The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-07-07
Latter from Rio de Janeiro.

Aarnished u, for publication, with the fol-
lowing Letter from his son, Hugh Nelson
Brown, now on his way to California. $780,.
Rio de Jansiro. May 18th, ls49.
M DExa FATHER
Iembrace with plea
cure the present opportunity Of writing:
tits the first that has offered since leaving
New York. We have spoken but two
ships on our passage, one bound for New
York and the other for Phila; but it was
- stormy at sea at the time, we found it
impossible to get letters on either. We
reached this port Tuesday, May LIST, at 10
P. NJ, after long passage of "a days out
from N. York. Our long passage was ow-
ing to Gains and light head-winds. The
6re week out we had it very stormy in
the Gulf stream, and made good run,
some 1900 miles, that week. Since then
the winds generally have been light and
battling. We were becalmed 26 days at
Cape St. Rogue, on the Northern part OF
the BRAZILIAN coast. Our health has been
verv good have not been sick day
since I left. Our provisions have been
coarse but wholesome, and we have had
plenty Of water. We have had good wealth
er too, and though we are some 30 days
longer than an average passage to this place,
vet we had not very hard time. There
have been some 5000 passengers from the U
States at this place, en- route for California
and there are now here the ships Morri-
con and Palmetto from New York, the
Mason from Philadelphia, and the Ann
McKim from New Orleans, all bound for
California, with full loads of passengers.
We expect to start in about 10 days and
hope to reach San Francisco, about the
10th or 18th of August. Report says the
Mason will not get away from this place
on account of old debts due here. 1t
is said that the Grey Eagle was spoken off
of Cape Horn, and bound 40 days out from
Phila; if this is so she will make very short
passage. l have not heard from the Grey
Hound or Jane Parker; Bait. vessels, Meth
er have stopped at this place. The Robt.
Brown and Ann Welsh left New York the
same day we did, the former has been here
and left some two weeks since, the latter
we have not heard from. Report says the
Oceola of Philadelphia bound for Califor-
mia and leaving some two weeks before we
did, is lost Our vessel is dull sailer, but
is very dry and stiff, and | think We shall
stand as good chance as any of them, for
the stormy weather at Cape Horn. Our
captain is very kind, and very skillful
navigator, and our officers good. We
have 1872 passengers on board, lall we'll
except one or two.) Some American, En-
glish, Irish, German, Spaniards and Scotch
They are for the most part young men and
Philadelphians. There are some however
from each ofthe States of Connecticut, N.
York, N. Jersey. Penna., and Maryland.
We have had a pleasant passage out,
with the exception of the first week and
the time we lost on account OF Gains at
Cape St. Rogue we were however near
being run on rock near this port, on the
1st Of May by the strong current. At one
time we ware not more than our vessels
length off, This was a very high and
1nassy rock Tor Island, some 1900 feet high
and a quarter of mile long. We took
out small anchor in boat and succeeded
in pulling her off after some IA hours Of
hard labor. Since we come on shore it
has rained nearly all the time and l have
not been able to see much of this city, and
can give you but apoor account of it at
this time. notice however it is surround
ed almost by high rocky hills. The build
ings are of granite stone, most OF them
rough cast out side, and only from 2 to 4
stories high; the streets are narrow and
paved with stone and the pavements also
not wide and of granite stone; the roofs are
of tile and the chimneys in all cases lower.
The inhabitants are of all colors, but l
think from what l have seen fully two
thirds are negroes; there are many soldiers,
most Of them negroes, and ships OF all ma
tons in the port. The place is very strong
" fortified, having forts on both sides of
the entrance. There are but few drays
and carts in town, the negroes carrying
most all the heavy luggage on their heads.
] have seen but one yoke of oxen and two
or three horses, but mules by the hundreds
There is a theatre here, many fine church,
es. (Catholic) and some pretty good hotels.
mere are some iAIHeflCdIle, oul iioI many
] notice bull fight announced tor next
Sunday; tomorrow the Emperor is expect
ed in town and shall try to get peep at
him. The citizens have great respect to
the citizens Of the U. States, and as long
as we are civil towards them, they will
treat US we'll. ! have not yet seen our
Consul, but several Of our company have.
He sent 10 letter before we came on
shore requesting us to be civil to the citi-
zens and we would fare well. We have
great deal Of fruit, vegetables, and fresh fish
in the markets and am afraid some of our
company will cat too much and get sick
and the water here is not very good.