LETTER THE THIRTIETH.
Christmas day — Kalends and mass — Amateur performances — Solo — Posadas — Wandering of the Holy Family — Nacimiento — Crowded party — French cooks — Mexican cook — State of household — Yew Year's day — Mass — Dirtiness of the churches, &c. — Comparisons — Private chapels — English club — Preparations for journey.
Christmas Day! One year this evening, since we made our entry into Mexico. What a different aspect everything has assumed to us in one year I Then every object was new, every face that of a stranger. Now we are surrounded by familiar sights and sounds, and above all by friendly faces. But though novelty, which has its charms and also its désagrémens has gone, nothing in Mexico ever appears commonplace. Everything is on a large scale, and everything is picturesque. Then there is so much interest attached to its old buildings, so much to see, even though there are no sights and no show-places, unless we are to put in that class the Mineria, Museum, Cathedral, University and Botanic Garden, usually visited by travellers, that at whatever period we may leave it, I feel convinced we shall regret some point of interest, that we have left unvisited. . . .
Some days ago, colored cards printed in gilt let-
