PAPERS OF MIRABEAU Bt1ONAPAR'l'E LAMAR
world, that he was never a participant in this base act, which would indubitably redound greatly to the dis-credit of l\1exico. At that time, I informed him of the requi ition made by Genl. Santa Anna to him- self- and the armistice entered· into between himself & Genl. Sam Houston, which immediately required an evacuation of Texas, by him- self, which was indispensably necessary for the pre· ervation of the Genis' in chief' life which Was at that time, at the discretion & dispo- sition of the Texian Commander. This he responded to by aying-I will return to l\Ietamoras, from thence to the city of l\1exico, and from thence 1 will evacuate a country, which ha o shamefully disgraced it- self. ,After a foments' M:ore cool reflection, appeared a dispositicn of willingness to retrace, bnt in a circuitous manner, ·what he had a moment before so vehemently uttered Our walk wa then turned homeward. I Know not whether it was to pre ent to myself that t?loorny scene and that he might fully develope his feelings of anaui h and rerrret., or wa ·an incidental occurrence, which induced this walk & remarks? o ! ! I it wa the grim visaged wrinkled front nfonster remorse.-The prime a11xiliary to thi frank declaration o ignoble & inauspicious to the uncivilized Military Cause., so ardently espoused, by him. wh') just regretted his particular, I here remembered myself, of the fable of poor Prey whose laceration originated from unfortunate a sociations this I made applicable to the present case, as we entere<l the Genl. Quartelle.-\Ve found supper spread before us, nothing on the table but l\Iensed beef, a popular dish with the l\1exicans, You scarcely ever see more than one dish on a Mexican table, at one & the same time, as Filisola was to· comply with the requisition of my mission, as far as hi abilities at present would anthorise that matter being settled.-Our discussion turned to promiscuou subjects.-! was much interested with his and Genl. Tolsa 's description of theil- national amusements, but con idered them generally exscruciating to the prin- cipal acces ary to their convivial hilarity. (Ton·us nnknowiug-ly, but vindictively sounded his own Knell in the amphitheatre- the -circle oE hi vital con ummation and when the proud eook claps defiance, & ·Crows destruction to his own proud spirit- This too, seems to be tl1e principal 801uce of their enjoyment, a the Theatre or Hor e race is to the more 8ensitive American Gnndey [ 11 pulling has become ob- solete-) Among'st our other discus ions ad-interim, w~ with equal eloquence, discussed the contents of everal i\Iugs of different Kinds of Wine. Which operated not at all to my disadvantage, The table being cleared, the Genl. begged leave to introduce to my palate, as being . omething new-"This beverag.e is an exquisite delicacy re- cently sent to myself (said the Genl.) from the city of Iexico, par- ticipating of all the properties & analities. belonging to Champ~ne, & Cordials of the b st composition-The servant in the meantime, busily rn!Z'a!!'ed in crackdn] g & dusting from around the mouth of the bottle, The Gla ses being removed, and China cups, were then et before us.- The Genl. continued commenting upon the good qualitie of his fin~ linnors & at the same time, pouring from the bottle, into our crncible like cups, iL contents, at the ame time, ~sking pardon. for the plea ure he gave himself.-in helping- me, and with a i?raceful Nod of the Head with his re pects, he placed the cup to his Mouth, and drinking the ronten~-I pnt my eup to my Ionth but my Olfactorie told me, all
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