New England Religious Herald

South America.

[The following is an extract of letter, addressed to a gentleman in this city. It gives a painful idea of the state of society in Lima, South America. It is dated

LIMA, Jan 12th, 1849

This, my dear father, is certainly a God forsaken country. Oh! how differently is the holy Sabbath observed here, to that in our own dear New England. Saturday last was a periodical feast day here, and the following Sabbath was a "holiday." In the afternoon of that day (Sunday) a "Bull fight" came off; at which disgusting exhibition, (as I am informed,) not less than 10,000 persons were present, among whom were the President and suite, Governor and all the most respectable and aristocratic families of the city. Every body goes; the females—"ladies," take a great interest in these cruel sports. Even the "holy" priests pretended servants of God, are there in any number and bet large amounts. I am informed that nine bulls were consecutively brought into the ring, and each in his turn, tantalized and wrought into a proper fighting state, and killed by sword or spear of the horsemen. There is no Protestant church here, for none would be allowed; but there is an humble band of Christians, about 30 in number, composed of Presbyterians, Baptists and other orthodox denominations, who meet in a quiet way on Sunday, at the house of a Mr. Norris, a very worthy Englishman, and by prayer, exhortation, and singing, endeavor to worship our own God, in a manner acceptable to Him. I attended on last Sunday, and it was really "good to be there"; the Spirit of God was in the meeting. The weather here is delightful; it is now summer; still, fruit is plenty the year round. The heat here is not so oppressive as in the U. States; the temperature is more even and regular.