Life in Mexico, during a residence of two years. In that country / By Madame C------ de la B------ [i.e. Calderón de la Barca] With a preface, by W.H. Prescott. [Anon].

  • Frances Erskine Inglis
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Life in Mexico, during a residence of two years. In that country / By Madame C------ de la B------ [i.e. Calderón de la Barca] With a preface, by W.H. Prescott. [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    morning. We found her extremely agreeable and full of intelli- gence, also with a very decided air of fashion. She was dressed m fawn-coloured satin, with large pearls. At the end of the second act, Lucia was taken ill ; her last aria missed out, and her monu- ment driven on the stage without further ceremony. Montresor, the Ravens wood of the piece, came in, sung and stabbed himself with immense enthusiasm. It is a pity that his voice is deserting him, while his taste and feeling remain. The house has altogether a French look. The boxes are private—that is, the property of individuals, but are not shut in, which, in this climate, would be suffocating. We passed out through a long file of soldiers. The sudden transition from Yankee land to this military Spanish negro- land is dreamy. The General de la Marina (Any lice, admiral of the station) called some days ago, and informed us that there is a brig of war destined to convey us to Vera Cruz. Amongst the ladies who have called on me, I find none more charming- than the Countess de V a. Her voice is agreeable, her manners cordial and easy, her expression beautiful from good- ness, with animated eyes and fine teeth, her dress quiet and rich. She is universally beloved here. I received from her, nearly every morning, a bouquet of the loveliest flowers from her quinta—roses, carnations, heliotrope, &c. The dinner at H a’s to-day was a perfect feast. I sat between the Count de F a and the Count de S V —*—, a millionaire. Every thing was served in French white and gold porcelain, which looks particularly cool and pretty in this climate. The Count de P r was there and his brother; the latter a gentlemanly and intelligent man, with a great taste for music, and whose daughter is a first-rate singer and a charming person. After dinner we rose, according to custom, and went into an adjoining room, while they arranged the dessert, consisting of every. imaginable and unimaginable sweetmeat, with fruits, ices, &c. The fruits I have not yet learnt to like. They are certainly wonderful and delicious productions of nature; but to eat eggs and custards and butter off the trees, seems unnatural. The heat to-day is terrible, with a suffocating south wind blowing, and were the houses not built as they are, would be unbearable. The dinner is served in the gallery, which is spacious and cool. After dinner, Seiior Don P o H a rose, and, addressing C n, pronounced a poetical impromptu, commemorating the late victory ol Espartero, and congratulating C n on his mission to the Mexican republic. We then adjourned to the balcony, where the air was delightful, a cool evening breeze having suddenly sprung up. A large ship, full sail, and various barks, passed the Morro. There were negroes with bare legs walking on the wall, carrying parcels, &c.; volantcs passing by with their black-eyed occupants, in full dress, short sleeves, and flowers in their hair ; well-dressed, martial-looking Spanish soldiers marching by, and making tolerably
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