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Writing Type: Book
Letters of the Robertson brothers, they describe a tertulia in Montevideo
Keywords: Montevideo, tertulia, plots,
Publisher: AMS Press
Archive: University of Warwick Library
Location Details: Vol.1 pp.104-109
Text: pp.104-106
Montevideo 1807
I was invited to many of these evening parties [tertulias]; and found them an entertaining mélange of music, dancing, coffee-drinking, card-playing , laughter, and conversation. While the young parties were waltzing and courting in the middle of the room, the old ones, seated in a row, upon what is called the estrada, were chatting away with all the esprit and vivacity of youth. [...]
The gentlemen were grouped in different parts of the room, some at cards, some talking; others joking with the ladies; while some more youthful part of them were alternatively seated by the piano in admiration of the singer, or tripping it on the fantastic toe with very graceful partners. Every step, and figure, and every pirouette, appeared to me charming. Every lady I saw in Montevideo, waltzed and moved through the intricate yet elegant mazes of the country dance with grace inimitable, because of the natural ease and refinement. Then they were so kind in their endeavours to correct the little blunders in Spanish of foreigners, without laughing at them, that they taught by example, at once good feeling, and good manners. There is no ceremony whatever at the tertulia. Having once got an invitation to the house ("Señor Don Juan" for instance, "esta es su casa," "this is your house") I could visit and leave at all hours of the day, and just as it suited myself. [...] I could not but be pleased with the hospitality which, at the hands of the other sex, I everywhere experienced. I thought it quite surprising, when I considered that the English were their enemies and conquerors.
pp.108-109
A sad interruption to our tertulias ocurred about this time. Two spies were taken, on whom papers wer found, clearly showing that a conspiracy was hatching, and that it was fostered by the inhabitants of Montevideo, and upheld by the military of Buenos Ayres.
Its object was to retake, be the havoc and the waste of blood what they might, Montevideo from the English. It was arranged that a large body of troops, crossing over in the night from Buenos Ayres to the opposite town (Colonia) should march thence upon Montevideo, and be admitted by the conspirators there, at one or more of the gates. The scheme was frustrated by its early detection.
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