29d 



A VOYAGE TO 



the hiring^ while a very good hackney might he bought 

 for ten; but then it would cost, at the livery stable, 

 three or four dollars a week to keep him. 



We directed our course up the river; the doctor was 

 very anxious to reach the open fields, for the purpose 

 of pursuing his botanical researches, and I was equally 

 desirous of reaching some high ground, whence I 

 might have a better view of the city and its environs. 

 We passed through a large square, the greater part of 

 which is occupied bj an extensive circus, open at the 

 top, called the toro, or place for bull fighting. It is 

 capable of containing a vast concourse of people. But 

 I was glad to hear that this barbarous amusement is 

 fast going into disrepute, and that few of the respecta- 

 ble people now attend it. It is not surprising, that it 

 should have been a place of fashionable resort, when 

 it was attended by the viceroy and his court, with 

 much show and parade. Under the revolutionary go- 

 vernments, it has been discountenanced, and should 

 any member of the government attend it, he mingles 

 in the crowd of citizens. But there may be a still 

 better reason; these are amongst the contrivances of 

 monarchy, to withdraw the attention of its subjects, 

 from things that really concern them. The minds of 

 these people are now turned upon much more impor- 

 tant objects, than bull fights. But the custom still 

 prevails, and it would be imprudent at once to abolish 

 it; in this, as in other matters, the reformer should go 

 to work with a cautious hand, lent is now nearly 

 over, I am informed that the circus and the theatre, 

 are to open next week. I will here mention another 

 instance of reform, which does honor to the present di- 

 rector. This is in abolishing the silly custom which 



