Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1848-04-13
PUEBLA, MEXICO, February Goth 1S4S.
TO the Editors Of The State Sentinel:

PUEBLA, Mexico, February Goth 1s49.
TO the Editors Of The State Sentinel,
DEAR SIRs: This is certainly delightful climate
The months of December and January have passed off
pleasantly. The change in the temperature during
those two months has been. Just sufficient and no
more, to mark the change of the The leaves
of some of the trees have fallen an offering 10 the
"God of the rolling year, The pulse of vegetable
life stood still and mature made pause to gather
fresh energy for the coming year The wings Of the
humming bird have not been chilled, nor have the
notes of the canary been suspended during the winter
months. The thermometer standing at from sixty
five to seventy exhibiting uniformity of tempera-
tsre unknown in the Western States.
This city Is still garrlsoned by force of about
three thousand men-the 4th Indiana and the 4th
Ohio, together with detachment of artillery and
cavalry form this force Col. German, since the de-
parture of Gen. Lane for the city of Mexico, has
command of the brigade and controls the military
force of the city while Col. Childs exercises civil
and military jurisdiction over the department of
Pueba. The good order and security both to person
and property that now PREVAIL is the best comment
that be made upon the vigilance and skill of these
officers and the discipline and subordinaton of the
men. Courts martial are occasionally held, in which
all grievances redressed and crime punished.
Every gets justice speedily without delay fully
without stint andsreely without price," But as the
Irishman told the lawyer, Justice is the rery thing
some of them don't want" Complaints will be made
against the best regulated governments not except
ing pure democracy itself The health of the troops
is improving. Two months ago there were seven
hundred in the Hospital. Now there are five
hundred. The government provides amply for the
soldiers: supplying them through its Commissaries
with the 'best the country Affords" the following
being the principal items in the bill of fare: Fresh
and salt beef, pork and mutton, flour, rice, cornmeal
and beans, sugar, coffee, candles, SOAP salt and Vine
gar. All these articles being the growth or manu-
acture of the city surrounding country, the arri
val of many troops has created demand for, and
Increased price of many articles: far the has
been a benefit to the Mexicans The government has
also provided comfortable quarters for the soldiers
most OF them being lodged in churches of splendid
architecture and extensive dimensions where they
hold silent with the prophets, apostles,
saints and martyrs of former ages; SO you that
both their present and future welfare is duly attended
to. They cannot say with Alexander Selklrk, on the
Island of Juan Fernandez, that ''the sound of a
church going bell these vallies and rocks
heard - no, this can never be said Of the city OF
Pueba; the facts prove quite the reverse only think
of some seyenty-Gve or eighty churchs. each or of
which at moderate calculation, is furnished with
twelve BELLS Zone for each of the aposes) of the lar
gest cai6re and most metal, making in all
the respectable number of nine hundred, which
great occasions, small occasions. and on all Occa
s0ns taxed TO their utmost volume of sound, and
the way the Mexicans can ring them Is 'not slow ~
they can't do any thing eise Whatever some people
may think or say about Mexican bells in churches. 10
me at least, they are not half so interesting as our
Western bellies, either in out of churches although
the latter do not make so much noise
The public amusements in this city are limited !:
but then they rery select and rather unique It's
true we deprived of that highly intellectual amuse
ment-bul ights-which they have at the capital,
1.-THE only kind of fights 1t seems in which the Next
cans excel have to content ourselves with the
- Al I'LL -.
numerous to MENTION" at which by the force of
Desmeric influence, identity of feeling between the
citizens Of the two hostile republics is created and
kept up; very conducive to the of human happi-
ness, and the speedy adjustment of boundary lines
During the Christmas holidays the theatre every
night was crowded. the play bills presented, at least
TO Americans, peculiar attraction: the subject was
representation of the advent Of Saviour upon the
earth his BIRTH the announcement of it by the an
GELS his lying IN the manger, the wise men OF the
cast presenting themselves with oferings,-all these
circumstances and many more were conceived with
precision of thought and executed with an accuracy
of deneati0n, for which the world will look in vain
to find parallel. In the course of this campaign
have been fortunate enough to form many valuable
acquaintance amongst the officers, which would
alone be ample compensation for all the dangers
and trials through which have been called to pass.
Amongst these il affords me pleasure 10 mention the
name of Maj. F. A Churchill, Of Cincinnati Ohio,
who holds the rank ana usscnargeS Tue GUY vi Som-
mssary to Gen. Lanes brigade, and of course belongs
to his staff; the Major lis now acting as. Port Com
missary in the city, and has under his Charge half
million of government stores. As a man his frank
ness, generosity and candor endenr him to ALL as an
officer and agent of the government. the interests the
honor and the credit of the country is placed in brave,
honest and faithful hands. The most of the yolun-
teer regiments now in Mexico in strong hopes of
being ordered home in the spring. they consider the
war at an end-the Mexicans have been compelled IN
all their large cities to confess entry, custer and
pos session,'' and the quest of title is now the
only one insisted upon that can easily be arranged
with the learned heads at Washington. If this coun-
try is to be occupied by sufficient force of American
troops to control the jarrng elements by which 1t is
rent that force must be regulars, not volunteers.
am indebted to you for several files Of the Estate
Sentinel" of late date, for which occept the best
thanks of your friend.
ALEXANDER McCLELLAND.
r.