473 



Caraccas being situate on the continent, and 

 it's population less mutable than that of the 

 islands, the national manners have been better 

 preserved than at the Havannah. Society does 

 not present very animated and varied pleasures ; 

 but that feeling of comfort is experienced in 

 domestic life, which leads to uniform cheerful- 

 ness and cordiality united with politeness of 

 manners. There exists at Caraccas, as in every 

 place where a great change in the ideas is pre- 

 paring, two races of men, we might say two 

 distinct generations ; one, of which but a small 

 number remains, preserves a strong attachment 

 for ancient customs, simplicity of manners^ and 

 moderation in their desires. They live only in 

 the images of the past. America appears to 

 them a property conquered by their ancestors. 

 Abhorring what is called the enlightened state 

 of the age, they carefully preserve hereditary 

 prejudices as a part of their patrimony. The 

 other class, less occupied even by the present 

 than by the future, have a propensity, often ill- 

 judged, for new habits and ideas. When this 

 tendency is allied to the love of solid instruction, 

 restrained and guided by a strong and enlight- 

 ened reason, it's effects become beneficial to 

 society. I knew at Caraccas, among the second 

 generation, several men equally distinguished 

 by their taste for study, the mildness of their 

 manners, and the elevation of their sentiments. 



