The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-04-08
Puerto Principe.
Correspondence. Of the Heralt.l

ICERTo PRINCIPE, March 10Th, lSH
DEAR SIR-You must allow me the pleasure to
turn aside for moment from the course had laid
out for myself for the purpose of giving you some
idea of festival which recently came off here,
called the Fiesta Reales, in honor of Queen Isa-
bella H. being declared Of age.
The people had long been preparing for this great
event, and had stood tipoe for month at least,
if to forcsee its coming. II at last arrived. The
day that ushered it in beautiful, lovely, divine,
and the populace turned out en- masse and paraded
the streets. The military also appeared, and
must say, gave high hopes Of sauary reform in
that department. Their gallant and elegant COM
mander, Cruz Romero, whom have long had the
honor OF knowing, and whom ! have ever found to
be the most perfect model of soldier and gentle.
man, and worthy Of the many crosses and decora-
tons he wears, appeared in elegant uniform, and
with his fine Moorish sabre and manly bearing,
brew such dignity around his office that it look
I'd an honor to be commanded by him.
The second and third days, Qor there were three
OF them,) were alike pleasant and agreeable, and
full of life and merriment, and hilarity. public
dinner was given, and also a ball. The streets and
plazas, and public buildings, were ornamented with
flags, paintings, garands of flowers, &c, DC. In
the square of San Francisco was erected large
arch, highly decorated, and over which on one
side placed pair Of scales, to indicate justice,
and on the opposite side globe-two things the
people here are as entirely and perfectly ignorant of
as am of the opinions OF Hong Ching, OF China.
Is II not striking, affecting, surprising and sngu-
lar act that where justice is the least administered
there Is always the most display of its emblems! 1t
is like man who, having but little courage, will
generally make great ado about his bravery, in
order to establish reputation Tor what he has not
1t has It's simillude also IN the public documents of
the "Cubanos," which have always attached to
them Siempre fd Isla de Cuba" while the very
perpetrators, in a single moment, would make the
..YA falls If hoy fOrl
"Creole" who was ever faithful to his king, his
country, or his God, and who would not strange
the poor little stupid Queen herself, with her own
garter il by doing he could get the order Of it.
Do not, my dear sir, think me inimical to the
government or its institutions because Iexpose them
as they are. No; while am resident here Ipay
them all due reverence would, however, reform
them IN every particular, for they are full of foul
corruption, bribery dishonesty, mpiety and igno
rance.
En- fin, I wish there had been few William
Tells here during the three days Of the Fiesta
Reales, for do You think that the authorities stuck
upon pole or table cap of the Queen, and made
every one take of his hat as he passed II? ! am
told it on good authority, and the people were fools
enough to submit to the degradation
Ga the evening of the ball, carpets We're put
down a nice wooden floor 10 dance on. II is
usual, know, in most other countries, to take up
carpets if it is possible to do So when there is to
be dance but these people, wishing to do some
thing great and unequalled, and not knowing any
thing of the rest of the world, make the most rd-
culous plumbers you can possibly imagine in their
attempts at refinement. In one part of the room
was seen five or six fat very fat old women, seat
ed in chairs, winch were tipped back against the
wall, smoking away as uncOncernedly as if they
had been bashaws or rather bashaws wives in the
very harem, while their fair daughters (excuse the
expression, for there were many there with whom
a Southern man would not remain in a ballroom
moment, and whom he would unceremoniousIy
have dignhed with the unqualified and unequivocal
title of mulatoes,) were twirling away through the
luxurious waltz-now in the arms of governor,
whom perhaps their thoughts were pure, though
their eyes belied the tale. And it on and
came away and left the young in their dreams of
bliss; for age had dimmed my eye, and gaiety had
ed Streets and as approached the Quartet heard
the cry of "Quie, Vina" in the harsh voice OF a
soldier, and was fored to respond " EspaTia" and
again Que Gcntc," and again answered " Genie
buena," by which was allowed TO pass on to my
house and my lonely cot where soon dreamed Of
the Land Of the Free" Quede Dios.
SARDIs