Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-07-27
For the Enquirer.
FROM THE GLENMORE.
Rio JAsEalo, Hotel Phafoux, No, 81

My deal: You will 30 doubt be amusediand
perhaps surprised when yea see the dIie and
caption OF this letter. Dick c. and myself
are now wiring in as finely furnished rooms as
you can find in any Of our American Hotels,
and although The sun with Us is several hours
high and breakfast has long been over-Vith
you il is about sunrise, and. as just remarked
TO Dick, could ALMOST Imagine mat saw you
blessing and preparing for market.
We anchored in the Harbor of Rio on last
Saturday night The 24th Of May, about II o'clock
The sight that met our eyes al its mouth was in
deed truly grand aud sublime. On each side OF
Us were tall and crageed mountains looming
boldly ouI in the pale light OF the waning moon,
as We were waited in by a gentle breesc-we al.
most imagined that we were in some lairy land,
SC intensely beautiful and sublime was The seen.
cry. Blu! on making sudden turn around
bold cliff, known on the chart by The name
Il The sugar loaf" we witnessed spec.
iacle that stuck US dumb with amaze
mcnt and establishment from lis grandeur
and magnifcence. The whole city seemed
to be in one mighty blaze from grand and vast
| illumination, and the light which surrounded us
! in every direction seemed TO extend for miles
Boats were seen gliding swiftly in every direc
tion with blue, green, yellow, and red lights at
tached TO their bows, signal lights were also
10 be seen from the many forts and guard ships
around US, resembling in their briliancy the
'Drummond lights" We were unable TO make
out or conjecture the cause Of this wonderful
sight, but on the next day Sunday we obtain
ed permission from the Custom House officer 10
60 ashore, and upon iDquiring we ascertained
that it was an illumination in honor Of the En-
peror Pedro, who had just arrived from his coun
try seat 10 order TO take up bis residence for q
while in bis City Palace. have had look al
his Majes'y, and stared at him with the same
curiosity and pleasure that child at home
would at a militia major 10 his regimentas;
for an Emperor is singular looking animal 10
red hot Republican; but, to do Don Pedro jus
tice, he is fine, noble looking fellow-he Is
about six feet high, light hair. and has more The
appearance Of an American than Brazilian
his dress was gaudy in the extreme.
For me 10 attempt al this time an accurate
and full description Of what have seen since
our arrival 10 Rio, would be useless and futile;
for my mind is so crowded by The many curious
and strange sights which have witnessed in
the last week, that it will take full two weeks
for it 10 regain its former composure and 10
digest the STOOD for thought which is afforded
TO ones mind BY visit 10 large and CONNER
cial city.
The political history Of Rio OF Brszil, affords
nothing that is calculated to excite feeling Of
enthusiasm; for the Inhabitants are evidently a
degenerate race 10 viewing their public
buildings and magnificent ediicss, you can
scarcely believe that they are tenaned BY The
weak and etfcminate race you daily see. AS far
as human nature can be learned or studied 10
all its phases, Rio certainly, and most unques
tionably, eXcels the rest Of the largo cities OIL
the world; for here you see every mixture oil
population that the mind can conceive: from The
degraded and despised African. TO tho ordly ant
proud Enelishman; from The eaemina,e and
cowardly spaniard, to The athletic and brave
American. The principal par. Of tho city i.
situated Immediately Oh The harbor; all Of ID;
important hotels, and tho Empcror's palace, il
NOT more than few hundred yards from thu
landing. II the animal kingdom was onl.
equal TO the vegetable, this country would, in
deed, be q paradise. For the luxuriance, beau
ty and fragrance of vegetation, cannot DO sur
passed the wide world oyer. The houses, mos
Of them, are built in the oriental style, and are
remarkable for their strength, massiyencsa ant
beauty tho streets are very narrow, and mule
are chiefly used 10 the carrying trade. But
mus. finish about Rio, for could write pas
upon page upon the different places ! have
been tol and tho many sights have seen.
We have cleared our ship, and will De OF 10
morrow, and do mol think We will stop agaii
between this place and San Francisco. Th
lime which we have made may appear long I,
you; but the Mariana, and other ships. are nov
IN the harbor, which left long before We did
and will not leave unlil after U.s. Our shiI