AUDIENCE OF THE PRESIDENT. 71 
along several balconies hung against the wall of the inner court-yard, we 
soon reached an antechamber filled with all the chief personages, both 
military and civil, of the Republic, and we were at once conducted 
to the reception-room. This is a large and newly furnished apartment, 
plainly painted in fresco ; its walls are hung with ordinary oil pictures of 
the history of Napoleon, and the floor is covered with a rather common 
carpet. 
At the south end of the rooiri. a Chair of State, with the flags and arms 
of Mexico richly embroidered in gold and colors on its velvet cushions, 
was placed for the President, under a canopy of crimson edged with gold. 
On either side of this, against the wall, .were chairs for the four Ministers, 
and, immediately in front of the President's seat, running the kngth of 
the room, beneath the great chandelier, were ranged two rows of chairs 
facing each other, for the diplomatic corps. Here we took our stand, 
according to the rank and length of residence of the respective Envoys 
in the country. 
In a few moments, the Ministers of State (who had retired after we 
were placed,) entered from a room behind the audience-chamber, and 
were directly followed by General Santa Anna, in the full uniform of the 
Chief of the Army — blue and red, richly embroidered with gold. You 
are aware, that at the battle of Vera Cruz with the French, in the year 
1838, one of his legs was shattered by a cannon-ball, as he pursued the 
enemy on their retreat to their boats. The limb was badly amputated, 
and of course he limps along on a wooden substitute, with the aid of a 
cane. But the defect does not take from the dignity and manliness of his 
air and carriage. 
He advanced to his chair under the canopy ; his Mmisters placed them- 
selves on either side of him, and the room, which had hitherto been only 
occupied by ourselves, was, at a signal to the aid-de-camp in waiting, 
filled with a brilliant cortege of ofiicers in full dress uniforms. 
As soon as silence and order were obtained, the President bowed grace- 
fully to us, and received an obeisance in return. Mr. Pakenham, the 
British Envoy, as the oldest resident Minister, then advanced, and in the 
name of the diplomatic body, made an address of congratulation in Spanish. 
The General listened with attention and interest, and when the Minister 
had concluded, replied briefly, but with considerable hesitation of manner 
and an awkward twisting of his cane and chapeau, showing that he was, 
at least on that occasion, more of the soMier than the speaker. As he 
seated himself after concluding his reply, he motioned us to our chairs, 
while the rest of the spectators still remained standing. A short conver- 
sation then followed between him, Mr. Pakenham, and Mr. Oliver, the 
Spanish Envoy, who were immediately in front of him; and at the first 
pause we rose, advanced to him singly and bowed; walking slowly to the 
door at the north end of the apartment, we turned on its s°ill and bowed 
again, both of the salutations being gracefully returned by him: and thus 
ended txhe morning visit of ceremonious congratulation. 
