LATE ROYAL BULL FIGHT.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 186, 12 May 1847, Page 4

LATE ROYAL BULL FIGHT.

In the bull fight at Madrid, which took place on the 16th October, in honor of the marriage of the Duke de Montpensier with the sister of the Queen, four young noblemen engaged the bulls, younger sons of the nobility of the highest rank in Spain. These exhibitions are, from an ancient period, held in the Plaza Mayor, the grand square of the capital ; whereas the ordinary bull-fights take place in the locality constructed for the purpose, the Plaza de,Toros. The cdballeros are brought to the ground in the state carriages of their respective padrinos, with a long train of domestics, habited in ancient costume, and wearing the colours of the houses they belong to. They are then and there Conducted in front of the Sovereign, to wLom they,are presented in due form. They then mount on horseback and the spectacle begins.

The cabaHeros of yesterday were — R. Roman Fernandez, of the Guard of Halberdiers ; padrino, the Count of Altamira ; he wore a costume of the time of Austrian dynasty, his colours sky-blue and white ; the padrino wore a court dress ; — D. Antonio Romero; padrino, the Duke of Abrant-s, costume of the same period, colour, green; padrino, the maestrante uniform ; — D. Federico Varcla y Ulloa, padrino, the Duke ofMedina Ccli, costume, blue and white; par* drino, the maestrante uniform: — D. Jose Cabanas ; padrino, the Duke of Osuna, costume red and yellow ; padrino, the uniform of a Colonel of Cavalry. The caballero of the Duke of Abrantes is a Lieutenant of the Regiment ot Maria Christina ; and that of the Duke of Osuua an officer of the Halberdiers. After the carriages, came, led by grooms dressed in the richest livery, 28 horses, at the rate of seven for each carriage. The harness of the horses was of the most gorgeous description. A complete band of toreros, bull-fighters, engaged to protect the caballeros en plaza, accompanied, each carriage, on foot. All this train made the circuit of the square, the angles of which had been rounded off for the occasion with temporary structures, until they came in front of the Royal balcony, when each caballero and his padrino descended, and made a profound obeisance to her Majesty. They again entered the carriages, and having once more made the circuit of the place, they disappeared in a direction different from that they had entered. Al'out half-an-hour then elapsed, after which a new spectacle made its appearance in the same place where the carriages had entered. Seven Kings-at-Arms, with their Pages and Esquires sustaining the shields of the house of each Grandee, entered, escorting each cabellero en plaza, and followed by the respective bands of toreros. They again placed themselves in front of the Royal balcony, and bowed low. The caballeros, with the exception of one who was flung from his horse the moment he mounted, saluted her Majesty on horseback. The toreros knelt and bent their foreheads to the ground. In addition to the above, a number of musicians, dressed in grand costume, followed the cavaliers, and with their martial strains seemed to animate their courage. The picadors, or bull-fighters, armed with lances, and on horses, followed also. The key of the stall where the bull is kept ready for the combat "is in possession of whoever the authority may be that presides. On this occasion the key was entrusted to the Queen. It is flung from the balcony with much grave ceremony. At the moment the Queen delivered the key, a multitude of pi- ! geons, their necks adorned with gay coloured ribbons, suddenly rose from each corner of the place ; and their flight was hailed with shouts of applause from at least 30,000 spectators. The cavaliers then took their stations on horseback ; the stall was opened, and a brave bull leaped forth. He bounded in the first exultation of freedom, and made the circuit of the square in a few minutes. He then stopped for a space in the centre ; tossed his head, and surveyed, — with an eye in which terror and rage were mingled — the surrounding multitude, whose mad shouts rose higher every moment at th« gallant bearing of the noble beast. The rigidness of etiquette melted away like frost- work before the sun the moment the animal appeared. The alguazils, who were stationed in front of her Majesty's box with their faces turned to her, forgot their respect, scampered away, and, in their haste, were unconscious that they not unrarely exhibited not the front part of their persons, even under the very eyes of Royalty. The ring was cleared in a moment, and the ground was left alone to the bull and his antagonists. The cavaliers, — whose only arm, I should have said, was a short light spear with a steel point about five or six inches long, — did not quail. Their spurs were dashed into the horses' flanks, and they bounded into the centre of the square. The ardour was equal, but the glory was not so. They poised their lances, and attempted to dash them at the bull. One was thrown from his horse at the very first encounter, and another fell under the animal. They were both obliged to retire from the arena, having, received contusions from the fall of too severe a character to allow their remaining any longer. Two cavaliers only remained at their post, D. Antonio Romero, Lieutenant of the Maria Christina Regiment, whose padrino was the Duke of Abrantes ; his assistants were the Chiclaneros and Labi, two eminent toreros; the other, Cabanas, the godson of the Duke of Osuna, a young man 25 years of age, an officer in the Halberdiers. Well and bravely did these two champions do their wotk. The last mentioned planted with great skill and force three lances in the bull ; the last blow was mortal ; but, at the moment it was given, his horse

got frightened, became completely unmanageable, and, at length, flung his rider, who was compelled to retire from the arena, and was carried off in the arms of the attendants. His wounds are of a serious character. Romero was now left alone of the four cavaliers, and, in truth, he was the hero of the day. His lances were most beautifully aimed, and most accurately planted ; his management of his beautiful and fiery charger was so consummate, his bearing so graceful, his cool ness in encountering the turious animal before him, so perfect, and so unusual in a mere amateur, as to excite the most frantic enthusiasm amongst the concourse. Nothing could give you a just idea of the prolonged shouting of the vast multitude. Four bulls fell by his hand — two of which were however to be relieved from the death agony by the cackete, or knife used for that purpose. The fourth, before receiving the deathblow, made a rush at him, and placing his horns low under his horse's belly, actually lifted into the air the noble animal and his rider. The cavalier fell under the horse, into whose entrails the horns had entered, and both rolled together on the ground. A shout of terror at the danger of the cavalier, and of applause of the brave act of the bull, rent the air. It was for a moment believed that Romero was either killed or dangerously hurt, but tranquillity was at once restored, when, in a minute or two, both horse and rider rose from the ground, the rider seated as firmly in his saddle as if he had never been disturbed from it. Another shout hailed this new proof of excellent horsemanship. But the cry of admiration was beyond all description, when the next moment the spectators beheld the bull fall dead, in the very act of preparing for another bound. This attack on the horse had only been a desperate effort of expiring strength, and was made at the very moment he received the last lance of the cavalier. This was the last display made by the caballeros en plaza. Romero retired with some slight bruises, and was again and again saluted with the waving of handkerchiefs from the balconies, and the shouts of the multitude. The professional bull-fighters then continued the combat. Montes, notwithstanding his recent wound, never conducted himself better than yesterday. His play of skill with the sixth bull was most artist-like and beautiful. The others lost nothing of their reputation. Eleven bulls were killed, and the usual proportion of horses. The spectacle ended at six o'clock, when the Queen and Royal Family quilted their balcony. It may be necessary to say that the horses mounted by the caballeros wer3 of the best kind, and it is said were given by the Queen for the occasion. The animals employed in ordinary bull-fights are of the worst possible description. The duty of the professional bull-fighteis, while the caballeros were engaged, was to attract the attention of the bulls, and assist them when hard pressed. They did their duty well. The balconies of the houses were hung with splendid tapestry of various colours ; and with the immense multitude — not less than 30,000 were present — state carriages and retainers of the Grandees, picturesque costume of the attendants, alguazils, halberdiers, pages, esquires, — all presented a spectacle of a rare and most exciting character. The last time such a display was made was at the ceremony of the Jura, or the taking the oath of allegiance to the Priucess of Asturias, now Isabella 11. The Queen and her sister looked well yesterday. When her Majesty and her husband presented themselves in front of the balcony, many vivas were heard and handkerchieis waved. When the Duke de Montpensier and his wife showed themselves, not a viva was uttered nor a salute returned. -The son of Louis Philippe must know from yester lay's experience that Spaniards, when they are well pleased, can be as noisily enthusiastic as other people. It excites compassion to witness the desperate efforts of this poor young man to catch astray salute, but in vain. — limes, Oct. 24.