Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-01-05
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY s, Is4s.
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE.
CAMP BUENA VIsrj


DEAR -: The report which mentioned in
my last letter in regard to convention Of the Go
vernors Of the different States of Mexico being in
session at Queretaro is confirmed by an intelligent
Mexican who has inst arrived here from San Luis
Potosi. He reports also that Congress was about
TO assemble I think in the course OF the ensuing
week, and that the acting President, Pena Pena,
and the people are decidedly in favor of peace, and
says he has no doubt of speedy contamination of
the event. The military, however, are doing all
in their power to oppose it, but with no success,
the people having lost confidence in them, looking
upon them in the general as set of eeches, utter
ly worthless for the defence of the rcptA and as
intent only upon their ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Tho
President too. it is said, is handling them pretty
roughly, taking from them their commissions by
scores, no doubt using plea their populations,
(Which is reputed to be common vice among
Mexican officers, but heretofore overlooked, }
where another might be wanting to his purpose of
putting them down. He reports likewise that the
Mexican troops are disbandng every where, and
that there not more than five hundred soldiers
at this time at San Luis This news certainly
looks favorable, but confess that am not able to
bring myself to build any very sanguine hopes up
on it. The Mexican brings another report-He
says that Paroles is certainly in the country but
that he has been ordered by the Acting President
to confne himself to the town of Tulancngo, where
it is understood he now is. We have heard moth
| ing satisfactory in regard to Santa Anna.
| had pleasant ride on Friday to the Cotton
Factory few miles below SaltilIo, in company
with Col. Hamtramck, Cong division, and staff.
| The Factory is quite an extensive establishment,
and is owned by DIR. Hewitson, an Irish gentleman
who was for many years resident of the United
States, and two Mexicans, and is conducted by Mr.
Bentley, New Englander. The buildings are of
unburnt brick, the main one two stories high, the
walls nearly four feet thick, plastered inside and
ont, and is n very substantial piece of workman
ship. The window frames and sash were made
! in New York, as was also all the machinery which
is of excellent quality and improved character
The whole cost Of the establishment was one hun
dred and four thousand dollars. In order to make
the limited supply of water available, owing to the
want of fall, a very deep ditch had to be cut for
| long distance below the site. The water wheel is
thirty feet in diameter, and the water is made
to strike it at top and sde-that which falls ON
side the water collected during the night and
while the works stopped, in large reservoir
constructed for the purpose of fine masonry. The
ducts which conduct the water on the wheel, are
also of masonry built with water-me, which in
this region is abundant, and Of superior quality
The furnace used in preparing the sizing is heated
entirely with cotton seeds, which are found to be
valuable substitute for fuel in a country where
wood is so scarce. The operatives in the estab-
lishment are all Mexicans, and was much pleased
with the neat and tidy appearance OF the girls, who
withal presented tolerably fair specimen of Mex
lean beauty. | observed that they had generally
rather thoughtful and melancholy cast of fea-
| lures, but this is somewhat characteristic Of the
Mexican women, when their features are at rest
In conversation, however, they are very animated,
and in mind seem TO be greatly superior to the
men.
The works are employed entirely in the fabrica-
ton Of heavy cottons, and they are of an excellent
quality, strong and smooth-better, think, than
cur goods of the same description, but this is
no doubt owing to the material, the refuse cotton
being mostly used for such fabrics with us About
fourteen thousand pieces, was told, were turned
off in year, besides considerable quantity of
cotton yarns, and the establishment is Welding
handsome income to the propretors. The profits,
the first year, fifty thousand dollars, but
at present they are probably not much over forty
thousand The introduction of American goods.
since the war, is said to have affected them very
much
The houses for the accommodation Of the opera
tives are in the best Mexican style, and there is
quite an air Of neatness and comfort about them
Near TO the factory is an elegant little Chapel,
with tower and BELL which is handsomely deco
rated in The of the altar and at the centre of
the sides, with paintings and statuary, and orna-
mental guided work. The Chapel is said to have
been built by the former owner Of the property,
wealthy priest, for his own private devotions AT
his death, however, the property fell into the hands
of nephew, wild and dissipated youth, who, as
the story goes, gambed it away in single night
Among the paintings in the Chapel, found one
which had met with BEFORE but never had heard
an explanation of. 1t was representation of st.
Isadore, pous rustic ranchero, who is repuled
never TO have omitted his devotions, and who
would quit his plough in the furroy 10 pray lie
is represented kneeling in the field in devotional
attitude, his eyes upturned, and his right hand ex
tended up his goad-sticl, which he uses as prop
or staff, while his oxen are taken charge Of by an
Angel, who continues, unseen, his work for him.
The moral is certainly beautiful one, and if all
the devices which form important a part of the
fanciful religion Of the Mexicans, had as much
wholesome instruction in them, should not feel