Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/724

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704
MEXICO IN 1827.

the journey to Washington is performed; and both in the capital and at Philadelphia, we required no other passport to open the doors of several highly respectable houses.

Without participating in all Mr. Waterton's enthusiasm with regard to the American women, it is difficult for the most casual observer not to be struck with their appearance; nor do I know any part of the world (not even excepting England) where the display of female beauty is more striking than at New York, and Philadelphia, where, from the warmth of the climate, the light dress of the South of Europe is seen in conjunction with the freshness, and bright colouring of a Northern complexion.

We found our invalids entirely restored to health by their stay at Staaten Island, from whence they removed, after performing a quarantine of four days, to the hospitable house of Mr. and Mrs. Buchanon, to whose attentions we were all much indebted. On the 21st of June we embarked again, and on the l6th of July, we anchored at Spithead, after a quiet and prosperous voyage, during the whole of which we had daily and hourly reason to be grateful for Captain Vernon's unremitting kindness. The Primrose was much too small for the accommodation of so large a party as ours; and as, after a thousand ingenious contrivances, there was only room for one female servant, a Mexican woman, who was almost constantly unwell, the children, the eldest of whom was just two years