About 9 AM, we had weighed, but
we had scarcely got the anchor catted, when it came on to blow great
guns from the northwester most unusual thing hereabouts--so it was down
anchor again; and as I had made up my mind not to attempt it again
before morning, I got the gig in the water with all convenient speed;
and that same forenoon I reached the town, and immediately called on the
Viceroy, but under very different circumstances from the time Mr
Splinter and I had entered it along with the conquering army.
We dined with the magnate, and found a very large party assembled.
Amongst others, I especially recollect that the Inquisidor--General was
conspicuous; but every one, with the exception of the Captain General
and his immediate staff, was arrayed in gingham jackets; so there was
not much style in the affair.
I had before dinner an opportunity to inspect the works of Carthagena at
my leisure. It is unquestionably a very strong place, the walls, which
are built of solid masonry, being armed with at least three hundred
pieces of brass cannon, while the continued ebb and flow of the tide in
the ditch creates a current so strong, that it would be next to
impossible to fill it up, as fascines would be carried away by the
current--so that, were the walls even breached, it would be
impracticable to storm them. The appearance of Carthagena from the sea,
that is, from a vessel anchored off the St Domingo gate, is very
beautiful, and picturesque.
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