American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1826-02-28
FROM THE n. !. COMMERCIAL ADyEarIsLn.
EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS


NV last letter to YOU was written from Lima, and
We are DOW On On our voyage to Chill; these frequent
changes and rapid succession Of events, speed on the
weeks and months with such dizzying rapidiiy, that
We scarcely take /" any note OF time = but they pass
away so delightfully."-, and We enjoy SO much that Is
new and interesting that happiness even appears
TO me almost an Illusion.
We lived seven weeks in Lima, most agreeably.
Our morning. were devoted to receiving visitors, and
we found the habit of taking siesta very insidiou,
particularly there we're two or three OF those de-
lghtu low sofas in each Of our rooms.
About FIVE O'Clock it sufficiently cool to exer
cise and we then went out cheval, very agreeably
attended, or walked in the Alamada. There are
three OF these public walks wide as Broadway,
planted on each side with double row OF trees, be
tween which constantly runs stream OF pure water
keeping them n continual verdure +; IN the centre OF
the principal one there several handsome ioun.
tains Of stone, with bronze figures. Although they
have such beautiful and refreshing retreats from The
hustle and heat of the city, yet the inhabitants are
too indolent 10 enjoy them but The ladies sometimes
20 in their caleslas just before sunset, anu sit an
hour or two TO let the cool air blow over them. On
Sunday, the custom is universal, they are then IN
u dress, and occasionally step out OF their carriages
and take seat upon the stone benches, which are
placed at short distances and upon these occasions
they perform the fan exercise with great dexterlly
and arms to great advantage.
There are more agreeable and intelligent foreign
ers in Lima this time than at any former period
Many Of Bohyar's officers are accomplished and
pleasing foreigners who speak English and we are
never without society and the American character
is held in such respect thai every one appears anx
ous to show US The most fattering and polite aten
.ons
There were two grand public balls during the pc
riod Of our stay one given by the public authorities
cf The city, The other by the Peruvian merchants 10
The Libertador, and both in style oil splendour and
magnfcence which had not been equaed since the
Spanish grandees undsputed masters Of Peru
The morning after our arrival, General Bolivar
sent all his aids to welcome US TO The City Of
Kings aod present US his best respects. The old
est OF them, the Marquis Of -, boasts Of having
sacrificed an immense fortune with titles and estates
entailed upon his family. in the OF the Patria
he said he in th- name Of his ExcellencY, the
LibertaGor, 10 welcome US 10 Lima. and on his own
part, to lay himself, his family and his house at
feet. H then embraced US most atfec ctonatey 10
our great amazement; but we were told We mus,
consider il as the greatest honor paid 10 US. His
dress was bright red and covered over With gold
emhi odtry and lace.
The hls, Congress met the tenth OF January, and
he occasion was SO interesting that we accepted the
invitation of La Sonora P, to accompany her.
She was very much disturbed al the thought OF our
going without saya-y manto, and insisted upon our
borrowing them for the occasion but when ] told
her we had long black wells, her prrjudices were in
some degree hattcred, and after arranging them
FIRST one way and then another, she concluded they
were oueno,' may -bonte!' One fact, which most
nrlkingly illustrates the change which has taken
place in this country is, that the building Of the In
9uisi ion is the place where all the public
bile, held, the balls given, and the Lancasterian
school is kept. The principal hall was appropriated
for the meeting of the Congress. The building is
immensely large, fronting one OF the public squares;
it his recently been fitted up. and the dungeons and
all the instruments Of torture destroyed, except in
one small room, where some few are left, and where
the ovens remain in which suspected persons
baked till they confessed These are left as monu
ments OF Spanish cruelty, but there are 100 many
bleeding hearts and ruined families fer that soon 10
be forgotten
AS these people SO fond OF pageants, gres;
efforts had been made to embeIlish the square;
temple erected in the centre, with equestrian
statue of Bolivar, and many emblemauc paintings
we're placed upon the fountains.
Six hundred Of the Colombian cavalry and several
companies of infantry, all in their splendid capari
sons and rich uniforms, and an immense number Of
persons and carriages filled the square and presen.
ted grand and animating scene.
A carriage had been prepared to convey Bolivar
from The palace TO the hall clumsy gaudy thing,
covered with gliding and carved work. dawn by six
mules, rne down by gilt harnesses, Two posilons,
two coaehmen, and two footmen all in red coats
with white and green facing, and large cooked hats
with gold lace.
We went a, nine o'clock with Sonora P in
her caiacia, and il delightful to observe the
ciiement and loy which every one appeared to feel
All the balconies were hung with flags and various
coloured tapestries, and crowds we're fastening to
,he square. We drove 10 private door which led
so gallery. whee the ladies were 10 stand, who 60
such places in their masquerade dresses and the
mistress is not known from her servant with
great difficulty We pushed through crowd by a
j narrow pair OF stairs to small room where many