BELLES LETTRES EXTRAORDINARY. 

 " 



chmaker this summer ann it is likely to be 

 a very plentious year of syder ann every 

 thing ann we shall be very glad to see you Both 

 down in the country this summer ann father 

 and mother their kind love to you both ann like 

 wise myself ann no more at pressant from 

 your well wisher ANN SETTERRA M. R. C. S." 



Doubtless this comes from some Michael Robert Caleb Smith! 

 And yet he boldly writes himself down a woman, and a member of 

 the Royal College of Surgeons, to boot. Scorning the abridgment &c., 

 he amplifies the crotchet into " ANN SETTERRA." How perfectly 

 Shakspearian are the transitions from grave to gay ; the decease of 

 the beloved of Sprags the doom of the husband of Molly Watkins 

 and the inquiry if the apples were received safe, must recal to every 

 one's mind the philosophising commentary of Justice Shallow, and 

 the pertinent question which succeeds it " And is old Double dead ! 

 How are a score of ewes now ?" 



The writer of the last letter which I shall select, was, in 1825, Bishop 

 of St. Jago at Valparaiso, and may perhaps be so still. His Majesty's 

 frigate , having touched there on her way home from an expedi- 

 tion, the pious Bishop requested one of the officers of the ship to be 

 the bearer of a letter which he had written to the Earl of Derby, but 

 which, though it reached England, was never forwarded to his lord- 

 ship. When we consider the subject, and the station and calling of 

 the writer, we shall be somewhat inclined to compare the South Ame- 

 rican prelate with Prior Aymer of Jorvaulx, Chaucer's Abbot, and 

 other worthies of the same stamp, who loved the sound of the horn 

 better than that of the sacristy bell. His ideas of " innocent amuse- 

 ments," are not amiss for a churchman. Of this letter we append the 



Spanish original.* 



_ - __ : I 



* My Lord Honorable Senor ; aunqe. no tengo el honor de conocer a su 

 Senoria personalmte, me tomo la libertad de escriyirle y pr. esta suplicarle a 

 V.S. indulgencia de lafranquesa. La fama de la cria de Gallos que tiene su Se- 

 noria pa. su diversion, alcanso a esta remote) rincon delglobo. Siendo yo uno de 

 los mas aficinados a esta inocente diversion, me tome la libertad de suplicar a 

 V. S. tengar la condecendenciaderemitirme quatro Gallos, y quatro Gallinas, qe. 

 scan de un ano q<io. mas, que me parace qe. con este numero de paxaros seran 

 bastantes pa. propagar la cria in este Pais, y hacientes ver a mis compatriotes la 

 superioridad q e . j)or en los gallos de S. S. a los de aia, y demas partes del Mun- 

 do. Si su Senoria me hace este honor, yo me oblige gustoso a pagar todos los 

 gastos de conduccion y cuidado flete &c. hasta este Puerto. Asi mismo suplico 

 a su Senoria se mande hacer un gallinero 6 caxon con sus divisionas pa. qe. cada 

 Gallo tengo separado con su Gallina, que creo sara el mejor modo de qi. lleguen 

 sin estropearse. Pues siendo su Senoria aficionado y mas inteligente come lo 

 supongo, conocere qe. estas aves son tan fieras qe. solo asi podran venir sin 

 que se maten unos a otros. Espero qe. Su Senoria me dispensara esta confianza ; 

 y qe. en ritorno, aceptera los respetos de mi consideracion, y obsequencia, pr. 

 spi elprimero y mas amante de la gran nacion Inglesa y de Su Senoria muy apa- 

 cionado, pr. las noticias que tengo de su sublime caracter. Tengo el honor de 

 ofrecer a su Senoria con la sumicion de vida mi inutilitad, y los sentimientos de 

 la mas distinguada consideracion, siendo su obediente y huinilde Servidor y Ca- 

 pellan. 



Y. B. L. M. de S. S. 

 Fray Ramon A ' 

 &c. &c. 



