A STATE BREAKFAST. 



203 



through the length and breadth of which free principles 

 were struggling for the ascendancy, would dare fasten 

 on the people a yoke which, even in the dark ages, was 

 too galling to be borne. The tone of debate was re- 

 spectable, but calm and unimpassioned, from the entire 

 absence of any opposition party. The Assembly pur- 

 ported to be a popular body, representing the voice of 

 the people. It was a time of great excitement, and the 

 last night of its session ; and Mr. Hall and I, four men 

 and three boys, were the only listeners. 



As it was not safe to be in the streets after eight 

 o'clock, the Assembly was adjourned, and, after a short 

 session the next morning, assembled at a state break- 

 fast. The place of meeting was in the old library, a 

 venerable room, containing a valuable collection of rare 

 old Spanish books and manuscripts, among which had 

 lately been discovered the two missing volumes of Fu- 

 entes, and where I promised myself much satisfaction. 

 The only guests were Mr. Hall, the French consul gen- 

 eral. Colonel Monte Rosa, an aid of Carrera, and my- 

 self. Carrera was invited, but did not come. The ta- 

 ble was profusely ornamented with flowers and fruits. 

 There was very little wine drunk, no toasts, and no gay- 

 ety. There was not a gray-haired man at table ; all were 

 young, and so connected that it seemed a large family 

 party ; more than half had been in exile, and if Mora- 

 zan returned to power they would all be scattered 

 again. 



I had been but three days in Guatimala, and already 

 the place was dull. The clouds which hung over the 

 political horizon weighed upon the spirits of the inhabi- 

 tants, and in the evening I was obliged to shut myself 

 up in my house alone. In the uncertainty which hung 

 over my movements, and to avoid the trouble of 



