without specs.'

'When ten o'clock came we rose to depart; but the droll genius
insisted that we should first partake of a glass of egg-nog with
him, and then help him to sing 'Old Hundred' in remembrance of old
times. There are few persons in the New-England States who cannot
go through this ancient and well-known psalm-tune after some
fashion; and although neither time nor place was exactly
befitting, we all happened to be from that quarter, and could not
resist complying with his comico-serious request. He really had a
good voice, and, for aught I know, may have led the singing in his
native village church. After humming a little, apparently to get
the right pitch, he started off with a full, rich tone; but
suddenly checking himself in the middle of the first line, said
that the thing was not yet complete. Taking a double-bass from its
resting-place in one corner of the room, he soon had the
instrument tuned, and then recommenced with this accompaniment.
Never have I heard a performance so strangely mingling the grave
and the comic. It was odd enough to see one of his vocation in a
strange land thus engaged; and then the solemnity and zeal with
which he sawed and sang away were perfectly irresistible. I did
not laugh; but thoughts arose in my mind very little accordant
with the earnest and devotional spirit with which our strange
companion went through his share of the performance. This curious
scene over, a scene which is probably without a parallel in the
history of San Luis Potosi, we took leave of our singular
acquaintance, who promised to call at the convent early the next
morning, and do every thing in his power to assist those among the
Texans who were the most destitute.'

But we have space only for one more extract, an account of certain 'extra
observances,' which, in the order of their devotion, the prisoners while
in Puebla, introduced into the service of the Catholic church:

'Every Sunday morning, the prisoners confined at Puebla were
compelled to attend mass, in chains, at one of the churches. The
floors of all the religious establishments of note in Mexico are
of stone or marble, without seats of any kind, and those in
attendance must either kneel or stand during the ceremonies. In
the present instance, the Texans were paraded in rows before the
altar, and compel