NOTICES OP PERU. 



271 



Philadelphia, in 1823, under the title of Cartas Americanas. 

 He is portrayed in that work as a second St. Preux, and she as 

 another Nouvelle Heloise. He now holds a distinguished place 

 under the government, and she, though known to be the mo- 

 ther of some of his children, and sister of his wife, is seen at 

 the theatre, and every where with the haul ton! The passion 

 which suggested the correspondence, no longer exists ; yet 

 neither of them is ashamed of its publicity. On the contrary, 

 he has attempted to defend his letters, as well as the senti- 

 ments contained in them, by assuring us that they were pub- 

 lished for the instruction of his countrymen ! He even pro- 

 posed distributing copies, to be left on the tables at the various 

 caf6s, as tracts are piously scattered in the United States ! If 

 all who are in similar circumstances in the " City of Freemen,'^ 

 were banished from its social world, fashionable society would 

 be obliterated ! 



It is very generally acknowledged, that the Limanas exer- 

 cise an almost unlimited sway over the gentlemen, whether 

 husbands or cortejos" — cavalieri servinti. Yet there is a 

 most remarkable inconsistency in the habits of the people, 

 where ladies are concerned. An unmarried lady is never per- 

 mitted to go out, without being attended by the mother, an 

 old aunt, a married sister, or some chaperone ; nor is she ever 

 left alone with a gentleman, unless he be an admitted suitor. 

 Now, it has often puzzled me to divine how young ladies thus 

 closely watched, can possibly find an opportunity to listen to 

 the secret communications of their lovers. But it is this very 

 watching which makes them such adepts in intrigue; "Love 

 laughs at locksmiths. The saya y manto is the talismani 

 which saves them from every difficulty. In that dress neither 

 husbands nor brothers can easily recognise them, and to make 

 the mask still more complete, they sometimes substitute a ser- 

 vant's torn saya, which precludes all possibility of discovery ; 

 their only danger is in being missed from home. 



This strict surveillance is at once removed by matrimony. 

 The married lady enjoys perfect liberty, and seldom fails to 

 make use of her privilege. Intrigues are carried on to a great 



