Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-11-05
Description of the City of Mexico.

MckicOt We hlnh uht icduete VIII uc Hfall-
fed with The following GRAPHIC sketch Of that
city, from the pen OF Mr. Dranlz Mayer, Of
Baltimore, who was long time resident
Of Mexico in an official capacity:
1t was the middle of November, but there
was May midness in the atmosphere
The sky was Of that deep ultramarine blue
peculiar to elevated regions. As | ranged
my eye down the street from my balcony,
the town was alive with teeming popula-
ton the windows Of the houses stood open I;
fair women stfolled homeward from mass I;
old monks shufiled along in their cowled
robes the BUTCHER urged along his ass with
its peripateiic stall hung around with vari.
Gus meats; ireshly.eaved flowers snd.trecs
in the court yards, OF which | caught
giimpses through the open portals; aud in
the balconies loungcd the early risers, en-
joying a segM after their cup OF chocolate.
!, was lively and beautiful scene, worthy
of the pencil Of that masief-painier OF cities,
Cannaletti, who would have delighted in the
remarkable transparency aud purity Of the
atmosphere, through which the distant hills,
some twenty miles of, seemed but barrier
at the end &c the street.
The plan Of the city Of Mexico is precise.
ly that Of a checker-board, With a great va
rieiy squares. Straight streets cross each
other at right angles. aud at regular inter.
walls. The houses arc painted with gay
colors-lishi blue, fawn aud green, inter
spersed with pure white. that remains long
unstained in the dry atmosphere.
The view Of al these from the elevated
tower Of the cathedral 10 which soon re-
paired after my arrival in the capitaI) pre-
sents a mass Of domes, sieeples and fiat.
rooted dwellings, frequently covered. like
hanging gardens, with flowers and foliages.
Beyond the gates (Which you would scarce
ly think bounded a population Of 300 ,00Ol
the vast plain stretches out on every side
TO the mou ntains, irayersed in some places
by long lines Of aqueducts sweeping to the
city from the hills, and in others with lakes,
cultivation and beautiful groves, until the
distant view is closed by the volcanoes,
whose SHOWS rest against the blue sky. un-
covered at that season by a single cloud.
Below Is the great square Of the Plaza. a
large paved area-fronied on the north by
the cathedrel, on the east by the National
Palace (the residence Of the president). to
the south Of which, again. are the museum,
and stone ed'fce recently built in tasteful
style for market. The corner stone Of
Tbs was laid after arrived in Mexico. and
before ten the DS.s..ts-g wac oeariy com
pleted. Until that time. the fruits, flowers
and vegetables, aud most Of the necessarins
Of the table, had been sold on the spot in
shambles and booths built Of bamboos and
reeds. sheltered from the rain and sun by
matched roofs In the ouih.western cor.
ner Of the square. the Parian, an unsighily
building, (ereeted. believe. since the rev.
olulion, greatly mars the effect of Plaza
II is useful establishment, however, as il
affords large revenue TO the municipality,
and is the great bazaar where every article
REQUESTS for the dress Of Mexicans, male or
female, may be purchased at reasonable
prices. On the payemen, which runs round
sit numbers Of coach-men whose stands are
in the neighbourhood, aud crowds Of women
with ready made shoes.
LETTER WRITER'S.
Not the least curious, however, among
the multitude with which the sidewalks are
generally ihronged, are about dozen evan
gelisis, or leItef-wfiiers, whose post is al.
ways OH the curbsione Of the eastern front
OF the Psrian. huge jug OF ink is placed
beside him. a board rests across his knees.
pile Of different colored paper (rnost of
which is cut Valentine fashion, or aourished
over and adorned with pen and ink orna.
ments) is placed on il. and OH stool before
him sits some disconsolaie looking damsel
or heart broken lover, pouring out q passion
which the scribe puts in becoming phrase
ology. il is an important trade, and more
money is made in Mexico By this proxy
making love Than perhaps anywhere else. =
You can have declaration for one rial ;
a scolding letter for medic aud an up
brading epsile. full of daggers, jealousy.
love and tenderness, Qeaying the unioriu-
nate recipient in a very distracted state Of
mind,) done upon azure paper. besprinkled
with hearts and doves. for the ridiculous
price of twenty-five cents
West of the Parian, and all around the
southern and western sides Of the Plaza, or
those portions Of il which are directly occu-
pied by the cathedral and National Palace,
run the arched portals, similar to the arcade
Of Bologna These are filed with gay
shops, pedars, cafes, old clothes. toys, how-
er.venders, sweetmeats, book-Sialls, cutters,
curiosity-huniers, antiquities (verltable and
dou 5tfnD. and the usual croud Of loungers
aud quidnuncs. Here the last revolution,
or the probability OF new one, is in CON
tinual discussion by knots of idlers. Above
stairs, IN some Of the dwellings. are gam-
bling. houses, as formerly in the Palais Royal,
with which the scene here presented does
not, of course, vie in taste or splendor.
EXCHANGE AND CATHEDRAL.
Opposite to the southern end Of the Pa
rian is the Casa Municipal, or town hall, in
the lower story of which is the Lonja. (lhe
Exchange Of the merchants of Mexico), a
noble room.
The cathedral occupies space OF 500
feet by 400 front The main altar is not
erected against the wall, but near the centre
of the edihce, beneath the dome. From
this, extending around the choir probably
two hundred feet, there is rail between
four and FIVE feet high, and of proporiona-
bic thickness, composed Of gold, silver, and
a small alloy of brass. This is surmoun,ed
with silver statues for candles. 10 front Of
the altar is the choir. itself church, built
AZ daxL ,,,o,d ~ the Farast autto,,a ~.r,,n,,