212 
monarda punctata, the juice of which, mixed with that of an 
onion, is said to be very efficacious in gravel complaints. 
The Lunatic Asylum of Columbia is situated in an open place 
out of the city. It consists of a principal building adorned wdth a 
portico of six columns. In this building ard lodgings for the in¬ 
spectors, offices, and rooms for persons of moderate fortune. Two 
wings are connected with the principal building, and form ob¬ 
tuse angles with it, each of them is three stories high, in which 
the lunatics are placed. By degrees, as the income of the estab¬ 
lishment increases, other wings will be built, and the whole will 
form an octagon. There is on the principal building a spire, from 
which is a very extensive view, though you see nothing else but 
woods. The distempered in mind will find here many conve¬ 
niences when the buildings are completed: namely, good rooms, 
gardens, and walking places on balconies, inclosed with high 
walls. 
A Catholic chapel in Gothic style has been built in Columbia 
by subscription, but the amount collected, being not sufficient, a 
lottery has been opened to obtain the deficiency! Next to the 
chapel is a theatre, which likewise is unfinished by the under¬ 
taker, on account of insufficiency of funds. 
At Professor Henry’s, a very agreeable society assembled at 
dinner. At that party I observed a singular manner which is 
practised; the ladies sit down by themselves at one of the corners 
of the table. But I broke the old custom, and glided between 
them: and no one’s appetite was injured thereby. 
I spent one evening at a ball given by Mr. Taylor, a rich pro¬ 
prietor, at one of his plantations. I found there a numerous and 
splendid society. But the music was of a singular kind; for the 
blacks, who two days ago played very well at the governor’s, 
were now drunk, and could not make their appearance. This 
was the reason that the whole music consisted of two violins arid 
a tamborine. This tamborine was struck with a terrible energy: 
The two others scraped the violin, in the truest signification of 
the word; one of them cried out the figures, imitating with his 
body all the motions of the dance. The whole of it amused me 
much; for the rest, I was astonished at the great plainness of the 
house. Besides the first room, there were three rooms open, which 
had white walls, and were without window-curtains. 
END OF VOL. I. 
