376 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



ly. He was a native of Middletown in Connecticut, 

 about fifty years old, and by trade a silversmith, and 

 with the exception of a single return visit, had been 

 nineteen years from home. In 1822 he went to Peru, 

 where, besides carrying on his legitimate business upon 

 a large scale, his science and knowledge of the pre- 

 cious metals brought him into prominent public po- 

 sitions. In 1830 he sold a mint to the government 

 of Costa Rica, and was offered the place of its direc- 

 tor. Business connected with the mint brought him 

 to Costa Rica, and during his absence he left his af- 

 fairs in the hands of a partner, who mismanaged them 

 and died. Mr. L. returned to Peru, but without en- 

 gaging in active business, and in the mean time the 

 mint purchased of him was worn out, and another im- 

 ported from Europe, so complicated that no one in 

 Costa Rica could work it. Offers were made to Mr. 

 L. of such a nature, that, connected with mining pur- 

 poses of his own, they induced him to return. Don 

 Manuel de Aguila was then Gefe del Estado, and on 

 Mr. L.'s arrival at the port he met Don Manuel ban- 

 ished and flying from the state. The whole policy of 

 the government was changed. Mr. L. remained quiet- 

 ly in San Jose, and when I left intended to establish 

 himself at Pont Arenas, to traffic with the pearl fisher- 

 men. Such is, in brief, the history of one of our many 

 countrymen scattered in different parts of the world, 

 and it would be a proud thing for the country if all sus- 

 tained as honourable a reputation as his. We ex- 

 changed adieus from the backs of our mules, and, not 

 to be sentimental, lighted our cigars. Whether we 

 shall ever meet again or not is uncertain. 



I was again setting out alone. I had travelled so 

 long with companions or in ships, that when the mo- 



