The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-05-28

a faithful representation OF the main Plaza, In
the city Of Mexico, with full view of the Halls
of the Montezumas; and the other of the new
steamship Washington.
Single copies 81 cents each.
Our Relations with Mcxico.-view Of the Halls
ofthe Montezumas.
We are informed by the latest accounts we
have received that Gen. Scott at the head OF the
army under his command, is pursuing his way to
the city of Mexico, and that the inhabitants OF
that place were moving away as rapidly as possi'
be fearing the assault of our troops. BY this time
the American army is, no doubt, in possession OF
the capital; and the next arrvalfrom there at New
Orleans will, probably convey to us intelligence,
by which we can form an opinion as to the dura-
ton of the war. Mr.. Trst has, no doubt, too,
opened his mission, and again held forth the
olive branch
We shall soon learn whether the capture of
the capital will have the effect to make the
Mexicans more willing to agree to a peace
than they were on former occasions.
1t may be interesting at the present, when SO
many of our countrymen are probably in the capt.
tai ofthe Aztecs, to give short account of it for
the benefit of their friends at home. 1t is situated
at the bottom of valley containing sixteen hun
dred square miles, in the State of the same name,
and surrounded by mountains varying in altitude
from three to ten thousand feet. The city itself
is 74OO feet above the level of the sea, distant
from Vera Cruz 252 miles, and 300 from Tam
pico, and from Washington 275O miles.
Weta the following description of this city
from Williams UniversalGaSeteer -
ancient Mexican City Of which found
Al. cf I'll oRI
or two centuries before its conquest by Cortez The
location the Lake Texcuco the waters Of which,
ly says Humboldt one of the finest cities built
by Europeans in either hemisphere With the excep-
ton Of Petersburgh, Berlin Phiadephia and Westmn-
ster there does not exist city Of the eame extent
which can be compared to the capital Of New Spain for
the uniform level of the ground which 1t stands for
the regularity and breadth of the Streets and the extent
of the public places The architecture is generally Of
yery fine style. and there are even edfces of very
beautiful structure Two sorts of hewn stone give to
the Mexican buildings air Of soidty and sometimes
Of magnifcence The balustrades and gates are all Of
Bscay iron. ornamented with bronze; and the houses
instead of roofs have terraces like those Of Italy and
other southern countries"
Many Of the streets nearly two miles In length
perfectly level and straight with the ends Terminating
in a view Of the mountains that surround the valley
The houses are in general OF uniform height most OF
them having three stories each from Is to 20 feet high
The fronts of most of the houses painted in differ
ent colors viz white crimson, brown light green,
dryness of the atmosphere The city Is built in the
form of a square, of about four miles a side. The
Plaza Major is of the finest squares to be in
any cty in the world The east side is occupied by the
cathedral magnificent buding the north by SPLEEN
did palace formerly occupied by the viceroys the south
by fine Of houses, in the centre of which Is pa
lace called the Casa del Estada built the site of the
palace of the Montczumas and on the west range Of
shops public Offices granares &c. with pazzas In front
the suburbs to the north is the Alameda or great
| promenade
interesting productions 1t handsomely laid out in
the Spanish fashion with tagged walks bordered with
elegant large pots Of flowers In the centre is large
| stone basin. supplied by fountain with water
The public buildings are very numerous. late ira
weller counted O5 cupolas spires and domes within the
city and there 56 churches besides the cathedral
80 converts, namcly23 Of monks and Is of nuns The
franciscan convent Is large establishment. with
income of about 500 900, arising principally from aims
The hospital well supported and the mint Is the most
extensive establishment of the kind in the world The
university, founded in 1851 and the public library, are
worthy Of notice, well Us the academy Of painting
The dwelling houses Of the citizens, although many
not 'n ss well furnished as those Of cities in the
| United States. The city Is supplied with water
| by aqueducts and the canal of Chalco, which ex-
the lake Of that to the city, affords
for conveying in canoes the produce Of the sur
rounding country and the fruits flowers aud vegetables
raised in the beautiful gardens in the vicinity, to mar
| ket. The remains of the celebrated floating gardens
called Champas, near the lakes, and are now sta
tionary, surrounded BY a bread ditch. a.
lakes to prevent which, drain has been cut through
gap in the mountains II miles long and 800 feet wde at
phere pure and healthy There are many pleasant rides
out of the city; among Others that to the village OF
| Tacubaya four miles distant ..
This city enjoys extensive commerce, which is car
ried on through the ports of Acapulco the Pacific
aud Vera Cruz Alvarado and Tampico on the Atlantic
Ocean Merchandise is transported mules from these
seaports and companies of traders with the goods
rally go armed to protect themselves from robbers who
occasionally frequent the roads to the capital.
The people much addicted to pleasure and gam
bling The ladies' when they are seen in the streets
dressed in black except holydays and other public
occasions when their dresses gay They generally
in carriages when they appear IN pubic ana but
seldom horseback The dress of the higher classes
of the men Is similar to those of Spain Long cloaks
are worn in the and light jackets In the houses
American English and French manufactures OF cotton
and wool. and German linens, are much worn Engish
beer and porter also In great request
breweres have however, been established In the
city. 3eggars, called tepsros, similar to the laz-
zaroni Of Naples, are very numerous IN TINS CITY !;
they said TO amount to 10000. The ancient
city Of Mexico Tenochtitlan was taken by Cortez,
in 1921. after a siege Of rs days, when great
slaughter Inhabitants took place. The houses were
RACED to the ground and the present city built the
ruins Lat. 10 % N, lon l03 IS w.
Conspicuous among the beauty and magnifi-
cence of the city of Mexico is the Main Plaza,
of which we give beautiful illustration in this
laws paper. This represents the Plaza as 1t APP
y cared in 1888 1t covers area of twelve acres
paved with marble, forming one of the most
be antiful promenades in the world. On every
side of this great square, it will be perceived,
magnificent and costly public buildings are
situated On one side is seen the spacious
cath coral, which extends the whole length of
the saua re, and the Government Palace extends
the whole length Of another side. The cathedral