Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-03-04


Mr.. Enron; After uncomfortable sail of twelve day
across the Gulf with than the usual complement Of hea
Winds tempess and calm, landed little damaged by tn
sea, upon the mole Of Vera Cruz.
Every thing here reminds the Hypeboean of his change
latitude The people cadn the light garments of
and the table supplied with the salads of spring oge
ther with the fresh fruits of autumn Plants all green
and growing on in perfect ignorance Of It's being mdwner
Universal Nature in freak. Even the fixed stars
the most stable of all hings-appear have deserted then
places and danced away the north The strange varieties
OF vegetation excite ones curiosity but is dangerous to In
dulge that curiosity too far for almost every thing that grows
from the tree down to the smallest plant armed with hons
The variety and savage luxuance Of the cactus tribe would
fill northern botanist with wonder
Vera Cruz stands upon bleak coast with natural pro-
lection for ITS habo except coral reef IN 'front.' just rsng
out OF the water at low tide which stands the celebrated
Castle OF San Juan de Ulua In the OF the town Is
plain Of forty miles in width, the first fifteen miles Of
which consist of piles Of burning sand apparently blown to-
geher by the wndwhch sweeps down the coast here at
short periods while the south Of the EQUATOR though
had been accommodating strength all the way from the north
pole This part Of the plain is grown over in places with the
pricky pear and horDy matted shrub called chaParral
Further back the soil becomes fertile and supplies this market
with every kind of tropical fruit and production The plain
Is terminated by vast of mountains the highest peaks
Of which the Golfer Of Peroe and Ozaba. The latter
373 feet hghal above l5 900 feet being covered with
perpetual As seen at this moment, appearance
extremely imposing wreath of clouds circng about its
centre casts deep shade the base rendering dak
visible but its white summit towers far above the Clouds and
glistens with dazzling brightness in the morning sun.
The walls of this city enclose about hundred and fifty
Of ground which regularly laid out in squares Of
derate size and all built up solid blocks with little variety
Of Style and apparently little difference in age All has the
appearance of having soodas really hasfor centuries
and its massive masonry might bid defiance TO the tooth Of
time for many centuries to come though perhaps to the
" asure of shot and natural commissions The walls
OF the houses OF great thickness and composed of mix
ure OF coral BRICK and cement which about hard and
durable stone. The roofs all fiat and surrounded by
thick wall paapet Of the material, making every
house very good fortress The city much larger
than present. extending far outside Of the wall but
have long since destroyed the unprotected portion and the
population numbers only about seven thousand.
Vera Cruz like the cities of Mexico generally, greatly
pversupped with enormously large churches each surmoun
ed with dome at end, and square at the other
The towers literally crammed with bells of all sizes, which
ringing wretchedy out Of tune by way Of religious
nony great part of the time from daylight in the morning
till O'Clock at night The churches contain twelve
affairs, each furnished and decorated costly manner,
and sustaining and surrounded by images of all the saints
the calendar represented many Of them, in the different ea-
lures, color &c of the Spanard the Azec original Mex
ican and the negro to suit the different coming to
ship There few seats for the congregation, but
they knee sit upon the marble floor In these motley
sembe every variety of feature and every shade Of
color the Spanish Indian and negro and every possible mix
tine and blending of the three The old Casan
pure few families whose intellectual features, costly Dress
aud proud bearing mark them the mobiles of the country
Looking out into the streets, strange throng The
eye. Chaingangs at work repairing the pavemens
host Of ragged fellows driving packmues and donkeys
hher and hither laden with hay, COAL water, &c. Every
thing here conveyed the backs OF these patient ami
mails YoIder pile of packages moving mp the street but
few inches from the ground, with ragged Mexican hard
behind and you puzzled TO know what gives it locomo-
ton but you dscoyer the head and Of
scarcely larger than sheared sheep with his
IN little bag OF corn, munchng he rudges along There
another class going about with baskets of cakes pies fruit
and plaster images upon their heads crying them for sale;
and the shaded sides of the are groups of half
l,in
the sidewalks Mingng in the crowd with bold familiarity,
and blackening the house tops and churchdoes nnu
merahe buzzards Their lives spared with superstous
care by the Mexcans and, in return, said these birds
well wolves abstain from deyourng the carcases of Mexi-
when lying exposed This immunity however, their
dead from the fate is owing probably quite much
the odor of the body, arising from the quantity Of garlic
by these people, gratitude buzzar or the
protection OF Saint Lupus
Fruit of all sorts abundant and cheap but provisions
scarce and remarkably dear meal OF vctuas the hotel
any where else, costs dollar People twice day,
and scany at that Indeed the natives Seem require but
ern stomach. My appetite being little shapened per-
haps by seavoyage, compelled the dilgent
exetons at the table to keep them from starving There
Is end 10 the changes of dishes and plates, but hardly
mouthfu Of food TO the change Make signs for roast beef
(for only communicate by signs and am tantaized
with little slice of scarcely half ounce lying desoae in
the middle of the plate like the first copper contribution
II dispatch at once and send again, treated 10 less
than before till at length the will look in
astonishmen and watch for opportunity seize my plate
and clear of the table before me-
The Mexcans, race evidently much inferior by
ure TO the people Of the United Saes Upon average they
four five inches less in and the mental difference
probably much greater than the physical In the presence
Americans they appear sensible of this inerorty submitting
modify 10 their will, however capricious unreasonable
Our army exercises full control in the city, occupying the
public buildings and making Of whatever else they have
occasion for The inhabitants pursue their usual avocaons
and observe their own laws and yreguaons subject how
ever military interference The pleasure of our officers
The citizens often subjected military punishments
few hours after my arrival American and Mexican
tied up and whipped till they nearly ayed Such
have been often repeated SINCE and almost daily occur
renee Is pity this barbarous practice should be retained
in army War ITSELF however, being abrogacn Of
all principles Of humanity, in which cities battered down
and helpless citizens crushed and slaughtered by the thousand
because rulers fall out il would perhaps be consistent that
humanity should characterize any Of il circumstances
The newspapers Of the United States embazon The "pomp
and circumstance Of this war; but almost silent its
meres. BY their hallelulhs TO the gallant officers and
laudatons Of the braye troops panng for the charge,
they would make believe II glorious thing be sol.
der and go The first glance here nigh, % y only
strengthen the deusi0n for his eye would attracted by
81 OF superior officers paymoster and other high junction.
aries Of The army, all gtterng in military uappngs, whose
heavy tread and head erect fierce mousaches and terrible
aspect" would make him wonder how mere noals could
grow great But let him become private soldier and
speak Of them, and he will perchance learn something
Of the truth. The dgnay addressed may give him an an
swcr, he may give him kick, with fierce oath whstng
through his beard depending entirely upon the humor he