1808.] 
those for whom these’ lovely objects were 
formed, adinitted to gaze on them through 
bars of iron, and only suffered as it-were 
toseea ivéasune of which they know the 
value, and are in a manner invited to de- 
mand and attempt the possession. Toeach 
convent is attached a chapel, but they 
do not partake of that grandeur the 
public churches exhibit. 
Lhe greater part of the: houses are 
wooden, fronted with lattices, very few - 
having lass windows, excepting the shops. 
These preserve a land of uniformity with 
respect to all of the same trade being i in 
a street. The best houses that I saw 
were but ineiSerently provided with fur- 
niture; nor haye they any fire-places, 
the climate not requiring it. 
Some of the ladies here are uncom- 
monly reserved, others are quite the re- 
verse ; and from their behaviour would al- 
most tempt one to doubt their chastuty. 
Their hair hangs in ringlets down their 
back, interwoven with Sahans and arti- 
ficial lowers: their complexious and fea- 
tures are very agreeable, but their persons 
not atall L handsome. Their dress is com- 
monly of flow ered silk, and is-with the other 
ornaments very taudry. The guitar is 
their favourite musical Instrument, and [ 
have heard some of them play gth ereat 
taste. The sword and cocked hat. are 
very essential articles in the dress of the 
men, few being without them; and one 
very preposterous article in their dress, is 
a fur-lined great coat, in which they walk 
about the streets, evea when the sun is 
hottest. Many of the ladies have some- 
thing of the same kind. 
The lower orders always sit cross-lev¢ed 
upon mats. ‘They are very much addicted 
tu thieving, and it is with difli culty one can 
walk the sureets after dark, without hav- 
ing his hat or something else taken from 
him. Itis therefore acdviseable to be well 
armed. A young gentleman one night 
resisted their attempts to take his’ hat, 
when a villain came up behind and 
stubbed him, of which he died next day. 
European articles of whatever kind 
are uncommouly high-priced; bat. beet, 
poultry, veget: bles, anid fraits, are to fe 
Anecdotes of Dr. Goldsmith. 
- 
procured in great abundance, aud very , 
. cheap. F rom these advantages and thecon- 
venience of the harbour which may be, en- 
tered at any Une ot the tice, itis found.to 
be one of the best places tor relreshiment 
upon the whole coast of South America, 
— 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, ; 
OLDSMITH, while with Dr. Milner 
at P eckhain, was remarkably cheer- 
Moxtury Mac. No. 171. 
ful, both in the family, and with the young 
gentlenjen of the school. ‘Two instances 
of it have been communicated to me 
lately by an inteiligent lady, the only sur- 
viving daughter of Dr. Milner, now re+ 
siding at Islington, and they are not un- 
worthy of preservation. 
There was a servant in the family who 
waited at table, cleaned shoes, &c. whose 
hame, was W ilerh, a weak, but good- 
tempered, youag man, Goldsmith would . 
now and then make himself merry at 
his expence, and poce William generally 
enjoyed the joke without any diminu- 
tion of his own self-satisfaction, Wil- 
liam used to think that in his way he 
was not to be out-done, and Goldsmith 
thought one day, that he would make 
trial of him. Accordingly, having procured 
apiece of uncoloured Ghecire cheese, he 
rojled it up in the form of a candle about 
an inch in length, and twisting a bit of 
white paper to the size of a wick, he 
thrust it into one of the ends, having 
blackened the extremity, that it might 
have more the appearance of reality, 
He then put it into a candlestick, over 
the fire-place in the kitchen, taking care 
that another bit of real candle of equal size, 
should be placed by the side of it, in ano-= 
ther candlestick. , The apparatus being 
thus prepared, in came William from his 
daily task, when Goldsmith immediately 
taking down the bit of candle of his own, 
manufacture, challenged Wilham im the 
folowing terms: ‘ William, if you will 
eat yonder piece of candle, (pointing to: 
what remained onthe shelf) E will eat 
this in my hand, but it must be done to- 
vether, and I i begin!” The challenge 
was accepted in the | presence of the other 
servants in the kitchen, and Goldsmith 
unmnediately began guawing his candle, 
making sad wry faces, but not flinching 
from his task! “William beheld with asto- 
nisument the progress he was making in 
devouring it, however nauseous; but ‘had 
no heart. nor stomach to, touch his 
own. At last, when William saw that 
Goldsmith had devoured all but the last 
morsel, he, not willing to be out-done, 
opened his mouth, and fluug, his own 
piece: down his throat in a moment! This 
sudden tr ium ph over his antagonist, made 
the kitchen ring with laughter, Some little , 
tune after, poor Willian could not hel 
express ng his surprise to Goldsmith, that 
he had not done as he did, swallowing SO. 
disagreeable a morsel aihaie suce! “Truly, 
(replied Goldsmith, with creat's zravity) my 
bit of candle was no other than a bit 
of very nice cheshire cheese, and therefore, 
I was unwilling: to lose the relish of it.” 
3 F Another 
ray 
ae 
