Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-11-20
DESCRIPTION OF TEsE CITY
OF MEXICO.
BY BRANTz MAYER, OF BALTIMORE.


1t was the middle of November, but
there was May mildness in the atmos-
phere. The sky was of that deep ultra
marine blue peculiar to elevated regions.
As ranged my eyes down the street from
my balcony, the town was alive with q
population; the windows of the houses
stood open; fair women strolled homeward
from mass; old monks shufiled along in
their cowled robes; the butcher urged
along his ass with its peripatetc stall hung
around with various meats; freshly.leaved
flowers and trees in the court-yards, of
which | caught glimpses through the open
portals; and in the balconies lougned the
early risers, enjoying a segar after their
cup of chocolate. 1t was lively and
beautiful scene, worthy Of the pencil Of
that master. painter of cities, Canaletl,
who would have delighted in the remarka-
BILE transparency and purity of the atmos.
phere, through which the distant hills,
rier at the end Of the street.
The plan of the city of Mexico is pre-
cisely that of a checker. board, with a
great variety of squares. Straight streets
cross each other at right angles and at
regular intervals. The houses are painted
with gay colors-light blue, fawn and
green, nterspersed with pure white, which
remains long unstained in the dry atmos.
phere.
The view Of all these from the elevated
tower of the cathedral TO which soon
repaired after my arrival in the capitaD
presents a mass of domes, steeples and
flat rooted dwellings, frequently covered,
like hanging gardens. with flowers and
foliage. Beyond the gates (Which you
would scarcely think bounded population
of 2OO,OOO the vast plain stretches out on
every side to the mountains, traversed in
some places by long lines of aqueducts
sweeping to the city from the hills, and
others with lakes. cultivation and beautiful
groves, until the distant view is closed by
the volcanoes, whose SHOWS rest against
the blue sky, uncovered at this season by
a single cloud.
Below is the great square of the Plaza
a large paved area-fronted on the north
by the cathedral, on the east by the Ma.
tional Palace Qhe residence of the Presi.
dent) 10 the south of which, again, are the
museum, and stone edfce recently built
in tasteful style for market. The corner
stone of this was laid after arrived in
Mexico, and before left the building was
nearly completed. Until that time, the
fruits, flowers, and vegetables, and most OF
the necessaries of the table had been sold
on that spot in shambles and booths built
of bamboos and reeds, sheltered from the
rain and sun by matched roofs. In the
southwestern corner of the square, the
Parian, an unsghtly building, erected
believe, since the revolution,) greatly mar.
the effect of the Plaza. 1t useful estab
lishment, however, as it affords a large
revenue to the municipality, and is the
great bazaar where every article requisit,
for the dress of Mexicans, male or female
may be purchased at reasonable prices
On the pavement which runs round 81
numbers of coachmen whose stands are il
the neighborhood, and crowds of womel
with ready made shoes.
LETTER WRITER'S.
i Not the least curious, however, anon.
the multitude with which the side walk
are generally thronged are about doze
"evangelists," or let,er-wrilers, whose pos