New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-06-20
SAN ANTONIO.

We take the following description Of the Texan
city, san Antonio, from tho series of articles on
,hc Santa Fc Expedition which George ". Ken
dali Esq recently returned from Mexico, is writing
for the Picayune.
The most pleasant place in Texas and perhaps
| might say in any part Of America in possession
oi the Anslo-Saxon race, is San Antonio, or beXar
Us IL Is pcrhap. more frequently called. The San
Antonio river which heads short distance
above, meanders through the city, and lis limpid
waters, from the different turns it makes and The
irrigating canals are brought within convenient
distance OF every door. The temperature Of the
water is the the wear round, Is neither too
hot nor too cold for bathing, and day does not
pass without all the inhabitants enjoying the
healthy and invigorsting luxury of swimming
We say ofl--tor men, women and children can be
seen at any time in TIE river spla,hing, diving
and padding abou; like many sand~ish Isl
auders. The women in particular arc celebrated
for their f0ndncss for and skill in aquatic sports
and are excellent swimmers
Tho climate is pure, dry and healthy; so much
80 that the old rcnai, Of q" if man wan,s to die
there he must go somewhere cls", appears spc-
cially to apply to San Antonio. During the SUM
rner months cool and delicious breeze Is blowing,
bringing comfort and Health. As but h''Ie ram
falls the rich and fertile bottoms of the romantic
take the pure waters of the San Antonio in every
direction.
By far the greatest curiositcs in the neighbour
hood OF the civ are tho Missions. Before de-
scrbing rlrse immense embellishments 1t Is ncccs-
sary for me state that early alter the settlement
Of Mexico one of the chief objects ct lis policy
was connected with the extension of the authority
of the Roman Catholic church. The conversion
oi the Indian and the Tromul cation of Christian
ity were interviewer with the desire OF wealth and
an apparent religious feryor. However wanting
ia that true feeling of Piety with which such OBJ
iects should be sought, they produced some OF the
most remarkable incidents in the history of the
country. The new doclriucs were first inculca,cd
BY force and cruelty, but subsequently in more
humane temper. by allowing the supcrslitions OF
the Indian 10 mix with the rites introduced among
them Aud to this day, the anomalous consequent
ccs of this policy to be seen in the Indian GER
cmonics, some of which will describe when /
shall hereafter speak of our journey through tie
states OF Guanaluato and Mexico. For the pur-
pose, however. of ahcrding protection to the
Roman Catholic missionaries there were e.in D.
lished vt various umc. settlement. which siill
bear tho name of Missions They are very numc-
rous Throughout California. and in lcxas there
are several. The Alamo at san Antonio was one
OF much importance, and there were others hardy
ct less consideration, In the neighscih hood, called
the Missions ct Conception, of san Juan. san
joe and la Espads. All of them were most
SUBSTANTIALLY hul; the walls are Of great thick
n*.' and m their form and management they were
frontier ior'rcsses. They is.c generally. though
n"' always, church at ,As sic of n square Lav.
me one entrance. On the outside ,bev rre.,-,
the torn oi bisnk square wall In he, p,erior
they had a large granary and the on,s;J, ,,,u
formed tie back OF y series of dwellings Il, -
the missionaries and their converts I,oi. Tho.
large appropriation OF the surrounding a.,
rrict iog the purpose OF cultivation, through winch
small canals wcro made FOR the purpose OF in "a.
tloa. Su-h al least is the cas-. with those Mis-
sions which have mentioned. The Aams Is
now in rams. only two or three houses Of the n
ner square being iuhphitcd. The gateway Of the
church was much ognamealed ami still remains.
'ho'gh deprived ot the figures which once orcs-
pied rs inches. Bu, thcsc is enough s;i 10 in'e-
resi- tae ninircr ot IT. former history. even il hS
could ior momeat forget the scenes which hs,c
made 1t oe'eh.a'cd in tn history ct Texan indie
penience. About two miles lower dowa the san
Autonc river Is the Mission OF Concepsisn. IL i.
u very large ssone binding with a fine cupo'e
and, thcngh plain building, i. ma gni6ccnt in is
dimensions aud the durability of il, construction
IL was here thai Bowie fon:st ono OF the first bu,
Ties with the Mecican forces, and il ha. NOT since
been inhabited. Though not sowel known 10
lame as other conflicts, this fight was that which
really committed he Texans and compelled those