American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-07-20
MEXICO.

MEXICO.
The following description Of the city OF Mexico,
lis from the pen of PETER ALLAIRE, Esq IN a let.
tier, dated New Orleans, May 4, 1924, addressed to
a friend in this county, winch has been obligngy
furnished US for publication MIR. A. visited the
Mexican nation last summer, travelled over most OF
fits provinces, aud spent time al its metropo-
lis. His description is undoubtedly drawn up with
accuracy, and will be read with interest.
Saratoga Sentinel.
: "CITY OF MEXICO.
} Mexico is situated in lat. 90, 25, n. long. GOD
Nv. Its form is square, being about 5000 yards on
each side. Ii is built on level plain, formed by
1.-The iuNctinn Of several islands, which were former
lily about league from the main land the west
but by the draining OF the lake there is lutte or no
water between the city and the main land on the w
land Y. " and there several communicat ons.
land in different directions with the high lands, by
mt ans Of made roads ways. The pros
lpect at approaching the city hom the eastward is
lbesu!iIul; large lake your right the city in 'front.'
land chain OF mountains forming semicirCle t ON
IS. to n. your left the sides ard bases Of which
las well as The low lands in high cultivation, with
various churches, houses and cottages, to iegae
he scene. The streets ave laid of at riG HI angles
and neatly correspond vi th the four car diDa points:
they paved with small stones, with a gutter inI
1.-The middle Of the street, aud Il stones laid for sdt
walks, and so level that after shower oil rainl
1.-THE water remains some hours before it can run OFT Il
neither are the streets oamed but The squares i
which generally called after lh- nearest church
The houses mostly built Of volcanic stone gen
orally pastered on the out side with white grew
lcement haze their fronts covered with OF ma.
mented tile, and they mostly Two .t0ies, some
three and few -four, and have cost immense sums
to build them, they occupy large space, and the
materials all bnrught from the high lands on
he backs OF mules and acks. The floors of The hous
les are m de OF brick or lie, few are covered with
cenent and painted The inside walls are covered
with white cement aud ornAmentsd with paint
ings according to the fanny Of the owner There
IS no wood used in building except Tor the raj /
ers, doors. and windows the sashes are even made
of tin and not chimney is to be seen in this 1
large city, their cnnking is done with charcoal,
aud the regular temperature Of the climate renders
hire unnecessary for bodily comfort, being from -
20 20 OF F. The churches sixty five in num-
Der, are well built and highly decorated, and are
the most splendid buildings in the country. The
lnqusltion is situated within Two squares Of the CEN
tire OF the city on the ~ side. Ii is regular bull
ding, two stories high, has but one entrance and
that on the corner, it occupies whole square, has
but few windows which gives il goomy appear
ance; II is now converted into prison for state
prisoners. and guard house (; but no relic is TO
be seen Of their former implements OF torture The
Y
public square, is plain building two stories HE h.
aud ont hundred and fifty fee long, and he is tlepos
tied all the merchandise that comes TO Mexico, and
The re remains until twelve per cent. is paid on I
their vaIuation. The palace is built If white stone /
and occupies the east side Of the public suuafe in
one OF Its wings is the common lail ana the mint II
The theatre is large bullding mt splendid win 5
out, but sufficient to contain five thousand per-
sons, and its decorations are rather ordinary The i
or hui Huh is atad ~ H.
OF the city, its form is circular, having three rows
Of boxes, and is sufficiently large TO contain twenty
thousand people There several nunneries which o
are gloomy looking buildings. having no windows a
hat look into the street. and but one door; but snn1e
81 them now converted into barracks Tor soldiers
he market is in OF the palace and is veil sun.
Piled with iiuits and vegetables but lew stalls of a
meat, as that articles is yended 10 all parts Of the
;ity In shops The fruits and vegetables which a
we're in market in Sept. 1928, were peaches, pears
,herri=s ounces, apples, grapes. oranges cocoa D
nuts lines lemons tunas or Prickly pears, black. O
berries, pumgrapites, alligator pears sranldioes c
bananas, pantinspine apples, olives. peanuts ches
iuts' soursops, malerranuts, pecsns, hazlenuts, Il
water melons, musk-mellons cucun- ]
'ers' cabbage, tonaas onions, potatoes both sweet
md Irish, greens OF various kinds, lettuce peas. h
'eans OF various kinds beats. Carrots turnips wild T.
potatoes, ceary, coow flowers, raGishes, squashes
peppers OF various kinds pumpkins, nerstuttions,
&c. On the n. w. of the city is public square. C.
where all kinds Of furniture and clothes that have
been used, are bought and sold, and it i, called the
tair-On the west Of The city, about 1000 Yards II
rom tie centre, is public promenade, called the ft
Aiemeda It Is four hundred yards long and two e
hundred wlde' forming paralelgram, and is plant
"a with trees so close as to form almost perfect
'hsde the walks are about fifteen feet vide and L
SID on IN trangles the rows OF trees CORRESPOND Ia
ng with the walks on both sides which walks are
aid with large Hal stone In the centre of AIemeda Ct
S large fountain, thus consructed large basin. 81
wo eet above the level of the ground and fty feet Of
i'ameier; on its margin stands eight images as c;
arge as life with the water spouling out Of their oil
nouhs, and the tops OF their heads into the basin b