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Show other; the whole either passing through the hands of the general or Walker, except a few letters fi-01n n1y lady, which on my taking up and saying they were letters from a lady, the general gave a proof, that if the ancient Spanish bravery had degenerated in the nation generally, their gallantry still existed, by bowing, and I put them in my pocket. l-Ie then infonned n1e that he would examine the papers, but that in the 1nean while he wishcu me to make out and present to him a short sketch of my voyage, which might probably be satisfactory. This I would have positively refused, had I had an idea that it was his determination to keep the papers, which I could not at that time conceive, fr01n the urbanity and satisfaction which he appeared to exhibit on the event of our interview. lie then told me that I would take up 1ny quarters with Walker,in or~ der (as he said) to be better accommodated by having a person with n1e who spoke the English language ; but the object as I suspected, was for him to be a spy on our actions, and on those who visited us. Robinson all this time had been standing in the guard room, boiling with indignation at being so long detained tbcre, subject to the observations of the soldiery and gaping curiosity of the vulgar. lie was now introduced by some mistake of one of the mel-decamps. I Ie appeared and n1ade a slight bow to the general, who demanded of Malgares who he was ? lie replied a doctor who accompanied the expeJition. "Let him re" tire," said the governor, and he went out. The general then invited me to return and dine with him, anti we went to the quarters of Walker, where we received several different invitations to take quarter · at houses where we might be b ... tter accon11nodated, but unden.;tanding that th~ general had designated our quarters we were silent. We returned to dine at the palace, where we met I\lalgarcs, who, with ourselves, was the only guest. lie • Sec Appenuix to Part m. (No. r J·] page 7J· T~TROUGII TUE INTElUOll PHOVINCES, &c. 2:' ~1 had at the table the treasurer T ruxillio, and a priest c2-l~cd father Rocus. Sd April, Friday.-Employed in giving a sketch of our voyage forth(! general and commandant of those provinces. Introduced to Don Bernardo Villamil, Don Alberto Mayner, lieutenant colonel and father-in.law to Malgares, and l)on Manuel Zuloaga, a member of the secretary's office, to whorn I am under obligations of gratitude and shall retnember with esteem. Visited his house in thP evenmg. 4tb April, Saturday.-Vi ited the hospital where were two officers, who were fine looking tnen, and I was informed had been the gayest young men of the province, who were mouldering away by disease, and there was not a physician in his majesty's hospitals who was able to cure them; but after repeated attempts had given then1 up to perish. This shews the deplorable state of the medical science in the provinces. I endeavored to get Robinson to undertake the cure of these poor fellows, but the jealousy and envy of the Spanish doctors made it impracticable. . Sth April, Sunday.-Visited by lieutenant Malga1'es, wtth a very polite n1essage from hi., excellency, and delivered in the most impressive terms, with ofrcrs of assi tance, money, &c. for which I returned my respectful thanks to the general. Accompanied Malgares to the public walk, where we found the secretary, captain Villan1il, Zuloa~a and other ofl!cers of distinction. We here likewise met the wife of my friend Malgares, to whom he introdu~ ed us. She was like all the other ladies of New Spain, a ht~lc en bon point, but possessed the national beauty of e~e m. a superior degree. 'I'here were a large collection of ladtes, amongst whom we're two of the most celebrate l in the capital-Senora Maria Con. Caberairi, and Senora Margeurite VaJ]ois, the onlv two l~tdies who had ~pirit sur. |
