LETTER THE FORTY-SIXTH.
Santa Mónica — Solidity — Old paintings — Anachronism — Babies and nurses from the Cuna — Society — Funds — Plan — Indian nurses — Carmelite convent — Midnight warning — Old villages and churches — Indian bath — San Matéo — The Lecheria — Fertility — Molino Viejo — Dulness — Religious exercises — Return to Mexico — Mexican hotel — New Generals — Disturbances — General Bustamante — Inconvenience — Abuses in the name of Liberty — Verses — Independence celebrated.
The Revolution has lasted upwards of thirty-five days, and during that time, though I have written of little else, we have been taking many rides in the environs of this hacienda, some of which were very interesting. We are also making the most of our last few days of Mexican country life. On Thursday we went on horseback with a large party to visit the mill of Santa Mónica, an immense hacienda, which tradition, I know not with what truth, supposes to have been in former days the property of Doña Marina; a gift to her from Cortes. At all events, at a later period it belonged to the Augustine monks, then to a Mexican family, who lost their fortune from neglect or extravagance. It was bought by the present proprietor for a comparatively trilling sum, and produces him an annual rent of thirty-five thousand dollars upon an average. The house is colossal, and not
