New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-11
THE BOUNDARY COMMISSION.


can Cemmissioners-Thc Bishop Of Durangs~
Intense Cold, &c.
We make the following extracts from letter
in the PROF. dence journal of Saturday. The
news 10 nearly two weeks later than tha. publish.
ed by the National Intslligenoer:
FL PAso DEL NoETE, Dec. 5, Issa
You can hardly imagine town like I'll Paso,
ION the opposite side OF the river with 1000 or
5000 inhabitants, and enjoying 90 fe ~ comforts
1t is not because they have not the means
The inclination is wanting, and even II they
should desire TO live better they would not kaow
how. There 10 very little difference In this re-
spect, between the rich and the poor Beans,
onions and pumpkins form their chief food.
Meal and -four are used by some, but | have thus
far been unable to buy single bushel OF meal.
The people generally resort to the primitive way
OF breaking or pounding their corn, and then
making II into cakes.
The Ell PAso MARKET.-The best market day
ia town is Sunday. l sometimes ride over on
that day, look into the church awhile, and then
look around the market, which ia on the opposite
side OF the square where the church stands. Tho
vendors of vegetables, chiefly women, sit upon
the ground against wall, with their vebosds
shawls around them, and in basket before them
you see dozen onions, half q dozen ounces. a
pumpkin, and sometimes a couple of eggs. This
would be great variety and large stock. L
tried in vain TO get basket Of ounces, but the
whole market did not I'll carriage box. The
prices three eggs for l2i cents, a real as it 10
called here this is Fifty cents a dozen, but have
not yet large a quantity together
Ounces very poor. three cents each onions from
one to three for shilling tl2l cents according to
the size, and pumpkins from 37l TO rs cents each.
1t matters not whether you buy the amount OF q
real lsl cents or five dollars If quantity could
be procured, the price is the same.
The shops OF FL Paso are inferior 10 any factory
store in Rhode Island, yet, what 10 singular, all
the wealthy men keep small shops There ID one
person whose lands, houses and property are esti-
mated at over 100000. This man has little
shop where he spends most Of his time, assisted
by his wife or daughters, selling such trihes as
huckster or candy seller would keep with US
This is doubtless to have some employment, not
TO add wealth to the family. There are many Of
these little shops in the town but they are not
70 be considered the principal.
The main thing wanting among the people is
energy and how to nse it. IL would be great
thing Tor them if half dozen American families
should settle in the place, and to show them how
70 live. They seem hospitabe and kind though
very indolent But this Incidence comes from
their very mode of living. A Mexican is satisfied
with the most simple fare. His house he can
erect himself from the mud around him he thatch-
es il himself and in this howell be Is content TO
live and bring up his family.
have been in some of these houses In I'll Paso,
where there was not article OF furniture. L
went into a large one few days since, which L
wanted to hire 1t is true, there was poor
family then in il, and although there were men,
women and children in the family, there was
neither chair or table. The occupants were SIT
ting on the floor, crouched up in corner doing
nothing In fact, this is the common custom Of
the people, doing nothing. Go through the streets
and you will always see hundreds crouching
against walls wrapped up in their blankets, sun
ming themselves. or the two sexes the women
are far the most industrious and intelligent. They
1o1l, md in fhasr nf
housekeeping is done well. Their character for
honesty 10 unimpeachabe, while that OF the men
10 considered questionable. | do not Judge from
experience having had little todo with them but
what / have said is their general character
The BISHOP OF DURANGo.-The most impor-
tsnt event that has occurred since my last is the
arrival of the Bishop Of Durango The Commits
sioner called upon him the day after his arrival.
spending half an hour with him. He lives 500 or
900 miles of, and is now returning from Santa
Fe. 1t takes him more than a year to visit the
churches in bis diocese, which extends north and
south more than thousand miles He was
dressed in a brown satin robe with q tunic, or,
rather, jacket of white muslin, and, over all this
was blue satin cloak. He embraced Mr.. Bart
lett on being introduced, and shook his hand with
a hearty grasp. Two other Catholic gentlemen
came in while we were there. They knet down
and kissed the ring on his finger, which Is the
custom. The Bishop is man OF about TO- with
intelligent and open countenance. We made
many inquiries Of him about the extent Of his
labors, and of the people under his charge, and
gave him an outline of our commission. He
asked us many questions about the United
States, OF recent news from Europe, whether
there was any thing Of importance from Rome,
etc.
On taking leave, he said that he would call on
the Commissioner the next day, which was Sun
day. We thought it rather odd, but Sunday ia
a grest day for calls and entertainments Of all
A Ootn fha oil Aax hs.O lad
accompanied by his secretary, DR.. Radio, tho
Padre Ortiz of FL Paso, and several others. He
spent an hour more with Us, partaking OF q
lunch served up in as good sty az our supplies
would admit. We happened to have some OK
cellent wine, sardines and old cheese with as.
which were left from our journey, and the
good qualities of which the venerable Bishop
seemed to appreciate A great deal Of attention
has been shown the Bishop by the American Of
fcers wherever he has been, for which he ex-
pressed himself very grateful.
| am told that the day before he left XII Paso he
wrote very afectionate letter 10 Mr.. Bartlett,
expressing bis regrets that he could not call per-
sonally and take leave. Mr. Bartlett Immediately
went over TO see him, and had very pleasant
visit. Hundreds OF people were assembled
around bis dwelling waiting for him to bestow
blessing on them, which he does by passing By
them and allowing each to kiss the ring before re-
ferred to.
The MEXICAN CoMMIssIoEER.-The Mexican
Commissioner arrived on the Let Of December
last The following day be sent over note
to Mr. Bartlett announcing his arrival Mr..
Bartlett called the same day and it was agreed
that the next day the first meeting Of the Joint
Commission should be held. 1t accordingly took
place at the quarters of the latter. On the arri.
val of the Mexican Commissioner he was sauted
by the garrison. The meeting lasted two hours
and half
Gen. Condo, the Commissioner, Ia very quiet,
gentlemanly man. Hisson, young man OF 70 or
%, is bis Secretary, and MI lturbide, SON oil the
celebrated Emperor Iturbide, is bis interpreter.
This gentleman has lived many years in the Uni.
ted States, and one would hardly take him for
Spaniard. These, with Mr.. Bartlett, DR.. Webb, Mr..
Cremous our interpreter six ia al, composed our