The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-12-02
Tn, K.v 81 ,he ,IexIcan Gulf.

At this particular time the following communlca- |
ton will be read with great interest," The writer who
is native of Cuba, and gentleman Of great respec-
liability and intelligence promises series OF articles
on the subject Philadelphia Eperring Bulletin
Cuba Is the largest of the greater Antilles, extends
from Cape AIayzi on the T.. TO Cape 5, Antonio on
the w. in curved line Of 100 miles. II Is III miles
wde in the broadcast part from Maternillos POINT on
the n. TO the western point OF Mora Cove on me p
q miles +. of Cape Cruz The narrowest part OF the
Island Is - miles from the mouth OF Bahia del Marei
on the n. 10 the Cove of Mayana on the 3. From
Habana TO Batabana IL Is % miles. Near the centre
The periphery Of the island, following line the
less toruous and cutting the bays ports, and coves
at their mouth is about 7l9 miles, OF which si6 are
on the NJ and 903 the 5. Its area Is about 81 aoo
square miles; and taking into the estimate the ada
cent islands or keys which belong TO it II is S07 IL
square miles
The form of the island is exceedingly irregular, APP
preaching that of long narrow crescent, the convex
portion of which looks towards the arctic pole. Her
situation In regard to said pole is nearly from b. T.
WNW, tits the westerly of the West India Islands,
and her western part is placed advantageousy in the
Snn s The Msss Go s saya sss ' aa
between Point Hicacos, the most northerly OF the
island, and Point Tancha or Cape Sable, the most
soutIiery Of East Florida The other entrance into
the Gull to the s. W. is ia miles wide in Its narrow
est part between Cape S. Antonio of Cuba, and Cape
Catochc the most salient extremity Of the Peninsula
of Yucatan. From Cape Moa or s. Nicolas in the
Island of s Domingo, the eastern extremity 81 Gao o
wide. From Mayzi 10 Great Enagun, the nearest OF
the Lueayas or Bahama Islands, the distance 70 the
N T.. is As miles. From Point Lucrecia, In Cuba
to the most caserly point OF the Great Bank Of Ba
hama, in the old Bahama channel, called Santa Do
mingo's Key Sc miles, From Punta del lngies, on
the south of Cuba, to the nearest coast Of Jamaica
| the distance is rs miles.
Cuba contains the following ports on the NJ, viz
Guadiana, Bahia Honda, Cabana, Mariel Habana,
Matanzas, Gardenas Sagua Ia Grande, San Juan de
los Remedies, Guanaja, Nueyltas, Nuevas Grandes,
gle, Jbara Jururu Bariai, Vita, Naranjo, Sauna Ba-
nes Nipe Leviza Cabonico Tanamo, Cebolias, Caz-
anova, Zaguaneque, Zaragua, Taco, Cnyaguaneqne,
Nayas, Mariayi BaIacoa, and Mata1S7 IN all, onthe
Santiago de Cuba, Mota, Manzanillo, Sta Cruz Yer
tientes Casilda, Zagua Ensenada de Cochinos En-
| senada de Cortez, and Ensenada de Corrlentes.-l3
small vessels 1t must be observed with nstonish-
ment that great many of these fine harbors de-
serted, without single fsherman's hut.
The coasts Of Cuba are in general exceedingly
| foul presenting reefs and shadows which extend
| from two to three miles into the sea, and make the
approach TO the land both difficult and dangerous for
such not intimately acquainted with the chan
sea- during spring tides and the season Of the equi-
nox forms extensive lagoons which In dry years pro-
duce salt in abundance With little attention. they
| could be improved to advantage.
These lagoons, or salt marshes, are more common
on the north of the Island than on the south, and
might provide the means of living to many indusri-
Gus people, If the government would remove obsta-
fanega GOO pounds) collected, even by those who
own the land where they are found.
The vegetable soil of the Island may be said TO
almost universally on one great mass of calcare-
The mineral riches of the Island have not yet been
explored to any considerable extent. But this, as
well as her natural productions, shall be the subject
for some other articles, which we will lay before our
| readers with MI noashle accurncv ,I s5
| The climate of Cuba cannot be pleasanter else
where in the spring and winter and then falls small
quantity Of rain this Is commonly called the dry
season. The rainy season begins In May and lasts
| till November
| The annexed tables of the rates of Fahrenheits
thermometer will afford an illustration Of the almost
uniform temperature Of the climate OF Cuba;
| MEAN TEMPERATURE.
Mean temperature OF the year at Havana and
northern part, near to sea n deg.
Mean temperature at Havana the warmest
month SO deg.
! month ~ 10 deg
ss.,s Re ..s ... r. lss,ss Ss
| above the level of the sen AT deg.
| Mean temperature In the coolest
month, So deg. 30 min
Mean temperature for the year at
SAINT Jago de Cuba sO.deg. 50 min.
4 Mean temperature for the warfnest month ga deg.
| Mean temperature for the coolest IA deg.
4 EXTREME TEMPERATURE.
Il Al Havana 1t Is cold when at 10 deg
The coolest day at HAVANA has BEEN go deg. 80 min
The warmest day at Havana has been 80 deg
! has sunk to SO deg
And even to 80 deg
In the grottos and caves near st. Antonio and
Beita, and on the Chorrera creek, II deg. 30 min
In WELL at depth Of 300 feet ~ deg
Us CunAso.
HADITs OF QUEES ISABELLA OF SPArN.--Th
Queen rises very late as she seldom retires to be-
before three or four o'clock in the morning Sh
takes her supper regularly ut 2 o'clock in the morn
one is almost sure Of having TO wait one or tw
hours beyond the time appointed; this is even tn
case with her ministers, who have to wait as well a
others. They are, indeed, sometimes sent away al
. ter waiting long time without seeing her Majest
at ALL and are sometimes called up in the middle O
the night to an audience. She listens attentively
especially delighted with any opportunity propose
. OF performing some act Of benevolence. Thong
possessed of deep sensibites she is nevertheless
bold and fearless. She boldly drives tream Of fou
horses and on horseback such is her intrepdity tina
she ventures to ride the most spirited horses such
= no one but herself would venture to bestride He
!, cousin, the Infanta Donna Josefa, riding out wit
I her one day, said My DEAR your horses know tina
Z you are Queen, and obey you perfectly"
The Queen is very fond Of music and does no
confne herself merely to hear, but she herself sing
i and takes part in the concerts which she give.
: singing Spanish airs with all the grace of an Anda
luslan One of her greatest passions, however is tn
toilette; she is fond of talking on this subject wit
her ladies' of honor, and showing them the new dres
, ses from London and Paris. The active life led b
the Queen gives to her youthful person all the aT
, pearnnce and charms of robust health The care
OF royalty do not Cypress her much; she effects I
care little about being Queen and to desire most III
welfare Of her country.
! The FAMOUS GFN. PiLLow.--The ST. Loui
Republican has correspondent in the city of Mex
co, from whose interesting letters we should max
large extracts If our space permitted. In one
his latest we find the following statement, in regar
!, to General Pillow-the pet of the Administrative
and the favorite of its friends:
"The official report Of the General-in- Chief of tn
battles of Chapultepecand before the gates Of Beler
and San Cosmo Of this city has not as yet bee
prepared. He has experienced great embarrassment
from the wild extravagant and untrue statemen
made by Gen. Pillow in his report Both his Con
reras and Chapultopoc reports were returned to hin
by the General-in-C Chief with instructions to correc