The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-15 00:00:00

Court Life in Mexico.

The Mexican correspondent of the New York
Herald gives the following picture of the Court of
the Emperor Maximilian :

During the winter the Empress has given a number of
splendid receptions, at which the wealth and elite of the
capital assisted. These occur in the spacious suites of
saloons in the palace fronting upon the plaza, of which the
grand cathedral forms the western side. The apartments,
opening into each other and extending several hundred
feet, are illuminated with chandeliers and richly furnished.
On such occasions the throne-room is opened, and forms a
part of the brilliant scone. In this, besides several fine
paintings of the Emperor and Empress, Napoleon
111., Eugenie, and others, is a full-length one of
Washington, decidedly the largest and most imposing
of all. The orchestra, which is placed in the western
apartment; is composed of Austrians, who certainly
do justice to the occasion. The Empress enters the
ball room by a private door, accompanied by her maids of
honour, and passes leisurely down on the side of the ball,
where the ladies are standing to receive her, pausing here
and there to speak with those she particularly recognises,
preceded by a dame d'honaeur, who names in succession
those ladies who are to be presented. The same formality
is observed on the gentlemen's side where one of the
chamberlains performs the ceremony of presentation. This
being over the dancing begins. The Empress usually sails
through one or two cotillions during the ball, which com-
mences about nine and closes at two or half an hour later.
The dresses of the ladies(always in the last Parisian mode)
are in many instances of exceeding richness, with a sur-
prising profusion of jewellery, particularly diamonds. The
dress for gentlemen is black cut-away coat, black pants,
vest at discretion, white gloves, white cravat, and pa-
tent leather boots or shoes. Military officers appear
in full uniform. The blending of the rich regimental;
of Austrians, French, and Belgians, with the floating silks,
and airy indescribable, of the Mexican belles, produces a
peculiarly beautiful effect. The Empress is about 23 years
of age, stately in form, and a graceful dancer. In an assem-
blage, of which I should think 200 were ladies, she was
the tallest. Beyond some fabulous lace, and a necklace of
splendid diamonds as large as hazelnuts, I took no notice
of the dress, preferring to leave to some practised Jenkins
the congenial task of a more particular description. Be-
tween the sets her Majesty and ladies of honour arise,
which is the signal for all to do the same, and another short
round of social little presentations follow. The Emperor
exhibits on these occasions a cordial familiarity among
those with whom he wishes to converse. Maximilian speakshi
fluently six languages. He is particularly pas
address, has the air of a student, and wears ill
ds fri
(natural or cultivated, I cannot say which)n a
as
do his affable
manners. Ho is tall and commanding
nleedonainvnedgrgsinaetniioal
smile, which wins for him as many
in form, is 36 years
of
Emperor. At midnight
tag hee and looks v
great
, supper
r hallee inch
thrown
the
ta open
nd their Majesties
lead the way to a vast decorated with most perfect
taste, loadedonn spvriothdnecoveorry
padellaitcnaccyratThea,t refinement
ex-
quisite Frenche
wines brought by the Emperor from Europe,
'
while the board groans with the most superb silver ware
and porcelain, bearing the Imperial arms. It is not easy to
st' and
c cuisine
conceive greater richness, profusion, or refined taste than
s here displayed. Their Majesties presently retire, when
the affair relaxes a little from its state formality, and offi-
cers and civilians vie in their attentions to such ladies
as have not followed the Imperial couple. Carlotta is
decidedly and indisputably handsome. The eyes and
forehead are full of intellect, and in conversation the
face lights up with a smile that indicates a pure and
kind heart. There is at times, however, a kind of hauteur in
the expression, which, though it perfectly becomes the
Empress, detracts a little from the winning sweetness
which characterises the fine oval face. Every feature evinces'
talent, intelligence, firmness, and, above all, ambition. The
cousin of Queen Victoria, the daughter of the King of Bel-
gium, the granddaughter of Louis Philippe, the best blood
of Europe courses in her veins, and having been
arce
brought
up in the English Court, she fills her station with: he
augustg
dignity, and self-possession inseparable .from h
society she has seen from childhood.