The Port Gibson Herald, And Correspondent

[Correspondence of the N. O. Delta]
Matamoros, December 25, 1848.

Editors Delta: To-day is Christmas—a great day amongst the Mexicans—and a very destructive one in the "States" to the turkey tribe. Many a respectable gobbler, that has, up to this time, lived a life of quiet and gentlemanly ease, has suddenly found himself deprived of that very necessary appendage called a head—as the old lady remarked, "No great shakes of a head to-be-sure, but a sore loss to him." But my object was not to "talk turkey," but to give you a few items of our Christmas-day in Matamoros. Early this morning, all the ladies attended "Mass," dressed to death, and creating a great "bustle." The "Senorita," with one eye on the "Padre," and the other telegraphing some blanketed young Mexican near her, appearing to be wholly engrossed counting her "beads," and saying her "Ave Marias" (presenting a picture often seen in our churches, excepting that the ladies near are subjected to severe scrutiny, and if Miss Smith comes out with her last year's hat remodeled and fixed up, to be imposed on the public for a new one, won't she catch it when Miss Jones goes home, and has time to indulge in a few remarks?) During the intervals of the service, a band in attendance favored the congregation with a variety of popular airs, such as etc. It is snowing now in the north, and the air is raw and chill; but our mutual friend "Sam" intimated to me, privately, just now, that he had a little old bottle of the genuine "mountain dew" hid away in a corner; and hinted, that with a little white sugar, and a lemon, some interesting experiments might be tried this evening. Captain F, of the steamer Telegraph, has come up to take a look at the town, and thinks it "no great shakes, any how." I understand he was tendered the mayoralty of Brownsville (Bagdad being defunct,) but he declines, it being all honor and no profit. The Captain thinks the beds in Matamoras very hard, and couldn't sleep well. The fact is, he thought he was at sea, and turned out very early in the morning to "see how the weather looked." Colonel Wilson leaves in the Telegraph; and Colonel Hardee, being the next officer in rank, will probably succeed to the command, of the line, for the present.

P.