The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-07-25

flying and drums beating The inhabitants were very
inimca TO US and until and the day, General
nsurrection All the information able to OBJ
tain from the foreigners and resident Americans,
calculated to excite apprehensions, and cause
be on the alert For army of about 1000 men (the
force we came here wth to march into city Of 10000
inhabitants hostile US In every sense of the word is
thing not usual In war; and had such thing been
done IN our country, during any of her difficulties
what different course would have been pursued from
that followed by this fallen people
The regiments were crowded in the different quar-
tiers assigned them that the officers compelled to
some distance from the One oacer, however re-
manned with the men all the time
by large party in town to ataok soms na ~ Sna
cutting on the officers from their men, massacre the
whole Of u.s. firmly believe that il Gen Scott had not
arrived when he did we would have had difficulty.
we were under arms the morning Of the day General
rwgss division ISL. arrived but the plot resulted in
They will never venture to attack u.s. and II we must
have fight we shall always have be the assailants
We are quartered in the Monastery Of San Domingo,
and is long portals and passage ways lined with huge
pictures representing the different Catholic saints
martyrs bear strong with our late quarters
while the line of march, bivouacking in the open air
men exposed to the inclemency Of the weather
without tents or any other covering and many having
none other than the broad canopy OF heaven Such,
howeverare the necessary privaons Of camp lfe and
which as well all old soldiers have experienced
Gen. w. gave dinner few days since and invited
the field and commanding officers Of companies OF the
Palmetto regiment 1t Manigault and myself however,
Afforded was exceedingly agreeable in his converse
ton can say it was the most agreeable day have
passed since left home.
Pueba is beautiful city, containing about 10000 in
habiants The houses two and three stories high
Porcelain is inlad in the brick walls and in most
1t forms Catholic figure, emblemsuch Christ
on the Cross-the different Saints sc.
IL may well be styled the city OF domes and spires -
There are 1t is asserted some 20 churches, or cathe-
dras in the place. and each place Of religious ceremony
is designated by dome or steeple. The principal
thedra however, is situated in the public Plaza and
to have been the work of ages In the way of
and decoration 1t far surpasses the conception of the
most vivid imagination and words lose their power in
the attempt to describe it,
This huge structure built of beautiful granite as is
also the pavement around it. which is elevated about
three feet above the ground and covers, it is said
area Of four
It has two steees turrets of great architec
tural beauty and elegance about 200 feet high In
of them there sixteen bells which keep up almost
incessant Ginning The exterior Is most beautiful and
attractve but the interior with its three rows Of i'm
mense arches supported by massive columns elaborate
y carved end gorgeousy decorated with ornaments Is
at once imposing and magnificent The stranger is ut
erly couounded by the numerous costly objects which
challenge his observation, ON entering the door.
At the upper end of the church is most magnificent
alone exclusive Of the golden Virgin which, previous
our arrival constituted part of It's ornaments cost the
sweet sum Of S3,000,O00.
The golden Virgin, removed, (the pedestal how
ever on which the sacred image stood, still remains
cost between eight and nine millions OF dollars
greet much that the Pucbans much afraid of
as to remove II.
Around the altar are four cruciaxes-the images Of
Christ are of solid goli about foot in length The
candcsticks about and half feet in length Of
gold and silver These last removed after every
mony
The priests their rich robes Of gold and silver ON
brodery oiciate around the altar daily; and the
mony OF high mass IL certainly very imposing. The
their devotons; and from what saw, the first Sunday
after our arrival, should have been compelled TO
knee had the fact not been that had armed force
in the had we come rs visters instead OF
querors
the ceremony OF high mas IL small crucihx in the
centre Of CIRCLE representing the rays OF the II
is Of gold, and completely studded with diamonds.
The next Thursday will be the day which they
nusy carry the 'host" through the Streets which
occasion every drops his knees as 1t passes
that il NJ large that IL il too heavy to bs
borne by the priest alone. The Bishop told Cen w.
that the procession would not be In the streets that
day from the apprehension Of difficulty arising out Of It,
1t to be the custom to throw stones and the like
at every who does not pay respect to the host by
neeling as they do They will have the ceremony this
The extremes Of riches and poverty distinct
marked and broadly than in any place
have ever been in before.
"The rich are very rich and the poor very poor.
You hardly walk so yards without meeting some
poor mendicant asking charity Of you, while their
people pass by with perfect Indifference At first, the
sight Of some poor unfortunate child Of sorrow picture
Of the most squad poverty excited my sympathy and
frequent they being made daily even by the same In
dviduals, that II all answered they would soon
u
They appear to look upon each others misfortunes
with perfect indifference. Even to-day, while looking
out Of the window Of my room intoths street, saw
poor woman fall the pavement as II In commissions,
and after few unnatural and violent exertions she
seemed suddenly to become perfectly motioness and to
all appearance dead. While she was thus lying, sup
pose at least 30 persons passed among whom
OF their sancted priests in black and not bestowed
her the slightest notice attention, until poor wo-
man. through compassion got some water and took her
into house near by Such however, Is the heartless
character ofthe people.
Tha hot,v lola nd MIA 10 nu;to
mountainous, and the scenery varied. In travelling
about 80 miles experienced all the degrees of heat
Puebla though situated in large fertile valley in high
state Of cultivation, entirely Of grain Is yet
10000 feet above the level OF the sea.
Just in front Of Is to be the celebrated volcano
"Popocatpe" with Its summit covered with snow and,
clear morning. it appears to be but about FIVE miles
distant. 1t is of the most regular and beautiful
mountains ever 1t decreases gradually from
base to summit that the top is perfect point and
has the appearance of wing been soped of with math
ematical precision.
The snow Is brought from these mountains to Puebla
and we now have pretty good cecreams, though they
lack something to make them AS fine as at home.
am picking up, of necessity, enough Of Spanish TO
enable me to make purchases in the shops. ] quite
chat with the charming signorittss | see daily
The priests here are quite jovial set Of men They
go to church and ocste there half the day. and then
spend the remainder at the billiard and gaming tables
have seen them in the cathedral, Sunday morning,
sancthed as possible and in the afternoon playing bill
lizards.
Such is the with which they satisfy religious
scrupes, they have any and they the individuals
who sway the people with despotic influence.
Tomorrow party of drag will go out TO visit the
ancient pyramid Of Cholula" and If it be in my pow
er, intend going with them. The mound which
the pyramid Is built be distinctly from the hill
just outside the town, which the Guadalupe battery
is placed.
The ruins of the ancient city are also visible and II Is
certainly worth ones while to visit It,.
JUNE 3d-This morning attended the Cathedral and
witnessed the ceremony OF Corpus Christie There
Officiating priests or bishops dressed in the
most magnificent robes embroidered with gold There
also large number Of other priests Of lower
der, and monks and friars, who performed various
duties. After the ceremony of high mass, the host
was borne through the church. preceded by n large
procession of the priesthood and Others bearing light
ed candles and, as it passed IL astonishing see
with what infstuation the whole congregated mass
dropped on their knees MS If In the deepest devotion
saw man who had little child In his arms yet
able to walk and as the crucfx approached he raised
the child above the crowd and made every ondcayor to
fix its attention the holy image This Is the way the
excans are brought up from their earliest infancy and
this accounts for the universally Of the Catholic
n But and nlar Of