The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-19

populous town OF Puebla at which post il is probable
from the last dispatches, shall hear in the course of
few days of General SCOTS arrival If he ascertans by
the time he reaches this town, we think probably
he will, that his renorcements will join him before the
time OF bis tvelve-months men expires, he may march
on forthwith to the capital Pueba is about IS miles
distant from the city of Mexico according to the tables
in the Spanish map. Mr. Greenhow est mates the dis
lance at about 10 miles
AS fast as his reinforcenents arrive Vera Cruz they
will march on to join his main army, carrying with them
the trains and supplies which destined for his camp
Every mail which reaches from New Orleans brings
us account Of the arrival of companies. which rap
idly sent on to the Bazos We understand that General
Scott has ordered portion of the volunteers who have
arrived there to be sent on to Vera Cruz and thence into
the interior ss
Description Of the road from Yea Cruz to Mexico,
by ROBERT ohEENHow
In my last number mentioned arrival, the 18th
of July 1897, at the city of Puebla. Since the pubca
ton of that number, we have received the news OF the
occupation of Perote by tro.s without any resls
lance, as had ancipated-though much earlier than
the day which ! calculated that they could reach
that place General Scott probably arrived there on the
within week. to hear that he has, in like manner, Ia
ken quiet possession OF Pueba ageeaby to the invita-
| ton extended TO him by that city.
| Puebia de los Angeles-the ctty OF The Angefs--so
called from the fact attesed by credible witnesses
that angels aboed person the erection OF its cathedral
cteta Pueblo 0neonquered Puebiaas i IS also styled
in Mexican public documents probably because it has
always opened its gates to the first forces OF any party
which appeared before hemis beautiful city one Of
the most beautiful of its size in the world. 1t reminded
me strongly OF Milan and Bologna though is superior
TO both those places in the regularity OF its streets and
with few exceptions, in the grandeur oil ITS ediices
The houses generally two stories in heights and Tor
the most part built of hewn stone, in the usual form OF
hollow square, with wide patos, often filled with
orange trees and refreshed by fountains in the CENTRE
and balconies ofrichly worked iron to the windows
Many OF these houses are painted on the exterior IN
party coors while others are ornamented with glazed
files producing effect not dsagreeable when taken in
them The streets are straight generally about 50 feet
wde and most beautifully paved with blocks OF lava
forming sort OF tesselatIon.
Pueba is the chief OF religion in Mexico and con-
tains more churches proportion to its size and popul
ton, than the captalmore, probably than Rome Itself
Many OF these churches are superb particularly that OF
San Felipe Neri to which is attached convent OF vast
extcnt yet very few monks priests or other eccle
siastical persons in the streets, either there or IN any
other part OF the country Inc cathedral ,ne prae O. ne
built in the style of the Restoration, compromise be-
tween the Roman and the Gothic, like the churches Of
the Iaeran, Santa Maria Magglore, ana 81. Peters IN
Rome its features are massive as to bear down cr-
cisn on their details or arrangement extends on one
side OF the great square about 400 feet In length by not
less than $50 in front, comprising not only the vast
church, but number of chapels and halls for other
purposes Gifts interior can say nothing ior painful
as the confession is, must make It N truth-that IN
neither of my visits to Puebla, able to penetrate
within the walls OF this wonder OF Spanish America
The doors were all locked except one, on the street OPP
posite the Bishops Palace, leading to small room, occu
pied by an old woman, who told me that was impos-
sibe to procure admance to the cathedral after three
o'clock except through the favor OF the Senior Padre
Sacrstano; and where he was to be ound queen Saoe
Quien sabe2 may add, forms large proportion OF all
that is said in Mexico Endless are the tones IN which
these two words uttered and the varieties of meaning
which they are capable Of conveying stranger soon
learns the most simple of their specifications; for he SCI
dom receives from any person IN Mexico any olheI an
swer to his questions respecting the geography geology
botany, antiquities, history, government, laws, army
navy, or anything else relating to the country.
The Bishops Palace and the contiguous seminary are
both fine buildings, the latter occupying one OF the sides
of the great square on another side stands the Casa de
Ayunamento, or town hail. spacious edifce OF stone
with arcades in its whole length; and thther proceeded
after my disappointment at the cathedral to present let
ter OF introduction to the commandment general, Don re-
lipe Codaos, with which had been furnished by Cen
eral Castro company OF soldiers were under muster
in front of the building who made sorry figure in per-
sonal appearance, dress arms and evolutons Whenthe
show was over applied to the officer on duty, who con-
Quoted me up stairs and there after passing through the
hands of several PERSONS such as adutins secretaries,
&c. was ushered into the cabinet OIL the commandani
general He midi sized man, about nifty years OF
ace with face somewhat STERN but more refined, upon
the whole than any which had seen IN Mexico AS he
anneared to be yery much engaged made my visit short
he offered me guards, il should desire them; but de-
clined and after conversation OF quarter OF an hour
I took my leave
Pueba stands according the best observations just
200 feet or than mile and one third above the
level of the sea- And such is the dmlnuon OF the tenn
perare in consequence that the evenings were COOL and
the nights quite cold when passed through it, although
If was then exactly midsummer and the sun was nearly
vertical noon The surrounding country IS better cu
tiyated than any other which saw in Mexico wheat,
Indian corn and beans being the principal articles OF
agriculture The city not only the seat OF religion and
education but also of manufacturers large amount OF
cotton fabrics being produced there under the benign in
uence of protective duties equivalent to two or three
times the value of the foreign article excluded. Yet
nearly all the cotton consumed In Mexico comes
from the United States and pays an import duty at the
an enormous expense to the place OF manufacture The
inhabitants seem to be almost exclusively nesfiz0 the
Indian evidently predominating much more than at ia
lapa or Vera Cruz The Poblanos by no means enjoy
high character for order honesty being the contrary
regarded little better in those respects than the people
Of Peroe Pueba is indeed the headquarters of rian
ism and intolerance. was assured that until within a
few wears foreigner could rarely pass through the city
without being attacked nsulted and when the stage
coaches were first established about 1892 they were regu
larry stoned they appeared better order OF
things was however beginning to manifest itself, not
withstandng the efforts Of Bishop Vazquez to prevent it;
and for myself, | can only say, that during my walks
through the city two evenings IRON o'clock until
nearly IL met with disagreeable incident whatever
We left Puebla the morning OF the 10Th OF July, at
half past three o'clock The coach was filled with pas
senrers among whom were Mexican army officer, and
| an Englishman, with several women, one of whom,
about 80 years DID, did nothing but smoke cgaros during
The whole of the Journey AS soon as II was light, be-
gan to look out on the left for the remains of the great
pyramid of Choula within four miles OF which we were