Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-06-23

| and lemon, no quintas, no Corral! felt tor the
first time, but it passed away soon, wish 10
live and die far from my native country; 1t
seemed for moment that 1t would De poetlcai
| happiness to dwell with one beloved comPa-
Mon amidst these quiet mountains, and gaze
an evening on the lovely sea and the lone De-
Zertas on the horizon. l did not choose any
| of the gay and luxurious houses which adorn
| the bosom of the amphitheatre above the town;
admired, like all the world, their perfect eie-
gance and glorious prospect, but they did not
| fiji my heart with that fondness which felt
| for ont simple mansion in the distant parish OF
Camacha | often hear the brawling brook at
night, and think myself seated on the bench Of
green turf, drinking that cool bottle OF wine,
with view of Rosa and the pretty church be-
vond If the arcents had known Madeira, 1t
would have been their plusquam fortunate in
sua and the blessed spirits of the Gentiles at
ter millennium Of probationary enjoyments
in the Canaries, would have been Translated
thither to live forever on nectar and oranges.
should think the situation ofMadera the most
cnvabe on the whole earth ltensures almost
every European comfort, together with almost
every tropical luxury. Any degree OF tempe
nature may be enjoyed betweenFunchal and the
Ice House. The seasons are the youth, matu-
rily, and old age ofnever-ending, still beginning
spring Here found what used 10 suppose
peculiar 10 the garden of Eden and the powers
of Acrase and Armita
Blossoms and fruits at once Of golden hue
Appear'd, with gay enamei'd coors miX'd.
The myrtle, the geranium, the rose, and the
violet, grow on the right hand and on the LETT in
the boon prodigality Of primitive nature. The
geranium, in particular, is so common that the
honey of the bees becomes something like a
jelly Of that flower. ! differ from the most peo-
pie in no: liking il so well as the English no.
aey, though it is far purer and more transpa-
rent That of Barbados is finer than either.
Perhaps after having been within ten degrees
Of The equator, a second visit to Madeira would
not charm me so deeply as the iirSt, have seen
ocean and sky of a still brighter hue, and trees
and flowers and mountains OF still more beauu-
FIJI and awful shapes. But | left England in
December, shiyering and melancholy under
rain Of two months continuance; foul winds, E.
ternal lacking tremendous gale and the Bay
Of Biscay destroyed my spirits and increased
my rheumatism; so that longed after Madeira
as u land of promise; and the first sight OF Porto
Santo, with its scattered islets, its broken rocks,
and verdaut dells, filled my heart with that JOY
which no one can feel who has not made q Noy-
agt on the ocean.
The hospitality Of the English merchants in
Madeira is princey. You cannot bring 100
many, YOU cannot stay too long. The houses
of all are open to the guests of each, and never
met with less kindness from Stoddart because
had shown preference for Gordon. am
10th to believe that they look upon US only as
customers, although they lead schemently into
temptation, by Malmsey, Tints, and Sercial, ard
bid you remember the old house when they
shake hands with you al parting. There was
generality of intelligence, and independence
Of spirit, and Courteousness OF name: about
those whom saw, which seemed the effect and
the symptom Of great opuence and unimpeach-
able credit They have no hucks,ering, shop
keeping, agency taint they are true descen-
dants Il was going to say remnantS) OF that
grand character, the English Merchant Of for
mer times. Their information indeed with re-
gard to certain islands which are laid down by
geographers, more or less in their neighbor-
hood, is remarkably narrow. can state 1t,
however, for the satisfaction Of the scientific, as
the result Of much inquiry, that there are such
islands as Teneritie, Palma, and Eayal, and that
there is reason to believe that the position usu-
ally assigned 10 lnem III Tue ClldflS 10 IO:ISSt,
at The same time there is SO little, or may say,
10 intercourse between them and Madeira, that
whether they are round or square, neither they
are ore hundred, or one thousand leagues OFT,
whether they make wine or beer, are matters OF
much doubt. yellow fever, il also appears, ra-
ges in some, and the plague in others; the wine,
it it can be called wine, is, according to few
en,erprisng antadventurers, so detcsta-
Bile, that the smallest admixture oft would in
falibly spoil forty times its quantity of the true
old London Particular; so tina, all the idle sto-
ries which we hear ignorantly handed about in
England of wine from Fayal and Tenertie be-
ing re-exported from Madeira as the genuine
production Of that latter island, are without
question entirely false. And such being the
case, it is truly wonderful that spot COMPARE
lively so inconsiderable should be able TO sup
ply the enormous demand for The wine called
Madeira from England, the European continent,
the West Indies and both Americas.
The town Of Funcha stretches along the
margin of the bay for nearly mile and a bait,
bur. it is barely third of that size in breadth
in any part. 1t is by no means so dirty as the
Portuguese like, but the English residents are
so influential here, that they have been able to
exercise tyranny of cleanliness, which the ma
tves sulenly endure at the hazard Of catching
colds. The cathedral is fine building, the
furniture of the altar and lateral shrines very
rich in gold, silver, and pearls, and pearls and
4 a. i l-