The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-06-12
Our New Orleans Correspondence.

NEW ORLEANS, June l, lS49
The Place d'Arms-Ihe Old Cathedral-Her Wor-
shiwus-7he Shippimg-22d Ftbruary-Pro-
gress of Observation-Disclosures of the French.
Detained here n0ens rolens, for two months,
will send you sketches, written cwrrents caLamo.
have been here q month-not idle. have, in
this strange city, seen much to admire, to amuse,
regret, and condemn. To relieve the tedium, will
write you at different times, of her churches and
eathedrals, Of her bishops, priests, and minis
tere of her courts and Judges, of her suburban re-
treats, of her numerous charitable institutions,
munifcently endowed OF the peculiarly of the
laws, which so much contribute to building them
up; will give you description OF her cemeteries,
OF the overflow, It's present disastrous effects, and
Its probable effect in the future; will then take a
drive with you on Sabbath's eve, on the GENTLY
road, or TO Carrollton-ior this days evening is a
great gala day-reigion is within doors, and all is
gayety fun and frolic without. To visit of our
public squares some Sabbath evening, at the as
censon of a balloon, or the display of fireworks to
hear the commn,gllng OF voices and the variety Of
language, II would remind you In imagination OF the
confusion OF languages in Babel. To look around
you on the dense mass OF human beings, TO behold
their various grades OF color, their national pecu
harites and features, you might conclude that
another flood was at hand, and the square was the
ark, and the people there assembled one of every
nation on the globe, whom God had determined TO
save.
spoken, with all their variety of doms and pro-
yincialisms; here the Partisan cannot understand
well the creole French, spoken here by the lower
classes, so different are The two idloms. We think
that II the learned blacksmith Burnt was here with
all the living languages at his tongues end, and
many of the dead languages also, he would be at
loss TO recognise the dialects; although he might
converse fluently in the language when spoken in
It's purity, yet shrouded in its ldioms and pro-
vlrciaisins, IL would be Chaldeac to hun.
We stand on the square Place d'Arms, looking
on the turbid waters of the Mississippi running at
our feet, and pouring INTO the Gulf, the waters
which have their fountains IN almost every State In
this mon; II Ii the I'D of February, day sacred
and dear 10 the heart of every republican, no mat
ter what sky IS above him. Look at that long line
OF shipping, forming almost a circle, and the
sireamers and flags Of every nation kissing the
breeze, and iiutlering with JOY, on this national
festival.
Turn with Inc now, and look to the west-what
three buildings are those SO much alike, fronting
on The square! The centre is the old cathedral
beneath whose flag stones, and near the altar lays
Don Almanaster, It's munliicen patron and founder
But the sun sets, and the bell rings mournfu
sound. all that Is the evening chime that calls
forth the worshppers to say mass for his soul-see
how they assemble and thread into the dark re-
cesses. What motley assemblage; there goes a
beautiful creole lady-an eye dark and brilliant,
her neck OF snowy witness, covered with a pro-
fusion of rnglets of darkest hue, decked IN all
gayety; but she turns and pauses All that old
woman hobbling along on her cane, dressed IN
deep mourning, her head enveloped IN DlacK
scaif that must have been her grandmothers--bu
they, too, have disappeared within the corridor.
One by one passes in the young and old-the qua
droon, the African, &c. Let US enter--what a
crowd are kneellDg, crossing themselves and
counting their beads, some with their eyes directed
to the cruciixion, others TO the image of the Vir-
gin Mary. How gloomy did everything look
within that chapel. The rays OF the sun that strug-
sed through the dusty glass, lost their brightness
and gladness. These three buildngs--the cathc-
dral, court house, and recorders ofiicewere built
near hundred years ago, Of BRICK covered with
stucco the storms OF hundred winters, aud
the scorchlng suns of as many summers, have
alternately sported upon her walls and turrets
anti they have become as hard as granite,
and the finger of time plainly tells you by the
stained and weatber-beaten walls, and moss
severed iurrets, that the works OF those who built
them have long out-lived them, Thus is the old.
est portion of the city, occupied by the French
Csst your eye around, and look at the buildings
which front this square on three sides. All, al
lsok ancient, cumbrous and ncoovenient How