The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-08 00:00:00

AN AZTEC WEDDING.

The London public will perhaps remember two
extraordinary children who, some fourteen years since,
were e • • under the auspices of Mr. Anderson,
known as the Wizard of the North, and who were train
described as being specimens of an ancient Indian race
that still survived amongst the ruined cities of Central
America. The story then told was that one of those
cities, " Ixamays," still remained intact, but was so
jealously guarded by its inhabitants that it was almost
impossible for any stranger to approach it. A Spaniard
named Velazquez, however, ventured within the lines, and
at great risk of life and limb bore off two children, to whom
be gave Spanish Christian and surnames. He brought his
prize to New York, when he handed them over to Mr.
Maoris, who has been their proprietor and guardian ever
since. On the occasion of their first exhibition in England,
Mr. Morris, being too much occupied to come over him-
self, intrusted them to Professor Anderson, who repre-
sented them to be brother and sister—a state-
ment which it is now understood was entirely
without foundation. These children excited a great
deal of curiosity and much discussion amongst the learned
in ethnology, but no one ventured to give a decided
opinion as to whether, es was asserted for them, they
might be accepted as specimens of an ancient but newly
discovered race, or whether they were merely abortive
births, such as occasionally happen in every country.
Since then Mr. Morris has himself travelled with his in-
teresting little charges through most of the great cities
of Europe and America, and shows approving teeti-
menials from person" of thel highest distinction in more
than one continental city. In St. Petersburg especially the
Aztecs attracted extraordinary notice, and received written
testimony to that effect from member. of the imperial
family. Everywhere the same discussions were raised
amongst the means as to their origin and race, and every-
where with the same inconclusive results. What they
are, whether accidental births, or the last remnants
of some ancient and sacred race which had for ages been
preserved by the priests of Central America to serve as a
sort of !Meg idols for their worship, still remains a
mystery—a circumstance which of course will only serve
to heighten the curiosity of the British public
should Mr. Morris determined upon exhibiting them in
London. So far as we could learn, he has brought
them over for the purpose of having them joined
in holy wedlock, they new being both of marriageable
age, and accordingly the legal ceremony was performed
yesterday morning, by the registrar, in the vestry-room of
y St. George's, Hanover-square. In order to give all proper
eclat to the wedding, the preparation of the bride's
troosPeau was entrusted to the house of Howell and
James, in Regent-street. The dress was of the richest
white satin, trimmed with the costliest of lace, and the
Jewels of the purest water. The little lady seemed to be
I absolutely enchanted with her sparkling necklace, her
solitaire ear-rings, and her bracelets of emeralds and bril-
-1 Hants. We were informed that thin trousseau cost close
upon 2,0004., and, considering its completeness, we should
be reluctant to pronounce it dear at the money. The
bridegroom wore plain evening dress, but was moat de-
monstrative in his examination and exhibition of a splen-
did gold watch with which he had been presented for the
interesting occasion. During the ceremony he deported
himself most judiciously—for a bridegroom, examined
the certificate which the registrar handed to him at its
conclusion most carefully, and then, with much impres-
siveness, presented the bride with her " marriage lines."
They are both much grown since their last visit to this
country, but still far below either in stature or bulk
anything else that we have ever seen in the shape of
either savage or civilized humanity. Their heads are not
bigger than would be that of an English child of a month
old. ;tad their figures are in proportion. The female is
well formed and has a not unpleaaing countenance, but
the man is a most extraordinary looking individual. The
type of countenance in both is decidedly antique, but
whether Assyrian, Egyptian, or Central American we must
leave to Professor Owen and the Anthropological Society
to decide. There never was anything like them exhibited
in London except themselves on the occasion of their first
visit, and whatever attraction they then offered for the
curious must be increased tenfold now when they present
themselves under such altered circumstances, and in full
and complete maturity. After the marring. ceremony
the bride, bridegroom, and a party of their friends ad-
journed to Willies Rooms, King-street, St. James's, for
the wedding breakfast, when some appropriate speeches
were made, and all sorts of good wishes were expressed
for the interesting couple.

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL &Perim. —At a meeting
of the Nottingham Town Council, yesterday, a resolution
Win Passed appointing a committee to wait upon the council
of the British Agricultural Society in London, to ask that
body to select Nottingham for the society's meeting in 1+468,
There is a probability of another colliery dispute
in the neighbourhood of Leeds. A fortnight ago the
miners in the Gildersome and Morley districts gave notice
to their employers of a demand for an advance of ten per
cent., and also to have house coals free, the ground on
which the demand was made being that the price of coal
to the public had been increased. The claim for coals bas
been given up, and the masters have offered an advance
of 7,', per cent., but at present the men refuse to accept
this compromise.