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ah auriferous country, passed the village of St. Barbara, and ar* 

 rived at Catos Altos. From hence I proceeded to Villa Rica, with* 

 out observing any thing worth notice* ' 



I was here received with the same attention and respect which 

 I had experienced on my first visit. Finding it necessary to re- 

 main here a few days to recruit my health, I examined a variety 

 of substances that had been collected for me during my absence, 

 but was not fortunate enough to meet with any thing very inte- 

 resting. The theatre being open, I passed two evenings there, 

 and was much gratified to find that the rational amusement of 

 the drama had superseded savage bull-fights. The theatre and de- 

 corations were neat, and the performances tolerable ; were they bet- 

 ter encouraged, the public would receive greater gratification. They 

 have ever been under the control of the governor, and are generally 

 so fettered as to be obliged to perform such pieces only as his caprice 

 may dictate. 



Leaving Villa Rica, I continued my journey to the capital, where 

 I arrived about the middle of Februar}"^ 1810, in a most exhausted 

 state, from the combined efi'ects of fatigue and an indisposition 

 which continual exertion and want of rest had increased in a con- 

 ^erable degree. I informed His Excellency the Conde de Lin- 

 hares of my arrival, and, in a few days afterwards, had the ho- 

 nour of presenting to him a report, stating the particulars of my 

 journey. I was afterwards introduced to the Prince, who did me 

 the honour to express his approbation of my account of the coun- 

 try through which I had travelled, and requested me to publish 

 it. He was graciously pleased to make both my attendants of- 

 ficers, in reward for their good conduct ; and when 1 expressed 

 my thanks for this mark of his attention, he replied, that it was 

 too trivial to notice, and desired me to name in what manner he 

 could testify the sense he entertained of my services. At this 

 moment my health was so extremely precarious, that I could not 



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