Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-07-02

IN Mexico, was very popular among the members
of the government Of the country well others,
and enjoyed favorable opportunities Of asceItaining
the character Of the country and the people OF
the city Of Mexico he gives very full and minute
description, from which we take the leading pas
sages;-
"The city of Mexico is said to be the finest built
city on the American continent In some respects
it certainly is so. In the principal streets the
houses all constructed according TO the sricest
architectural rules. The foundations of the city
were laid, and the first buildings erected by Cortes,
who did everything well which he attempted-from
building house or writing couplet, to conquer
ing empire. Many of the finest buildings in
Mexico are still owned by his descendants. The
public square is said to be unsurpassed by any in
the world it contains some twelve or fifteen acres
paved with stone. The cathedral covers one entire
side, the palace another the side is occupi-
ed by row ofvety high and substantial houses, the
second story Of which project into the street the
width of the pavement, the lower stories occu-
pied by the principal retail merchants Of the city.
The Presidents Palace, formerly the palace Of
the yiceroys is immense building ofthree stories
high, about five hundred eet in length, and three
hundred and fifty feet wide II stands on the site
of the palace Of Montezuma II is difficult to con-
ceive Of so much stone aud mortar being put to-
gether in less tasteful aud imposing shape it has
much more the appearance Of a cotton factory, or
peniteniary, than what it really is; the windows
are small, and parapet runs the whole length Of
the building with nothing to relieve the monotony
Of its appearance except some very Indifferent
mental work in the centre; there are no doors in
front either OF the second or the third stores moth
ing but dspropo'onaiely small windows, and too
many Of them the three doors and there are only
three in the lower story, are destitute Of all arch
itectural beauty or ornament Only very small
portion Of this palace Is appropriated 10 the resi-
dence of the President all the public Offices
here, including those of the heads OF the different
departments ministers of war, foreign relations
finance and Justice, the public treasury, &C.
The halls Of the house Of deputies aud of the senate
also in the same building, aud last and least
the botanic garden. After passing through all sorts
Of filth and dirt on the basement story you come to
dark narrow passage which conducts you to
massive door, which, when you have succeeded in
opening, you enter an apartment enclosed with
walls every side but open at the top, and certain
y not exceeding eighty feet square, aud this is the
botanic garden Of the palace of Mexico few
shrubs and plants and the celebrated manita tree
are all that il contains | have rarely in my life
seen more gloomy and desolate looking place.
But the Cathedral, which occupies the site OF the
great idol temple of MonteZuma, offers a striking
contrast 1t is five hundred feet long by four hun
dred and twenty wide, It would be superfluous
TO add another to the many descriptions of this
famous building which have already been publish
ed. Like all other churches in Mexico, il is built
in the Gothic style The walls, OF several feet
thickness are made of unhewn stone and lime
Upon entering it is apt TO recall the wild fctons
of the Arabian Nights il seems as If the wealth of
empires was collected there. The clergy in Mex-
co do not, for obvious reasons, desire that their
wealth should be known TO its full extent they are
therefore, not disposed 10 give very full information
upon the subject, or 10 exhibit the gold and silver
vessels, vases precious stones and other forms OF
wealth; quite enough is exhibited to strike the be-
holder with wonder. The first object that presents
itself on entering the cathedral is the altar, near
the center of the building it is made of highly
wrought and highly polished silver, and covered
with profuson of ornaments of pure gold. On
each side of this altar runs balustrade, enclosing
space about eight feet wide aud eighty or an
hundred feet long. The balusters are about four
feet high and four inches thick in the largest part;
the handrai from six to eight inches wide. Upon
the top ofihs handra, at distance of six or eight
feet apart, are human images, beautifully wrought
and about two feet high All Of these, the baus.
trade, handrail and images are made of a compound
OF gold, silver and copper-more valuable than
silver. was told that an offer had been made to
take this baustrade and replace it with another Of
exactly the same size and workmanship of pure
silver, and to give half million of dollars besides.
There is much more of the same balustrade in
other parts ofthe church should think, in all Of
it, not less than three hundred feet.
As you walk through the building. on either side
there are different apartments, all filled from the
floor to the ceiling with paintings, statues, vases,
! huge candlesticks, walters and thousand other
articles, made of gold and silver. This, too, is
only the every day display Of articles ofesst value;
the more costly stored away in chests and
closets. What must it be when all these are brought