Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-09-03
EXTRACT FROM A LETTER.

We have been permitted 10 make the follow
ing extract from letter written by Mr. JAMES
w. MORRISON, to his father Mr.. Joseph Morri-
son, of Waynesboro' MIR. NJ. sailed from N.
Orleans, in April last, in the ship Alhambra, for
California. The letter is an interesting one, and
the extract made may afford some pleasure to
our readers. Next week we will publish ano-
Their from the same pen:
RIO JANEIRo, Brazil, June a2d, ls4s.
On the evening of the 18th of April took
long, sad, lingering look at my native land as it
receded in the distance. Before night, land had
disappeared and nothing but sky and water were
to be seen The sea was pretty rough and the
ship rocked and heaved considerably. Nearly
every passenger became sea-sick in a greater or
less degree; this miserable sensation lasted seve-
raj days, but the larger number myself inclu-
slve) lost but two or three meals | never en-
joyed better health than have during the most
OF the voyage. 1t was several days before felt
exactly right, but after that enjoyed the voyage
finely.
Inabout S or 6 days we rounded Cape Florida
and entered the Gulf stream our course up to
that point having been southeast Thence We
took north-easterly direction until we passed
the Bermuda Islands, which we left to the South
We went as far North as latitude $50, and then
our general direction until we reached the Equa-
tor was SOUTHEAST crossing the line in longitude
22o west from Greenwich. We entered the
tropical region about the middle of May in lon-
gitude $50. have been very aglseably disap.
pointed with regard to the heat Of the tropics
expected that it would be insutferably hot, but
so far from it, found it pleasant enough when
we were Immediately under the sun. We were
scarcely ever without more or less wind, altho'
W. frnoDn0t1v tho coc fbof did blo1xr
from the right quarter, causing us to remain al
most stationary for several days together If we
could have had a good wind blowing in the right
direction all the time we could have come here
ia half the time, but such thing never occurs.
The shortest time ever made by any vessel from
New Orleans here, is, think, about 40 or 40
days. After crossing the line our general course
to this place was Southwest Other particulars
of the voyage find in impossible for me to give
you in the narrow limits of a single letter. l
must therefore, content myself by informing you
that we had remarkable pleasant voyage and
| much reason to be thankful for our good luck
1t is very rare occurrence for a vessel to get
here without eucountering storm at sea-. 1t
hiss been our good fortune to escape every thing
OF the kind thus far.
| | will now fill up the remainder of my letter
with brief tf ltion OF Rio Janeiro, which |
think is the old ST and large st city of South A.
time and money have expended by what have
seen in the last three days, A view OF the city
of Rio Janeiro and the surrounding country is
worth voyage half way round the world The
entrance to the harbor ls magnificent beyond
description. The bay on which the city is sit
uated is connected with the sea by gap between
the mountains some two or three miles wide
The bay itself stwo or three mile broad and
about thirty long, surrounded on all sides exct pt
ofevery size, form and description, the beauty,
the grandeur and the magnifcence Of " ich
beggars description. Nothing but the pencil of
the artist can do Justice TO the scenery. The city
stretches along the bay or mil es North and
South and two or three East and West. 1t is
built very compactly and contains population
equal to that of New York, The style of the
architecture is very different from that | had
been accustomed to seeing The houses are
generally two story high built of brick and stone.
have not seen wooden building in the city
Many of the private residences and public build
ing are very beautiful. The streets are very
narrow with few exceptions Their markets
are supplied with every thing you can think OF
| have seen great many fruits here that never
saw any where else.
This is the winter season here and yet il il
fully as warm as it is in Waynesbol oueh at this
time They, however, have the sea bree re here
all the year, " hich renders it delightful place
to live in. II We're rich | would rather livs
here than any other placed ever saw or heard Of
$ had the pleasure OF seeing the Emperor Eol
Pedro II at the Theatre the other night. He is
fine looking man and am informed makes ;
S good ruler. Visited his palace yesterday and
must confess that never saw such beautliu
/ place. There are any quantity Of negroes here
y The Portuguese is the language chiefly spoken
j must now close my letter, although there are
, area, many other things would like to tel yo'
about.
! In1pOPn, AMT Ii rrpI-E