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Show 54 PERSONAL ADVENTURES men, who, however, remained true to their colours. To return to our rambles on shore: we made for the monastery on the hill, where we were extremely well received and hospitably entertained. I was much struck with the appearance, manners, and intelligence of one of the monks, a man of tall stature and lean habit of body, hut remarkably handsome, and of a most benevolent countenance. I tried my Spanish, but could not get on, and he was equally at a loss to 1nake us understand his English. Fortunately,' I bethought me of my French, in which he was proficient, and I was appointed interpreter. 1\tly office proved no sinecure; for what with the inquisitiveness of my Yankee friend, the volubility of O'Reilly, and the cross-questioning of the priest, I found enough to do. Our conversation embraced a variety of topics, as may readily be supposed. The monk asked me all sorts of questions about England, her institutions, people, commerce, and so forth; interrogated the Yankee respecting the States, Congress, Zachary Taylor, IN CALIFORNIA. 55 and the progress of railways; and lastly, discovering that O'Reilly was an Irishman, puzzled him uncomtnonly with queries relating to the history of his country, Catholic Etnancipation, the Union, &c., which it excited my admiration to see hiln evade, when he could not coax his memory for facts. The name of Daniel O'Connell arising, however, naturally enough in the course of this conversation, O'Reilly found himself in a ne'v element: and the monk professing high respect for the Agitator, and regretting that circumstances had precluded him from ever seeing or hearing him, O'Reilly volunteered a specitnen of his style and manner of oratory, which I have not the s.mallest hesitation in saying Mr. O'Connell would have been sorely puzzled to identify, although it answered the purpose intended, namely, to gratify our friendly recluse, of whom we shortly after took leave, with numerous protestations expressive of mutual satisfaction and good-will. We resumed our peregrinations until it was growing late in the evening. I began to think |
