Our apartments at the Exchange Hotel are very comfortable and even elegant, with all the usual appliances of a well-furnished room. General Wood and Doctor Warne are quartered together, while Mr. Brown and myself are in another apartment. We have a sitting-room, bed-room, and dressing-room, for which the charge is $2.50 per day; while the more tasteful accommodations of the General and Doctor Warne are valued at $4.00 per day. These charges are independent of our fare, which is paid for according to what is ordered at each meal. We are upon the same floor with the eating-saloon and quite convenient.
Having a letter of introduction from Mr. Bennaton to Mr. Carlos Nathan, I accompanied General Wood and Doctor Warne to his establishment, No. 77 Rua São Pedro; when he invited our party to dine with him and his brother George residing in Botafogo. As he feared there might be some disappointment in our finding the boat, he despatched a servant to conduct us at 2 o’clock to the proper place. The trip through the bay was very pleasant, and our escort being a New York negro he spoke fluently of the various interesting scenes, but still did not consider Rio a very desirable residence for free gentlemen of color. Arriving at Botafogo, it was found a most delightful, retired nook, with neatness and taste displayed in the houses and grounds, surrounding a small arm of the sea that extends between the mountain cliffs on either side. This is, perhaps, the most pleasant portion of the suburbs of the city for a private residence; and every consideration of economy, health, and retirement contributes to render this locality desirable.
The wives of these two brothers are sisters, of the family name of Goodman, from New Orleans, and speak French quite as readily as English. Their houses are near each other, and Mr. Brown and myself dined with Mr. Carlos Nathan, while the other two dined with Mr. George Nathan.
Mr. Carlos Nathan is manifesting more interest in the emigration from the Southern States than any of the former residents of the United States who live in Rio; and indeed these two brothers are the only men here who were in the South at the opening of the war, they having left to avoid the consequences that seemed inevitable from the enemy’s movements.
Monday, November 27, 1865.
While at breakfast this morning, I met with Messrs. S. W. Brooks, Major Robert Meriwether, D. H. A. Shaw, and Dr. Davidson, who arrived yesterday in the steam packet North American from the United States. They have come to examine the country in reference to business and as a location for families. Dr. Shaw and Major Meriwether are the regular agents of a colonization society in Edgefield District, South Carolina, and bring with them an appointment embodying instructions from the president of the association.
As the representatives of other parties they have adopted the proper course in having authenticated credentials, which may be exhibited to those here who may be called upon to render them assistance in exploring the country. The matter-of-fact bearing on the part of these gentlemen will impress the officials of Brazil very favorably, and I trust their investigations may be conducted in a way to lead to most satisfactory results.
Dr. Davidson is here to act for some friends in Texas, while Mr. Brooks represents a company of machinists and operatives who desire to establish a foundry and machine-shop for working iron in all its various forms.
All these gentlemen impress me with the earnestness of their purposes and their business intentions, so that I hope to co-operate with them in the farther examination of the country; and will render them any assistance in my power to promote their object. The same facilities will doubtless be afforded by the government to them that have been extended to others.
Having failed yesterday to find any one at No. 92 Rua Direita, I called upon Mr. G. N. Davis this morning and received a letter from my wife, which, however, was written in August, and served very little to relieve the suspense felt in regard to my family, as great anxiety is manifested in regard to the future conduct of the negroes in the country.