The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-06-24
The Norfolk gast.
SATURDAY, JUNE "a, 1865.
MEXICO.

4AA~AAASS'
THE POLITICALAND MILITARY STANDARDIZATION
LIFE IN THE MEXICAN CAPITAL-THE EMPRESS
AND HER MAIDS OF HoN0R-sILks, DIAMONDS
UNIFORMS, CURLs, FEATHERS AND CHAMPAGNE
AMONG THE ELITE-MARsHAL BAzUINEs APP
PREACHING MARRIAGE-MAXIMILIAN MEN
ICAN MONROE DOCTRINE YANKEE ENTER.
PRISE ENCOURAGED by MAMMALIAN HORSE
RAILROADS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE CAP
ITAL-IMPREssIyE FUNERAL CEREMONIES AT
TILE UNITED STATES CONSULATE
Correspondence Of the n. Y Herald
CRY OF MEXICO, May 2s, 1865
The news of the recent battles i'm
Northwestern Mexico, have, of course,
reached you ere this. Negrete, the lib
eral commander, has been defeated by
the combined Mexican and French
troops at Monterey, Saltillo and Mata-
moras. The action at the latter place
was on rather large scale for Mexico,
some seven or eight thousand troops
having been engaged ON each side. The
French Zouaves, with their athletic
| movements, impetuOus onset and sword
| bayonets, were more than a match for
the poorly organized squads of MeXi-
cans, who seem to have little stomach
for fight with white races. The parti-
culars of these battles have not vet
reached us, near as we are to the scene
but enough is known to warrant the as
sertiOn that the Juarez forces have re-
ceived staggering blow in that direc-
ton. Juarez is said to have crossed the
boundary into the United States. The
Zouaves engaged in these affairs, eleven
hundred in number, left Vera Cruz only
a few weeks since, and at a time when,
the rainy season having commenced, il
was deemed impossible to begin cam
paign with any prospect of success
Marshal BaZuine, however, stops at moth
ing.
BY the way, the Marshal is to be mar
ried next week to a young lady of this
city, rich and pretty, but better suited
in years to be his granddaughter than
his wife. The Emperor and Empress
are to grace the occasion with their pre-
sence, and rumor has it that the couple
are to receive some bouncing presents in
the shape of residence, equipage, DC.
from their Majesties. The wide differ.
ence in age between the two is a matter
of ridicule, if not of scandal, throughout
the city, although such things are not
uncommon in high life. If ever Mars
| u ' cuuS III lufI DlftLc vi
absurdity, or May and December got
harnessed into one team, this is nota-
BILE instance of either OF both.
The season of State balls is over. Du-
ring the winter the Empress has given a
number of splendid receptions, at which
the wealth and elite of the capital assist
ed. These occur in the spacious suites
of saloons i'm 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 illumined with
chandeliers and richly furnished. On
such occasions the throne room is opened
aud forms a part of the brilliant scene.
r. 'is. tsaiaes several fine paintine1 Of
the Emperor aud Empress. Napoleon
Ill, Eugene and others, is a full length
one of Washington--dec the larg-
est and most imposing of all The or
chestra which is placed in the western
apartments, is composed of Austrians,
who certainly do justice to the occasion.
The Empress enters the ball room by Il
private door, accompanied by her maids
of honor, and passes leisurely down the
side of the hall where the ladies are
standing to receive her, pausing here and
there to speak with those she particularly
recognizes, precededbyadaD1e d'hOnneur,
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 cotil-
lions during the ball. which commences
about nine and closes at two or half an
hour later. The dresses of the ladies
ALWAYS in the last Partisan modc) are in
many instances of exceeding richness,
with surprising prOfusiOn of jewelry,
particularly diamonds. The dress for
gentlemen is black cut-away coat, black
pants, vest at discretion, white gloves,
white cravat and patent leather boots or
shoes. Military officers appear in full
uniform. The blending of the rich re-
gimentals of Austrians, French and Bel
gians, with the floating silks and airy
indescribables of the Mexican bellies pro-
duces peculiarly beautiful effect.
CarlOtta is about twenty-thrce years
of age, stately in form and a graceful
dancer. In an assemblage, of which |
should think two hundred were ladies,
she was the tallest. Beyond some fabu-
lOus lace, and q necklace of splendid
diamonds as large as haZelnuts, / took
no notice of the dress, preferring tC
| leave to some practised jenkins the con,
genial task of more particular descrip.
ton. Between the sets her Majesty and
ladies Of honor arise, which is the sig
nal for all to do the same, and another
| short round of social little presentations
follows.
The Emperor exhibits on these occa-
sions a cordial familiarity among those
with whom he wishes to converse
Macmillan speaks fiuently six lam
guages He is particularly pleasing in
his address, has the air of a student, and
wears, i'm conversation natural or cul-
tivated, cannot say which), a kind and
genial smile, which wins for him as
many friends as do his affable manners.
He h tall and commanding in form, is
thirty-six years of age, and looks every
inch the Emperor. ...,-...
&t midnight the great supper hall is
thrown open and their Majesties lead
the way to vast table decorated with
the most perfect taste and loaded with
every delicacy that refinement in French
cuisine can produce or palate crave, in
Guiding exquisite wines brought by the
Emperor from Europe, while the board
groans with the most superb silver ware
and porcelain, bearing the imperial
arms. 1t is not easy To conceive greater
iii ,osa ,,rnf,,uiou nr refined taste than