of the lottery. Our invite is enveloped in a large square form, and reads 

 thus : — 



El Gohernador Capitan- General h la Marquesa de la 



Habana recibran los Miercoles. 



Habana, 14 (month illegible), 1857. 



a las 82.* 



Signor, Don, &c. &c. 



We must say it is a novelty once in one's life to be called a Don, and that the 

 supreme ruler's evening receptions are amazingly stupid, unless you speak 

 Spanish. The Governor-General puts on his best smile, Madame Concha ditto 

 (and a most amiable lady she is, and fortunately speaking good French), the foreign 

 diplomatists stand up, our own consul quite ignorant of the language, and unable, 

 therefore, to talk to the natives, a few walk through the figure of a dance, simple 

 refreshments are introduced, and you are very glad to get away. 



The Governor-General's Palace forms our illustration in the present number. f 



All whom we conversed with who had visited Trinidad, on the south side of 

 the island (ninety miles from Havana), agreed in recommending its climate for 

 the months of December, January, and February, especially. It is sheltered from 

 northers, and since its accessibility by steam from Havana, has been much fre- 

 quented, in the colder months, by Americans ; the accommodations are about as 

 good as those of Mr. Wolcott's, and about as unreasonably dear. 



Numerous topics connected with this interesting country might be enlarged 

 upon, but we have endeavored to keep the narrative within, or nearly so, the sub- 

 jects for a work like the present. Visitors are of course attracted to the appear- 

 ance of the firmament, and here enjoy most novel and beautiful starry scenes, which 

 are unknown at the North. The constellations and stars to be seen, include the 

 Southern Cross, which may be viewed from Havana and most parts of the island ; 

 Canopus will also attract attention, the astronomer no less than the botanist, here 

 enjoying a fine opportunity for study, and to him, of novelty. The geologist, too, 

 will find new forms of interest ; coral and madrepores, the sink-holes formed in the 

 coral formations, &c., may employ him advantageously. No species of natural 

 history but here meets new illustrations ; the birds, the insects, and the fish, esjje- 

 cially, all present novel forms and features to the Northern eye. 



It maybe said that it is only since the application of steam to ocean navigation, 

 that the eyes of North Americans have been so longingly set upon Cuba ; that 

 period in the history of our race is but a moment. The decadence of Spain, or, 

 rather, her being left behind in the grand progress of civilization, is meantime a 

 great fact testified to by her miserable government, her corrupt court, and her 

 despotism at home and abroad ; her progress is downward, and every day's de- 

 clension, added to her moneyed wants, occasioned l)y the corru|)tion of her rulers, 

 is a step towards the necessity she will be under of making sale of her lands. A 

 rich neighboring country stands ready to buy; sell she imisf, and buy we u-i//. 

 The opportunity is coming, and, meantime, every piece of information we can 

 acquire, is so much knowledge stored up for fixing a value. 



* Oddly enough for this year of 1857, the paper is hand-made, with a water mark of Old 

 Spain. 



t For the copy of the illustration of the Governor's Palace, and one or two others, we are 

 indebted to Phillips, Sampson & Co., Boston, publishers of Ballou's Iliston/ of Cuba, to Vfh 

 we refer readers desirous of pursuing the subject. It is entertaining and reliable. — ~ 



