SKETCH OF LIMA. 129 



On the 25th his Majesty's ship Andromache 

 returned to the anchorage ; and on the 28th5 with 

 a ship full of passengers, I sailed for Chili. 



The city of Lima has been described so often, 

 and so minutely, by well-known authors, that a 

 very few words respecting it will be sufficient in 

 this place. The road from Callao to Lima is six 

 miles long, perfectly straight, and the rise so gra- 

 dual, as to be almost imperceptible, although the 

 city is elevated above the level of the sea more 

 than six hundred feet. When seen from Callao 

 Roads, or even from a less distance, no town has 

 a more splendid appearance, owing to its nume- 

 rous domes and spires, rising from so elevated a 

 situation, and wearing a strange and rather Moor- 

 ish aspect. On approaching the city, every thing 

 speaks of past splendour and present wretched- 

 ness. At the top of the road, there is an ap- 

 proach a mile in length, between two double rows 

 of fine trees, with public walks, stretching on ei- 

 ther hand, and elegant ornamental stone seats ; 

 all being now in ruins, and choked up with weeds 

 and shrubs. The principal entry to Lima is at the 

 end of this grand approach, through a gorgeous 



VOL. I. T 



