The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-19
CRY OF ST.. DOMINGO, May 10, 1S4s.
Sketch of the Cifu.

The engagements of business for the several weeks
that have elapsed since my arrival here from New York
have hitherto prevented me from writing to you 40
| cording to my previous Intentions. These will now
commence to carry out
The city Of Santo, abbreviated Sto Domingo, or in
English, St. Domingo Though this is of the very
few which the Spaniards invariably pronounce
that first part in tho masculine, in full was founded
in the year 149s years after the discovery by
Bartholomew Columbus the brother of the celebrated
dscoverer and in obedience to the directions of tho
latter. The first settlement by Europeans in the
world had been made year two before the north
side Of the island at place named Isabella, in honor
of the then Queen of Spain This broken up,
and abandoned on account of its supposed unhealthi
and the infant colony removed to the south side
Of the island where laid the ou ndatens of this
city.
On this spot then, was made the first permanent
European settlement in the western world; and many
still exist in the shape Of public and private edices
that have wthtood the of time and the shocks
OF earthquakes and also Of varions ruins which these
most potent destroyers Of the works Of have,
or less completely, levelled with the dust These,
with the thousand associations that cluster around
this spot render it, in a manner classic ground to the
American citizen, who loves to dwell on the events
nected with the early history Of our quarter Of
the globe, Here, beautiful city had sprung up here
had European civilization been planted, and here
fourished European refinement, and luxury and arts
a full century before the Pilgrims Of Plymouth Rock
n, II,
landed at their respective destinations And while the
sites of the cities of New York and Boston still
the undsturbed hunting grounds corn fields ofthe
Indian, these streets teemed with the noise and
hum Of commercial life.
1t was delightful spring morning somewhat more
than twevemonth since, when approached this city
for the first time The sun had just risen, clear and beau
tifu in all his tropical glory and the ripping surface
of the lakeke sea reflected back his beams from N.Y.
RAIDS Of sparkling surfaces Our vessel lay just off the
mouth of the river waiting for the regular and
conf breeze to into the harbor within it
I'D Ia.s call
view before and the effect of the strong light and
shade presented by the glancng of the oblique
oct to another within its walls singuarly impress
sive. The scene strongly reminded me of some of the
sombrc scenes by the old masters. The first and
strongest impression 1t conveyed to my mind was thu
of antiquity and decay But for the stubborn fact ct
history might easily have imagined he before
him the remains Of of the cities Of antiquity and
subsequent familiarity with the interior of the city
would not tend, of itself TO such impression
unless it were the regularity with which much of it
laid out
The cmbrowned old walls that enclose the town
the blackened, and, in some cases grass and vine
covered tops and domes Of its old public edifces, with
here and there glimpse of some old runous church,
convent monastery, with its broken and crumbing
walls towering high in sight sometimes with trees and
shrubbery growing within upon them, and rising
far above their SUBMITS wildly reminded one that he
approaching ancient city, or, Mt least, if that
term may not be applied to any remains of European
art in the world to whose pristine glory had
departed with the generations that had created and
witnessed it.
The city stands on the western side Of the river
Ozawa the angular space Of ground formed by it,
mouth one side and the shore the other; the
harbor being as have already intmated, the river
side Of the town. The defences Of the city the
water side, consist Of castle and fort overhanging
tho mouth Of the river together with sea and river
walls of massive construction and pierced for numc
cannon-a bearing witness, in spite Of their pre-
sent somewhat dilapidated state, to the scientific skill
with which they originally planned and erect ed.
Though speak Of the works as dilapdated, they
evidently sufficiently strong and well mounted and
ned to defy the power of the only enemies tits to
he
present at the other extremity If the islaod In
this fortress is pointed out the dungeon in which the
great discoverer of the world incarccrated
previous to his being sent to Spain to answer
to the false charges which envy and malice had
raised against him. There, At a little distance
from this, totters the massive. uncouth walls Of
the old cathedral, at once associated in the mind
with his tomb for within the walls of this edce the
reader OF the life Of Columbus remembers that his
mains deposited, after having been transported
hither from Spain, agrceaby to his dying requetfor
he loved st. Domingo the scene of his triumphs and
prosecutions and suTerings. And here may remark,
that his bones reposed in this church beside its grand
altar until the year 1895 or '96I forget which-when.
the city and the Spanish part of the Island. Of
which II has been the capital. coming into the
han of the French by treaty the ashes of Columbus
disentombed with great pomp and ceremony, and
conveyed to the Havana where they have at last IL Is
to be presumed. found permanent resting place.
This cathedral though, enthusiastically considered is
extremely ugly externally is yet, within, very chaste
and beautiful and in the case Of this of many OF
the churches in the city the contrast OF the rough
ungaiply exterior with the chaste and beautiful though
simple architecture and finish Of the interior strikes
the stranger with an agreeable surprise. THIS csthe-
dral may add according to an nsor pton within II,
was CONNIE need in the year 1914 and completed in
1912
But, to an American, the most Interesting relic Of
former times IL tho granite walls OF the castellated
mansion commenced by Columbus, but never compile
the work having been interrupted on his ncarcera-
ton, and the building left, it IL said and probably
truly in its state for its walls show traces
OF having crumbed and now tower TO the height
of two stories unsbattered by time tempess earth
understanding, it we're TO bid defiance TO the
power of the element or, perhaps should say, kind
y spared by them the only monument Of art exist
ing intimately associated with the dscovsrer Of
America,