Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-12-12

some OF them rising ten thousand feet
above the city. In the centre of this
vast oval basin is lake, or rather o
chain of lakes, through the midst Of
which the road now passes for about
eighteen miles, on n raised causeway.
The city stands in the northeastern
quarter Of the valley, not more than
three miles from the mountains, at an
elevation or seven thousand four
hundred and seventy feet, and its po-
sition seems obviously made for the
capital Of an empire.
Mexico is regarded as the statelicst
city in the New World. Its plan was
laid, & the principal portion Gifts pub
lie buildings are said to have been de-
signed by Corlcs. They bear all the
impress OF a superb mind The ha-
bitual mcannoss of dcmocratical build
ing has no place there; the majority of
the fabrics were evidently constructed
by a man to whom the royal architec
turc of the European nations was ia
miIiar, and the finest houses in the city
are still inhabited by the descendants
of the conqueron
The principal square is the pride Of
the Mcxicans, and the admiration of
travellers. 1t has an area of twelve
acres; unluckily, this fine space, which
in the United States would be covered
with verdant turf, shrubs and flowers.
is covered only with pavement. But
the buildings are on noble scale
The Cathedral fills one whole side of
the square. the Palace another, and the
sites of both are memorable and his
to:ical: the Cathedral standing on the
ground where once stood the great idol
temple, and the Palace on the ground
ofthe palace Of the Montezumas! The
latter building is 500 feet long, and
contains the public Offices, besides the
apartments Of the President. The
Cathedral is Of striking Gothic archi-
lecture, and after all the pressures and
plunderings of the later period, still
retains immense wealth The high
altar is covered with plates Of silver,
intersperscd with ornaments Of gold.
This altar is enclosed with balustrade
hundred feet long, not less precious
than the high altar itself. 1t is com
posed of an amalgam of gold, silver
and copper, richly flourishcd and fig
ured. 1t is said that an offer had beeu
made to purchase il at its weight in
silver, giving half million of dollars
besides. OF this balustrade there arc
not less in the building than 500 feet.
Statues. vases, and huge candlesticks
of the precious metals, meet the eye
everywhere; and yet it is said chat the
still more precious portion Of HE treas
ure is hidden from the popular eye
The streets are wide, and cross each
other at right angles, dividing the
whole city into squares.
churches are the chief buildings
in the city, some Of them Of great
size, and all Gllcd with plate and other
wealth. Yet the houses Of the most
opulent families, exhibit some Of tie
vilest habits Of the vilcst southern
cities Of Europe. To pass over other
matters. in the whole city there is per-
baps not stable separate from the
house. The stud IS on the basement
story, and il may be conceived how
rcpnlsiye must be the effect of such an
arrangement in the burning climate Of
Mexico! The servants rooms are al
so on this floor; and in some of the
principal houses the visitors have to
PASS through this row Of stables and
sleeping rooms on their way to the
chief apartments. In some, too, Of
the larger private houses. no less than
thirty or forty families reside, each
renting one or two rooms, and having
a common stair Of exit to the street.