Travels in the United States, etc.,: during 1849 and 1850./ By the Lady Emmeline Stuart Wortley.

BRITISH CONSUL AT PAYTA.
out to California, I believe for the second or third time, on a great
hat speculation. I fancy thousands of those usefull articles were
on their way to the golden land, so well selected to please all
tastes and suit all fashions, that if I am rightly informed, he has
reason to hope when he arrives all will take off their hats to him,
and-put his on.
After a pleasant voyage we arrived at Payta, and there we
saw the French frigate "L'Alge6rie" at anchor. Presently Monsieur F, the Commodore, was good enough to come and pay us
a visit, and invite us to go on board the frigate. He proposed our first
landing to see Payta, which we had not done satisfactorily before.
We were soon ready, and took our places in the beautiful French
man-of-war's boat. The men were a very fine sailor-like set, and
seemed as thorough Jack-tars as even our own John Bulls (or
rather Jack Bulls); they looked as clean and healthy as possible.
VWe glided rapidly along, and soon landed on that most barren
of shores. M. F pointed out to us a number of balsas that
were hard by. A young French gentleman was lately drowned
there, but I do not accurately remember the circumstances; it
was, however, in landing at this place.
I was anxious to go and thank in personu the British Consul for
the fine cherimoyas he had the goodness to send me when we were
here before. I was truly sorry that, as I was not sure the "New
World" would stop at Payta, I had brought no fruit or other
offering from Lima in return for his thoughtful attention.
We walked through rather a curious-looking street, and before
long, after visiting the market-place, found ourselves near Mr. Higgenson's house, who came out to meet us, and we crossed a handsome court, and soon found ourselves in a cool, airy room. It was
very early in the morning, and Mr. Iliggenson's daughter was not
yet up. I am told she is a very handsome and accomplished person, uniting Anglo-Saxon with Peruvian charms; for Mrs. Higgenson was a lady of Payta.
The consul was a little severe on our steamer, for he likened its
appearance (he had never seen one of that peculiar construction
before) to that of a great dead whale floatingl helplessly along.
After sitting a little while, we took leave of the hospitable consul,
who wished us to stay to breakfast there: but we declined, for we
had but little time.
Walking a short distance through the town, we saw a great
number of animals laden with provisions and water, that had just
come in friom the country. I can not describe to you the singular
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