Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-06-16

From the Washington Union.
Description Of the Road from
Vera CRUZ to Mexico.
BY ROBERT GREENHow.


Description Of the Road from
Vera CRUZ to Mexico.
By ROBERT GREENHow.
In my last number mentioned our ar
rival, on the 18th Of July, l847, at the city
of Puebla. Since the publication of that
number, we have received news Of the oc.
cupation Of Perote by our troops, without
any resistance, as | had anticipated though
much earlier than the day on which l cal
culated that they could reach that place.
Gen Scott probably arrived there on the
last day Of April, and we may no doubt
expect, within week, TO hear that he
has, in like manner, taken quiet possession
of Puebla, agreeably to the Invitation ex-
tended to him by that city.
Puebla de los .fngelos--the city of the
-Angels-so called from the fact, as attest
ed By credible witnesses, that angels la
bored in person in the erection Of its ca
thedral. hricta Puebla---unconquored Pue-
bla--as it is also styled in Mexican pub
lie documents, probably because it has al
ways opened its gates to the first forces,
of any party, which appeared before them
lis beautiful city; one Of the most beau
tiful Of its size in the world. 1t remind
ed me strongly of Milan and Bologna,
though it is superior to both those places
in the regularity of its street; and, with a
few exceptions, in the grandeur Of its ed
itices. The houses 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 patios, often fill
ed with orange trees, and refreshed by
fountains in the centre, and balconies oil
richly worked iron in the windows. Many
OF these houses are painted on the exterior
in party colors, while others are orna-
mented with glazed tiles, producing an
effect not disagreeable, when taken in con-
junction with the Moris:o taste prevail
ing among them. The streets are straight,
generally about so feet wide, and most
beautifully paved with blocks Of lava form
ing a sort of tesselaticn.
Pueblo is the chief seat Of religion in
Mexico, and contains more churches, in
proportion to its size and population, than
the capital-more, probably, than Rome
itself. Many of these churches are SUI
perb, particularly that of San Felipe Neri,
to which is attached to a convent ofvast ex-
tent yet | saw very few monks, priests,
or other ecclesiastical 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 defective in
architecture, being built in the style ofthe
Restoration, compromise between the
Roman and tie Gothic, like the churches
of the La,eran. Santa Maria Maggiore.
and St. Peters in Rome, its features are
so massive as to bear down criticism on
their details or arrangement. 1t extends
on one side Of the great square about 4OC
feet in length by not less than 250 in front
comprising not only the vast church, but
number ofchapels and halls for other pur.
poses. Gifts interior ! can say nothing
fer painful as the confession is, l mus, make
it in truth-that in neither Of my visits te
Puebla, was / able 70 penetrate within the
walls ofthis wonder of Spanish America
The doors were all locked, except one
on the street opposite the Bishops Palace
leading to small room, occupied by All oil
woman, who told me that it was impossi.
BILE to procure admit:ancc to the cathedral
after three o'clock, except through the ia.
vor of the Senior Padre Sacristsno; ant
where he was to be found, quien sabe?--
acho knovs!
1 ~
| Quien sabe? l may add, forms large
proportion Of all that is said in Mexico
Endless are the tones in which these two
words are uttered, and the varieties o
meaning which they are capable of con
veying. A stranger soon learns the mos
simple Of their Specifications, for he sci
dom receives from any person in Mexic,
any other answer TO lis questions, respect
ing the geography, geology, botany, an
| tiquities, history, government, laws, army
navy, or anything else relating to the coun
try. .e @
The Bishops Palace and the con..::ss;u1
Gus seminary are both fine buildings, tn,
latter occupying one Of the sides Of the
great square; on another side stands til,
Case del .Ayuntamiento, or town hall, spa
cious edifice of stone, with arcades in ii.
whole length; and thither l proceeded aftel
my disappointment at the cathedral, t
| present letter of introduction to the com
mander general, Don Felipe Codallos, will
which I had been furnished by Genera
Castro. A company of soldiers were un
der muster in front of the building wht
made sorry figure in personal appear
ance, arms and evolutions. When the
show was over, l applied to the officer or
duty, who conducted me up stairs, ant
there, after passing through the hands o
several persons as adjutants, secretaries
&c., was ushered into the cabinet ofthe
commandant general. He was middle
sized man, about fifty years Of age, with q
face somewhat stern, but more refined, up
on the whole, than any which had seen
in Mexico. AS he appeared to be very
much engaged, ! made my visit short; be
offered me guards, if | should desire
them; but declined, and, after CONVEX.
sation Of a quarter Of an hour, | took my
leave.
Puebla stands, according to the best oh.
seryations, just 1900 feet, or more than a
mile and one third, above the level of the
sea. And such is the elimination of the