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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Untitled Article
plied in description of him ., ) that a bribe to the officials who are especially appointed to look after the revenues of his Catholic majesty there , effectually blinded the keenest eyes of all , from the great man at the head , down to the farthest ramification , or remotest link of custom-house authority . On this assurance I
lost all fear , and talked and jested over the scheme as if it were a meritorious act they were engaged to perform : it became a mere exchange of commodities at a cheaper rate , and without the prolixities and encumbrances of formality : it was a mere breach of conventionalisms ; the passing of bribes and toll into other hands than those which were privileged to exact them . I began to think that possibly they might , in time , bring them to their senses—be a lesson to those in trie high places , to exact less toll , especially on bread , if they would bring the toll to lawful and worthy use . Well , thus thinking , we passed under El Moro , and came to anchor in the fair-way , a little south of El Punta , with
the grey city , and the forest of masts on our starboard hand , the inner harbour , a broad and beautiful basin , ahead of us , the stupendous , but not impregnable , Moro fortress , grimly scowling on our larboard side : thus it was , till the anchor taking hold , the schooner swung directly round , and changed sides with every thing . I had provided myself with a passport at Charleston—a very necessary thing to do , on account of the fee of two dollars which is then paid to the Spanish Consul—you may light your pipe with the paper next minute , if you please : so , at least , I found the case to be . As the sun was near setting when we anchored , I preferred remaining : on board for the night : partly
because the proper offices for exhibiting my passport would be closed , but chiefly from a pretty strong conviction , that if certain acquaintances of mine saw me in the city at night , one of those nicely pointed , keen edged , long , cold pieces of steel , which are nestled under jackets in the Havannah , would be sheathed under my clavicle , and I should never after be able to tell who did it . Restless and feverishly impatient as the circumstances which called me to Havannah had rendered me , I was constrained to remain op board : I turned in and fretted myself to sleep . How long I remained in this happy obliviousness I do not know ; but I was aroused by a most unusual bustle ; stamping of feet—clattering of lumber , and a hurried confusion of sounds , among which I gathered , ' Heave that barrel on board !—clap on the hatches !
—By —— it is too late !—They'll be alongside in a minute ! The light was streaming down the hatchway or companion , into the cabin , and I conjectured it was morning . I ran instantly on deck ; what a sight burst upon me ! Night it was , but as brig ht as day . To my astonishment , I discovered that the vessel had quitted her former anchorage , and was now down , far in the middLe of the great or inner Harbour . The whole scene taken w its round—its sum of particulars and extent—its full wonder of
Untitled Article
788 Autobiography of Pel Verjuice .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1834, page 788, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2639/page/42/
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