Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-04-04

and people, ana OF l0e mining operations carried
on at one of The most extensive mines in that
country. The writer is a gallant officer and de.
voted son of The Old Dominion, from one Of the
lower counties of Virginia, of fine talents, and the
soul of ~cbivalry and lofty bearing. Since his
arrival in Mexico he has met with promotion,
but no one better deserved such good fortune:
To The Editors OF the Enquirer:
QUARTERS 9ra INFANTRY,
Pachuca, Mexico, Feb. 2nd, lS4S.
Messrs. E iilofs :-An old, familiar friend, Just
from my wearing The same sarb in which
of gore be paid his weekly yisiis-p!olessing The
same sentiments which / have olten listened TO
with plcasure-tclling Of events which have Lite.
ly transpired in Iha, far.off land Of the friends of
my childhood, and Of places brightly painted in
my memory, is before me-the old Enquirer
Most welcome were his visits, when, after a
~pieasan. ride OF eighty miles, he came 10 unfold
his budget far my information; but when, travel.
worn with hi accomplishment OF near three thou
sand miles, Drawing old ocean and The rough
mountain roads OF Mexico, he lifts his cid, tamil
liar yisage up before me, our meeting is indies
crlbable.
He finds me in the midst Of mountains aud sill
yer mines; and perhaps il may moi be uninteresl-
ING 10 your readers 10 learn something Il The stu
alton Of one of The regiments OF Uncle Sam,
which has been separated from the army, and oa-
nished from the great world, 10 these same noun
tains.
Pacbuca is The centre OF the mining distric; of
the Sale OF Mexico, and was selected BY Inc
Commander-in-Chief as The head quarters oil a
military department oil The same name. The no.
nor Of making this first forward movement 10 The
North tpdar tha rar polirv Mt pYipOiinu our
selves over the country, and Selling upon The re-
sources of the Government, was conferred upon
our regiment, tlhe 9th infantry and The civil and
military government OF line department upon lis
Colonel (Wilhers.)
On The 26;h December, the regiment, accompa-
MED by a troop OF horse and a section OF arIiile-
ny, moved from the capital, leaving behind Them
all The pleasures and gaieties OF tina! Paris OF The
new world, Tor the discomiorts of the rugged
mountains.
Our march was one Of the pleasan,cst which |
have made in this country. Leaving the celebra-
ted church and fountain Of our Lady of Guada-
loupe 10 the lett, We wound around the broad,
white shores OF the placid and beautiful Lake
Tezcuco. A white mist, like The veil Of a young
bride, Just revealing The beauties which II stiove
10 conceal, foaled gracefully over its walters. The
rich peals OF the chapel bells oil The villages and
hacienGas scattered along its borders, telling The
hour Of prayer, fell delightfully."- upon The ear, and
The whole scene was one OF holiness. On The
right, The bold and rugged mountain of Cerro
Gordo, It's coun,enance stern with jutting crags
and scanned with deep assures, presented a Sink.
ing contrast The Stern mountain and The soft
lake. 1t reminded me of The exquisite picture oil
The Marriage Of the Virgin. Leaving The lake,
we crossed a spur of mountain, and, descending
again into The plain, approached The lake Znm.
pango. The casile-likt haciendas which studded
the broad plain, and The margin Of The lake before
us, the chapel attached 10 each, and the village,
peopled by the serts OF the rich proprietors, took
me back 10 The feudal times. Indeed, in Mexico,
one can read, with a better comprehension oil The
facts, the history OF the middle ages, than in any
other country in The world. TIE insecurity, The
dependence upon walls and barficades, the indi-
viduaiily which exists in society, the monasleries
and nunneries, The Abbott and the Abbess, the
cassock and the cowl, all teach that Mexico is
four hundred years behind The age. Crossing tue
other mounlain ranges. descending after each ic'o
fertile and beautiful v%allies, we entered, The fourta
morning Of our march, The plain Of Pachuca.-
The illusion which is common 10 all dry plains,
land | have seen no rain since the 10Th Ociooef,l
The mirage, was here very remarkable. A grace.
tul lake, adding great beauty 10 the scenery, and
10 us, whose appetiies were whe!ted BY the march,
highly suggestive Of delicious waterfowl, stretch.
ed itself oul before US. In vain the weary miles
were LETT behind us-walers of Tantalus, they
shrunk from our approach.
Across this plain, in a chasm Of the mountains
which rise two thousand feet above it, stands
the town We garrison-Pachuca. The situation
is as romantic as can be conceived buried in
the mountains, through an opening is seen
stretched cut the broad and beautiful plain.
whilst from the mountains above pours a bold
brook, which winds through the village. The
population is about three thousand. There is
an extensive convent here, inhabited by Carme.
lite Friars, which is diverted most widely at pre-.
sent from its original design, by teing made the
barracks of the Regiment. Tho Monks are on
the best terms with our officers, inviting them to
their cells and gardens; the latter Of which are
filled with fruits and vegetables, OF which We
frequently receive PRESENTS; always most highly
acceptable. Among the Friars is an old Carlist
soldier, who, defeated at home, and tired Of pc.
Iitics and war, has sought this country, and aban
doning the pomps and vanities of the world, re
tired 10 these mountains, and buried himself in
this convent. Notwithstanding, however, his
grey Friar's garb, he is unable entirely to forget
his former life, and seems 10 take q lively 'nie-
rest in our drills and parades. The mountains
around us are perfectly devoid of vegetation
except the prickiy pear, which grows 10 a huge
size among Them. No attempt has ever been
made to cultivate even the mountain sides a
fact which, as far as my observation goes, is
common to all Mexico; the rich vallies between
bel ng alone subject to tillage. But although no
thing is derived from the surface, they are rich
in ores and minerals; and the landmarks which
occur on the plains, only at distances of many
miles, are here brought close together; and
above and around US, upon their sides, in every
direction. are seen openings pierced for the pre-
cious metals. The mines, Immediately around
Pachuca, of which there are a great number,
ar. orally small, aud comparatively insight
fcant, and worked chiefly by individual proprie'
tors. At the distance of Ave miles, ascending
the mountain to an elevation Of fifteen hundred
feet above Pachuca, and nine thousand three
hundred above the level of the sea, IS the town
Of Mineral del Monte, and the mines and
works Of an English company bearing The name
of the place. This mine, the fourth in produc-
ton of The precious metals in the Republic, is
worked BY about one thousand operatives, who
are superintended by some eighty English
There are three openings TO this mine, which ex-
tend down, perpendicularly, fifteen hundred
feet; and from these shafts, streets as long as ht-
teen miles, wind into the bowels of the noun
,ains. The ore is brought 10 the surface in
"botas,' bags made of bullock's hides, BY an or
binary pully worked by mules; and the mine is
cleared Of water BY the operation OF large
steam engines. At the mouth of the mine is a
trap door, only large enough 10 admit a single
person; and each miner, as he ascends, is let up
through this, and thoroughly searched, TO pre-
vent the embezzlement Of silver ore; in which
practice they are singularly expert and inge-
NOUS The ore is taken off in wagons, four
leagues to the hacienda of Resla, to be beuef-
ciatcd. This hacienda, called after the original
proprietor of the Mineral del Monte Mine, Don
Pedro Terreros Condo de Regla, is the most ex-
tensive "hacienda de benefcio' in the Repuh-
lie of Mexico. The cost of its erection was
immense, but easily borne by Don Pedro, who
bsqueathed his son, at his death, 100000.
It's situation is most romantic and imposing,
being surrounded by huge columns of basall,
which are said 10 equal The Giants Causcway in
I,alonJ Ar This hacienda ore is beneficiaied BY