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276 the Señor Posada to the Archieopiscopal dignity; and on Sunday last, the 31st of May, the consecration took place in the Cathedral with the greatest pomp. The presiding Bishop was the Señor Belaunzaran, the old Bishop of Linares; the two assisting Bishops were the Señor Madrid, a young, goodlooking man, who having been banished from Mexico during the revolution, took refuge in Rome, where he obtained the favor of the Pope, who afterwards recommended him to an episcopal see in Mexico; and the Doctor Morales, formerly Bishop of Sonora. His padrino was the President, General Bustamante, who in this capacity presented his godson with the splendid pastoral ring, a solitary diamond of immense size. All the diplomatic body and the cabinet went in full uniform; chairs being placed for them on each side of the crugia, (the passage leading to the altar.) A dispute upon the subject of precedence arose between an excellency of the diplomatic corps, and the secretary of state, which seems likely to have disagreeable consequences. I had the pleasure of kneeling beside these illustrious persons for the space of three or four hours, for no seats were placed for the wives either of the diplomates or of the cabinet.

But the ceremony, though long, was very superb, the music fine, the quantity of jewels on the dresses of the bishops and priests, and on the holy vessels, &c., enormous. The bishops were arrayed in white velvet and gold, and their mitres were literally covered with diamonds. The gold candlesticks and golden basins, and golden vessels for holy water, and