LETTER THE EIGHTH.
Ball in preparation — Agreeable family — Fine voices — Theatre — Smoking — Castle of Chapultepec — Viceroy Galvez — Montezuma's Cypress — Vice-Queen — Valley of Mexico — New Year's Day — Opening of Congress — Visits from the Diplomatic Corps — Poblana Dress — "Funcion extraordinaria" — Theatre — Visit to the Cathedral of Guadalupe — Divine Painting — Bishop — Beggars — Mosquitoes' Eggs.
A great ball is to be given on the 8th of January, in the theatre, for the benefit of the poor, which is to be under the patronage of the most distinguished ladies of Mexico. After much deliberation amongst the patronesses, it is decided that it shall be a bal costumé, and I have some thoughts of going in the Poblana dress, which I before described to you. As I am told that the Señora Ga wore it at a ball in London, when her husband was minister there, I have sent my maid to learn the particulars from her.
We called to-day on a family nearly related to the Cas, and who have been already excessively kind to us; Señor Ad, who is married to a daughter of Don Francisco Tagle, a very distinguished Mexican. We found a very large, very handsome house, the walls and roof painted in the old Spanish style, which, when well executed, has an admirable effect. The lady of the house, who is
