Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-06-02
For THE ENQUIRER.
TEXAS; OR NEW EsTREMADURA."
mo. "a

NO. II
San Antonio-O Old Missions astrOutAe-a dis-
corery-R,ual Fsl,e,ty-Happy "Reminiscences,
&c.
Dear Sir:-My visit to San Antonio must
again be marked with whit stone. ! found il
somewhat improved since my last ramblc, and its
inhabitants as usual gay and happy The same
hilarity among lis deniz'ns-lhe same unsuitable
love OF monte and dancing and cocktghlng-and
the same love OF ease and busy idlencss, which
has ever characterized It's ndoenl and luxurious
and care-kiling, cigar-smoking people. A true
picture Of San Antonio and its inhabitants would
be rich and rare gem-a study for the philoso-
pher, moralist and painter. II would be rich
picture in the Gallery OF Portraits-a rare treasure
in The Museum OF Fine Arts. Blu, We leave The
sketch for another time.
Alter lingering about the old Missions in the
ueghborhood, which possess degree of eDchant-
ment far beyond any old castles oil the North, and
whose noble ruins awaken in the bosom strange
fancies of Catholic influence in by gone days and
whose elaborate architecture, with lis finished
carvings and statuaTy, etc. indicates Moorish
origin | joined a small rariy on horseback, and
rode 10 Caslrove on the Medina, twenty-five
miles west OF The city Of San Antonio. And here
am reminded ofonr friend Norman. P,ay urge
Inn IN mn name 10 pack his Porf0ii0 and Came
IA LiLeinda and paints and pencils, ETC., and take
with him DaguerrCtype apparatus, and go and
dwell awhile among The noble old rnns, and
preserve them 10 US in their freshness and beauty
before they are crumbled into dust. lie will ind
there "'mid broken frieZes and fallen capitals,
ample flood for thought" and objects of The high
es interest 10 engage his time and lalen;s-histori-
cal and artisical-such as he whilom found in
Mexico and Yucalan, and which, prerious 10 an
neration were never seen in these United States.
They are now ours, and lei US study their origin,
and preserve their history and their FORMS
Know We the harvest is great, but the reapers are
few.
The situation of Casroville is surprisingly
beautiful, and even now, in its infancy, II is quite
furnishing Ii is settled with French and Ger
man emgranls, and no ore can tell what DAY
NAV bring forth in regard 10 H. or what, IN Inc
progress Of human events, II VIII oe hundred
years hence. !,
We found shelter at Caslroville with one Of
The AGENTS of the Colony, in small tenement
that was appropriated as house and magazine.
We slept in the magazine adjoining the bedcham-
Der of the proprietor and his wife, who was
cbaty little French woman, and did all in her
mower. as women usually do, 10 make one COM
portable And here lei me remark, as worthy OF
record, that in all our wanderngs in Texas, we
have never met with female who seemed un-
happy or disconnected with her condition, while
the men are TOO often grumblers
Fortunately for my Spiritual comfort early
discovered al Caslroville a cask OF The richest
Rhenish wine, which, by some magic or other,
had found its way here from The banks OF old Ia
ther Rhine.
"On German hills in sunlight free,
This goodly vine doth grow,
Though other lands may fairer be-
Such gifts they meier bestow."
This wine was probably brought here as
sample, and another year we may expect The VIM
tage oil Texas 10 produce similar kind. Inc
country abounds with the richest kinds OF grape
"Here the vines
Wed each her ELM and DER The golden gram
Hang their Iu1urant clusters, cheIuerlng
TIL. sunshine; where, when cooler shadows fall,
And the mild moon her fairy network weaves,
The lutte and mandoine, accompanied
By many voice yet sweeter than their own,
Kindles nor slowly; and the dance displays
The gentle arts and witcheries Of love,
rs hopes and fears and fegnlngs, till the youth
Drops on his knees as vaDqnished, and the maid
Her tambourlne uplifting with grace
Natures and Natures only, bids him rise."
The day passed at Caslrovlle, Independent
Of the Rhine wine, is one to be remembered
The morning sun .hone forth in all its tropica
glory, and the moon al evening, like large
pearl hung brightly in the heavens. ! sat FOL
hours beside the swift flowing Medina, and gazec
al its sparkling, bubbling waller With feelings o