Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-09-17
FOREIGN EXTRACTS.
From the london LITERARY Gazette.
BpLLocK's SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO.


nme without prcface. On the road bctwa cen
Vera Cruz and Nicxico:-
"Aalapa, or Jalapa, from which the well
known drug takes its name, was ill within the
last century the great mart Of New Spain for
European goods. All merchandise arriving at
Vera Cruz (thc ,inbealtliness of which prevent
Ell merchants from stopping there) was brought
on mules 10 the great annual fair held in this CT
~, and attended by all the mercantile interests
of this part of the world. The opening of the
grand mart took place amid much form and re-
ligious ceremony; prayer and professions were
made by the clergy for the success of trade, but
they expected some remuneration for this ser
VICE; and the numerous churches and rich rcli-
sious establishments amply attest the iibcraity
of the merchants. The city at present contains
1900 inhabitants; but at the time of the fair it
was crowded to excess. 1t is probably dscreas-
nag i'll population, though still a very handsome
place. Ii has many two STORED houses, built az
Ter Tie old Spanish manner, fOriniBg d square,
and enclosing court planted with trees and
flowers, and having well or fountain. The
roofs are tiled, and not dat as 10 Vera Cruz, vet
projecting from the sides, siieteuGg the house
from the sun III hot weather, and keeping ii dry
ia te rainy season. Many are furnished with
glass windows, and most have aa ornamental
grating In front of those on the ground floor
winch admit free circulation OF air-ior the
10 Their
being closed. There still 6 churches of a
mixed style of architecture; they are kept clean
and their interiors highly decorated with
carving, gliding and painting. The high altar
oi the Cathedral is of silver, and the walls are
covered with gilt ornaments. There are eleven
other affairs; and the service is performed in AN
orderly and impressive manner. | attended
high mass on Sunday, which was very splendid;
all the females above the very lowest class wear
III, IL 4, III.
lace veil over tie head, but which is seldom
worn over The face; in this respect retaining less
Of the manner of the mother country than is still
to be found in Antwerp and in the Netherlands
although SO long period has elapsed since these
countries were sublectto SPAIN A great pro-
portion Of the congregation were Indians, who
had come TO market, and it was really pleasing
sight to observe with what attention and cievoti-
op this simple and innocent people, the descen-
dants of canibal ancestors, performed their ac-
acknowledgements 10 their Creator. All the CON
vents and religious houses, except one, are now
closed, and will probably remain so. We met
yesterday, it being Lent, a religions procession,
carry Ing figure of Christ, bearing his cross
The streets through which il passed had been
swept, watered, and strewed with orange leaves
and ii2weis; and many OF the houses and small
| crosses, decorated with flowers and drapery,
placed over the doors.
The shops and warehouses do not make a
snowy appearance, as nothing is exposed in the
| windows. The BARRIERS shops, however, form
an exception: they are very numerous, and
| have very respectable eXterior Aiambrino',
helmet is sported IS sign over their doors a L
articles of European n.anufactory aIe dear, be.
ing three or four hundred per cent. above the
! cost price, aud generally OF the worst kind
| This IS probably owing To the policy of Old
SPAN, in compelling the province to receive ali
supplies from the mother country.
'Halapa is justly celebrated for the excel
lency fits washing: never saw linen SO we'll;
many of the inhabitants OF Vera Cruz send hi
Their to have their washing done. Near one of
the entrances is fountain Of The purcst wafer
supplying public washhouse, called Tcclacu-
pa, III which IA persons can be employed al
the same time. Each washer woman is sup
pied with constant stream, conveyed by pipes
10 stone vessel in which the linen is soaked
added TO this is fiat stone on which they wash.
and this constitutes the whole apparatus. The
operation is performed with cold water and SOAP
and the linen is rubbed by the hand as in Eng
ianl. | observed that the women had cut ie-
Inoa with which they sometimes rubbed the
10th men and women in general are very
ii! informed with respect to the state Europe
tbey believe the continent to be under the do
miiiiOn of Spain; that England, France, ltalv
Holland, Germany; &c. are only so many paltry
states OF provinces TO which the King OF Spain
appoints governors, who superntend the manu-
factories, sc. for the benefit Of that country
found II dangerous 10 cSntIadict this fatty. One
lady asked me where muslin dress had been
Inadc' ''in England" sEand how came il berc?D
probably through SPAIN" | replied; ..sell
then, what is England but The workshop of
Spain" Many think that the riches of Spain
enable the others, and as they call them, the
poorest parts of Europe to 1--we.
"Ofthe wars in Europe they know as little as of
its general state; and even the name of w Cling
ton seemed scarcely known in Xalapa though
they had heard indeed, of the buccaneers, and
spoke of our ustrious Drake and Sir Walter
Raleigh, as pirates! 10 this comfortable dcrrcc
vi ignorance, II is not strange tIIat they viewed
with surprise my walking stuck, gun, my porta-
bic chair and table, my camera lucida and o.
ther little specimens OF English ingenuity. No
thing gave them more pleasure than volume OF
the Plates of ICkerman's Fashions, which had
carried ont; 1t was in proIigiogs request, and
they looked with astonshuent al some prints of
The public buildings ofLoudon. But their won
der vas greatly augmented when they were in
formed olthe purposes for which they had been
built; we heard them exclaim in airazc;ncnt To-
each other, ''and yet these people arc not Chris
tians," ''wilat pity they arc not ClrIsnans!D
But the day, | hope, has arrived, whcr Spanish
policy can no longer keep It's American subjects
ia such darkness, and when the obscur3tion Of
tic MexicaDs viii vanish. On the other hand
Europe has much to learn respecting .1merca.
Even the very names of some Of the finest ciicsl
Of the Mexicaus are almost unknown 10 her;
,rgIt 4