Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-05-03

the impression on the first arrival there But these
have been mostly from the pens of adventurous
men, their heads full of eager speculations in gold
dust politics. The following is of another char
acter the production of intelligent lady, formerly
of this city, which her friends have obliged us by
presenting to us for publication, and which we are
sure will be very acceptable to our readers.
San Francisco, February, 1850.
Feeling satisfied that you would be pleased to hear
from in this far-of land, intend to foregoa walk
to-day in order to write you long letter-whether
1t will be one of interest to you not your heart
must answer. Thinking few remarks upon part
OF the voyage may not come amiss, will touch light
ly upon the subject.
The first port was Bahia Brazil, place too little
known in history. 1t is certainly one of the most
romantic views from the harbor imagination could
depict; but on landing you do not find the neatness
of the city In accordance-the architecture is not
imposing though the buildings are generally of mas
sive granite. The eternal summer here lends a
charm to foreigner that is irresistible Here are
many relics, and even some modern churches supe-
rior, lam told, to any others in Brazil. Many of
these visited with deep interest Here too, found
more genuine hospitality and refined manners than
ever have at home. These people are at least one
hundred years behind us in mechanism and inter-
nal improvements and most of the arts and sciences
but very far before in some respects We remain
ed here fourteen days, during which time l spared
no pains to see all could by riding into the country
and every means in my power made some dear
friends who would scarcely permit me to leaye-but
s long as life lasts fresh my memory will be their
kindness, well as the picturesque beauty of Old
San Salvador, with its hundred hills.
From Bahia to Rio we had very fair wind, en-
tering that beautiful bay on the seventh day. The
Sugar Loaf, looming up like giant guarding this
place, met our eye long before and passed
the several forts whose rock foundations the God of
nature laid when he poured the ocean in its chan
mel where it has since dashed their Sides filling
the air with its sublime music, yet leaving these
BILE structures unframed Nature could not have
done more for nation than has been done for Bra
I'll, and she seemed to know that an inert people
were to be its possessor-or his leaving to them so
little to do has made the people what they are.
wish could only tell you of the pleasure I en-
joyed in rambling through the Botanical Gardens,
some eight miles out in the country. This garden
contains nearly eighty acres, and is filed with trees
herbs, plants, shrubs and flowers of every cline.
saw and collected specimens of tea, Coffee cinnamon,
nutmeg cloves pepper, indeed things too numerous
ito name. felt as if [ would be content to abandon
my trip to the land of gold for little cot somewhere
an this enclosure where the wild birds melody, the
wind rustiing through the mangoe groves, the fra
GRANGE from the aromatic shrubs and flowers, the
hum of bees and the ripping waters they danced
over the white pebbles, coursing through the flower
beds to the broad ocean, would subdue all that is
even worldly in my nature, and be as foretaste of
that beautiful world whittier are all travelling
had ride also to the Emperor's palace and to
the pleasure grounds and gardens of the old Empe-
ror. Here were three mangoe trees whose size dare
not tell, through which a sunbeam could find nc
entrance, whose bong his almost swept the ground
afording safe retreat for the many birds of rich
Plumage who were making the woods musical with
their glad notes. Under of these trees the old
Emperor used to dine every fair day, and under
of the others his ministers. After the business of
his imperial palace over for the day. they rode
out to this paradise to dine, battle, &c. There were
the blocks of marble which had often borne all the
luxuries of this cline, we'll that of others.
sat down of these tables, and pOndered ON the
ezancscence OF human greatness. asked for the
gay and beautiful whose wit and wine had sparkled
here, and these old trees still fresh and green
ewered where visited the Imperial Opera House,
saw the Emperor, Empress, and ladies of honor the
house fine, and the concourse large and orderly
We only remained here four days, but must not
omit to say that the morning of our landing we were
literally astounded with the roar of from
every vessel in port, forts and do not know from
how many other places. On learning the cause-be
hold the Emperor had passed over to an island te
dine. This repeated on his return and all such
occasions Some Of our passengers went on boare
our man-of-war there the Brand ywine, think, anC
told that during the four months there the,
had fred off $4,000 pounds of powder in honor of thu
Emperor. Now this may very singular to ou1
dear old Uncle SAM as he is an economical old gen
tleman, but think if he always maintain peace
with foreign nations upon such cheap terms, it will
many lives, we'll widows and orphans
tears and have yet plenty of territory for sur
plus population he need not feel anxious to get re
of them by gunpowder.
AS to doubling Cape Horn, we found it mere
nothing; only the cold pinched our toes for some
two weeks; yet so gentle were the winds that not
spar or rag of canvass injured. Indeed sail
were scarcely reefed at all. We went far souti
as 60 deg.-got round in the space of thirteen day
from the Falkland isles to the same latitude tn
opposite. Not much of interest occurred unit
Christmas Day, when were somewhat astonisheC
to see the captain busng about with his carpenter
erecting theer long tables deck, the stewards ant
cooks at work. last hog being killed the evening
previous, the Star Spangled Banners were sprea'
over head, covering the tables entire dozens o
&! brown stout were called FORTH sumptuous din
was SET to which sixty-one persons sat down,
o'clock. Let me say to you that it was hard t.
Hrealize it Christmas, for more lovely May-day
never dawned on us at home.
had the Christmas frolic so much in mind that
omitted to say word of Lima, the port of Callao
hardly to be thought of in respects and yet 70
the sake of some generous, warm-harted friends w
made there, and the mournful pleasure we derives
from rambling over the ruins going in the vaults Q
the Inflated churches, and roaming the mos
beautiful beach contiguous to these ruins, and tn
hour we spent there listening to the grand musi
from Oceans choir, the white breakers dashed Vi
to our feet and receded only to collect force 70
another chorus, | would gladly have sat there
week. Then q picnic, which given me- t
which company rode ten miles in the country
ON the fine Gillian horses-the greatest ride | eve
had-these and other things too numerous to name
make Callao place shall ever love but, fo
diet heas DUST laziness poverty and huts, it stand
alone in all its glory must say it is curious fea
fure in this that here it rains, nor in Lima
Wheat lies in piles for months in open they
$40 barns, and hardly have huts to sleep in.
only wish could tell you of the churches wa
in, besides the cathedral where saw the urn con
tanning the dust of PGafPO. | could tell Won q