Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-10-07

Mexico was long considered the largest city
of America but it is now surpassed by New
York, perhaps even by Rio Janeiro. Some
estimates have raised its population to 300
600, but it may, on good grounds, be fixed
at 100, 600 to 100000. 1t is beyond dis
pute the most Splendid" Mexico is I'M
doubtedly one of the finest cities built by
Europeans in either hemisphere; with the
exception of ST. Petersburg. Berlin and
Philadelphia, and some quarters of West
minister, there does not exist city of the
same extent which can be compared to the
capital of New Spain, for the uniform level
of the ground on which it stands, for the reg
uarity and breadth of the streets, and the
extent of the squares and public palaces.
The architecture is generally of very pure
style and there are even e-tep~--of very
beautiful structure"
The palace of the late viceroys, the Ca
thedral, built in what is termed the Gothic
style, several of the converts, and some pri-
vate palaces, reared upon plans furnished by
the pupils of the Academy of the Fine Arts,
are of great extent and magni6cence; yet,
upon the whole, it is rather the arrangement,
regularity, and general effect of the city,
which render it so striking. Nothing, in
particular, can be more enchanting than the
view of the city and valley from the sur
rounding heights. The eye sweeps over a
vast extent of cultivated fields, to the very
base of the colossal mountains, covered with
perpetual snow. The city appears as il
washed by the waters of the Lake of Tez-
cuco, which, surrounded by villages and
hamlets, resembles the most beautiful of the
Swiss lakes, and the rich cultivation of the
vicinity forms striking contrast with the
naked mountains. Among these rise the
famous volcano Popocatepet and the noun
tain of Iztaccihuatl, of which the first, an
enormous cone, burns occasionally, throw
ing up smoke and ashes in the midst of eter-
nal SHOWS. The police Of the city is excel
lent; most of the streets are handsomely
paved, lighted, and cleansed. The annual
consumption in Mexico has been computed
at $1,000 beeves; $4,000 sheep; $4,000
hogs; 100000 lowls,-including ducks
and turkeys; Dos, 900 pigeons and partridg-
es. The markets are remarkably well
supplied with animal and vegetable produc-
tons brought by crowds of canoes along the
Lake of Chalca, and the canal leading into
it. These canoes are often guided by fe-
males, who at the same time are weaving
cotton in their simple portable looms, OF
plucking fowls, and throwing their feathers
into the water Most of the flowers and
roots have been raised in chinampas, OF
floating gardens, an invention peculiar tc
the new world. They consist of RATS form
ed of reeds, roots, and bushes, and covered
with black saline mould, which, being irri
gated by The water Of the lakes becomes fer
tile 1t is a great disadvantage to Mexico
however, that it stands nearly on a leve
with the surrounding lake; which, in sea.
sons of heavy rain, overwhelms it with des
tructiye inundations. The construction Of
deSague or canal, to carry off the waters
of the Lake of Zumpango, and of the prin
cipal river by which it is fed, has, since
1929, prevented any very desolating flood
The desague, though not conducted with
skill and Judgment, cost $4,000 600, and is
one of the most stupendous hydraulic work:
ever executed Were it filled with water
the largest vessel of war might pass by il
through the mountain range which bound:
the plains of Mexico. The alarms, however
have been frequent, and cannot well cease
while the level of that lake is twenty fee
above that of the great square of Mexico