The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-11
MExIco, January 81, 1851.

is graphic and beautiful description of the capital Of the
Montezumas:
MEXICO January 81, 1851
After no, very pleasant journey reached here the
10Th ut For days could not realize that was in
Mexico, although was located N hotel which was once
city, To me II appears the most beautifully situated city
the world for being entirely surrounded by
(the tops OF some of which always covered with
snow } and the streets directly in straight line from
north 10 souh and from east TO west at the end
OF each mountains rise in view. From the clearness of
the atmosphere they appear to be very near Indeed,
from the cause all distant objects appear 10 approx
innate The houses are very deliberately hnished
There not small or mean house IN the city, although
many families sometimes live in the one house. 1T might
be called city OF palaces, and also complete Tor there
is not space enough left anywhere TO buid the smallest
tenement The churches, oil which there is an I'M
mense number, large, and generally richly adorned
One day last week spen, whole morning (six houIs)
in examining the Cathedral and lis treasures, BY
special favor they showed us everything; among
others the custodian in which the consecrated host
posed on certain occasions. II cost 100000 but Is
worth 100000; and you will not wonder at this when
inform you that il is full four feet high, made OF solid
gold and studded with precious stones The pedestal IL
foot and half square, nlad with diamonds and rnbies
At each is the golden figure OF an angel exquisite
y carved Around his waist and neck strings OF the
finest pearls His wings inlad covered with dia-
monds, rus,es, and emerads In isrght hand he holds
sheaves of wheat, made OF yellow topaz; IN ms lett,
punches OF grapes made of amebysts The shaft Is also
studded with diamonds rubies and emeralds The upper
part containing the host made TO represent inc sun,
and ia foot and bali IN circumference tue rays tnat
side made entirely OF DIAMONDS OF me
first water beg inning with of large sze and Eradu-
ally tapering of The that surmounts the top ~
also on this side made OF diamonds, and supurb On
the other SIDE both the and the rays are OF the most
beautiful emeralds-pehaps larger than the diamonds
Can Won imagine anything richer or more magnhcsntS
Then they showed number Of gold ceboriums, also tn
contain consecraied hosts and gold chalices, some OF
them also studded with diamonds and other precious
stones but like the custodian in that the diamonds,
apart from the mounting setting, touched each other
in these there space-and sometimes considerable
between the stones The number OF large silver candle
sticks as tall as am, could not menton-thers were so
altar There also golden candlestcks, and on
the grand altar tabernacle OF SOLID gold There are Yen
silver chandeliers; they valuable but not pretty Inc
celebrated SILVER lamp that have read OF IN travels,
and which was large enough to contain eight men, no
longer exists. ,
In 1885 there was earthquake, when spl. tne
roof of the Cathedral entirely across 10 repair y, uey
melted down this lamp and had Gomez ays i,sn.s
men. The two organs of the Iatheofa a's ,uu'euse,
and most beautifully and deliberately caYeu Iney wse
made in London more than hundred years ago. ne.
sides the great altar there fourteen chapeh around
The church each has altar painting ana statues In
one al The cbapes that OF ST. Philips, the ashes OF Gen.
Imrbide repose in a black marble saIcophasus The
other Mexican heroes are buried under the altar.
There are some fine paintings in the Cathedral-one
nar,icnIarly by Murlo, of the Blessed Virgin and the
Infant They say it is original, and il il beautiful
enough 10 be 80.
How interesting ALSO my various visits to the battle
fields OF Churubusco, Moline del Rey, Chepultspec,
Sc have been and to hear who was in all the
engagements giving his experience about each one
From Chspuepec there is a magnificent view OF the
cry Mexico, the surrounding country, and the noun
tatus. There military academy or college on he op
Chspulepsc, and beautiful garden on the ROOF OF oe