Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/56

Rh these, especially as regards dramatic scenes, do not take a very elevated stand.

At the present moment, people here are occupied with the prosecution of several of the gentlemen who accompanied Lopez as leaders on his robber expedition to Cuba. Lopez has been released, on his finding surety to a considerable amount—15,000 dollars, I believe—but a certain Colonel Henderson, and others, have yet to be tried, and are to plead their own cause, as they are said to be possessed of great ability in—making speeches. The New Orleans gentlemen laugh, and call the whole thing “a farce,” which will not result in anything but—long speeches! There is no earnestness in the prosecution, and this gives rise to somewhat more than a suspicion, that certain Slave States have an interest in the expedition.

I have rambled about the city during the few fine days which have occurred whilst I have been here, but have found few objects of interest for the eye, excepting those lovely, coloured Creole women, who, with their delicate features, fine eyes, and pretty heads, adorned with showy handkerchiefs, tastefully arranged, according to the custom of New Orleans, produce a very piquante appearance; and I have seen in the streets young servant-girls, quadroons, whose beauty was perfect. Their figures also are generally slender, and remarkably well-proportioned.

New Orleans has long been known as a “very gay city,” but has not so good a reputation for its morality, into which French levity is strongly infused. This, however, it is said, decreases in proportion as the Anglo-American people obtain sway in the city. And their influence grows even here rapidly. The French population, on the contrary, does not increase, and their influence is on the decline. Nor have I heard the most favourable testimony given to the commercial morality of New Orleans. On one occasion I heard a merchant, a friend of mine, say, as he stood among the sugar-hogsheads on one of the great