 Letter the 22nd of Life in Mexico. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Life in Mexico by Francis Calderón de la Barca. Letter the 22nd. Countess C.A. Guchere Sestrada. Dinner at General Moranz. Dowager Marquesa. Fet at San Antonio. Approach of the rainy season. Diamonds and Plate. Great Ball. Night Traveling. Severe Storm. Chapter of Accidents. Corpus Christi. Poblana Dress. Book Club. Ball. Hummingbird. Franciscan Friar. Missions to Old and New California. Zeal and Endurance of the Missionaries. Present Condition. Convent Gardener. 17th June. As we die nearly every Sunday with the Countess de la C.A. at Tacuba, where she keeps open house to all her friends, we have had the pleasure of becoming intimately acquainted with her son-in-law, Senor Guchere Sestrada, who, with his amiable wife, has lately returned from Europe. Fet at San Antonio. A great dinner was given us the other day by General Moran and his lady, the Marquesa de Vivanco, at San Augustine. We went early that we might have time to walk about the garden, which is beautiful, and to visit an artificial cave there, which we found lighted up with colored lamps and where a most fascinating species of cold milk punch with cakes was served to the company. The dinner would certainly have been superb in any country. The family have traveled a great deal in Europe per force, the general having been exiled for several years, and are amongst the oldest and richest in Mexico. The dowager Marquesa has a most patriarchal family of daughters and granddaughters, and of the large party assembled at table where nearly all were composed of its different members. In the evening we had a pleasant dance under the trees. Twentieth. Being invited yesterday to a Fet at San Antonio, we left Mexico about eight o'clock by the great causeway leading to San Augustine. The day was peculiarly brilliant, but the rainy season is now announcing its approach by frequent showers toward evening. We found a large party assembled and about twelve o'clock sat down to a most magnificent breakfast of about sixty persons. Everything was solid silver, even the plates. A vast capital is sunk in diamonds and plate in this country, no good sign of the state of commerce. The ladies in general were dressed in white embroidered muslins over white or colored satin and one or two Paris dresses shown conspicuous. There was one specimen of real Mexican beauty, the Señora Blanc, a face perhaps more Indian than Spanish, very dark with fine eyes, beautiful teeth, very long dark hair and full of expression. The house, which is immensely large, is furnished or rather unfurnished in the style of all Mexican haciendas. After breakfast we had music, dancing, walking and billiard playing. Some boleros were very gracefully danced by a daughter of Marquesas and they also showed us some dances of the country. The vet terminated with the most beautiful supper I almost ever saw. A great hall was lighted with colored lamps. The walls entirely lined with green branches and hung with fresh garlands of flowers most tastefully arranged. There was a great deal of gaiety and cordiality of magnificence without ceremony and riches without pretension. Although warned by various showers that a bad night would probably set in and although it was too likely that the hospitality within the house would be extended to our coachmen and even though the whole party were strongly pressed by the Marquesa to pass the night there so that it was with difficulty we resisted her entreaties to remain, we did in the face of all this set off a twelve o'clock at night to return to Mexico about seven carriages together with various gentlemen riding. Though very dark there was no rain and we flattered ourselves it would keep fair till we reached the city. The minister of the interior who was married to a daughter of the Marquesa C. N. and I and La Guerra Rodriguez set off in one carriage. Some carriages had lamps, others had none. Some had six horses, we had six mules and an escort of the dragoons. We had not gone two miles before a thunderstorm came on and the black clouds which had been gathering above our heads burst forth in torrents of rain. The wind was tremendous. All the lamps were extinguished. The horses waited up to their knees in mud and water. Suddenly there was a crash followed by loud cries. A carriage was overturned in which were the Senora El and a party of gentlemen. In the midst of this awful storm and perhaps still more bewildered by generous liquor their coachmen had lost his way and lodged them all in a ditch. The poor Senora was dreadfully bruised. Her head cut and her wrist dislocated. In the darkness and confusion she was extricated with difficulty and placed in another carriage. Our mules stood still. As far as the noise of the storm would allow us to hear the carriagemen also had lost the road. Two dragoons rode up to direct him. One fell horse and all into a deep ditch where he remained till the next morning. Another carriage came plowing its way behind us. Another exclamation in the darkness. A mule had fallen and broken his traces and plunged into the water. The poor animal could not be found. Never was there such a chapter of accidents. We were the only carriage load which escaped entirely, owing chiefly to the sobriety of the coachmen. Very slowly and after sundry detentions we arrived in Mexico towards morning very tired but with neither broken bones nor bruises. Eighteenth Day of the Corpus Christi in which the host is carried through the city in great procession at which the president in full uniform, the archbishop and all the ministers etc. assist. In former days the ceremony took place on holy Thursday but finding that on account of the various ceremonies of the holy week it could not be kept with due solemnity. Another day was set apart for its celebration. We went to a window in the square to see the procession which was very brilliant. All the troops out and the streets crowded. Certainly a stranger entering Mexico on one of these days would be struck with surprise at its apparent wealth. Everything connected with the church is magnificent. This evening the senora A came after it was dark in a poblana dress which she had just bought to wear at a Jamaica which they are going to have in the country. A sort of fair where all the girls disguise themselves in peasant dresses and go about selling fruit, lemonade, vegetables etc. A very ancient Mexican amusement. This dress cost her some hundred dollars. The top of the petticoat is yellow satin. The rest which is of scarlet cashmere is embroidered in gold and silver. Her hair was fastened back with a thick silver comb and her ornaments were very handsome. Coral satin gold. Her shoes white satin embroidered in gold, the sleeves and body which is of the finest cambrick trimmed with rich lace and the petticoat which comes below the dress shows two flounces of Valencianese. She looks beautiful in this dress which will not be objected to in the country though it might not suit a fancy ball in Mexico. June 27th I was awakened this morning by hearing that two boxes had arrived from New York containing books, letters etc. All very acceptable. We also received a number of old newspapers by post for which we had to pay 18 dollars. Each sheet costs a real and a half, a mistaken source of profit in a republic where the general diffusion of knowledge is of so much importance for this not only applies to the introduction of French and English but also of Spanish newspapers. La Gazeta del Gobierno used every effort to reduce this duty on newspapers but in vain. The post office opposes its reduction fearing to be deprived of an imaginary rent, imaginary because so few persons comparatively think it worth their while to go to this expense. There is but one daily newspaper in Mexico, La Gazeta del Gobierno, the government paper and it is filled with orders and decrees. An opposition paper, the Cosmopolita is published twice a week, also a Spanish paper. The Hisperia both, especially the last are well written. There is also the Mosquito, so called from its stinging sarcasms. Now and then another with a new title appears like a shooting star but from want of support or from some other motive is suddenly extinguished. Enlightened individuals like Don Lucas Alamán and Count Cortina have published newspapers but not for any length of time. Count Cortina especially edited a very witty and brilliant paper called The Zurago, The Scourge and another called the Mono, The Ape and in many of his articles he was tolerably severe upon the incorrect Spanish of his brother editors of which no one can be a better judge, he having been a member of the Academia de la Lengua in Spain. The only kind of monthly reviews in Mexico is the Mosaico Mexicano whose editor has made his fortune by his own activity and exertions. Frequently it contains more translations than original matter but from time to time it publishes scientific articles said to be written by Don J. M. Bustamente which are very valuable and occasionally a brilliant article from the pen of Count Cortina. General Orbelgoso who is of Spanish origin is also a contributor. Sometimes though rarely it publishes documentos and editors unedited documents connected with Mexican antiquities and Mexican natural history and biography which are very important and now and then it contains a little poetical gem. I know not whether original or not but exceedingly beautiful. So far as it goes this review is one great means of spreading knowledge in better classes but I understand that the editor Don Yanasio Completo a very courteous intelligent man complains that it does not pay. There are no circulating libraries in Mexico. Books are at least double the price that they are in Europe. There is no diffusion of useful knowledge amongst the people. Neither cheap pamphlets nor cheap magazines written for their amusement or instruction but this is less owing to want of attention as part of many good and enlightened men than to the unsettled state of the country for the blight of civil war prevents the best systems from ripening. Fortunately there is an English society here, a kind of book club who with their minister have united in a subscription to order from England all the new publications and as see Annie is a member of the society we are not so arrears in regard to the literature of the day as might be like all English societies its basis is a good dinner which each member gives in turn once a month after which there is a sale of the books that have been read and propositions for new books are given in to the president it is an excellent plan and I believe is in part adopted by other foreigners here but Germans of a certain class do not seem to be sufficiently numerous for such an undertaking and the French in Mexico barring some distinguished exceptions are apt to be amongst the very worst specimens of that people which le Plaisant pays de France can furnish forth we went lately to a ball given by a young Englishman which was very pretty and where nearly all the English were collected of families there are not more than half a dozen resident here the members of whom form a striking contrast in complexion to the mejicanas with very few exceptions and these in the case of English women married to foreigners they keep themselves entirely aloof from the mejicans live quietly in their own houses into which they have transplanted as much English comfort as possible rarely travel and naturally find Mexico the dullest of cities see and has gone to dine with English minister and I am left alone in this large room with nothing but a hummingbird to keep me company the last of my half dozen it looks like a large blue fly and is perfectly tame but will not live many days I was startled by a solemn voice saying Ave Maria Purissima and looking up there stood in the doorway a friar of orders gray bringing some message to see and from the head of the convent of San Fernando with which monks see and has formed a great intimacy chiefly in consequence of the interest which he has taken in the history of their missions to California in fact when we hear the universal cry that is raised against these communities for the intulity of their lives it is but just that exceptions should be made in favor of those orders who like the monks of San Fernando have dispersed their missionaries over some of the most miserable parts of the globe and who undeterred by danger and by the prospect of death have carried light to the most benighted savages these institutions are of a very remote date a learned Jesuit monk Esubio Kun he said to have been the first to discover that California was a peninsula in 1683 the Jesuits had formed establishments in old California and for the first time it was made known that the country which had until then been considered an El Dorado rich in all precious metals and diamonds was arid, stony and without water or earth fit vegetation that where there is a spring of water it is to be found amongst the bare rocks and where there is earth there is no water a few spots were found by these industrious men uniting these advantages and there they founded their first missions but the general hatred with which the Jesuits were regarded excited suspicion against them and it was generally supposed that their accounts were false and that they were privately becoming possessed of much treasure a visitador surveyor was sent to examine into the truth and though he could discover no traces of gold or silver he was astonished by the industry and seal with which they had cultivated the barren and treeless waste in a few years they had built 16 villages and when they were expelled in 1767 the Dominican friars of Mexico took their place until these missions were established and in every part of the peninsula which is not included in the territory of the missions the savages were the most degraded specimens of humanity existing more degraded than the beasts of the field they lay all day upon their faces on the arid sand basking in the heat they abhorred all species of clothing and their only religion was a secret horror that caused them to tremble at the idea of three divinities belonging to three different tribes and which divinities were themselves supposed to feel a mortal hatred and to wage perpetual war against each other undeterred by the miserable condition both of human and vegetable nature these missionaries cultivated the ground established colonies made important astronomical observations and devoted themselves to science to agriculture and to the amelioration of the condition of these wretched savages in new california the missions were under the charge of thirty six franciscan friars under whom the most extraordinary progress in civilization took place since in little more than thirty years upwards of thirty three thousand indians were baptized and a thousand marriages had taken place the soil being fertile and the climate more benign than in the other california in eighteen missions established there they cultivated corn, wheat, maize, etc. and introduced vegetables and fruit trees from spain amongst these the vine and the olive from which excellent wine and oil were made all through that part of the country amongst the monks destined to these distant missions were those of san fernando there banished from the world deprived of all the advantages of civilization they devoted themselves to the task of taming the wild indians introduced marriage amongst them taught them to cultivate the ground together with some of the most simple arts assisted their wants, reproved their sins and transplanted the beneficent doctrines of christianity amongst them using no arms but the influence which religion and kindness united with extreme patience had over their stubborn natures and making what humbled in speaking of the jesuit missions calls a pacific conquest of the country many were the hardships which these poor men endured changed from place to place at one time order to some barren shore where it was necessary to recompense their labors at another recall to the capital by orders of the prelate in conjunction with the wishes of their brethren among whom there was a species of congress called by them a capitulo no increase of rank no reward, no praise inspired their labors their only recompense was their intimate conviction of doing good to their fellow creatures in the archives of the convent there still exist papers proving the hardships which these men underwent the zeal with which they applied themselves to the study of the language of the country and when we are informed that in the space of 180 leagues 19 different languages are spoken it was no such easy task and containing their descriptions of its physical and moral state more or less well written according to their different degrees of instruction or talent it frequently happened that marketable goods and even provisions had to be sent by sea to those missionaries who lived in the most savage and uncultivated parts of the peninsula and a curious anecdote on this subject was related to CN by one of these men who is now a gardener by profession it happened that someone sent to the monks amongst other things a case of fine Malaha raisins and one of the monks whose name I forget sold a number of the dried seeds in process of time they sprouted up became vines and produced fine grapes from which the best wine in California was made when the independence was declared and that revolutionary fury which makes a merit of destroying every establishment or bad which is the work of the opposite party broke forth the Mexicans to prove their hatred to the mother country destroyed these beneficent institutions thus committing an error as fatal in its results as when in 1828 they expelled so many rich proprietors who were followed into exile by their numerous families and by their old servants who gave them in these times of trouble proofs of attachment and fidelity belonging to a race currently existing here except amongst a few of the oldest families the result has been that the frontiers being now unprotected by the military garrisons or presidios which were established there and deserted by the missionaries the Indians are no longer kept under subjection either by the force of arms or by the good councils and persuasive influence of their padres the mejican territory is in consequence perpetually exposed to their invasions whole families are massacred by the savages who exchange guns for rifles which they already know how to use and these evil consequences are occasionally and imperfectly averted at a great expense to the republic Bustamiente has indeed been making an investigation lately as to the funds and general condition of these establishments with the intention of re-establishing some similar institutions but is yet I believe that nothing decisive has been done in this respect near the convent there is a beautiful garden where we sometimes walk in the morning cultivated by an old monk who after spending a laborious life in these distant missions is now enjoying a contented old age among his plants and flowers perhaps you are tired of my prosing caused by the apparition of the old lay brother and would prefer some account of him in verse an aged monk in San Fernando dwells an innocent and venerable man his earlier days were spent within its cells and end obscurely as he first began manhood's career in savage climbs he ran on lonely California's Indian shore dispelling superstitions deadly ban or teaching what could patriarch do more those rudiments of peace the gardener's humble store oft have I marked him silent and depart loitering near the sunny convent gate rewarded by tranquility of heart for toil so worthy of the truly great and in my soul admired compared his state with that of some rude brawler whose crude mind some wondrous change in earth would vain create who after flattering harassing mankind gains titles riches, pomp, with shame and scorn combined End of letter the twenty second letter the twenty third of life in Mexico this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Life in Mexico by Francis Calderón de la Barca letter the twenty third the president Yutúr Pide visit from the Archbishop Senor Canedo General Almonte Senor Cuevas situation of an Archbishop in Mexico of Senor Posada his life Mexican charity wax figures anecdote valuable present education comparison schools opportunities annual compliments to the Mexican ladies by the editor families of the old school morals indulgence love of country colleges fifth July yesterday morning we had a visit from the president with two of his officers he was writing one of the handsomest black horses I ever on going out we stopped to look at a wax figure of Yutúr Pide on horseback which he considers a good resemblance and which was sent me as a present some time ago he ought to be a good judge as he was a most devoted friend of the unfortunate Augustine first who whatever were his faults seems to have inspired his friends with the most devoted and enthusiastic attachment in the prime of life brave and active handsome and fond of show he had all the qualities which render a chief popular with a multitude but popularity when not based upon great benefits is transient it is founded upon a principle of egotism because a whole people cannot have personal sympathies ambition led him to desert the royal cause which he had served for nine years and vanity blinded him to the dangers that surrounded him in the midst of his triumphs even when proclaimed emperor by the united voice of the garrison and city of Mexico when his horses were taken from his carriage and when amidst the shouts of the multitude his coach was dragged in triumph to the palace his great error according to those who talk of him impartially was in decision in the most critical emergencies and his permitting himself to be governed by circumstances instead of directing these circumstances as they occurred I could not help thinking as the general stood there looking at the wax and image of his friend what a storm in life he himself has passed how little real tranquility he can ever have enjoyed and wondering whether he will be permitted to finish his presidential days in peace which according to rumor is doubtful Eighth I had the honor of a long visit this morning from his grace the archbishop he came about eleven o'clock after mass and remain till dinner time sitting out all our Sunday visitors who are generally numerous as it is the only day of rest for employees and especially for the cabinet amongst our visitors were Senor Canedo who is extremely agreeable in conversation and as an orator famed for his sarcasm and cutting wit he has been particularly kind and friendly to us ever since our arrival General Almonte a handsome man and pleasant and an officer of great bravery very unpopular with one party and especially disliked by the English but also a great friend of ours Senor Cuevas, minister of the interior married to a daughter of the Marquesa de Vivanco an amiable and excellent man who seems generally liked and is also most friendly to us all these gentlemen are praised or abused according to the party of the person who speaks of them but I not interfering in Mexican politics find them amongst the most pleasant of our acquaintances however were I to choose a situation here it would undoubtedly be that of Archbishop of Mexico the most enviable in the world to those who would enjoy a life of tranquility ease and universal adoration he is a pope without the trouble or a tenth part of the responsibility he is venerated more than the Holy Father is in enlightened Rome and like kings in the good old times can do no wrong his salary amounts to about one hundred thousand dollars and a revenue might be made by the sweet meats alone which are sent to him from all the nuns in the Republic his palace in town his well cushioned carriage well conditioned horses and sleek mules seem the very perfection of comfort in fact comfort which is unknown amongst the pain of Mexico has taken refuge with the Archbishop and though many drops of it are shed on the shaven heads of all bishops curates confessors and friars still in his illustrious person it concentrates as in a focus he himself is a benevolent good-hearted good-natured portly and jovial personage with the most lysis a lair air and expression conceivable he looks like one on whom the good things of this world have fallen in a constant and benighted shower which shower have fallen on a rich and fertile soil he is generally to be seen leaning back in his carriage dressed in purple with amethyst cross and giving his benediction to the people as he passes he seems engaged in a pleasant reverie and his countenance wears an air of the most placid and insatiwant content he enjoys a good dinner good wine and ladies society just sufficiently to make his leisure hours pass pleasantly without indigestion from the first headaches from the second or heartaches from the third so does his life seem to pass on like a deep untroubled stream on whose margin grows sweet flowers on whose clear waters the bending trees are reflected but on whose placid face no lasting impression is made I have no doubt that his charities are in proportion to his large fortune and when I say that I have no doubt of this it is because I firmly believe there exists no country in the world where charities both public and private are practiced on so noble a scale especially by the women under the direction of the priests I am inclined to believe that generally speaking charity is a distinguishing attribute of a catholic country the archbishop is said to be a man of good information and was at one time a senator in 1833 being a comprehended in the law of banishment caused by the political disturbances which have never ceased to afflict this country since the independence he passed sometime in the united states chiefly in New Orleans but this I believe is the only cloud that has darkened his horizon or disturbed the tranquil current of his life his consecration with its attendant fatigues must have been to him a worrisome overture a pleasant drama a hard stepping stone to glory as to the rest he is very un ostentatious and his conversation is far from austere on the contrary he is one of the best tempered and most cheerful old men in society that it is possible to meet with I send you by the mehican commissioners who are kind enough to take charge of a box for me the figure of a mehican tortillera by which he may judge a little bit the perfection in which the commonest lepero here works in wax the incredible patience which enable the ancient mehicans to work their statues in wood or stone with the rudest instruments has descended to their posterity as well as their extraordinary and truly Chinese talent for imitation with a common knife and a piece of hardwood an uneducated man will produce a fine piece of sculpture there is no imagination they do not leave the beaten track but continue on the models which the Spanish conquerors brought out with them some of which however were very beautiful in wax especially their figures have been brought to great perfection everything that surrounds them they can imitate and their wax portraits are sometimes little gems of art but in this last branch which belongs to a higher order of art there are no good workmen at present so to which a poor artist brought some tolerable wax portraits here for sale the other day and amongst others that of a celebrated general C.N. remarked that it was fairer than the original as far as he recollected ah said the man but when his excellency washes his face nothing can be more exact a valuable present was sent lately by a gentleman here to the Count de Blanc in Spain twelve cases each case containing twelve wax figures each figure representing some Mexican trade or profession or employment there were men drawing the pulque from the mague Indian women selling vegetables tortilleras vendors of ducks fruitmen large sellers the postman of guachinango loaded with parrots monkeys etc more of everything than of letters the poblana peasant rancherita on horseback before her farm servant the gaely dress and chero in short a little history of Mexico in wax you ask me how Mexican women are educated in answering you I must put aside a few brilliant exceptions and speak en masse the most difficult thing in the world for these exceptions are always rising up before me like accusing angels and I begin to think of individuals when I should keep to generalities generally speaking then the Mexican senoras and senoritas write read and play a little so and take care of their houses and children when I say they read I mean they know how to read when I say they write I do not mean that they can always spell and when I say they play I do not assert that they have generally a knowledge of music if we compare their education with that of girls in England or in the United States it is not a comparison but a contrast compared with that of Spanish women and we shall be less severe upon their far niente descendants in the first place the climate inclines everyone to indolence both physically and morally one cannot pour over a book when the blue sky is constantly smiling in at the open windows then out of doors after 10 o'clock the sun gives us a due warning of our tropical attitude and even though the breeze is so fresh and pleasant one has no inclination to walk or ride far whatever be the cause I am convinced that it is impossible to take the same exercise with the mind or with the body in this country as in Europe or in the northern states then as to schools there are none that can deserve the name and no governesses young girls can have no emulation for they never meet they have no public diversion and no private amusement there are a few who have come to make over the purpose of making their fortune by teaching or marriage or both in whose object naturally is to make the most money in the shortest possible time that they may return home and enjoy it the children generally appear to have an extraordinary disposition for music and drawing yet there are few girls who are proficient in either when very young they occasionally attend the schools where boys and girls learn to read in common there is no encouragement that the old women can teach them but at twelve they are already considered too old to attend these promiscuous assemblages and masters are got for drawing and music to finish their education I asked a lady the other day if her daughter went to school good heavens said she quite shocked she is past eleven years old it frequently happens that the least well informed girls are the children of the cleverest men who keeping to the customs and therefore fathers are content if they confess regularly attend church constantly and can embroider and sing a little where there are more extended ideas it is chiefly amongst families who have traveled in Europe and have seen the different education of women in foreign countries of these the fathers occasionally devote a short portion of their time to the instruction of their daughters perhaps during their leisure evening moments but it may easily be supposed that the system has little real influence on the minds of the children I do not think there are above half a dozen married women or as many girls above fourteen who with exception of the mass book read any one book through in the whole course of the year they thus greatly simplify the system of education in the United States where parties are frequently divided between the advocates for solid learning and those for superficial accomplishments and according to whom it is difficult to amalgamate the solid beef of science with a sweet sauce of lebo arts but if a mehican girl is ignorant she rarely shows it they have generally the greatest possible tact never by any chance wandering out of their depth or betraying by word or sign that they are not well informed of the subject under discussion though seldom graceful they are never awkward and always self-possessed they have plenty of natural talent and where it has been thoroughly cultivated no woman can surpass them of what is called literary society there is of course none no bustling bother bees have they to show them that charming passage in the last new poem there is a little anvil lying beside me called calendario de las señoritas mexicanas of which the preface by Galvan the editor is very amusing to none he says better than to mehican ladies can i dedicate this mark of attention of sequio their graceful attractions well deserve any trouble that may have been taken to please them their bodies are graceful as the palms of the desert their hair black as ebony or golden as the rays of the sun gracefully waves over their delicate shoulders their glances are like the peaceful light of the moon the mehican ladies are not so white as the europeans but their whiteness is more agreeable to our eyes their words are soft leading our hearts by gentleness in the same manner as in their moments of just indignation they appalled and confound us who can resist the magic of their song always sweet always gentle and always natural let us sleep to foreign ladies las ultramarinas these affected and scientific manners of singing here nature surpasses art as happens in everything notwithstanding the cavellings of the learned and what shall I say of their souls I shall say that in Europe the minds are more cultivated but in Mexico the hearts are more amiable here they are not only sentimental but tender not only soft but virtuous the body of a child is not more sensitive no es más sensible el cuerpo de un niño no eros but softer I have seen souls as beautiful as the borders of the rainbow and pure than the drops of dew their passions are seldom tempestuous and even then they are kindled and extinguished easily but generally they emit a peaceful light like the morning star venus modesty is painted in their eyes and modesty is the greatest and most irresistible fascination of their souls in short the mehican ladies by their manifold virtues are destined to serve as our support whilst we travel through the sad desert of life well do these attractions merit that we should try to please them and in effect a new form new luster and new graces have been given to the almanac of the mehican ladies whom the editor submissively entreats to receive with benevolence this small tribute due to their enchantments and their virtues there are in mehico a few families of the old school people of high rank but whom mingle very little in society who are little known to the generality of foreigners and who keep their daughters entirely at home that they may not be contaminated by bad example these select few rich without ostentation are certainly doing everything that is in their power to remedy the evils occasioned by the want of proper schools or of competent instructresses for their daughters being nearly all allied by birth or connected by marriage they form a sort of clan to belong to one or other of these families to be hospitably received by all they mint together frequently without ceremony and whatever elements of good exist in mehico are to be found amongst them the fathers are generally men of talent and learning and the mothers women of the highest respectability to whose name no suspicion can be attached but indeed it is long before a stranger even suspects a state of morals in this country the private conduct of individuals the most perfect decorum prevails in outward behavior but indolence is the mother vice and not only two little children might Dr. Watts have asserted that Satan finds a mischief still for idle hands to do they are besides extremely leal to each other and with proper expedit decor rarely gossip to strangers concerning the errors of their neighbors ways indeed if such a thing is hinted at deny all knowledge of the fact so long as outward decencies preserved habit has rendered them entirely indifferent as to the liaisons subsisting amongst their particular friends and as long as a woman attends church regularly is a patroness of charitable institutions and gives no scandal by her outward behavior she may do pretty much as she pleases as for flirtations in public they are unknown I must however confess that this indulgence on the part of women of unimpeachable reputation is sometimes carried too far we went lately to a breakfast at which was a young and beautiful countess lately married and a very low birth she looked very splendid with all the blank diamonds and a dress of rose colored satin after breakfast we adjourned to another room where I admired the beauty of a little child who was playing about on the floor when this lady said yes she is very pretty very like my little girl who is just the same age I was rather surprised but it concluded she had been a widow and made the inquiry of an old French lady who was sitting near me oh no she said she was never married before she alludes to the children she had before the count became acquainted with her and yet the senora de blank the strictest woman in Mexico was loading her with attentions and caresses I must say however that this was a singular instance there are no women more affectionate in their manners than those of Mexico in fact a foreigner especially if he be an English man and a shy man and accustomed to the coolness of his fair country women need only live a few years here and understand the language and become accustomed to the peculiar style of beauty to find the consignoritas perfectly irresistible and that this is so may be judged of by the many instances of English men married to the women of this country who invariably make them excellent wives but when an Englishman marries here he ought to settle here for it is very rare that a Mexicana can live out of her own country they miss the climate they miss the warmth of manner that universal cordiality by which they are surrounded here they miss the lies is a layer an absence of all etiquette in habits toilet etc they find themselves surrounded by women so differently educated as to be doubly strangers to them strangers in feeling as well as in country a very few instances there are of girls married very young taken to Europe and introduced into good society who have acquired European ways of thinking and even prefer other countries to their own but this is so rare as scarcely to form an exception they are true patriots and the visible horizon bounds their wishes in England especially they are completely out of their element a language nearly impossible for them to acquire a religion which they consider heretical outward coldness covering inward warmth a perpetual war between sun and fog etiquette carried to excess an insupportable stiffness in the article of the toilet rebuses unknown cigarritos considered barbarous they feel like exiles from paradise and live but in hopes of a speedy return as to the colleges for young men although various projects of reform have been made by enlightened men in regard to them especially by Don Lucas Alaman and afterwards by Senor Guterres Estrada and though to a certain extent many of the plans were carried into effect it is a universal source of complaint among the most distinguished persons in Mexico that in order to give their sons a thorough education it is necessary to send them abroad and of letter the 23rd letter the 24th of life in Mexico this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Life in Mexico by Francis Calderon de la Barca letter the 24th Revolution in Mexico Gomez-Farias and General Yuria the Federalists the President imprisoned firing cannon first news escape proclamation of the government count C.A. houses deserted countes del V.E. proclamation of the Federalists circular of the Federalists scarcity of provisions bursting of a shell refugees doctor plan young lady shot Gomez-Farias rumors address of Gomez-Farias balls and bullets visit from the blank minister arrival of Monsur del Blanc expected attack scrimmage appearance of a street San Cosme General Blanc the Count de Blanc more rumors suspense cannonading government bulletin plan of the rebels defeated proclamation of the President maternal affection fresh reports families leaving the city letter from Santana Pustamante's letter when imprisoned propositions refusal dacubaya archbishop fresh proposals refusal government bulletin proclamations awkward mistake the archbishop visits the President conclusion of the revolution government newspapers circulars July 15th revolution in Mexico or pronunciamiento as they call it the storm which has for some time been brewing has burst forth at last Don Valentín Gomez-Farias and the banished General Yuria announced for federalism at two this morning joined by the fifth battalion and the regiment of Comercio they took arms, set off for the palace surprised the President in his bed and took him prisoner our first information was a message arriving on the part of the government desiring the attendance of our two old soldiers who put on their old uniforms and set off quite pleased next came our friend Don M. del C. O. who advised us to haul out the Spanish colors that they might be in readiness to fly on the balcony in case of necessity little by little more Spaniards arrived with different reports as to the state of things some say that it will end in a few hours others that it will be a long and bloody contest assured that it will merely terminate in a change of ministry others that Santana will come on directly and usurp the presidency at all events General Valencia at the head of the government troops is about to attack the pronunciados who are in possession of the palace the firing has begun people come running up the street the Indians are hurrying back to their villages in double quick trot as we are not in the center of the city our position for the present is very safe all the cannon being directed towards the palace all the streets near the square are planted with cannon and it is pretended that the revolutionary party are giving arms to the leperos the cannon are roaring now all along the street people are standing on the balconies looking anxiously in the direction of the palace or collected in groups before the doors the azoteas which are out of the line of fire are covered with men they are ringing the toxin things seem to be getting serious nine o'clock p.m continuation of firing without interruption I have spent the day standing on the balcony looking at the smoke and listening to the different rumors Gomez Farias has been proclaimed president by his party the streets near the square are said to be strewed with dead and wounded there was a terrible thunderstorm this afternoon mingled with a roaring of the cannon it sounded like a strife between heavenly and earthly artillery we shall not pass a very easy night especially without our soldiers unfortunately there is a bright moon so night brings no interruption to the firing and slaughter 16th our first news was brought very early this morning by the wife of one of our soldiers who came in great despair to tell us that both her husband and his comrade are shot though not killed that they were amongst the first who fell and she came to entreat ZN to prevent their being sent to the hospital it is reported that Bustamante has escaped and that he fought his way sword in hand through the soldiers who guarded him in his apartment Almonte at all events is at the head of his troops the balls have entered many houses in the square it must be terribly dangerous for those who live there and amongst others for our friend Senor Tagli director of the Montepio and his family they have just brought the government bulletin which gives the following statement of the circumstances yesterday at midnight Urea with a handful of troops belonging to the garrison and its neighborhood took possession of the national palace comprising the guard and committing the incivility of imprisoning his excellency the president Don Anastasio Bustamante the commander in chief the mayor de la plaza and other chiefs Don Gabriel Valencia chief of the Plana Mayor the staff General Don Antonio Mozo and the minister of war Don Juan Nepo Mousseno Almonte reunited in the citadel prepared to attack the pronunciados who arming the lowest populace took possession of the towers of the cathedral and of some of the highest edifices in the center of the city although summoned to surrender at two in the afternoon firing began and continued till midnight, recommending at five in the morning and only seizing at intervals the colonel of the sixth regiment together with a considerable part of his corps who were in the barracks of the palace escaped and joined the government troops who have taken the greatest part of the positions near the square and the palace his excellency the president with a part of the troops which had pronounced in the palace made his escape on the morning of the sixteenth putting himself at the head of the troops who have remained faithful to their colors and at night published the following proclamation the president of the republic to the colonel fellow citizens the seduction which has spread over a very small part of the people and garrison of his capital the forgetfulness of honor and duty have caused the defection of a few soldiers whose misconduct up to this hour has been thrown into confusion by the valiant behavior of the greatest part of the chiefs officers and soldiers who have intrepidly followed the example of the valiant general in chief of the plana mayor of the state army the government was not ignorant of the machinations that were carrying on their authors were well known to it and it foresaw that the gentleness and clemency which it had hitherto employed in order to disarm them would be corresponded to with ingratitude this line of policy has caused the nation to remain headless asifala for some hours and public tranquility to be restored but my liberty being restored the dissidents convinced of the evils which have been and may be caused by these tumults depend upon a reconciliation for their security the government will remember that they are misled men belonging to the great mehican family but not for this will it forget how much they have forfeited their rights to respect nor what is due to the great bulk of the nation restored in a few hours the laws will immediately recover their energy and the government will see them obeyed anastasio bustamante mexico july 16th 1840 a roar of canon from the palace which made the house shake and the windows rattle and caused me to throw a blot over the president's good name seems the answer to this proclamation 17th the state of things is very bad canon planted all along the streets and soldiers firing indiscriminately on all who pass count ca slightly wounded and carried to his country house at takubaya two spaniards have escaped from their house into which the balls were pouring and have taken refuge here the e family have kept their house which is in the very center of the affray canons planted before their door and all their windows already smashed indeed nearly all the houses in that quarter are abandoned we are living here like prisoners in a fortress the countess del vie whose father was shot in a former revolution had just risen this morning when a shell entered the wall close by the side of her bed and burst in the mattress as there are two sides to every story listen to the proclamation of the chief of the rebels senor valentine gomez farrias to the mehican people fellow citizens we present to the civilized world two facts which while they will cover with eternal glory the federal army and the heroic inhabitants of this capital will hand down with execration and infamy to all future generations the name of general postamante this man without faith breaking his solemnly pledged word after being put at liberty by an excessive generosity for having promised to take immediate steps to bring about a negotiation of peace upon the honorable basis which was proposed to him he is now converted into the chief of an army the enemy of the federalists and has beheld with a serene countenance this beautiful capital destroyed a multitude of families drowned in tears and the death of many citizens not only of the combatants but of those who have taken no part in the struggle amongst these must be counted an unfortunate woman enciente who was killed as she was passing the palace gates under the belief that a parley having come from his camp the firing would be suspended as in fact it was on our side this government informed of the misfortune sent for the husband of the diseased and ordered twenty-five dollars to be given him but the unfortunate man though plunged in grief declared that twelve were sufficient to supply his watts such was the horror inspired by the atrocious conduct of the ex-government of Bustamante that this sentiment covered up and suffocated all the others another fact of which we shall with difficulty find an example in history is the following began being in want of some implements of war it was necessary to cause an iron case to be opened belonging to Don Stanislaus Flores in which he had a considerable sum of money in different coin besides his most valuable effects thus all that the government could do was to make this known to the owner Senor Flores in order that he might send a person of confidence to take charge of his interests making known what was wanting that he might be immediately paid the pertinacity of the firing prevented Senor Flores from naming a commissioner for four days and then although the case has been open and no one has taken charge of it the commissioner has made known officially that nothing is taken from it but the implements of war which were sent for glory in yourselves Mexicans the most polished nation of the earth illustrious France has not presented a similar fact the Mexicans possess heroic virtues which will raise them above all the nations in the world this is the only ambition of your fellow citizen Valentin Gomez-Farias God Liberty and Federalism Mexico July 17th 1840 besides this a circular has been sent to all the governments and commandants of the different departments from the palace of the federal professional government to this effect the citizen Jose Yuria with the greater part of the garrison of the capital and the whole population pronounced early on the morning of this day for the re-establishment of the federal system adopting in the interim the constitution of 1824 whilst it is reformed by a congress which they are about to convoke to that effect and I having been called in order that at this juncture I should put myself at the head of the government to communicate it to your excellency informing you at the same time that the object of the citizen Yuria instead of re-establishing the federal system has been to reunite all the Mexicans by proclaiming toleration of all opinions and respect for the lives properties and interests of all God Liberty and Federalism Valentin Gomez-Farias National Palace of Mexico 15th July 1840 there is a great scarcity of provisions in the center of the city as the Indians who bring in everything from the country are stopped. We have laid in a good stock of commestibles though it is very unlikely that any difficulties will occur in our direction. While I am writing the canon are roaring almost without interruption and the sound is anything but agreeable though proving the respect entertained by Farias lives properties and interests of all we see the smoke but are entirely out of the reach of the fire I had just written these words when the senora blank who leaves opposite called out to me that a shell has just fallen in her garden and that her husband had but time to save himself the canon directed against the palace kill people in their beds in streets entirely out of that direction while this ball intended for the citadel takes its flight to Xancosme both parties seem to be fighting the city instead of each other and this manner of firing from behind and from the top of houses and steeples is decidedly safer for the soldiers than for the inhabitants it seems also a novel plan to keep up a continual canonating by night and to rest during a great part of the day one would think that where the guns brought nearer to the palace the affair would be sooner over late last night a whole family came here for protection the senora blank with blank nurse and baby etc she had remained very quietly in her own house in spite of broken windows till the bullets whizzed past her baby's bed this morning everything remains as it was the first day the president in the citadel the rebels in the palace the government are trying to hold out until the troops arrive from Puebla in an interval of firing the secretary contrived to make his way here this morning the English minister's house is also filled with families it being a little out of the line of fire those who live in the square and in the Calle San Francisco are most exposed and the poor shopkeepers in the Parien are in a state of great and natural trepidation I need not say that the shops are all shut 19th Dr. Plann a famous French physician was shot this morning as he was coming out of the palace and his body has just been carried past our door into the house opposite the senorita blank having imprudently stepped out on her balcony her house being in a very exposed street a pistol ball entered her side and passed through her body she is still alive but it seems impossible that she can recover the prior of San Joaquin riding by just now stopped below the windows to tell us that he fears we shall not remain long here in safety as the pronunciados have attacked the convent of la Concepción at the end of the street my writing must be very desultory impossible to fix one's attention on anything we pass our time on the balconies listening to the thunder of the canon looking at the different parties of troops riding by receiving visitors who in the intervals of the firing venture out to bring us the last reports wondering, speculating, fearing, hoping and excessively tired of the whole affair Gomez Farias the prime mover of this revolution is a distinguished character one of the notabilities of the country and has always maintained the same principles standing up for rapid and radical reform he is a native of Guadalajara his literary career is said to have been brilliant he is also said to be a man of an ardent imagination and great energy his name has appeared in every public event he first aided in the cause of independence then when deputies for Zacatecas showed much zeal in favor of Yutulpide was afterwards a warm partisan of the federal cause contributed to the election of General Victoria afterwards to that of Pedraza took an active part in the political changes of 33 and 34 detests the Spaniards and during his presidency endeavored to abolish the privileges of the clergy and troops suppressed monastic institutions granted absolute liberty of opinion abolished the laws against the liberty of the press created many literary institutions and whatever were his political errors and the ruthlessness with which in the name of liberty and reform he marched the achievement of his object without respect for the most sacred things he is generally allowed to be a man of integrity and even by his enemies an enthusiast who deceives himself as much as others now in the hopes of obtaining some uncertain and visionary good and even while declaring his horror of civil war and bloodshed he has risen in rebellion against the actual government and is the cause of the cruel war now raging not in the open fields or even in the scattered suburbs but in the very heart of a populist city this morning all manner of opinions are afloat some believe that Santana has started from his retreat at Manga de Clavo and will arrive today will himself swallow the disputed oyster the presidential chair and give each of the combatants a shell apiece some that a fresh supply of troops for the government will arrive today and the rebels must eventually triumph among the reports which I trust may be classed as doubtful is that General Luria has issued a proclamation promising three hours pillage to all who join him then will be the time for testing the virtues of all the diplomatic drapeau in the midst of all here comes another address of his excellency Senor Don Valentín Gomez-Farias charged provisionally the government of Mexico and of the general-in-chief of the Federal Army to the troops under his command companions in arms no one has ever resisted a people who fight for their liberty and who defend their sacred rights your heroic endeavors have already reduced our unjust aggressors almost to complete nullity without infantry to cover their parapets without artillery to fire their pieces without money, without credit without support they already make their last useless efforts on our side on the contrary all is in abundance sobra men, arms, ammunition and money and above all the invincible support of opinion while the parties which adhere to our paranciamiento in all the cities out of the capital and the assistance which within this very city is given by every class of society to those who are fighting for their people offer guarantees which they will strictly fulfill to all the inhabitants of the country natives as well as foreigners our enemies in the delirium of their impotence have had recourse to their favorite weapon, Calumne in a communication directed to us they have had the audacity to accuse you of having attacked some property miserable wretches no the soldiers of the people are not robbers they are very noble and it's defense will not be stained by a degrading action this is the answer given to your columniaters by your chiefs who are as much interested in your reputation as in their own soldiers of the people let valor as well as all other civic virtues shine in your conduct that you may never dim the renown of valiant soldiers and of good citizens valentine Gomez Faria's Jose Yuria two shells have fallen into the house of Senor Blanc who has a pretty wife and a number of children and that his azotea is occupied by the federalist troops fortunately these grenades burst in the patio of his house and no one was injured the chief danger to those who are not actually engaged in this affair is from these bullets and shells which come rattling into all the houses we have messages from various people whom we invited to come here for safety that they would gladly accept our offer but are unwilling to leave their houses exposed to pillage and do not dare to pass through the streets so our numbers have not increased as yet you may suppose that although this is Sunday there is no mass in the churches the prior of San Fernando who has just sent us round some colossal cauliflower and other fine vegetables from his garden permits us to come to his convent for safety should anything occur here I am afraid he would lodge the women kind in some outhouse I had written thus far when we received a visit from the Baron de Blanc minister who living in a very exposed situation near the palace requests us to receive his secretary of legation M. de Blanc who is dangerously ill of typhus fever as the doctors no doubt warned by the fate of poor doctor plan here to pass into that street which is blocked up by troops in cannon some people fear a universal sacking of the city especially in the event of the triumph of the federalist party the minister seem to have great confidence in their flags but I cannot help thinking that a party of armed leperos would be no respecters of persons or privileges as yet our position continues very safe we have the alameda between us the palaces square and the principal streets being on the other side of the alameda and this street a branch of the great cahia de tacuba stretching out beyond it I write more to occupy my thoughts than in hopes of interesting you for I am afraid that you will almost be tired of his revolutionary letter as a clever Mexican the marquee of Blanc says some years ago we gave forth cries gritos that was in the infancy of our independence now we begin to pronounce heaven knows when we shall be old enough to speak plain so that people may know what we mean Sunday evening Montseur de Blanc has arrived and is not worse we have unexpectedly had 12 persons to dinner today the news tonight is that the government troops have arrived and that a great attack will be made by them tomorrow on the rebels in the palace which will quickly bring matters to a conclusion some of our guests are sitting up and others lying down on the sofa without undressing I prefer being comfortable so good night 20th we were astonished this morning at the general tranquility and concluded that instead of having attacked the rebels the government was holding a parley with them but a note from the English minister informs us that a skirmish has taken place between the parties at one of the gates of the city in which the government party has triumphed so far the news is good our street has a most picturesque and lively appearance this morning it is crowded with Indians from the country bringing in their fruit and vegetables for sale and establishing a temporary market in front of the church of San Fernando innumerable carriages drawn by mules are passing along packed inside and out full of families hurrying to the country with their children and movables those who are poover are making their way on foot men and women carrying mattresses and little children following with baskets and bird cages carts are passing loaded with chairs and tables and beds and all manner of old furniture uprooted for the first time no doubt since many years all are taking advantage of this temporary cessation of firing to make their escape our stables are full of mules and horses sent us by our friends in the center of the city where all supplies of water are cut off another physician a Spaniard has just been shot every room at San Cosme and in all the suburbs is taken in some rooms are numbers of people obliged to sleep upon mats too glad to have escaped the danger to care for any inconvenience a quantity of plate and money and diamonds were sent here this morning which we have been hiding in different parts of the house but they say that in case of pillage the plunderers always search the most impossible places pulling up the boards brick floors etc ripping up the mattresses and so on so I believe there is no use in concealing anything near us lives a celebrated general on whose political opinions there seems much doubt as he has joined neither party and has become invisible ever since this affair commenced he is a showy handsome man with a good deal of superficial instruction and exceedingly vain of his personal advantages I am quite sure that having allowed him to be a fine looking man he would forgive me for saying that his character is frivolous and that his principles both moral and political are governed entirely by that which best suits his own advantage the Count Debbie, secretary to the French legation mounted his horse last evening and like a true young Frenchman set off to pay a visit to a pretty girl of his acquaintance passing through the most dangerous streets and particularly conspicuous by singular dress, good looks and mostaches he had not gone far before he was surrounded by some dozen of leperos with knives who would no doubt have robbed and dispatched him but that in tearing off his sarapé they discovered his uniform and not being very self-in-military accoutrements concluded him to be an officer on the part of the government they being on the Federalist side hurried with their prize to the palace where he was thrown into prison and obliged to remain until some of the officers came to see the prisoner and recognized him much to their astonishment we are now going to dine with what appetite we may which is generally pretty good ten o'clock p.m. we ventured after dinner to take a turn in the direction opposite the city and met various parties of ladies who as they cannot use their carriages at present were thankful to escape from their temporary and crowded dwellings and were actually taking exercise on foot when we were encountered by people full of the intelligence that the great attack on the palace is to be made this evening and were advised to hurry home we were also assured that a party of leperos headed by their long-bearded captain an old robber of the name of Castro had passed the night before our door before we could reach home the firing began and we have passed several hours in a state of great suspense amidst the roaring of the cannon the shouting of the troops the occasional cries of those who are wounded and to make everything appear more lugubrious the most awful storm of thunder and rain I almost ever heard the senora de Blanc's brother is a captain in the government services and he and his regiment have distinguished themselves very much during these last few days consequently she is dreadfully uneasy tonight the gentlemen seem inclined to pass the night in talking we think of lying down and sleeping if we can I hope nothing will happen in the night for everything seems worse in the darkness and consequent confusion 21st after passing a sleepless night listening to the roaring of cannon and figuring to ourselves the devastation that must have taken place we find to our amusement that nothing decisive has occurred the noise last night was mere skirmishing and half the cannons were fired in the air in the darkness there was no mark but though the loss on either side is so much less than might have been expected the rebels in the palace cannot be very comfortable or they say that the air is infected by the number of unburied dead bodies lying there indeed there are many lying unburied on the streets which is enough to raise a fever to add to the calamitous state of things the government bulletin of today expresses the regret of the supreme magistrate at seeing his hopes of restoring peace frustrated and publishes the assurances of fidelity which they have received from all the departments especially Queretaro and Veracruz in spite of the extraordinary dispatches which had there been received from Farias desiring them to recognize Yuria as minister of war and Don Manuel Cresencio Rejon as minister of the interior which communications says the commandant of Queretaro produced in my soul only indignation and contempt towards their miserable authors the account of the yesterday's affair is as follows the pronunciados in the palace knowing that the infantry which was to come from Puebla to the assistance of the government was expected to arrive yesterday endeavored to surprise it near the gate of St. Lazarus with a column of infantry of 200 in number and some cavalry but the brave Cornel Torejon with 80 dragoons beat them completely killing, wounding and taking many prisoners and pursuing them as far as the Archbishop's palace the supreme government appreciating the distinguished services and brilliant conduct of the aforesaid Colonel have given him the rank of general of Brigade the president in today's proclamation after declaring that the beautiful capital of the Republic is a theater of war says that nothing but consideration for the lives and properties of the inhabitants has been able to restrain the enthusiasm of the soldiers of the nation and to prevent them from putting forth their whole force to dislodge the rebels from the different points of which they have possessed themselves the president adds that this revolt is the more inexcusable as his administration has always been gentle and moderate that he has economized the public treasure respected the laws and that citizens of whatever opinion had always enjoyed perfect tranquility under his rule that constitutional reforms were about being realized as well as the hopes of forming by them a bond of union between all mehicans he concludes by reproaching those revolutionary men who thus cause a shedding of so much innocent blood the commander-in-chief General Valencia writing perhaps under some inspiring influence is more figurative in his discourse soldiers of liberty he exclaims anarchy put out its head and your arms drowned it in a moment but have been a finer figure in the days of the great lakes and again he exclaims mehicans my heart feels itself wounded by the deepest grief and all humanity shudders incontemplating the unsoundable chaos of evils in which the authors of this rebellion have sunk the incautious men whom they have seduced in order to form with their dead bodies the bloody ladder which was to raise them to their aggrandizement already the mehican people begin to gather the bitter fruits with which these men who blaze and forth their humanity and philanthropy have always allured them feeding themselves on the blood of their brothers and striking up songs to the sad measure of sobs and weeping these tropes are very striking all is brought before us as in a picture we see anarchy raising his rascally head above the water most likely adorned with a liberty cap and the brave soldiers instantly driving it down again we behold Gomez Farias an urea rushing up a ladder of dead bodies and then the Lucrezia Borgia a kind of scene that follows alluring their victims with bitter fruit perhaps with sour grapes drinking blood and singing hoardly out of tune to a running bass of sobs the teeth of humanity are set on edge only by reading it well may his excellency add I present them to the nations of the world as an inimitable model inimitable model of ferocity and barbarity this morning Henedal Blank sent a few lines from the citadel where he and the president are in which he speaks with confidence of speedily putting down the rebels CN returned many affectionate messages accompanied by a supply of cigars they say that the greatest possible bravery is shown by the boys of the military college who are very fine little fellows with arms on the side of the government a strong instance of maternal affection and courage was shown by the senoraji this morning having received various reports concerning her son who belongs to this college first that he was wounded then that the wound was severe then that it was slight and being naturally extremely uneasy about him she set off alone and on foot at five o'clock in the morning without mentioning her intention to anyone having with her a basket of provisions passed across the square and through all the streets planted with cannon made her way through all the troops into the citadel had the satisfaction of finding her son in perfect health and returned home just as her husband and family had become aware of her absence Henedal Valencia is said to have a large party amongst the soldiers who are in favor of his being named president it is said that he was seen writing up and down in the lines in a spirited manner and rather unsteady in his saddle some rumors there are that Santana has arrived at Perote but as he travels in a litter he cannot be here for some days even should this be true there seems no particular reason to believe that this will end soon and we must remain shut up here as patiently as we can in the intervals of firing the gentlemen go out but they will not hear of our doing so in the evening and then either firing or thunder sends us back various people and especially the Countess C.A. have invited us to their country places but besides that we are in the safest part of the city and have several guests C.N. does not think it right for him to leave Mexico they say that house rents will rise hereabouts on account of the advantages of the locale in cases of this sort amongst other announcements the government have published that the rebels have demanded that the jewels together with the service of gold and silver belonging to the holy cathedral church shall be given up to them and threatened to seize the hole by force should their demand not be acceded to within two hours it is very probable that they will do so adds the bulletin thus adding a new crime to all they have committed it is now evening and again they announce an attack upon the palace do not believe them and listen to the canon with tolerable tranquility all day families continue to pass by leaving Mexico the poor shopkeepers are to be pitted besides a total cessation of trade one at least has been shot and others plundered a truce of two hours was granted this afternoon to bury the dead who were carried out of the palace two of our colleagues ventured here this morning 22nd the government bulletin of this morning contains a letter from Santa Ana dated 19th of July informing the president with every expression of loyalty and attachment to the government that according to his desire he will set off this morning in the direction of Perote at the head of a respectable division various other assurances of fidelity from Victoria from Galindo etc. are inserted with a remark that the Mexican public will thus see the uniformity and decision of the whole republic in favor of order and especially will receive in the communication of his Excellency General Santa Ana an equivocal proof of this unity of sentiment not withstanding the assurances given by the rebels to the people that Santa Ana would either assist to them or would take no part at all in the affair it must be confessed however that his Excellency is rather a dangerous umpire Sierra published a proclamation today declaring Mexico in a state of siege it seems to me that we knew that already upon the whole things are going on well for the government parties of pronunciados have been put down in various places the wounded on both sides have been carried to the hospital of San Andrés a battery is now planted against the palace in the Calle de Plateros where they are at least near enough to do more execution than before one circumstance worthy of notice has been published today the rebels as you may recollect declared that they had permitted the president to leave the palace on condition of his taking conciliatory measures and that he had agreed to favor their pretensions now here is Pustamante's own letter written in the palace when surrounded by his enemies a proof if any were wanting of his exceeding personal bravery and perfect coolness in the midst of danger there is something rather Roman in these few lines ministers I protest that I find myself without liberty and without defense the guards of the palace having abandoned me under these circumstances let no order of mine which is contrary to the duties of the post I occupy be obeyed since although I am resolved to die before failing in my obligations it will not be difficult to falsify my signature being known by you to the congress and to those generals and chiefs who preserve sentiments of honor and fidelity national palace July 15th, 1840 Anastasio Pustamante the following propositions are made to the government by the rebels article first it not having been the intention of the citizen José Yuria and of the troops under his command to attack in any way the person of the republic general Anastasio Pustamante he is replaced in the exercise of his functions second using his faculties as president of the republic he will cause the firing to seize on the part of the troops opposed to the citizen Yuria who on his side will do the same third the president shall organize a ministry deserving of public confidence and shall promise to re-establish the observance of the constitution in 1824 convoking a congress immediately for the express purpose of reform fourth upon these foundations peace and order shall be re-established and no one shall be molested for the opinions which he has manifested or for the principles he may have supported all who are in prison for political opinions being set at liberty Almonte in the name of the president rejected these conditions of the pronunciados in case they should surrender within 24 hours the chiefs of the opposite party hereupon declared the door shut to all reconcilment but requested a suspension of hostilities which was granted A is going to drive me out during the suspension in an open cab to call on the C.A. family the blanks have left their house their position having become too dangerous another letter from general Almonte this morning nothing decisive the streets continue blocked up with cannon the roofs of the houses and churches are covered with troops the shops remain closed and the streets deserted people are paying ounces for the least morsel of room in the suburbs on the San Cosmos side of the city 23rd yesterday the archbishop invited the chiefs of the pronunciados to a conference in his archipascopal palace in order that he might endeavor in his apostolical character to check the effusion of blood the conference took place and the rebels requested a suspension of hostilities whilst the prelate should communicate its results to the president which was granted by the general in chief but the pronunciados broke the truce and endeavored to surprise the president and Almonte in the citadel passing over the parapads in the Caye de Monteria they were repulsed with slaughter and a fierce cannon aiding was kept up all night they have now requested a parley which was granted them in the midst of all there is a communication from the governor of Morelia giving an account of the routing of a band of robbers who had attacked and hacienda we went to Tacobaya and met with no other danger but that of being drenched wet as a daily watering of the earth short but severe now takes place regularly the new propositions of the pronunciados are these first the forces of both armies shall retire to occupy the bases out of the capital second both the belligerent parties shall agree that the constitutional laws of 1836 shall remain without force third a convention shall be convoked establishing the new constitution upon the bases fixed in the constitutive act which will begin to be enforced directly fourth the elections of the members of the convention will be verified according to the laws by which the deputies of the constituent congress were directed fifth his actual excellency the president will form a provisional government he being the chief until the foregoing articles begin to take effect sixth no one shall be molested for political opinions manifested since the year 21 until now consequently the persons employment and properties of all who have taken part in this or in the past revolutions shall be respected seventh that the first article may take effect the government will facilitate all that is necessary to both parties the government have refused these second propositions and at the same time made known to the mehican world that various deserters from the opposite party assure them that the pronunciados including the principal chiefs are occupied in destroying everything within the palace that the general archives and those of the ministers are torn in pieces and that the dispatches are taken to make cartouches and so on they end by accusing them of being all united with the most noted robbers and public highwaymen such as Ricardo T E José Polvoría E Roman Chavez E Juan Vega E Rosas E Garcilazo and others I put down the names of these mehican Dick Turpins and Paul Cliffords in case we should meet them some Bonjour More forces have arrived from Puebla and Toluca Santa Ana is expected to reach Puebla tonight and again General Valencia holds out an invitation to repentance to the deceived men in the palace twenty-fifth a letter is published today from Santa Ana to General Victoria assuring him that whatever personal considerations might have detained him in his country's seat with pleasure the command of the division going to Perote and will in this as in all things obey the orders of the supreme government firing with short intervals continued all yesterday during the night and this morning two mortars are placed in front of the old Accordada in the direction of the palace but as yet they have not been used there are a crowd of people examining them things remain nearly in the same position as before except that there are more deserters from the revolted party a proclamation was issued from Eurea accusing the government of all the evils that afflict the city and of all the bloodshed caused by the Civil War amongst other things they complain of the death of Dr. Plan who was shot in the Cayede Seminario and according to them by the government troops General Valencia answers this time without figures and with good reason that the responsibility of this misfortunes must be with those who have provoked the war in the bulletin of today the government praised their own moderation in having taken off the duties from all provisions entering the capital in order that the price might not become too high an advantage in which the pronunciados themselves participate mentioned their exertions to supply the city with water and their permission given to the pronunciados to send their wounded to the hospital of San Andrés they deny that the government has any share in the evils that afflict the whole population their endeavor having ever been to preserve tranquility and order but when a handful of factious men have taken possession of part of the city no choice is left them but to besege and combat them until they surrender and not to abandon the peaceful citizens to pillage and vengeance they declare that they might already have subdued them and are only held back by the fear of involving in their ruin the number of innocent persons who occupy their circumjacent houses the policy of this moderation seems doubtful but the sincerity of the president is unimpeachable they continue to observe upon the absurdity of this handful of men pretending to impose laws upon the whole republic when already the body of the nation have given unequivocal proofs that they have no desire that the questions relative to their political institutions should be decided by the force of arms while the pronunciados declare on their side that information of pronunciamientos everywhere has been received by them the government remarks that 11 days have now elapsed which has given full time for all the departments to declare themselves in favor of those who call themselves their representatives but on the contrary nothing has been received but assurances of fidelity and of support to the government cause I believe that the English packet attained till the conclusion of this affair but should it not be so you need not feel any uneasiness in regard to us our house is full of people money jewels and plate are stables of horses and mules amongst the diamonds are those of the senora el which are very fine and there are gold roulous enough to set up a bank at san angostin Santana seems in no hurry to arrive people expect him tomorrow but perhaps he thinks the hour has not come for him 26 the proclamation of the governor of the department of Jalisco is published today in which he observes the nation cannot forget that this Yuria who has brought so many evils upon his country this faithful friend of Mr. Carlos Baudin and of the French squadron which invaded our territory for whom he procured all the fresh provisions which they required is the same man who now escapes from prison to figure at the head of a tumultuous crowd whose first steps were marked by the capture of his excellency the president firing continues but without any decided result it is a sound that one does not learn to hear within difference there seems little doubt that ultimately the government will gain the day but the country will no doubt remain for some time in a melancholy state of disorder bills are fastened today on the corners of the streets forbidding all ingress or egress through the military lines from six in the evening till eight in the morning gentlemen who live near us now venture in towards evening to talk politics or play at west but generally in the middle of a game some report is brought in which drives them back to their houses and families with all possible haste Senor Blanc a young Spaniard who is living with us returning here late last night was challenged by the sentinels at the corner of the street with Ken Viva to which being in a brown study he mechanically replied Spain fortunately the officer on duty was a man of common sense and humanity and instead of firing warned him to take better care for the future last night the Archbishop paid a visit to the president in the convent of San Augustine to intercede in favor of the pronunciados the Mordars have not yet played against the palace owing it is said to the desire of the general in chief to avoid the further effusion of blood the tranquility of the sovereign people during all this period is astonishing in what other city in the world would they not have taken part with one or other side shops shot workmen out of employment thousands of idle people subsisting heaven only knows how yet no riot no confusion apparently no impatience groups of people collect on the streets or stand talking before their doors and speculate upon probabilities but await the decision of their military chiefs as if it were a judgment from heaven from which it were both useless and impious to appeal twenty seventh long live the mehican republic long live the supreme government thus begins the government bulletin of today to which I say amen with all my heart since it ushers in the news of the termination of the revolution and what particularly attracts my attention is that instead of the usual stamp the eagle serpent and no pal we have today a shaggy pony flying as never did mortal horse before his tail and mane in a most violent state of excitement his four short legs all in the air at once and on his back a man in a jockey cap furiously blowing a trumpet from which issues a white flag on which is printed news in English and apparently in the act of springing over a milestone on which is inscribed also in English one hundred to new york we have says the government the grateful satisfaction of announcing that the revolution of this capital has terminated happily the rebellious troops having offered in the night to lay down arms upon certain conditions excellency the commander-in-chief has accepted their proposals with convenient modifications which will be verified today the empire of laws order tranquility and all other social guarantees being thus re-established etc. Kuevas minister of the interior publishes a circular address to the governors of the departments to the same effect adding that in consideration of the inhabitants and properties which required the prompt termination of this disastrous revolution the guarantees of personal safety solicited by the rebels have been granted but none of their pretensions have been acceded to the conspiracy of the fifteenth having thus had no other effect but to make manifest the general wish and opinion in favor of the government laws and legitimate authorities a similar circular is published by general Almonte having arrived at this satisfactory conclusion which must be as agreeable to you as it is to us I shall close this long letter merely observing in apology that as madame destal said in answer to the remark that women have nothing to do with politics that may be but when a woman's head is about to be cut off it is natural she should ask why so it appears to me that when bullets are whizzing about our ears and shells falling within a few yards of us it ought to be considered extremely natural and quite feminine to inquire into the cause of such phenomena end of letter the 24th