He was in sight. The dogs ran against each other, and at last secured the crafty rogue. A concluding chorus of yells was sung by the dogs, like a pack of Indians rejoicing over a fallen foe. We soon came up, and discovered that our joy was incomplete. The yellow rascal had jumped out of his skin, and left that for the dogs, and saved his bacon for himself. When we had expressed our surprise and thrown down the skin, the dogs agreed on a mutual curse for such an insinuating sly rogue, and then went after the body. Coming up with that, they were so galled at the former deceit that they devoured him in an instant. I was glad of it, for I hate to be set skinning foxes. They are as bad as eels. We concluded to give up the chase that day, for there was something wrong in the moon; and, when we returned home, the infatuated, heaped-up-face niggers collected around us, yaw-yawing merrily, and said they knew we "ar'n't got nuffin." When we asked why, "'Cause Black Wally hadn't put no salt in the corn-bread." I. Y. w. WOMEN ARE SOMETIMES FICKLE. Translated for the New Mirror from the French of De Maynard. It was ten o'clock when the countess awoke. With her beautiful fair hand she removed the curtains of the bed, and rang for her chambermaid. "You have been a long time coming, Marguerite ?" "I was admitting the Viscount Charles d'Atry, madam." "What, before noon! For a gallant, of yesterday, it is your answer I shall set out to join you, and then we will take possession of our hermitage. We must find a pretty name for it. Ah! I came near forgetting! You must visit, my angel, every part of the garden with attention, to select the most suitable place-a safe spot, shady, mysterious, far from all noise; for it is my intention to erect a small temple to friendship. My architect has taken the model from that of Trianon, which I will give you for the wonder of wonof the windows, that I must now begin to think a little about ders. You shall see it! I have thrown so much money out the useful. "Adieu, my sole, my only love. We shall soon be in each other's arms. Receive, in the meantime, as many kisses as there are leagues that separate us. Yours ever, HENRIETTE DE SALIGNAC." After sealing this epistle, the countess commenced her toilette. "Madame," said Marguerite, timidly, "this viscount has not seemed willing to leave without seeing you. He is still here, with his letter in his hand; he has even informed me that he is your cousin." "Cousin, Marguerite, or second cousin ?" "It is all the same, madame. He resembles you a little. He has black hair, and a famous pair of moustaches. He is tall, young and handsome. However, I do not like moustaches." "What is all this leading to?" asked Henriette. "It is to tell you, madame, that I caught him in ecstasy before your portrait." Madame de Salignac did, indeed, surprise her morning showing a great deal of empressement. But I am not anx-visiter, with his arms folded, and his eyes so attentively fixed ious to see him. I am going to write." "But he is waiting, madame?" "Let him wait, mademoiselle!" Marguerite prudently retired, and her capricious mistress improvised the letter, or rather the following extravagance: MATHILDE, MON AMIE-You are a happy woman not to be living in this great city. I almost bear you a grudge for leaving me in it. There is a perpetual noise here, enough to kill any one; and never such a thing as repose is to be found, even in the hours most suitable for one to have a little quiet. Pity me, ma belle amie. We have pleasure at Paris-happiness in the country. Yours is the best lot. But, in a short time, I shall share this charming fortune with you; if you have got through with embellishing the hermitage in which we are going to retire. I send you the pieces of the last opera; if it was less ennuyeux it would be more beautiful. Do you know, my dear, that our retreat will make scandal enough! Two pretty widows, who have twenty-five thousand francs rent, and count only twenty-five years, to break with society and renounce the world, Satan, and vanities, for nothing at all, like Saint Francis or Saint Jerome, setting off, some fine morning, to go and live in the desert, and weep and pray in the depths of solitude! When I write, weep and pray, I let myself be carried away by ma muse, as the old academician would say, who has deposed his jetons and his homage at my feet; two treasures out of which I shall not try to wrong any one of my sex. Have no fear, Mathilde, you know whom I love. "Have no fear; I know men do not really love, except in romances. Werter has disgusted me with the whole species. Love in this world is impossible. On this subject I have theories so clear, so just, so firm, that I fear very little what is called falling in love, and brave, in all safety, the crowd of dandies who besiege my steps! on her portrait that he did not hear her enter. It is true that, in walking, the pretty feet of the countess made no more noise than falling snow. This gift is given to young and beautiful women, whose presence is known only by their perfume; we respire them, we do not hear them. The interview was of short duration. The count gave her his letter of introduction; and, thanks to the powerful intercession of Henriette's uncle, thanks to his title of cousin, and, perhaps, to his very prepossessing manners and appearance, he obtained the difficult, the rare privilege of presenting himself at her house at any hour he pleased. A week afterwards, he was numbered among the most fervent, the most assiduous adorers of this inhuman beauty. His friends lamented his infatuation. "What is the use," they repeated again and again, "to transform yourself into a Celadon, for a coquette who will only amuse herself with your transports, and who is preparing for herself a kind of convent? Will you be satisfied to swell the crowd whom she treats with smiles and contempt? Do you hope to metamorphose her, and all at once to soften admire the pictures of Raphael's virgins; but, if you think her heart of adamant? Charles, adore the countess, as we of getting a wife, choose one among those who do not pique themselves in abhorring love. The kingdom of Madame de Salignac is not for this world." The unfortunate young man acknowledged that they were right; still he grew paler and paler, and became more and more a prey to his devouring passion. He returned every evening where the preceding night had left him; every even "But I hope the hermitage will soon be ready for our re-ing, a submissive slave, he resumed the chains which he ception. I am growing more and more impatient to be out of this hateful city. Mathilde, I want to run about the fields with you, and gather violets and pull off the leaves of the daisies together, to see if we love each other a great deal, or not at all. Mathilde, I feel more than ever that true happiness consists in being seated at evening under an oak, as M. de Lamartine says, and looking at the peasants dancing on the green before us. thought he had broken in the morning. But, to combat love without conquering it, is to increase its violence. Fatigued, however, with this struggle, ashamed of railleries, and feeling the term of Henriette's abode at Paris approaching, He swore that if, at the end of eight days, he had not marCharles determined to deal courageously with this woman. "To think of love! Out upon it, when one has friend-ried her, it should be reported throughout the city that a young ship, Mathilde! I am at your service. As soon as I get man had blown out his brains at the feet of a fair lady. This resolution calmed him, the colour returned to his cheeks, and his livid eyes sparkled as formerly. This same day he put on his cravat with extreme care, went out and ordered marriage presents, and bought a pair of pistols. After loading them he directed his steps towards the mansion of his lady-love. heart of the young lover, making him in the same moment pass from grief to joy, from happiness to despair; for what is love if it is not the essence of all these things! The modistes at length departed, and Charles resumed "How long and cruel this last hour has been for me! This hour has been a hundred minutes. Do you really intend, Henriette, to doom me to despair?" 66 "My friend-" The door opened suddenly. A tall footman, in green, an General Derville. Poor Charles fled, with fury in his soul. There was one chance less, one day lost, the first step made towards the tomb. The rest of the day he watched the continual pouring of the rain, wrote many letters, and often took up the pistols lying on the table. It was eleven o'clock. Henriette de Salignac was walking in a vast saloon among twenty modistes; some with hats, others with pelerines, others with flowers, laces, and numerous articles of ladies gear. For a woman who had re-nounced M. le Baron de Mouval, Madame Christian, M. le nounced the vanities of the world, she would have been accused of contemplating, with very eager looks, these futile trophies of fashion. But there is a Satan, which no daugh. ter of Eve can ever renounce in her life. This Satan is called dress. The coquette was adjusting, sometimes with one hand, sometimes with the other, an English scarf, of new material; and, with her inclined head, and neck elongated, her heart swimming in the intoxication, she betrayed, by her naive and frequent exclamations, how interesting the spectacle was to her, and which, to fascinate her completely, had only to unfold its pomp to her eyes. The viscount entered abruptly. "Henriette," said he to her in a low tone, "Henriette, I have come to a firm determination; you shall be mine, or I will be death's!" "Of the two brides," replied she, "I fear, my fine cousin, you will be obliged to take the last; but, look at this pelerine! Is it not a wonder? There was never anything embroidered so beautifully!" "Shall we not have time to speak of these trifles?" The next day he presented himself at one o'clock to Madame the Countess de Salignac ; madame was dressing for the woods. The day following, at two; but madame was occupied in preparations for her departure. The third day, at three; Madame had gone shopping for her friend. These circumstances had not been thought of. Charles contented himself in loading and unloading his pistols. There remained some chances for him yet. "I shall make the attempt," said he ; " but how can I insinuate myself in a life so well arranged? How break its symmetry, how arrive apropos, how guess the hour when this woman is weak?” Her heart remains inaccessible behind the fashions, visits, courses, promenades, toilettes, theatres, and operas. Always occupied, she is always invulnerable; and our lover tore his hair, then calmed himself, dressed with extreme recherché, and went out to see her pass, smiling, and loaded with camelias. One morning, after meditating a long while, he imagined it would be a good plan to offer himself to her regards about five in the afternoon. He thought that Henriette, on her return from the wood, her ears still filled with the praises of her beauty, a little weary, having, perhaps, seen some loving couples straying under the trees, would reflect that she was single, young, and unmarried; that she would be plunged, when he arrived, into that dangerous ecstasy of one in revery, who reflects that to crown the happiness of a lover is, after all, to insure at least half of her own. He felicitated himself greatly for having made this discovery. "Five o'clock," exclaimed he, "is the right hour! I shall go, and return at six a conqueror!" For joy, he discharged one of the pistols in the air. I know not by what sad presentiment he kept the other. At six, he returned as he went. The countess, on his arrival, was reclining voluptuously on a sofa, reading, or feign frightful state of his soul; but she felt none of those emotions he expected to find in her heart. She simply felt a great appetite. To all that he could recite of his flame she replied, that dinner was delayed too long, and it would be a wise thing to go and hasten it. “That is the truth, ma foi; I would much rather have this pretty little robe. I am going to the opera day after tomorrow, and I did not know what I should wear. Is not this robe charming? Its colour is of such exquisite taste. But, Charles, do not be so gloomy; when a woman is making purchases, one should never come to speak to her of love and suicide. I shall take this embroidered muslin." Charles could not help smiling. He who was going to killing to read. He depicted, with more ardour than ever, the himself for this frivolous creature, so unconcerned about his life, and so solicitous about robes and gewgaws!-he assisted silently at the solemn decision on thread and needles, calm in appearance but devoured with inquietudes, cruelly pre-occupied in the whimsical game that was to determine his fate. The unmoved countenance, and the cold and complaisant look of the countess when she addressed him from time to time, either from pity or to discharge her duties of mistress, her enthusiasm for a piece of lace, her joyous exclamations at a plume, her profound attention given to un semé de boutons de roses, so much seriousness expended on || frivolities, whilst there existed at her side a fervent and devoted lover, to which she paid no regard; whilst there was a man at her feet, praying for life and happiness, and of But, scarcely was he seated at her side, in the dazzling sawhom she asked if this tulle was preferable to a satin scarf! loon of the French opera, before he became gay, and forgot So many horrible and pleasing contrasts bruised the naif|| that a pistol awaited him at midnight in his chamber. He look Charles dined, but Charles despaired. They agreed, however, to go the next day to hear a new opera; but on condition he should be silent on the subject of his fearful passion, and, if possible, conceal it. He promised to be as proud as she was disdainful. At eight, Henriette was dressing; he could not be admitted to her chamber. It was his last card; he threw it, and lost the game. The pistol he had had the precaution not to fire in the air remained for him. ed and wept no longer. Sympathizing with the heroine of the play, he thought no more of his own miseries, which were not, however, the less real and poignant. Man is ever thus. His look, if it is dull, is relighted by eyes which are burning; his sadness dissolves and vanishes when surrounded with gay and exciting scenes. when the countess rang, she was visibly embarrassed. Marguerite entered with a letter in her hand. Henriette blushed still more, for it was the reply of Mathilde. But, alas! we are in a world of deceptions, where the best things are only of momentary duration; where man passes quickly away, and his oaths quicker still; we are in Henriette, seeing Charles so consoled, took alarm; her a frightful world, in which every evening gives the lie to heart of marble was softened and felt anxiety in its turn. It every morning. Mathilde delivered herself, on the first page, is true, the theatre had never been more brilliant, the au- to many philosophical reflections of this kind. On the last dience more select; the women set in the gold and velvet she wept greatly; she begged a thousand pardons of her of the boxes, more beautiful, more affable, more celestial! friend; and at last told her, with some confusion, that their They seemed like a thousand virgins painted by Raphael. project was devoid of common sense. She learned her, at Pleasure sparkled in every eye; enchanting music pene- the same time, that the bans of her marriage with a young trated the senses like poison, like a philter. They sung love advocate, was going to be published at the eleven o'clock on the stage, they celebrated its miracles; the pretty dan-mass, on the following Sunday. seuses formed, in giving each other's hands, circles and gar E. P. lands, broke them, then mingling, joined each other again,|| THE value to our country, of sending scholars and literary grouping themselves in a thousand fanciful, a thousand voluptuous figures. 66 When the countess reached home it was late. "Charles," said she to the young man, are you, then, so eager to leave me ?" "It is midnight, Henriette. Midnight is a villanous hour." "Why is it villanous, my good cousin? Stay, stay and tell me why you do not like the charming hour of midnight." "They rob at midnight, fair cousin; they kill, they murder at midnight; they commit suicide at midnight. Have not all the poets called midnight a fatal hour, an hour for crimes and spectres? They are right." men to foreign courts as secretaries of embassy, is strikingly shown in a work from which we extract the sketch below-Mr. Brantz Mayer's " MEXICO." The matter and style are of the best quality of interesting book-making, and Mr. Mayer may take up the profession of authorship, we confidently say, and be excelled by no one in success and saleableness. His book is on the eve of publication from the office of the New World. For some time after the installation of General Santa Anna as Provisional President of Mexico, under the system known in the political history of that country as the "Plan of Tacubaya," a difficulty existed between the government, and ministers of foreign nations, as to the etiquette which was to be "Charles, they are wrong. Poetry is all imagination. observed on public occasions, when it became necessary for But, tell me, Monsieur Mentor, at what hour you have the them to meet ceremoniously. To such an extent had this theatres, balls, concerts, and fêtes; at what hour your joy-variance of established rules been carried, that upon the conous bands surround the table, and break the seals of the bottles! You are jesting. Midnight, the hour for ghosts! You mean to say for wine and frolic. Come, I will wager you are going to leave me for a late supper." "You are right, madame. For a private supper." "And you dare confess it to me, Charles! Ah! henceforth I will say like you, and with you, that midnight is a villanous hour! But that hour in which I shall see you remain with me without regretting the world, that in which you shall sacrifice for me the noisy dissipations of giddy youth, that in which you shall weep on my hands, as you have done heretofore, that in which you shall swear, that if I do not listen to you, you will kill yourself for me, that is the hour which I shall love and bless. Charles, that is the hour which, as it strikes every day, will, in spite of me, find an echo in the centre of my heart." "Pardon, Henriette; I have been mistaken, I knew not what I said. Now, I repeat with you, that midnight is, of all hours, the most joyful, the most enrapturing. It is the signal of happiness; the only hour in which the heart of woman, mysterious flower of night, unfolds itself. I was crazy, I was foolish. What! to think of the morning, to think of noon, of evening, when there is midnight. To forget midnight, to go and beset you in the midst of the fastidious details of the day! I was a fool, ma belle. But do not withdraw thy fair hand, fair cousin; it is midnight! Thou hast said it. And presently, on returning home, I was to shoot myself! Henriette, I will die! My arms await secration of the present archbishop, the envoy from France deemed it proper to mark his disapprobation, by retiring with his legation from the cathedral. These matters, which to us republicans seemed of no very great moment, except as they had been rendered so by the Mexicans themselves, were, however, at length satisfactorily arranged; and on the first of January, 1842, the members of the different missions were invited to meet the president in the morning, for the purpose of exchanging the usual courtesies of the day, and to partake of a dinner in the evening. This invitation was sent with all due form through his Excellency, Mr. De Bocanegra, the minister of foreign affairs. Mexican diplomacy, the invitation was entirely unexpected, As the system of entertainment at table is quite a novelty in and it was hailed by the whole corps as indicative of an agreeable change in our future intercourse. Accordingly, at noon on the first of January, the diplomatic body, in full uniform, met at the apartments of the minister of foreign relations in the palace. Here again, some trifling question of etiquette was started relative to the precedence of the archbishop, which being arranged, the corps, as soon as it had been joined by the ministers of state, was ushered to the hall of audience by an aid-de-camp of the wall of the inner court-yard, we soon reached an antethe president. Passing along several balconies hung against chamber filled with all the chief personages, both military *The revolution of 1841, after several fruitless battles, in which victory seems to have crowned neither side, and several as fruitless interviews of the chiefs and messengers of the different parties, was at length terminated by a meeting of commanding officers at Tacubaya on the 28th of September, when a plan was agreed upon and signed by one hundred and ninety-one persons, by means of which the existing constitution of Mexico was superseded. By this system or Plan of Tacubaya," consisting of thirteen articles, a general amnesty was proclaimed-a call of a new Congress to form a constitution "Let them wait. You shall not go, Charles. I will not agreed upon-and a Junta created, to be named by the Genbe an accomplice in your murder." me-" During all this time the hands of the clock did not remain on the adored cipher, which, by turns, they blessed. The hours glided away one after another, and day appeared at last, blushing and pale as a bride of yesternight. This time, eral-in-chief of the army. The Junta was to elect the provisional president, who, by the seventh article, was clothed "with all the powers necessary to reorganize the nation and all the branches of administration;" or, in other words, with supreme power. That general was Santa Anna. He selected the Junta, and the Junta returned the compliment by selecting him. THE NEW MIRROR. and civil, of the republic, and we were at once conducted to the reception-room. This is a large and newly furnished apartment, plainly painted in fresco; its walls are hung with ordinary oil pictures of the history of Napoleon, and the floor is covered with a rather common carpet. At the south end of the room a chair of state, with the flags and arms of Mexico richly embroidered in gold and colours on its velvet cushions, was placed for the President, under a canopy of crimson edged with gold. On either side of this, against the wall, were chairs for the four Ministers, and, immediately in front of the president's seat, running the length of the room, beneath the great chandelier, were ranged two rows of chairs facing each other, for the diploHere we took our stand, according to the matic corps. rank and length of residence of the respective Envoys in the country. In a few moments, the Ministers of state (who had retired after we were placed) entered from a room behind the audience-chamber, and were directly followed by General Santa Anna, in the full uniform of the chief of the army-blue and red, richly embroidered with gold. You are aware, that at the battle of Vera Cruz with the French, in the year 1838, one of his legs was shattered by a cannon-ball, as he pursued the enemy on their retreat to their boats. The limb was badly amputated, and of course, he limps along on a But the defect wooden substitute, with the aid of a cane. does not take from the manliness of his air and carriage. He advanced to his chair under the canopy; his ministers placed themselves on either side of him, and the room, which had hitherto been only occupied by ourselves, was, at a signal to the aid-de-camp in waiting, filled with a brilliant cortége of officers in full dress uniforms. As soon as silence and order were obtained, the president bowed gracefully to us, and received an obeisance in return. Mr. Pakenham, the British envoy, as the oldest resident minister, then advanced, and in the name of the diplomatic body, made an address of congratulation in Spanish. and conducted us to the audience-room, now brilliantly light- my The total repose and quietness of the company was precisely what I desired. It afforded me an opportunity to take a sort of mind portrait of the warrior president; and seated for an hour within the sound of his voice, at the distance of a few feet, I had an excellent opportunity to do so. His demeanour in conversation is mild, earnest and gentlemanly. He uses much gentle gesture as soon as he becomes animated, and seems to speak with all his soul, with out losing command over himself and his feelings. I have since seen Santa Anna in his coach, surrounded with guards and all the pomp of the military; at the review of eight thousand troops; in church, at prayer; in the ballroom; in the cock-pit, betting; in the audience-room; at the banquet; and in private interviews of delicate diplomacy, when the political interests of the two nations were at stake. No one can easily forget him; and I have delayed describing him until now, because I have been unwilling to deceive myself or others. According to public opinion, he is a riddle in character; he surely is not so in appearance, and if his person and his manners are not, as with others, to be taken as a fair index of the man, he is either an archhypocrite, or a capital actor. In person, General Santa Anna is about six feet high, well made, and of graceful bearing, though he stumps along on an old-fashioned wooden peg, rejecting as uncomfortable, all the "mock legs" with patent springs and self-moving inventions, which have been presented to him by his flatterers from all parts of the world. His dress, as I have said before, is, on all public occasions, that of a high officer of the army; and his breast is covered with richly-gemmed deco rations. The General listened with attention and interest, and when the minister had concluded, replied briefly, but with considerable hesitation of manner and an awkward twisting of his cane and chapeau, showing that he was, at least on His brow, shaded with black hair somewhat sprinkled that occasion, more of the soldier than the speaker. As he by no means lofty, but narrow and smooth. seated himself after concluding his reply, he motioned us to with gray, our chairs, while the rest of the spectators still remained Although his whole head is rather small, and perhaps rather standing. A short conversation then followed between him, too long for its breadth, it has, however, a marked and boldMr. Pakenham, and Mr. Olivér, the Spanish envoy, wholy-defined outline, indicating talent and resolution. His were immediately in front of him, and at the first pause we rose, advanced to him singly and bowed; walking slowly to the door at the north end of the apartment, we turned on its sill and bowed again, both of the salutations being gracefully returned by him; and thus ended the morning visit of ceremonious congratulation. I have been so minute in repeating to you the details of this ceremony, not because I deem any account of bows and formal speeches interesting to a reader; but because such a scene has occured in a republic, before the President of a republic, and in a national palace surrounded with soldiery, amid the beating of drums, the braying of trumpets, and all Such a detail sounds oddly to the paraphernalia of a court. nose is straight and well shaped, and his brows knit in a line over close and brilliant eyes, which are said to flash His with fire when aroused to passion. His complexion is dark and sallow, and his temperament evidently bilious. mouth is the most remarkable feature. Its prominent expression, when at rest, is that of mingled pain and anxiety. In perfect repose, you would think him looking on a dying friend, with whose sufferings he was deeply but helplessly sympathizing. His head and face are those of an attentive, thoughtful, melancholy, but determined character. There is no ferocity, vindictiveness, or ill-temper in his expression; and when his countenance is lighted up by pleasant conversation, in which he appears to enter eagerly though with a one who entering a door often opened without a porter-timid and subdued voice; and when he puts on that sweet. passing through no lines of grim guards-amid no military pomp or parade-approaches the President of our own more favoured land, and finds him seated in his plain parlour, by a comfortable grate, habited in neat but homely dress, and ready, without ceremony, to grasp your hand and welcome you to his fireside. We left the palace at one o'clock, and entering our car. riage, proceeded to pay the customary visits of form to all our friends, on the first of January. We found numbers of people at home, and left a corresponding quantity of cards for those who were engaged in the same duty as ourselves. It was a delight to reach home once more, and get rid of As the bell tolled for Oracion, Mr. Ellis and myself mount- ly wooing smile, which seems too tranquil ever to ripen into a laugh, you feel that you have before you a man who would be singled from a thousand for his quiet refinement and serious temper; one who would at once command your sympathy and your respect; a well-bred gentleman, and a resolute soldier, who can win by the solicitation of an insinuating address, or rule by the authority of an imperious spirit. Such is a portrait of the person who, since the outbreak of the Mexican revolution, has played a chief part in the drama of the time, and has fought and forced his way to eminence from the humblest rank. The destroyer and builder up of many systems and men, he has not always been on the side of republicanism, according to the liberal and enlightened notions of the north; but it is sincerely to be hoped, that he is too deeply pledged as an old soldier and brave fighter in the cause of liberty, now to shrink back into the folly of despotism. While the hour passed in which I sat looking at and listening to this remarkable person, the company in the saloon gradually thickened. Here a newly made colonel, the child of the new revolution, in as new and bright a uniform; there a veteran general, in the time-stained dress, tarnished trap-ing the (as yet) brainless, though already fashionable bonnets. pings, and old cut coat of the ancient régime. Here a knot || And (begging pardon of Greenwich and William-streets) of European diplomats, blazing with their stars; and there they were unapproachably exquisite! There were some the old archbishop, with his venerable gray locks falling on his violet robes, while another dignitary of the church stood forced marriages of colours among them-some juxtaposi by him in velvet and lace, with a cross of large diamonds tions Heaven would not have ventured upon in bird-millineand topazes hung round his priestly throat by a collar of ry-but the results were happy. The bonnets are small, gems, and "ever and anon" taking snuff, in a manner that and would probably divide, for the nose, a perpendicular displayed a finger which almost blinded by the flash of its rain drop; and the shape of the front edge would be defined diamonds. The dress of every person in the room, in fact, was rich and tasteful, except that of one distinguished citizen of by the shadow on the wall of an egg truncated at the Mexico, and a priest in attendance on the archbishop-who smaller end-the choice of colours riotously uncontrollable. adhered, amid all the show, to humble and respectable Feathers, ruinous feathers, are absolutely indispensable. black. After an hour's delay, which added to the sharpness of No fashion this winter in a bonnet without feathers-dyed our poorly stayed appetites, dinner was announced. Santa feathers harmonious with the satin. The plush bonnets Anna led the way, and in the dining-room we found our Drab satin with very gay fineries, places indicated by cards on the soup-plates. were the first seized on. was the colour most complimented. The prices varied from twenty-two dollars to fifty. It was very charming to see so many pretty women trying on so many pretty bonnets, and I feared that the two or three venturesome gentlemen present might be seized upon as intruders upon vestal mysteries; but thanks to the "vestalis maxima," Miss Lawson, we The table-service was tolerably good, although there was no such display either of silver, porcelain, or cut-glass, as we see on hundreds of less courtly tables in the north; nor were there any gold spoons" for Congressmen to cavil with. The cookery (French and English) was capital, and the courses innumerable. The wines and the conversation went off with spirit; and, indeed, the whole entertain- escaped with credit. ment was most agreeable, except that during the repast six of the president's aids-de-camp stood behind his chair. Their position was, I feel confident, most painful, (at least to all the foreigners ;) and although they performed no menial offices, yet the act was inelegant, unrepublican, unnecessary, and in excessively bad taste. I hope never again to be forced to witness such a scene, nor to sit at table while such men stand. Thus passed two hours and a half, enlivened by the military bands of the palace, playing gay airs with remarkable taste and skill in the pauses. Near ten, we all retired (without the universal cigar) to the reception-room, where tea and coffee were handed before we departed. I have seen General Bertrand several times. He is of a very noble presence, though, like Napoleon, below the middle height. His features express honesty, firmness, and rapid intelligence-the latter expression aided by eyes of unusual brilliancy. His hair is quite white. He is a man of few words, very collected, but withal very courteous. These, at least, are my impressions of him. It is curious to remark, how the burning of our fingers with Dickens makes us hold back from the fire of enthusiastic receptions. If the General had been ante instead of post-Dickens, he would have been overwhelmed with popular acclamation. As it is, the dues of honour are only paid SLIP-SLOPPERIES OF CORRESPONDENCE.à rigeur. One or two brigades of artillery are ordered To MESSRS. GALES AND SEATON: of the Light Guards made him a guest of honour at their dinner last evening. Mr. Stetson, of the Astor, (who gave the dinner on his appointment as an officer in the corps,) complimented General Bertrand very felicitously in his speech, and the applause was rapturous. Stetson is naturally an "orator, as Brutus is," and has acquitted himself on several such occasions with great credit. An artist of well-known talent is about making a voyage abroad, for the professed purpose of painting a portrait of Miss Bremer. He will extend his travels while over the water, and, for a moderate sum, will visit and paint any celebrated person whose likeness is wished for by an admirer. I consider this an excellent opportunity for persons who have wishes for this kind of luxury. Orders may be sent to the care of the editors of the Mirror. out to-morrow to escort the General on his rounds to visit I observe, looking from my window, that the Park the objects of curiosity, and the different staffs accompany theatre hangs out a large American flag with a tri-color him to the theatre in the evening. This morning he is banner appended to each of the two lower corners, (look-visiting the Fair of the Institute. The beautiful company king altogether very much like a pair of Oriental trousers,) symbolical, probably, of the two arrivals from France which made yesterday memorable. The more interesting of these twin events, of course, was General Bertrand's advent by the Boston boat at seven; but the one which excited the more interest, was the opening of the winter fashions at “Madame Lawson's in Park Place," at eight. The latter ceremonial had been duly heralded for some days previous by notes addressed to the leaders of fashion, and (as far as can be known) the secrets of the Graces' unopened cases had been impartially and unexceptionably kept. Having "a friend at court," I had been for some days invited to witness the effulguration, but was privately advised that there would be a rush, and that six in the morning would not be too early to take a stand upon the steps of the grand milliner in Park Place. Some unfinished business in dream-land obliged me to waive to the sun the privilege of rising first, however, and to my misfortune I did not arrive at Park Place till the premices de la mode had been ravished by the most intrepid first-comers. The street was lined with carriages, and the house was thronged. On the stair-case we met two ored and presented to the Association by William Wood, of three ladies descending, flushed with excitement and murmuring millinery; and on arriving at the landing on the second floor, the sharp soprano of the hum within, betrayed how even the sweetest instruments may outrun modulation, played on with a crescendo troppo furioso. The two saloons of the second floor were crowded with the ladies of fashion, and the walls lined all around with a single shelf covered with snowy damask, on which stood the white rods support I visited, the other evening, the beautiful rooms of the Mercantile Library Association, and was exceedingly interested in the history of its foundation and progress. An advertisement expressing "a call for a meeting of clerks” was the first gerin. The paper containing this was preserv Canandaigua, a very zealous benefactor of the institution. It has at present a library of nearly twenty thousand volumes, and it has four thousand members. The late report of the librarian shows that eight times the number of volumes is annually taken from the library-an activity of use for a library almost unparalleled. It is, without doubt, one of the most useful institutions of the country, and donations to it of books or money would be admirably well bestowed. |