IIEPUBLICAN EQUALITY. 131 



dances, waltzes, and occasionally minuets 

 and boleros. 



When the fandangos were finished, the 

 music was brought into the court- yard, 

 and all classes joined in a country-dance. 

 Here was to be seen the lady of the Minis- 

 ter of Finance, standing up between the 

 wives of a tinker and tailor, and a butcher's 

 spouse elbowing one of the first ladies of 

 the capital, — in short, it was a fine spe- 

 cimen of the equality of republicanism. 

 About six o'clock we all mounted our horses 

 to return to the city ; the evening was fine, 

 but the ladies generally complained of the 

 keenness of the air, which they felt severely, 

 being only clad in linen dresses, riding-ha- 

 bits not having yet been introduced into 

 the country; they usually ride on Spanish 

 saddles, something in the style of our pil- 

 lions, though some prefer the English side- 

 saddle. The wind, which was troublesome 

 K 2 



