SIX MONTHS IK MEXICO. 55 



vanish before the light of English civilization. 

 On the other hand, Europe has much to learn 

 respecting America. Even the very names 

 of some of the finest cities of the Mexicans 

 are almost unknown to her; and therefore 

 we ought to pause before we laugh at the 

 ignorance of the American Spaniard. How 

 very few of the inhabitants of Great Britain 

 have heard of Puebla or Guatemala, yet they 

 are superb, populoy^, and wealthy cities ; and 

 is it not from New Spain that Europeans 

 principally draw the coin which hourly 

 passes through their hands, and which con- 

 tributes so largely to the ease and elegance 

 of life. 



We were introduced to several respectable 

 families in Xalapa, and spent many pleasant 

 evenings with them: lively conversation, 

 music, and dancing, filled up hours, that 

 might otherwise have passed heavily. On 

 the first evening of my being in their society, 



