some miles off. We were taken to the house of the Spanish Consul, a fine, airy, stone building, with a gay view from the windows;—the very first house that was built in the place.
Its owner, Don Juan de la Lastra, Spanish Vice-Consul, is not here himself, but we were very kindly received by Don José de Gomez Mira, the Consul. In the evening, all the principal Spaniards in the place came to see Cn; and having arrived here yesterday morning as perfect strangers, without the probability of finding any one whom we knew, we find ourselves surrounded by the most unexpected and gratifying attentions. As to what is called society, there is literally none in Tampico. Those who live here, have come in the hope of making their fortune; and the few married men who are amongst them have been unwilling to expose their wives to the unhealthy climate, the plague of musquitoes and xin-xins, the intermittent fevers, which are more to be dreaded here than the yellow fever, and the nearly total deprivation of respectable female society. The men, at least the Spaniards, unite in a sort of club, and amuse their leisure evenings with cards and billiards; but the absence of ladies' society must always make it dull. Riding and shooting in the neighborhood are their out-of-door amusements, and there is excellent sport along the river, which may be enjoyed when the heat is not too intense.
Our captain, who has paid us a visit this evening, with several Englishmen, expects to get off to-morrow. We staid at home in the morning on account of the heat, and wrote letters, but in the afternoon
