The Sun.
London, England, 1840-08-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 1840.

MEXICO;

Extract of a letter f:ottt the city of Mexico, dated
fful,y 2,5 • - • .•.
URAND BALL IN COMMEMORATION OF

THE MARRIAGE OF THE QUEEN.
On the 23d of May, the members of the British L.e-
gation, with the principal English residents of this city,
gave a ball and supper, on a scale of magnificence un-
precedented, in honour of her Majesty's nuptials. From
the first moment that an intimation was given that this
object would be effected by a subscription, all seemed
to vie with each other in zeal and activity in the cause,
and an unanimity prevailed which spoke but one sen-
timent, and that one a high and chivalrous feeling of
devotion and loyalty. Before I proceed further, I
must give you some idea of the situation of the scene of
these festivities, which was a building admirably adap-
ted to the purpose, being a part of the National Mining
College, the use of which had been granted. It is a
modern structure, built in the purest taste, unequalled
in this " City of Palaces," for its architectural beauty,
and in its class perhaps not surpassed in the world. In
the court-yard was stationed a military band, filling the
immense space with martial strains. The soldiers, with
their officers in rich uniforms, composing a numerous
guard of honour, stood in groups, or strolled about,
adding much to the general gaiety of the scene.
Having crossed the spacious court-yard, ascended
the magnificent staircase, and traversed a portion of the
corridor, you entered a lofty quadrangular apartment
of considerable dimensions, having at one extreme a
gallery, and at the other a platform about two feet high,
extending the width of the saloon, and used as the the-
atre for public examinations ; the adornments of this
apartment are perfectly chaste, and accord with the
general elegant simplicity which characterise this build-
ing ; on the present occasion it was fitted up, I need
not say, with splendour, for the ball-room, having three
fine chandeliers along the centre, with smaller ones and
candelabra along the sides and ends, large mirrors,
vases of alabaster and statues. Two flags, from a Bri-
tish man-of-war, lying at Vera Cruz, having been sent
up for the occasion, were hung in peaceful repose at
the head of the saloon,—that flag which had so oftea
waved in scenes of strife and carnage, was now stilled,
and reared o'er " silken halls," where the only strife
was to please, the only weapon the shafts from spark-
ling eyes ; beneath the colours was suspended a por-
trait of our youthful Queen, whose dignified simplicity
was the theme of general admiration. _

A little before nine o'clock her 'Majesty's Minister
Plenipotentiary, Richard Pakenham, Esq., with the
other members of the Legation and Consulate, all in
full dress uniform, attended by several other English
gentlemen, with the English ladies, were in readiness to
receive the company, which soon after began to arrive ;
by ten o'clock a considerable number having assembled,
dancing commenced with several sets of quadrilles.
Carriages continued to crowd the entrance for several
hours, until the ball-room was thronged with a company
falling little short of 2,000 persons, whose elegant ap-
pearance and manner, generally, might have graced the
proudest city in Europe. The dresses of the ladies
were mostly of a costly description, and in excellent
taste, a considerable number making a dazzling
show of the choicest diamonds and other jewel-
lery. The scene was also much enlivened by the
numerous and rich uniforms of the corps diplo-
matique—the public authorities—military &c. Be-
tween eleven and twelve General Bustamente, the Pre-
sident of the Republic, was ushered in by the British
Minister, and a little after one the President led the
way to the supper-rooms, having on his arm Mrs. Cal-
deron, an English lady, and wife of the Spanish Minis-
ter ; the tables were laid with much taste, and, of
course, were well supplied with every delicacy that could
be obtained ; the wines were choice, and the cham-
pagne flowed as abundantly and sparkled as brightly as
it does on the other side of the Atlantic on similar great
fetes. General Bustamente from the head of the table
proposed the health of her Majesty in a complimentary
speech (in Spanish of course), which was received with
great enthusiasm by all, including her Majesty's fair
subjects, you may be sure.
After the repast dancing was again resumed, and
kept up with untiring activity until seven the following
morning, when the musicians concluded their almost
unceasing exertions with our national anthem, which
they had previously performed, and repeated several
times during the evening ; in fact there was an unin-
terrupted flow of melody, for during •the intervals in
the ball-room some martial strain would occasionally
float on the air, and reach the ear from the court
below ; harmony everywhere and in every sense pre-
vailed. And thus concluded a festival which will long
hold a place in the memory of those who participated
in it, on account of the interesting event commemorated
by it, for the magnificence with which it was conducted,
and for the joy and happiness which was so liberally
dispensed."