CHAP. XIV, VISIT FROM A SUPERIOR OFFICER. 393 



a letter which some of the natives wi'ote, after repeated 

 conversations Avith those of theii- countrymen who had been 

 in Bourbon, they said, " It seemed as if the Pope stood (in 

 authority) in the place of Grod, and that the priest forgave 

 sins. And as to the images, &c., before which they pro- 

 strated themselves, it was like the sampy or idols of our 

 own country." This appeared to be the impression which 

 the reports of the travellers had made on their minds. How- 

 ever much I might deem the teaching of the Eoman Ca- 

 tholic priests to be erroneous, and however the Romish 

 system might, in my apprehension, tend to hinder rather 

 than help the people in their endeavovirs after knowledge, 

 improvement, freedom and expansion of thought, as well as 

 social elevation, I could not disapprove of the endeavours of 

 the priests to make the strangers acquainted with their creed 

 and modes of worshija, but was not surprised to find that it 

 had not commended itself to then- judgment and approval. 



In the evening I received a visit from one of the highest 

 officers in the government. He was a remarkably handsome 

 man. His featm'es were small and quite European, though 

 his complexion was almost black. He was splendidly dressed, 

 and accompanied by two aides-de-camp, also fine, noble- 

 looking men. After a long and interesting conversation, 

 my sensible and really intelligent visitors took their leave. 



I then resumed my preparations for taking the likeness of 

 the prince, who had sent to inform me that he should come 

 in the morning. I had finished all except adding the acetic 

 acid to the developing solution, and the rectifying of the 

 bath ; but no acetic acid could I find. The case of chemicals 

 put up by Messrs. Hopkins and Williams was examined again, 

 and all the bottles taken out: many that I seemed likely 

 to want, and some things that I never seemed likely to want, 

 were there, but neither acetic acid nor any other fluid acid. 

 Every other box or case in which it was even likely to be was 



