204 



MEXICO. 



them laughing most obstreperously, and scream- 

 ing out their observations, at the top of their 

 voices, he would relapse into his former doubts : 

 especially when he remarked the gentlemen in 

 boots and cloaks, and some with their hats on. 

 Neither would his ideas be cleared up by seeing 

 the party at the other end of the room engaged 

 in deep play, amidst a cloud of tobacco smoke. 

 And were he now as suddenly transported back 

 again to his own country, it might be difficult to 

 persuade him, that he had been amongst an 

 agreeable, amiable, and well-bred people — in the 

 very best society — in the Grosvenor Square, in 

 short, of the city of Topic ! 



12^A. — I made one of a great dinner-party to- 

 day, a sort of feast, or, as it is called in Spanish, 

 a convite. The hour named was one o'clock, 

 but it was half past one before the company were 

 all assembled. They were first invited to a side- 

 room to take a whet, which looked more like a 

 substantial luncheon. In the middle of the table 

 was placed a ham, flanked by two huge bowls, 

 one of punch, the other of sangaree ; a mixture 

 of wine, sugar, lemon-juice, and spices. At each 



