Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-11-26
From Ru's KS Residence.
THE ARTS IN NENIrn

- Inc appearance of the shops in Mexico af.
,orus no Indication OF the wealth of the city.
!Nothlng is exposed in the windows; all are omen.
III 'fle same manner as in London in the six
.eenth century. Few have signs, or even names
IN front; and most trades are carried ON in the
shops IN which the articles are sold. Silver
smitiis work is done here in the same tedious
manner 1t used to be i'll England. All the orna-
tnents are finished by hand. There are some
good cHasers, but IN general the production is
clumsy and very heavy. l inquired about pre.
cIous stones and pearls; but there were few
good, and those much dearer than in Europe.
hubies appeared to me the only Jewel worth i'm
porting from Mexico. The manufacture of gold
and silver lace, trimmings, epaullettes, &c. car
rled on IN the greatest perfection; and the arti-
Giles are sold at a much lower rate than with us.
IL Is usual with our naval officers, on their arri-
val at Vera Cruz, to lay in 4 stock of such re-
quisltes. The tailors here make great profit. as
clothes are 300 per cent. dearer than I'm Eng
land, and are seldom well made. Cloth coats
are only beginning TO be generally used, but
VIII very soon supercede the printed calico lack
ct, till lately universally worn. The workmen
follow their employment seated on stools, and
not with their feet under them as in Europe.
"Ihe ilrst sight of a miliiner's shop must
always raise a smile on the face OF n newly ar.
rived foreigner. Twenty or thirty brawnv fell
lows, OF all compleXioDs, with mustaci.ios, arc
exposed TO The street, employed in decorating
dresses, sewing muslin gowns, making Gowe rs
ana trimming caps and other articles OF female
attire; whilst, perhaps, at the next door, a num-
Der OF poor girls are on their knees on the floor.
engaged In the laborious occupation of prindinc
chocolate, which is here always performed by
hand. The druggists & po,iccarias'tradcs mus,
also be excellent ones; their prices are exorbi-
tant.- l paid a dollar per pound Tor the article
used IN preparing my birds, which in Europc. is
] SnIi tnr tnti- nnn ODD ,@t A. - r..
are the produce Of The contributions sell
here for two siiillings and sixpcncc per once,
and other drugs in OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES work
Is very inferior and expensive ut Mexico; they
have few OF the tools employed in Europe, and
mahogany, or a good substitute is scarcely
known. Most of the chairs in the best houses
are made i'll the United States. 1t will be learn
ed with surprise, chat in this country the saw
(except n small hand frame) is still unknown;
every plank used in the erection of all the Span
ish American cities, is hewn by Indians with
light axes, from the solid trees, which mako
eact but one board. Coach-inaking cxccls all
the other mechanical arts ~practised at Mexico:
their xehicles are well put together, of hand
some forms, and well finished; the best painters
in the country are employed in their decorations
and the gliding and varnish equal what is done
III Europe, whence the handlers and ornamental
parts in metal are procured.
"Of carvers in wood there are many, as every
house has a statue of a saint or madonna painted.
generally superbiy dressed. The art of engrav.
ing on stone is unknown in Mexico: but tic in
dians greatly excel in modelling and working in
wax. The specimens of different tribes with
their costumes, with the habiliments OF the gen
try, which | brought, will amply testify their me
rlts III this department. They also model fruit
and vegetables in a beautiful manner. A Lady
at Puebla de los Angeles, executes, in q singular
style, from pieces of old linen cloth, groups OF
comic figures, some Of which | have also brought
to England. Such was her skill that, from only
having seen me for a short lime, on my first pas
sing through the city, | was surprised to find on
my return, that she had executed a portrait ofme
in this style which was Immediately recognised
by my friends.