The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-10-12
THE CITY OF MEXICO.

This famous capital, now at The mercy Of
General Scott, is thus described in Murray's
Encyclopedia Of Geography, PIP. 523-4:
The state o! Mexico comprises the Valley
Of Mexico, fine and splendid region, varie
gated by extensive lakes, and surrounded BY
some OF the loitiest volcanic peaks of the
world. It's circumference is about 200 miles
and it forms The very centre OF the great ia
BILE land OF Ahanuac, elevated from $500 10
5000 feet above the level OF The sea. In the
centre oil this valley stands the city of Mex
leo; the ancient Mexico, or Tenochli Ian,
having been built in the middle OF the lake,
and connected with The continent BY exten
sve causeways or dykes The new Mexico
is three miles from the lake OF TeZeuco. and
nearly six from that of Chaloc yet Hum
boldt considers il certain. from the remains
OF the ancient teocdlH or temples. tina, il oc
cupies the identical position Of The former
city, and that great part Of the waters OF
the valley have been dried up. Mexico was
long considered the largest city Of America
but it is now surpassed by New York. per
haps even by Rio Janero. Some estimates
have raised It's population to 100000 but il
NAV. on good groundo, be fixed at 100000 TO
10000. Il is beyound dispute the most
splendid. Mexico is undoubtedly one Of The
| finest cities built by Europeans in either
hemisphere with the exception OF 81. Pc
tersburg. Berlin. and Philadelphia, and some
quarters of Westminster, there does not ex-
list a city ofihe same extent which can be
compared 10 the capital of New Spain. fer
the uniform level of the ground on which il
stands, for the regularity and breadth Of the
streets, and the extent Of the squares and
public places. The architecture is generally
of n very pure style and there are even edit
ces ola very beautiful structure
The palace OF The late viceroys, the cathe
oral built in what is termed The Gothic style,
several oil the converts, and some private
palaces reared upon plans furnished by the
pupils oft Academy Of the Fine Arts, are
Of great extent and magnificencc; yet, upon
the whole, it is rather the arrangement. reg
ularity. and general effect of the city, which
render II so striking. Nothing, in pariicu
lar. can be more enchanting than the view
of the city and valley from the surrounding
heights. The eye sweeps over vast extent
OF cultivated fields, 10 the very base Of the
colossal mountains, covered with perpetual
snow The city appears as if washed by the
waters Of the Lake OF Tezcuco. which. sur
rounded by villages and hamlets. resembles
the most beautiful uflhe Swiss lakes, and the
rich cultivation Of the vicinity lorms Il sirick
| ing contrast with the naked mountains
Among these rise the famous volcano P"p1
catepeil and the mluntsin Of lZiact Ihuall, OF
which the first, an enormous cone, burns oc
cassionally, throwing up smoke and ashes
| in the midst Of eternal SHOWS. The police oil
the CITY is excellent most Of the streets are
handsomely paved, lighted, and cleansed-
The annual consumption in Mexico has been
computed at 1890 beeves; 100000 sheed :;
| $4,000 hogs, 100000 owls,-iucuding
ducks and turkeys POS, 600 pigeons and part.
ridges. The markets are remarkably well
supplied with animal and vegetable oduc
tons brough by crowds of canoes aleng the
Lake OF Chalca, and the canal leading into II
These canoes are often guided by females
who al the same time are weaving cotton IN
their simple portable looms, or plucking
fowls, and throwing their feathers into the
water Most ofthe flowers and roots have
| been raised in chmdmpdS. or floating gardens
an invention peculiar TO the new world
! They consist OF RATS formed of reeds, roots
and bushes, and coverep with black saline
mould, which, being irrigated by The wafer
Of the lake, becomes fertile. 1t is great
| disadvantage 10 Mexico. however that il
stands nearly on level with the surrounding
lake; which 10 seasons Of heavy rain, over
whelms it wit destructive foundations The
construction a deSGgue, or canal, 10 CARL oil
the waters of the Lake OF Zumpango, and Of
The principal river by which it is fed, has,
since 1929, prevented any very desoating
flood. The desague, though not conducted
with skill and judgement cost Se.0OC,0
and is one of the most stupenduous hydraulic
works ever executed. Were it filed with
water the largest vessel oil war might pass
by it through the range Of mountains which
bound the plains OF Mexico. The alarms
however, have been frequent, and cannot
well cease. while The level Of thatlake is
twenty feetabove that Of the great square OF
Mexico.