I821.J 



Account of Aristicle De Thouam, 



There are plantations of It under lofty 

 forests that would make very agreeahle 

 promenades, if we were not devonied 

 Ijy niosqiiitos and other noxious insects. 

 Lands that have not been cleared are 

 impenetrable ; they remain the abode 

 of the most ferocious wild beasts and 

 the most venemous reptiles ; the air is 

 peopled with a vast variety of birds of 

 every size and plumage, and with 

 parrots of eveiy description that can be 

 conceived, ^falure may be contem- 

 plated here, in her primeval dress ; 

 here are treasures for the naturalist and 

 botanist that, at present, are lost to 

 mankind. Cabello is bristled round 

 with forts and out-works. To go to 

 Caracca, by land, there are 50 leagues 

 to traverse over the most precipitous 

 mountains, but the traveller will be 

 indemnified for his pains, on his arrival. 

 Caracca is a beautiful town, seated in 

 a plain open to the east winds which 

 create a perpetual spring. All the fruits 

 of Europe grow in abundance ; ananas 

 and peaches contend for superiority; 

 roses and pinks profusely embellish the 

 gorges or defiles of the Caraquoises ; 

 the lilies shew a whiteness that the 

 most impassioned lover could not com- 

 pare with the complexion of his mis- 

 tress : — In short, it is a teirestial para- 

 dise, whose beauties appear more pro- 

 minent, from the surrounding counti-y 

 being the wildest that can be. 



Our French voyagers speak highly of 

 tlie hospitalify of the inhabitants, and 

 of the complaisance of the female in- 

 mates — such is the character of our 

 French chevaliers. The quality of the 

 soil, the different species of animals, 

 the manners of the people, tiie pulj) of 

 flowers, pass unheeded ; their attention 

 is wholly taken up with the ladies. 

 Nothing is forgotten as to features, size, 

 and gait. In arriving at Boston, no eulo- 

 gies for the women, as being the first 

 to throw off the chains of European 

 luxury, to renounce tea, ribbands, lace, 

 refined articles of dress ; it was enough 

 to be thinking of their fair fresli com- 

 plexion, the carnation of their cheeks, 

 Ac. No visits to Mr. Hancock; Mis- 

 tress Temple and Miss Pauly, reigning 

 toasts, are the favourite topics. 



Among numberless adventures, Thou- 

 ars passed over into England ; in a 

 letter to his sisters, dated Bristol, Aug. 

 6, 1787, he says : " I am in tlic land of 

 arrogance and liberty, in a country 

 where the women clo not exact all 

 those attentions tliat we lavish on them 

 on the other side the channel. I am 



Monthly Mao. No. 350. 



49 



surrounded here with wonders that an 

 insatiable curiosity has led me in quest 

 of. A kingdom in the highest culti- 

 vation ; chains borne, as in other 

 countries, but they are well gilt ; 

 where hospitality prevails, but not true 

 afl'abilify, where human nature is still 

 aiming at peifection, but never can 

 reach it. 



'• Bristol is a fine city, the second in 

 England ; here are superb squares, 

 noble buildings, and a magnificent 

 l)ridge over a soiry arm of the sea, or 

 river, whose muddy waters are richly 

 covered M'ith hundreds of fireign and 

 other shipjiing." 



In a letter to his uncle dated London, 

 Aug. 3, 1787, he writes thus: ' I nei- 

 ther desire nor fear war, but if my 

 country will pay a worthy price for my 

 lilood, and my sisters may receive it, 

 with what pleasure could 1 shed it ! 

 I have been eight days in London — 

 they appear like a dream — such, at 

 death's approach, will my whole life 

 appear. Should 1 perish in the field of 

 honour, whetlier its course has been 

 useful or not, its close will make re- 

 paration.' 



Tiiese serious refleclions are the ef- 

 fect in the climate; everything here 

 has a sombrous air; fogs and smoke 

 form a double veil about tlie city: 

 scarcely from time to time does the 

 sun pierce through to indicate his ex- 

 istence." 



In a letter dated on board La Sr/r- 

 dine, in the Levant, he ^vTites to his 

 sisters: •• I cannot entertain you with 

 the stormy surges of the Egean, in 

 which we have just witnessed the de- 

 struction of 600 Mussulmans. — Nor do 

 I think that antiquities will much 

 amuse you — Last Sunday, we went to 

 a ball, a Greek ball. Now you will 

 recollect the dances of the Corybantes, 

 or rather of the graces, interlaced witii 

 garlands of roses, passing under each 

 others arms ; fancy you see them softly 

 approach Cupid asleep, secure him fast, 

 laugh at his embarrassment, waking, 

 restore him to liberty, pursue him, wifJi 

 all the graces of elegance and agi- 

 lity. Figure to yourselves, M. Pen- 

 galo, our venerable consul, with a grey 

 beard and peruke, an enormous pelisse 

 and ademi pelisse, a d(diman or Turk- 

 ish dress made of aquilt, morocco boots 

 of Shells, dancing with the young for 

 his health, and a gentle perspiration — 

 item, an oM Greek, with a vitchoura 

 that reached down to his heels. The 

 pretty women as heavily attired as the 

 G men 



