232 THE LIFE OF 



US had been brought to bed a few days before 

 we left the fliip j the infant as well as the mo- 

 ther arrived fafe> and were by a Brigadier-Ge- 

 neral's widow, received into her houfe. She 

 cloathed the mother, and finding the child 

 had not yet been chrifiened, refolved to hav6 

 that ceremony performed according to the rites 

 of the church of Rome. A chriftening is a very 

 important concern in this country, and ma- 

 naged with much fplendor; accordingly the 

 foldier's wife was dreiTed very handfomely, or- 

 namented with diam.onds which the lady lent 

 her. The Brigadier's widow and the General 

 Hood fponfors ; the ceremony was conduded in 

 a moft magnificent ftyle, and when it was over, 

 the General prefented the father with a fmall 

 fum, which would probably afterwards have 

 been augmented, had not his mifcondud: pre- 

 cluded his Excellency's bounty. 



We had been fix weeks in Rio GrandSy every 

 day experiencing frefli marks of kindnefs from 

 the General and the inhabitants ; it may indeed 

 be truly faid, that his Excellency makes huma- 

 nity his employment, and that thofe under him 

 iirive to imitate him. To myfelf he was conti- 

 nually fhewing new proofs of friendfhip, and 

 when I was about to go, earnefily intreated me 

 to remain with him; an invitation too ho- 

 fiourable and too flattering to have been de- 

 clined. 



