The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-06-04

SuASASu. nc revolution In Spain which tOl
lowed the revolt in the island of Leon. apajI
revived their hopes The Yiceroy ADodsca
having evaded the proclamation of the iConsti
ton to which Ferdinand had subscribed, discort
tent was openly manifested in every province
headed by General lturbide, who had long seryl
ed IN the royal army, and possessed the mos
extensive influence, the revolution resumed d
formidable appearance. On the arrival of Gen
eral O'Donoju the new Vicetoy, he found til.
country he came to govern an Independent
state, no longer subject to Spain. On the 24u
OF August, 1921, he signed the treaty Of Cordo
va, from which the Mexicans date their indie
pendence and their first Congress met on IL.
24th of the following February
4 The present city, commenced in 1924, occl-
pes the same site as ancient Mexico, but is nd
SO large; and artificial means having been en-
| plyed to reduce the Lake Tozcuco,* there not
inlervenes between the water and the city
norass, about two miles in BREADTH through
which are five causeways. Approached By the
! great ROAD from Vera Cruz, the appearance of
the city is not particularly striking but view
ed from an elevation, in the interior. the requ-
larity OF the streets, the beauty and extent of
the public buildings, the number and variegated
colors OF the houses, the luxuriant appearance
! OF the surrounding valley studded with numer-
Gus towns and villages, and the extensive lakes,
covered with the boats of the Indians, and Dor
dered by their floating gardens the whole en-
closed by vast amphitheatre of lofty noun
talns, form scene magnificent and beautiful
beyond description.
/ The circumference Of the city is about eight
miles, the streets, many of which are two miles
IN length, run nearly north and south, east and
west, lntersectng each other at right angles
| They are well paved with porphyry, and are
kept extremely clean by means of sewers run
ning through the centre of each. At night,
| they are lighted with convex lamps Water
can always be procured at the depth Of three
feet, but Of bad quality, the same as that of
Lake Tezcuco. An abundant supply Of good
water is, however, brought TO the city, BY the
means Of two aqueducts the one from Santa
Fe, 33,464 feet in length; the other from Cha
pultepec, lO,S26 feet IN length, and is conveyed
from the reservoirs TO the houses by the water
carriers, "a numerous BODY in large Jars. The
houses are regular, and strongly built with
porphyry OF Vltreous ieidspar, they are square,
with an open court in the centre, usually filed
with towering shrubs in china vases. They
seldom exceed three stories in height, and the
roofs being fiat, form an agreeable terrace Ex-
ternalty, they are painted of various bright col
ors, or covered with porcelain, according TO the
taste OF the owners; and have one or TWO bal
comics of light Biscayan iron, gilt or bronzed
Some have passages from Scripture painted on
their fronts. The apartments (the upper of
which are the principally are usually from ten
to fifteen feet in height. They are gaudily
painted, but the vast wealth displayed before
the revolution has disappeared the various
utensils of gold, the solid silver picture frames,
chandeliers, DC, then to be found in almost
every house, are now no more, having nearly
all passed through the mint, for, the service OF
the State.
There are ffty-six monasterjes, nunneries
and churches in the city; all of which are re-
markable for the beauty of their architecture,
or the richness and value of their internal dec
oratons. There is but one theatre, which is Of
large dimensions, and contains four tier Of box
es but was SO badly attended, that, in 1928, its
/ final close was announced. The shops are not
numerous neither is their appearance at all
attractive, the fronts being open, and the arti-
Giles sold mostly manufactured in sight, without
the least indication of wealth; few Of them
have even the name of the owner painted on
them The BARRIERS and the pulque sellerst make
the greatest show; the former being decorated
with the various utensils of the trade intermix :
ed with large gilt basins and pictures of saints /;
! the latter being neatly arranged with bottles of
various colored spirits Conteotioners, and
coach makers are numerous, as are the nllIn-
ers, in which twenty or thirty young men are
usually employed, making caps and other arti-
Giles Of female finery. The bakers have large
establishments, and their journeymen are abso-
iutely slaves, never being permitted TO leave
the place in which they work During the rev
olution this system was for a short time abolish
cd, and the city remained for several days with
out bread,
The resident inhabitants are estimated at be
tween 10000 and 10000; of these, nearly
two thousand are monks and nuns, and abou
ten thousand more are attached to religion
houses and colleges. The number OF whit
Europeans does not exceed two thousand o
these, the females are III the proportion OF onl,
one to two hundred the remainder are mixed eS
tates and Indians. There are about thirty thou
} sand persons chiefly indians, destitute Of an,
J habitation, they are called Gauchinangoes, an
much resemble the Lazzaroni Of Naples; thel
chief employment is carrying water, sweeping
the streets, or begging and, as very little wor
enables them to buy pulque, they are trequentl
intoxicated, when they are removed by the pc
lice; thus passing their time pretty equally be
! tween work, drunkenness, and Imprisonment.
Surrounded by high mountains, Mexico wa
constantly exposed to the dangers of nuadatioI
: The most remarkable OF these occurred IN l62s
when water remained at the height of thre
feet and half in the streets, for hive years.
To remedy these evils, a canal, called the DE
1 sague real de Huehuetoca, has been cut throug
the rock Of Nochistonga, to carry off the water
: of the Guantitlan and Zumpango. From fro
: quent alterations and errors, this work was nc
completed until 1889, having been in progress
$ nearly two centuries, ut the cost OF one milIo
: sterling
+ tPulque, the favorite drink Of the Mexican'
: is extracted from the Magua, OF great America
: Aloe at the time of throwing up its flowe
stem IL is followed in the centre and the iucC
which should have supplied the flower, take
$ from it daily for about two months, which juice
when fermented, is Immediately fit for drinking
d A very strong brandy is also obtained by dist
S lation. So great is the consumption, that tn
: duty collected at the city gates amounts annt
: ally to 100000.