butthisfactevidentlyloosenedthecordsofthefather’sheart，andduringmystayatVegahewasdevotedtome;
givingmeinformationofthegreatestvalueregardingthepeople，theirhabits，theirdiseases，andthelike，muchofwhich，uptothatmoment，thecommissionanditssubordinateshadvainlyendeavoredtosecure。
AndhereIrecallonethingwhichstruckmeassignificant。ThisasceticFrenchpriestwasverysevereincondemnationoftheoldSpanishpriesthoodoftheisland。
WhenIaskedhimregardingthemoralsofthepeopleheanswered，``Howcanyouexpectgoodmoralsinthemwhentheirpastorssetsuchbadexamples？’’ItwasevidentthatthechurchauthoritiesatRomewereofhisopinion;forinnearlyeverytownIfoundnotonlyajolly，kindly，easy—goingoldSpanishpadre，surroundedby``nephews’’and``nieces，’’butamoreaustereecclesiasticrecentlyarrivedfromFranceorItaly。
Intheimpressionsmadeuponmebythislongandtediousjourneyacrosstheisland，pleasureandpainwereconstantlymingled。Ononehandwasthewonderfulbeautyofthescenery，theluxurianceofthevegetation，andthebracingwarmthoftheclimate，whiletheUnitedStatesweregoingthroughawintermorethanusuallybitter。