The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-23

in presence of this respectable public. Having made
these preparations and arranged our plan OF defence
we started at 4 in the morning, and were upon the
look out finger on trigger, for two or three hours
after this our uneaslness somewhat snDsideo' anu
we made the days journey safely, and 10 our own
satisfaction if not 10 that Of the robbers. Through
most of this day the country was very much inc
same as that OF yesterday; destitute OF population
water or any growth but the nopal or pHckiy pear
and few scattering acacIas. Late IN the aiser-
noon IL was quite refreshing 10 come upon nhe
valley prairie, waiered by small stream, and COW
cred with wheat fields ready for the harvest. Our
stoppng- place for the night was town OF about
eight thousand inhabitants, called Lagos, rather a
neat place. with the usual share OF enormous
churches From Lagos road on the following
morning continued through the same beautiful prai-
rie and waving wheat.felds, upon which we had
entered the preceding evening" and this the cha
racter Of the country until arrival In the after
noon at the mining town of Guanajato. This city
has very picturesque situation, climbing up the
sides and over the SUBMITS Of a range Of hills; the
streets are exceedingly intricate and precipitous.
For miles before reaching the city there are sue
cession of immense establishments for reducing the
metals from the ore. Viewed from one OF the sur
rounding elevations, appears as though there was
a separate town each hill as far as the eye can
sec the church GROWING each summit. Here We
sat down TO table with some more unfortunate fell
lows, who had been robbed the preceding evening
In the stage approaching In this case there
were eight robbers and feeling il to be
~ to 20 far, take much trouble IN the matter,
they robbed this stage in sight Of the gates OF the
city OF Queretero--a city Of 20 900 inhabitants; not
even taking the precaution TO mask themselves; and
one of the robbers on the following day, near the
door OF our hotel, asked gentleman whom he had
relieved of his purse and watch for the light Of his
cigar. No one acquainted with the country would
take the responsibility Of denouDcing robber; To
do so would take nothing from his impunity, and
would insure the assassination of the informer.
Soon AFTER leaving Gusnsjato we passed from the
rugged mountain region in which 1t is situated to
continuation Of the fertile valley upon which we had
been the preceding day, and continued along this
our whole days journey Of forty leagues, 10 the
handsome city OF Queretero, passing on the way
several pretty towns Of five or six thousand inhab-
ants each. just before reaching the town Of
Celayo, we fell in with a group Of hafnsked
peasants, some on foot and some on dom
keys, being driven in by few Mexican
soldiers to form part Of the army destined for
Matamoras. The stage stopped one day, being
Sunday, in Qreretero and on the first night Of our
arrival the house Of a curate nearly opposite TO US
was entered by band Of robbers and stripped Of all
iu portable valuables, with five thousand dollars in
specie. Here we, for the frat time, learned through
Mexican paper the name Of unfortunate
dragons, and the unhappy fate Of Col. Cross.
As evidence Of the facilities Of Mexican civili-
zation in this handsome and populous city ofQuere-
teo having occasion TO receive six cents in change,
was compelled TO take Il in four cakes Of white
soap, the common currency Of the country. Before
leaving this city on Monday morning, we called n
council OF war to deter whether we should de-
fend ourselves or yield, in case ofan attack There
were eight OF US, but one was priest, the other an
old man Of seventy, two were invalids, and none
would entertain for a moment the question OF war
They had no arms; we therefore laid aside and
determined to submit quietly to any fate. We for
tunately entered Mexico the evening Of the sec
ond day from Queretero without any interruption.
On the night before arrival in the city put up
at an antieuated and prison-ike fonda, the court
yard Of which was occupied by part Of company
Of soldiers, and machine wheels which greatly
excited the curiosity and attention Of our compan-
IONS glance at il was only necessary to discover
that il camp forge for there were the bellows
and the anvil. But particularly luminous Mexi-
can explained to the whole party that il was a
"bomba"-a bomb carriage for the destruction Of us
North Americans.
shall not, in flying tour of this kind, undertake
description ofthe oft-described city of Mexico, or
the emotions with which a stranger enters place
which has been alternately the capital of the Monte
zumas, the capital Of Cortez, and the theatre where
one military chief has contended with another not
for the honor of his country but for the possession OF
h returns the custon-house
Mexico is indsputably magnificent city; but as
Madame Calderon justly remarks, its elegant houses
without having the dignity of ruins, induce the i'm
preston Of fine buildings in state of neglect. One
elegant streets of Mexico with feelings of melancho-
ly and disgust, at finding himself amid throngs Of
epauletted and laced soldiers, in mingled attire OF
decoration and dirt and crowds of the revolving
beggars of every age from infancy to decrepltudc
This disgusting spectacle accompanies the traveller
across the whole stage route of Mexico. The coach
cannot stop for moment without being surrounded
by these wretched objects displaying their disgusting
nhrmities and uttering plteous moans At one point
they start off with the stage; children, young girls,
and men, old women with infants on their backs,
and with their hands pressed together, uttering a
continued moan. With marvellous speed they keep
up with the coach for near mile. Sensiby be-
comes blunted by the continued contemplation of
desase and wretthedness, while charity is para
yzed by the consciousness of inability to relieve the
mass. The comfort of the stranger is by no means
increased by the conviction that all his vigilance
will not prevent his pocket being picked in the most
public places, event which happened twice to my
companion in one day, and twice detected the dep
redators hand in my pocket; the third time he was
successful. Soldiers seem essential part Of
every institution Of the country. If the host passes
the streets and brings the whole population to its
knees, it is accompanied by soldiers; if you visit
peaceful scientific institution, filthy soldier exam
ines your right to admission He is, however, an
appropriate sentinel; for scientific institutions with
hgh-sounding names, upon being entered display
nothing but disorder, neglect, and filth they indicate
apeople degeneratng into the darkness, without the
energy Of barborism. The state of general igno-
rance may be imagined when those who ought to
be the receptacles Of knowledge among the most
ignorant. Standing near q Franciscan friar, in the
museum, examining model representing section
Of the mnes the good father contemplated it with
great earnesncss, and graciousy informed me that it
was kind Of representation of the birth of our
Saviour
Upon our arrival in the city we were naturally
anxious to learn something Of the state Of affairs
the frontier but at first could learn nothing but the
nv hat had ak