The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-06-04
THE CITY OF PUEBLA, Mexico.
ny ROBERT GREENHow.

/ "
fact, as is attested by credible wit
nesses, that angels labored in person
in the erection of its cathedral. In
yicia PueJh-Un conguered Pueblo
AS it is also styled in Mexican
public documents, probaly because
it has always opened its gates to the
first forces, of any party, which APP
peared before them-is a beautiful
/ city; one of the most beautiful Of its
size in the world. 1t reminded me
strongly of Milan and Bologna,
though it is superior to both those
places in the regularity gifts streets;
and, with a few exceptions, in the
grandeur of its edfces. The hou-
scs are generally two stories in
height, and, for the most part, built
of hewn stone, in the usual form Of
a hollow square, with wide paiioS.
often filed with orange trees, and
refreshed by fountains in the centre,
and balconies of richly worked iron
to the windows. Many Of these
houses are painted on the exterior
in party colors, while others are or
nanented with glazed tiles, produ-
cling an eiIe ct not disagreeable, when
taken in conjunction with the Mo-
risco taste prevailing among them.
The streets are straight, generally
about 30 feet wide, and are most
beautifully paved with blocks oflava
forming a sort of tesselation.
Puebla is the chief seat of reli-
gion in Mexico, and contains more
churches, in proportion to its size
and population, than the capital
more, probaly, than Rome itself
Many ofthese churches are superb,
particularly that ofSan Felipe Neri
to which is attached a convent o.
vast extent; yet saw very few
monks, priests, or other ecclesiasti,
cal persons in the streets, either
there or in any other part Of the
country. The cathedral is the pride
of the city, and, though very defect
i've in architecture, being built in
the style of the Restoration, a com,
promise between the Roman and the
Gothic, like the churches of the
Lateran, Santa Marie Maggiore, ans
St. Peters in Rome, its features arc
so massive as to bear down crit.
cism on their details or arrange.
ment. 1t extends on one side of the
great squire about 400 feet in length
by not less than $50 in front, com,
prising not only the vast church
but a number of chapcls and hall,
for other purposes. Of its interior
can say nothing; for, painful "a.
the confession is, must make it il
truth-that in neither ofmy visits t.
Puebla, was | able to penetrate
within the walls of this wonder o
Spanish America, The doors wer,
all locked, except one, on the stree
opposite the Bishops Palace, lead
ing to small room, occupied by al
old woman, who told me that it wa.
impossible to procure admittance tc
the cathedral after three o'clock
except through the favor of the Sc
nor Padre Sacristano E; and wher,
was he to be found, qUGen safe ?
acho Kn0icS?
QHien SaJe? may add, forms I;
large proportion of all that is said il
Mexico. Endless are tones il
which these two words are uttered
and the varieties Of meaning which
they are capable of conveying. !
stranger soon learns the most sim
pie Of their Specifications for he
seldom receives from any person it
Mexico any other answer to hi,
. questions, respecting the geogra
phy, geology, botany, antiquities
history, government, laws, army
navy, or anything else relating t.
the country.
The Bishops Palace and the con.
tiguous seminary are both fine build,
ings, the latter occupying one of tn,
sides Of the great square on anothe
side stands the CASE dei ayunta
miemt0, or town hall, spacious edi
flee of stone, with arcades in il!
whole length and thither proceed
ed, after my disappointment at tn,
cathedral, to present letter of in
PRODUCTION to the commandant gen
eral, Don Felipe Codallos, will
which | had been furnished by Gen
Castro. A company Of soldier
were under muster in front of IT,,
building who made sorry figure il
personal appearance, dress, arm
and evolutionS. When the shov
was over, ! applied to the officer o,
duty, who conducted me up stairs
land there After passing through til,
hands OF several persons, such a
adjutants, secretaries, &C., | wa
ushcrcd into the cabinet of Iii,