LIFE IN MEXICO.

THE authoress is the wife of the first Spanish Minister accredited to Mexico since that colony threw off the yoke of the mother- country ; and she appears to be either an Englishwoman or an Anglo-American : some passages warrant the former conclusion, unless she only speaks conventionally of England as her original home. Accompanying her husband on his mission, she sailed from New York for Havanna in the autumn of 1839; and thence, after a tedious passage, reached Vera Cruz; where they proceeded to Mexico in a new diligence. Of her travels and observations the lady kept a journal, which she transmitted in letters to her family ; and these being perused by Mr. Paescorr, the author of the "History of Ferdinand and Isabella," he strongly advised their publication. This has taken place with "a few such alterations and omissions as were necessary in a private correspondence "; and Mr. Paescorr writes a brief preface stating his share in the matter.

A connexion of an Ambassador is always advantageously placed for seeing certain phases of society. At public fetes and official or private entertainments there is a place, either by courtesy or etiquette ; the " best society" is open without difficulty, if not as a matter of course ; there is no trouble in getting access to show-places and sights that are not readily accessible to other strangers; and the most intelligent natives are ready to point out what is best worth seeing either in town or country. These oppor- tunities were rather increased in the case of the present writer ; for the Mexicans were so delighted at the arrival of an envoy from Spain, and the acknowledgment it implied, that they received him with gratulations of all kinds. Still, there are things in a nation worth observing besides entertainments and sights ; and as we can but observe a certain amount in a certain time, it may be doubted whether these advantages are after all so great as they seem for the purposes of authorcraft. The multiplicity of subjects presented to the mind divert it from steady and deep attention, and direct what attention it can bestow upon the forms rather than the qualities of things. And we have noticed more than once, that persona who have enjoyed access to the highest society, and all the facilities it imparts, have not produced works in proportion to their seeming means; being often slight and superficial in matter, com- plimentary rather than judging in opinion, and little disposed to the trouble of investigation.

These qualities in some degree characterize the book before us; redeemed, however, by much of feminine vivacity, grace, and per- ception: to which it may be added, that parties, fetes, theatres, ceremonies, and the little incidents of society, together with flow- ers, landscapes, dress, music, and the wanner of character, are more natural to a woman, and therefore better, than in a man. Life in Mexico, however, deals rather with the fashionable than the real meaning of the word "life." Bating the peculiarities connected with the climate, and the complimentary courtesy of Spanish manners, which have as yet survived the distractions and re- volutions of the country, Life in Mexico seems the life of ladies and gentlemen all over the world. Nay, in strictness, it does not differ by the amount of the climate ; for the peculiarities arising from it are rather concomitant than inherent—that is in our fair writer's picture of behaviour and parties. Two topics of some gravity, indeed, form the subject of her pen. She was present during an outbreak, when two rival parties were Sting upon one another in the streets, (though doing more harm to the citizens than to each other,) and the capital was under some- thing like martial law : she was also present at several immolations under the guise of taking the veil ; and though her descriptions of the anxious confusion of the riot, and of the sentiment or mummery of the sacrifice, are graceful, yet the nature of her views and descriptions is so obviously feminine, that the graver subjects scarcely take on a grave character under her pen. It should be added, however, that only one half of the work is before us. The publication is a reprint of an American book forming a part of the Foreign Library; a serial whose plan is to present translations, / and it would seem reprints, of foreign works at a price intermediate Meeeereen the very cheap editions and copyright publications. -iPbe.eat charm in the letters is their style and manner; which are lively, careless, and unaffected—evidently the spontaneous effusions of an accomplished, witty, and kindhearted person, not writing with the sense of a public before her eyes, and hence pos- sessing a freedom which better writers do not always attain when a work is their design. This imparts a freshness and attraction even to the most trifling matters ; whilesher liveliness gives them a cha- racter. Take an example from her account of the sea-voyage.

SCENLS AT SEA.

When I said I liked a sea-life, I did not mean to be understood as liking aenerchant-ship, with an airless cabin, and with every variety of disagreeable odour. As a Frenchwoman on board, with the air of an afflicted porpoise, and with more truth than elegance, expresses it, "Tout devient puant, mama reasede-cologne.” ' The opening of morning is dramatic in our narrow cabin. Aboat twenty voices in Spanish, German, Italian, and broken English, strike up by degrees. From a neighbouring state-room. Nid d'oiseau puts forth his head. " Stoner! a toomlar ! here is no eater!" " Comin, sir, cumin." " Carambal Stooard 1" sir, combs!" " Stuart? easier und toel!" " Here, sir!" "Amigo! bow is the wind?" (This is the waking up of el Senor Ministro, putting his head half-suf- focated out of his berth.) " Oh steward ! steward !" "Yes, Miss," "Come here,, and look at this !" " I'll fix it, Miss."—&c.

SANTA ANNA.

In a little while entered General Santa Anna himself; a gentlemanly, good- looking, quietly-dressed, rather melancholy-looking person, with one leg, ap- parently somewhat of an invalid, and to us the most interesting person in the group He has a sallow complexion. Site dark eyes, soft aud penetrating, aud an interesting expression of face. Knowing nothing of his past history, one would have said he was a philosopher living in dignified retirement, one who had tried the world and found that all was vanity, one who had suffered ingra- titude, and who, if he were ever persuaded to emerge from his retteat, would only do so, Cincinnatus-like, to benefit his country. It is strange, how fre- quently this expression of philosophic resignation, of placid sadness, is to be remarked on the countenances of the deepest, most ambitious, and must de- signing men.

DECEMBER IN MEXICO.

It was difficult to believe, an we journeyed on, that we were now in the midst of December. The air was soft and balmy. The heat, without being op- pressive, that of a July day in England. The road through a succession of woody country ; trees covered with every variety of blossom, and loaded with the most delicious Tropical fruits ; flowers of every colour filling the air with fragrance, and the most fantastical profusion of parasitical plants intertwining the branches of the trees, and flinging their bright blossoms over every bough. Palms, cocoas, oranges, lemons, succeeded one another ; and at one turn of the road, down in a lovely green valley, we caught a glimpse elan Indian woman, with her long hair, resting under the shade of a lofty tree, beside a running stream—an Oriental picture. Had it not been for the dust and the jutting, nothing could have been more delighful.

MILLIONAIRES OP MEXICO.

But here come three carriages en suite, all with the same crimson and gold livery, all luxurious, and all drawn by handsome white horses. Is it the. President ? Certainly not ; it is too ostentatious. Even royalty goes in simpler guise when it condescends to mingle in the amusements of its sub- jects. In the first carriage appear the great man himself and his consort, rather withdrawing from the plebeian gaze. There is here much crimson and gold, much glass and well-stuffed cushions, much comfort and magnificence com- bined. Two handsome Northern steeds, white and prancing, draw this com- modious equipage. The next is a splendid coach, containing the children and servants; while in the third, equally magnificent, are the babies and nurses. By the side of the first carriage rid.s an elderly gentleman, who, were his seat firmer, might be mistaken for a picador. Ile wears a rich Mexican dress, all covered with gold embroidery ; his hat with gold rolls is stuck jauntily on one side, contrasting oddly enough with his uneasy expression of countenance ; probably caused by the inward trepidation of which he cannot wholly repress the outward sign while managing his high-bredsteed, and with his feet pressing his silver stirrups, cautiously touching Lim with a whip which has a large dia- mond in the handle.

But the chief wonder of his equipment, and that which has produced him such a retinue of little ragged and shouting boys, is his saddle. This extraor- dinary piece of furniture, which cost the owner five thousand dollars, is entirely covered with velvet, richly embossed in massive gold; he sometimes appears with another, inlaid with pure silver. His whole appearance is the most singular imaginable; and the perturbation of spirit in which he must return when it begins to grow dusk, and he reflects at once upon his own value and his countrymen's Mate for appropriation, must balance the enjoyment which his vanity receives from the admiration of the little boys in the Paseo.

THIEVES IN MEXICO.

Apropos to which, the — Consul told us the other day, that some time ago, having occasion to consult Judge — upon an affair of importance, he was shown into an apartment where that functionary was engaged with some suspicious-looking individuals, or rather who were above suspicion, their ap- pearance plainly indicating their calling. On the table before him lay a num-. ber of guns, swords, pistols, and all sorts of arms. The Judge requested Mon- sieur de — to be seated; observing that he was investigating a vibe of robbery committed by these persons. The robbers were seated, smoking very much at their ease; and the Judge was enjoying the same innocent recreation ; when his cigar becoming extinguished, one ot these gentlemen, taking his from his mouth, banded it to the magistrate; who relighted his puro (cigar) at it, and returned it with a polite bow. In short, they were completely hand in glove.

SPANISH COLONIAL COUNTRY MANNERS.

In the evening here, all assemble in a large ball; the Senhora de— playing the piano; while the whole party, agents, dependieotes, major-domo, coach- men, matadors, picadors, and women-servants, assemble, and perform the dances of the country; jarabes, aforrados, enanos, palomos, zapateros, &c. &c. It must not be supposed that in this apparent mingling of ranks between masters and servants there is the slightest want of respect on the part of the lat- ter : on the contrary, they seem to exert themselves, as in duty bound, for the amusement of their master and his guests. There is nothing Repub- lican in it—no feeling of equality : as far as I have seen, that feeling does not exist here except between people of the same rank. It is more like some remains of the feudal system, where the retainers sat at the same table with their chief, but below the salt. The dams are monotonous, with small steps and a great deal of shuffling; but the music is rather pretty, and some of the dancers were very graceful andagile ; and if it were not invidious to make dis- tinctions, we might particularize Bernardo the matador, the head coachman, and a handsome peasant-girl, with a short scarlet and yellow petticoat, and foot and ankle a la Vestris. They were all very quiet, but seemed in a state of intense enjoyment ; and some of the men accompanied the dancers oa the guitar.

A fault, not of the writer but of' the hook, is the constant recur- rence of initials or blanks; and this is as needless as it is annoying. Sometimes the blank cannot operate as any concealment, where concealment is most desirable, in America; for it is ridiculous to suppress the name when you mention the dice. What, for exam-

ple, is the utility of the blanks on the titlepage, " Machu ie C— de la B--," since any curious person could easily learn the name of the Spanish Envoy ? In the case of private individuals, the blank may be effectual; but there no hint of a name is wanted. It is just as intelligible, and quite as authoritative, to say "a visiter," or " tbe mistress of the house," or "a lady," played the piano, as to say "the Senora de —." Mr. Paescorr should have attended to this when he undertook the responsibility of giving the book to the world.