Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-06-15

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FIRE from the batteries on the reef. A
work of much strength and beauty, but
in which the science Of defence appears
to have been overlooked or mistaken,
was constructed on the Inferior heights
that commenced the suburbte the south.
This work, which was called the Mira
dor Tor Belvidere,) is nearly mile
from the harbor, east of the Vigea Al
tea. and 400 feet above the water; so
that it appears like the ladder hill bat
tery of St. Helena, asifintended tocom
bat birds, or other flying assailants.
Formerly the place was supplied with
waters by cisterns or tanks, of which
the annual rains we're the sources. OF
later years the waters Of the little river
St. Estevan were conveyed by an i'll con-
struceed aeueduct of about 5000 yards
in length, and this resource usually
supplied the town and the cisterns also;
the imperfectness of the aqueduet, adj
united of many assures, through which
the waters gushed, and thought it an
swered some good purposes in cooling
the air and washing the streets of the
town, the ground in which these waters
ultimately deposited, gave stagnant
pond and marsh, from which an unheal-
ehy effluvia proceeded. The revolution
by giving new motives to. action, and
new springs to every branch OF pub
lie concerns, promises to remove those
Inconvenience and to render Porto Ca
bellc one of the most important posi-.
tons of the republic.
The annual expenses for the repairs
of the works usually cost Spain from 80
TO $4,000 q year; but the m'rador,
while it was proceeding, absorbed the
greatest part Of that Sum, though it was
20 mount only l6 guns; the work was,
however, suspended before the revolu-
tion began.
The works near the town have not
been we'll attended to. Tho whole
works mount about 60 pieces of heavy
artillery, and to man the works com.
pletely, would require 1000 men on
duty.
On the side of the sea Porto Cabello
presents splendid and delightful pic
ture. The coast appears bare, but brill
liantly Illuminated; while the lofty peak
OF Las Tetas de llaria, and the vast
screen of mountains in the elevation,
project their bold shadows upon the
brown and rugged cliffs, their SUBMITS
tinted with every hue and shade of ve-
getation.
The atmosphere of Porto Cebello is
not so sultry as that Of La Gpayra.
The sea breeze is frequent, and the
house being detached from the rocks,
there is free circulation Of the air,
and more agreeable temperature than
at La Guayra.
The population Of the place has varied
at different periods. Before the revo-
luton it amounted to between z & 5000,
it being then the great rendezvous for the
system of smuggling, carried on from
Jamaica and Curacao. More than To-
600 mules were annually exported from
this single port to the West Indies.
On the road from Porto Cabello,
within 9 miles of Valencia, to the lower
range Of the Rincon del Diabolo Cor
Devils wall) there gush from the fs-
sures several streams of unusually warm
water, so warm as to boil an egg in four
minutes. These hot streams form sea
vsral basons, the overhowings Of which
make rivulet. The respectable pa.
triot Domingo Tovar, on whose proper
ty these aguas calientes rise, has pro.
posed to erect a spacious bathing house
for the accommodation of persons
whose health or whose pleasures should
lead them to the use of this most salu-
brious recreation.
Within 40 feet Of the hot springs,
there rise several springs of pure wa
ter; and in such position, as to pre-
sent every accommodation that could be
desired for the adjustmrnt of the tenn
peratcre in bathing.
0rnhan'S Court.