The Arkansas banner., 1843-11-04
MISCELlAN EOUS.
I From Biachwood's Magaeme .t6r iSepfember.]
 X SKETCH IN THE TROPICS.

From Btact,coods Maga.iae for Sepfember.
 A SKETCH IN THE TROPICS
 In the autumn of lS24, left Baltimore as supcrcargo of the brig Perseverance, Captain Ready. Proceeding to the Havana, we dis charged our cargo, took in another, partly on our own account, partly on that of tht Spanish Government, and sailed for Calao of the list December, exactly eight days before the celebrated battle of Avacucho dealt tho finishing blow to Spanish rule on the south ern continent of America, an established tie independence of Peru. The Spaniartls, how ever, still held the fortress of Callao, which, after having been taken by Martin and Coeh- rane four years previously, had again been treacherously delivered up, and was now blockaded by sea and land by the patriots under the command of General ilualero, who had marched an army from Columbia to as- sist the cause of liberty ill Peru
 Of all these circumstances We were igno- rant. until we arrived within few leagues of Callao. Then we learned them from yes gel that spoke us, but we still advanced, hoping to find an opportunity to slip in In attempting to do so, we were seized by one of the blockading vessels, and the captain and myself were taken out and sent to Lima. We were allowed to take our personal prop erty with Us, but of brig or cargo we heard nothing lsr some time. was not little uneasy; for the whole of my savings during ten years clerkship in the house of d Balii- more merchant were embarked in the form of venture on board the Perseverance,.
 The captain, who had fifth of the cargo, and was half owner of the brig, took things philosophically, and passed his days with q penkniie and a stick ill his hand. whiting away, Yankee fashion; and when he had clipped up his stick, he would set To wort, notchng and hacking the first chair. bench or table that came under his hand If any one spoke to him of the brig, he would grind his teeth little, but said nothing, and whittIed away harder than ever. This was his cha acter, however l had known him for five years that he had been in the employ of the same house as myself, and he had always passed for a singularly reserved and taciurn man. During our voyage, whole weeks had sometimes elapsed without his utlering a word except to give the necessary orders.
 In spite of his pcculiarities, Captain Ready was generally beliked by his brother captains, and by all who knew him. When he did speak his words (perhaps the more prized on account of their rarity1 were always listened 10 with attention. There was beneyolence and mildness in the tones of his voice that rendered It quite musical, and never failed to preposscss in his favor all those who heard him, and to make them forget the usual sul ienness of his manner During the whole time he had sailed for the Baltimore house. ne Rad shown hlmselfa model of trustworthi ness and seamanship, and enjoyed the full confidence of his employers. It was said. however, that his early life had not been ire proachable; that when he first, and as very young man, had command of d Philadelnbia ship, something had occurred which had thrown stain upon his character. What that was, had never heard very distinctly stated. He had favored the escape of d male factor, and ensnared some officers who were sent on board his vessel. All this was very vague, but what was positive was the fact. that the owners of the ship he then com inanded, hal had much trouble about the matter, and Ready himself remained long un- employed, until the rapid increase of trade between the United States and the infant re- pubiics of South America had caused seamen oi ahhiity to be Ill much request, and he had again obtained command of vessel.
 We were seated one afternoon outside the French coffee house at Lima The party consisted of seven or eight captains of mer- chant vessels that had been seized. and they were doing their best to kill the time, some smoking, others chewing, but nearly all with penknte and stick in hand, whiting, as for a wager. On their frs! arrival al Lima. and adoption of this coffee house as n place of re- sort, the tables and chairs bclongino to if seemed m fair way to be cut to pieces by these mdcfailgable Avhittlers; but the coffee house keeper had hit upon plan to avoid such deterioration of his chattels, and had placed Ill every corner of the rooms bundles oi sucks, at which his Yankee customers cut ana notched, till the coffee house assumed he appearance of a carpenters shop.
 ihe costume and airs of the patriots. as mey called themselves, were no small source oi amusement to us. They strutted about in aH 'ie Pfiue of iheir fire-new freedom. reou- saF caricat'ires of soldiers. One would bavc on spanish jacket, part of the spells of Av. acucho-anoter, all American one. which ne iiad bought from some sailor-a third . monks robe, cut short, and fashioned into . sort of doublet Here was shako want mg brim, in company with a gold laced velvet coat of the time of Philip V ,bera . hussar jacket and an old-lashioned cooked nat The volunteers were the best clothed n,.o m great part from the plunder the battle uAyacucho. Their uniforms were laden win soid and silverlace, and some of the officers
 ssN Hlsis'ed with two epauleltes, had half-a- oss their shoulders. "''' as .,.. ns we sat smoking, whiting, and quizzino
 me patriots, side door of the coffee bonso suooeniy opened, and an officer came ont
 eese appearance was calculated to y;ve ne
 n< more favorable opinion of South Amer;z - rat'fdyies. He was man about ,h;r,, ysrs os age, plainly but iastefully dressed,