Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-22
LIT E R A RY.

Ell PUcHERo, or Mired Dish from Meri
co /; embracing Gen. SCOTS campaign, ,citf
skefche Of Military Life in field and camp, Q,
the character Of the country, manners, and vays
Of the people. &c. By RICHARD McSHERRY, MD
q. s. Navy, late Acting Surgeon of Regiment Of
Marines.
This is the rather quaint title Of very agreeable and in
sucve iuodecimo, which has just issued from the Pha
dephia Pess and is sale by Mr. MoRR1sos of this city
Dr. McSBERRr, though not author by profession is evil
IDENTIFY gentleman of literary taste and keen vet kind OBJ
His unobtsive and engaging department smoothed
his way into the polite circles of Mexican society," and
thus gave him opportunities which he has udiciousy used
Of acquaning himself with the character and GUS
toms oth people On these topics his graphic and ohand
sketches suggest matter for serious consideration in regard to
country military and political events have made SO
intereni to ourselves His pages bring wildly before us
the unhapy truth, that in Mexico in the country from
which sb sprung, and indeed in nearly If not entirely all
the nations Of continental Europe, society made up Of the
two exmesan arstocracy and popnlace that she is ut
tery waiting in that middng class which has made the
Angoaxon race prosperous and mighty, and without which
nain have strong heart But though the people Of
Mexico not, and mainly from this want sturdy indie.
pender, honest people, Dr. McShey presents us with some
pleasing views of their national character It yet retains in
the upper classes the Castan impress Of generosity high
bred our,esy, and graceful hospitality and in Mexico as in
oher,ountres kindness Of the women, "when pain and
anguh wiring the BROW" is in bright contrast with the fierce
passions Of the The author witnessed an instance Of
this the conduct Of lady of San Augusin to young
American officer Of marines, who brought ill and dying
to the house Of which she inmate Seeing in him
not The enemy Of her country, but suffering brother far
from hume and friends" this hghborn and lovely Mexican
only the sku hand Of gentle make acceptable
the perverted palate Of the victim Of disease" The Incl
dent we'll told though with some redundancy Of dicon
that do not easily refrain from here inserting this passage
Of Dr.. McSherry's work.
The temptation song and must also be resisted to
e1ach account Of the landing Of the United States troops
the beach Vera Cruz his views Of the dissatisfaction
of the wealthy andhoders with their Government Of its in
stability and expressions and of the degraded and serve
condition Of the Indians his picture Of the enchanting
y the valley in which the city of Mexico is situated his
sketches Of the cathedral churches the converts the circus
the bull fights the operas the Shops the modes of fashionable
entertainment his notice Of the abundant use and exquisite
beauty Of preserved fruits &c. &c. For these and other
passages equally attractive the reader must be referred to the
book ITSELF Of which he will find the contents amply to fulfil
the promise of the title page.
We make room for passage concerning the Jesus and
the Mexican clergy The Doctor in speaking of the cathe-
dral and churches of Mexico, says
The padres of the Prosa and San Francisco bear the
best private characters of any Of the regular clergy of this c
y the former, believe, allied the Jesuits who,
though banshed from Mexico, the most exemplary la
borers employed in this vineyard 1t for that rea
son, probably, that they expelled The Francscans
contested the matter with them especially upon the mission
airy field. Other orders less successful 1t would per-
haps be difficult to explain why, when the Jesuits
aIIad ntho
sion, who, without the energy, ZEAL learning of that ia
NOUS order, were not free from their imputed faults Com
runner has great deal TO say against the clergy of the
present day, who condemned Unfortunately by most
travellers, and their counymen speak Of their
faults and oes without reserve though they say there are
many good and exemplary among them. One re.
mark must in justice be made Of the Mexican clegya re-
mark made to by intelligent resden-the idle and bad
always most prominent strangers while the virtuous
and conscientious quietly pursue their unseen"
Among the interesting notices in the book the follow
ng Of the impression the minds Of the Mexcans of the
humanity of their conqueror, General TAYLOR:
Gen Scott has got Of the good gaces of the Mexican
ades by rejecting the petition Of number Of them in favor
Of the San Patricio prisoners (deserters from ay)
Reasoning after the fashion Of women, from the heart they
hink very cruel indeed to keep the pobres rons &C.
now that arms completely triumphant.
"They want to draw parallel between General Tylor
Taylor and General Esco, they call them they think
The former, who they say, beloved by the whole Mexican
nation, would not have been deaf to their prayers"
TO the work appended narratives, from official docu-
ments Of the battles Of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo and
list Of officers Of the United States Army and Volunteers who
engaged in the battles Of the Valley Of Mexico under
command of General Scott in the months Of August and Sep
embe ls47 These valuable papers prepared by Da
vd Holmes Conrad, Esq Of Martnsburg Virginia, the dis
ngushed gentleman whom the letters which constitute
Dr. Mcshenys work addressed and whose recon-
mendation they published.