Travels in the United States, etc.,: during 1849 and 1850./ By the Lady Emmeline Stuart Wortley.

TRAVELS IN AMERICA.
till the morrow, owing to the arrangements of the diligencias, we
went out walking, to see some of the old churches. Mr. C —
escorted us.
We climbed up the steep street, and arrived at a handsomelooking church, which was said to be beautiful within, and to
have great treasures of plata (silver). After a little difficulty we
effected an entrance. There was a great deal of dazzling silver
certainly: but my attention was painfully arrested by some large
wooden figures intended to represent our blessed Saviour, and
which were truly shocking; they were most extravagantly painted.
We afterward walked a little way to see some of the beautiful
views of this charming place, past the gardens, with their wild
profusion of clove-carnations, roses, jessamines, and orange trees.
As we strolled on we heard the sweet sounds of a harp suddenly
struck very near us. We were just passing a large, handsome
house, and without intending to be uncivil, on the impulse of the
moment we all looked into the large lofty ground-floor room from
whose enormous open but iron-barred windows were pouring the
echoing strains: we saw a black-haired though fair sefiorita,
apparently just taking her music lesson; for a grave music-masterlike senior was standing by her, and, as it seemed to us, marking
the tinmie, and explaining the nature of the aria.
The senorita, having looked up, caught sight of us immediately,
and blushing deeply remained in the attitude, and wrapped in the
silence of a painted St. Cecilia, suspended in mute surprise. It
was evident that the good Xalapenos were never in the habit of
giving way to such indiscreet habits of impertinent curiosity; so
reluctantly we passed on, and soon after the melodious strains re commenced,
After returning to the hotel, I gave a commission to Mr. C,
to find me a sarape, such as are worn here. A mozo brought in
a goodly number for me to choose from. Now it happened there
was a deep-blue immense American blanket, which I wanted to
get rid of, and as I had brought the least possible money with me
(for not wishing to enrich the coffers of the robbers, I had the rest
by bills on Vera Cruz), it was decided it was better to throw that
blanket into the bargain (since after Perote's chilly regions it was
no longer needed), and the wonderful bewilderment of the poor
qnozo, at this proposition, was highly diverting. He said in
piteous accents, his master had told him exactly what to do: and
as the master had, naturally enough, not contemplated the circum stance that had by chance arisen, he had not tutored the gnozo on
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