^12 



A VOYAGE TO 



pearance, for the purpose of returning our visit to the 

 director, as I understand to be the custom on such oc- 

 casions.* The general made a long harangue, which 

 did not amount to much, and then took his leave. 

 Shortly after, we were waited on by the city council, 

 or cabildo, and a number of other gentlemen of dis- 

 tinction, and amongst them, a very sensible and intelli- 

 gent man, Gascon, the secretary of the treasury. The 

 conversation, of course, on these occasions, was very 

 general. They were all, however, very complimen- 

 tary to our country, while they spoke in a very humble 

 manner of the state of things in their own. 



In the evening, a guard of honor and a band of 

 music, with the baron OUenburg, a German officer, in 

 the service of the republic, and some other officers, 

 made their appearance in the patio. It was given to 

 be understood, that they had come by the orders of the 

 director. They were politely received by the com- 

 missioners, but it was suggested in a delicate manner, 

 that the guard could not be accepted. Upon this, it 

 withdrew, but the band continued playing for several 

 hours, and during that time, the patio was crowded 

 with ladies and gentlemen, and by a great many that 

 could not with propriety be ranked under either of 

 these denominations. 



The dismissal of the guard was thought of suffi- 

 cient importance to merit an explanation with the di- 

 rector. Mr. Rodney, and Mr. Bland, accordingly 

 called upon him the next morning for this purpose. 



* I could not distinguish between ofl&cers of the regular forces, 

 and those who were only of the civic militia; the latter being in 

 the habit of wearing their uniforms much more commonly than is 

 usual with us, which gives the community more of a military cast 



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