credulous neonia al tis ronnent M
and bleseed i, he Il a. . ~ ,h sc" e 49, sseeu