New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-11-15
THE CITY OF SAINT DOMINGO.
BYAN OFFICER IL THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

BYAF OFFICER Is TIE UNITED STATES NAVY.
The City of S4nt Domingo presents nothing Ike
the grandeur described oy Oneo0' "no tesr.oi
there 80 years after s fret establishment AT that
time there was no city in Spain laccordog 20 MS ac
courij that could in any way compare WIN u ne
river "Ozima which runs close TO the vans OF me
town vas considered "a most beautiful and wonderful
mort where the bealtbiest laden ships could lie IN
se,.tx sven uboer the windows and the heaven S's
30 fine and commodous that the IKE " - known IN
"few places in the world. The houses we're so
magnificent (e peciby the one built by Diego COon,l
thai no pslace il Spain could compare with them 10
ri,h,4,s or commJdIty; and this beautiful city In
created go rapidly 10 altb ard good order mat l.
attracted th'her az the wealthy merchants OF me
i,a, who took up their residence IN II on a,coun OF
it, convenient babitati1Ds, and for the disposal Oh
such articles Of commerce brought from SPAN,
or we're sent there from The dereDt provin - oi me
islard which abounded with many things thst tne
III, rcbsnis were requited usurously by th- proofs.
A different picture now presents Itself The river
Gonna" glid-s along ~ smoothly as IL ga tnree
hundred Years since, and close 10 the city, 7here
an,ient Caravals were crOSded Il the piers waiting
their rich freg his-the splendid houses which mon-
arch might have delighted to honor, are " among the
"thipgs that were" AID have long since nrullo'-d
into duit The ruins If the house Quilt by Diego
Colon .ufi remain ihougb nearly covered with rub
bh TO ieriify 20 the truth of the historian, and give
evidence Of greater splendor 10 arch lecture Inah
exists In ST. Domingo in modern times. Inc city -
BOW in O most dllspidsied state; the evlhences OF
Us,tiep rule are still vribe in every street through
which you pass ano toe inhabitants have not recoV
cred sufficiently from the apathy 10 which they we're
kept for mALy years, 10 induce them u uoderAKe
n e repairs of their dwellings Tney have CONTRACTED
many ~ The weaknesses of their oppressors, among
which laziuess pTec omDsies Forum ;anons ~nIcn
copld once have sunk feet OF "three-deckers
have fallen into complete ruins and only three orass
guns gu the side remain to tell that the city has
any defense the land side il better fortified by two
strong ha-iioss owing Ia q constant apprehension o.
an invasion from The Hsyfiehs Vas in Il Domingo
IN 1924 hen President Boyer had possession and AZ
that tin G the town Was well defended
What wa. once cons der-d splendid harbor - no
only considered small though secure port Tor yes
sels drawing feet water. 80 or three American
brg- and schooner were ing st the piers and tasting
in their log~ood, iienumvita, aud mahogany aud
eight or ten lazy DegrOes were taking their time 70
LOAD tb.m three being employed at once In trausplr
ing piece of wood not d oad for one a0le-bodied
msD to carry.
INST melancholy Appearance which is scarcely r.
liev,d by any sign of lite from the inside. Ihres or
four tylorkipg soldiers, with equally DIRTY looking
u,usk.ts ofeDiim-s without hat and 4lways without
shoes Ia luxury they do not need their elbows out
spd one leg Of their panfaOobs rolled 70 their knee
Often Ia prevent chatting some disgusting sor7 on The
lee-these ART the only ssn- Of life t. De seen out
sine he walls Of this .nce thckly populated city,
Houses ruined By age and neglect present 70 the
eye ION an approach 10 the city, everything unlike
the ST. Domingo of former times; but nature wears
the same besuri'ul aspect and, smiling, ssks the
hand of industry TO pluck from the sOl thu produce
by ahich nation was once enrichef. Ths eye wan
den for miles lands that were once i"arishiaS
with all the tropical proiDctlous hut IN g.in II lo0x
for some eyicehcs OF modern industry u see nDtn
ing bur thick ard intersoveD 70 iage and high r4nk
weeds, which spring lu1urianty from the proilnc
earth
Old ard dlspiisted churches attest the poverty Of
The diocese and the decline Of that religion ~ much
veDera,td by Spanisrds though The Interior Of one Or
tSo tb their handsome aitArs ar very ere litaple
In 10 ma
side The cathedral Ia foe building of l7l5,l lately
partially destroyed by Al earthquake, AMI now re-
psired is ssir To be the large-t snt hiadsonest
church in the West iBdies Ii Is of Gothic architec
ture, and will compare fayOrably with any hne
churches in Italy.
The streets Of 81. Domingo in many places, are
broken up and quite impossible for carriages, des-
cIipiiuD Of vehicle not much in vogue, however -
only three "vOlaDtes are 10 BE- found ~ the city
ouy one or Of the principal els in p.s+sbls
orcer and they arr disgustnsly filthy. The most ~
dusfIiour psrt Of the populsiiOn are thu buzZHis
e whose name Is legion; they are tho scavengers 81
the t,wn, ud, like the industrious heas, w'prk with
uIwearied energy from mOrD until evenings when,
having almost cleared the streets u animal nt'er,
they cluster the tops Of tbs churches where they
look happy set of aldermen sitter turtle feast
The city IL walled rount, and is sbout mile lasre
The number of houses are estimated At 500 add
ART all built in the old Spanish style excepting the
huts n tie suburbs of the town which ara built Of
reeds ard thsiched With thu leaves of the palm -rs
The inerOrs OF the houses bel Dgng ~ the lower or
DER are very uDceany dogs. pi4s chickens, ducks
and children often sen lighting together Tor sd
pre- acy over the viciuas and il Out-ide the door
The matter is often settled nv "ne If the numerous
Tribe Of buzZsrds who elec's hinssel umpire, and
hope away with the prize II is only wonderful that
thu city is bot depcpazted BY disesse owing 10 the
want OF cleanliness brf only in c.rtsn sessOus are
they trouhl, With the yellow f.ver, ~hch, an per-
suadsd would never visit the ciiy u The crazy old
walls we're knocked dow and the sea hre.Le per-
mnted 10 ebte-, and fer Wholesome regulations
e.tabst ed 10 iDsure CLEANLINESS Few nes houses
have been bnit IN. HsvtieDs took possession in
lse2 those only by Two W three prosperous mer
chants VITO have Ob'sined The monopoly OF mlhoy
ally. The people seem 10 desire nsthing more ihso
they have az prtssBt; they are perf-ety eontentst
spd happy and Ob.y desire that they may never be
troubled sg SID by the Hsytlens DO have brought
them to their present condition. WIS their present
uesns of living are, il i. impo,s pe TO tell. No QUE
badly clothed and hos il insy bad plenty % eat
and drips Tie cares ~ life pass by them auheeted,
and al eve 'ie light guitar and czasoets keeping
TIM together in allnost ever, house in town
The dwelling of President Sapt.La is Of The
most humtle il the cit, and his moe Of living IS
unosi TtaoRs IT, most Jealous democrat enid fe
sire. Tie Government bs5 built him bod-e callel
the Palace in which be- has declins1 = reside, bat
he prefers the rrpubl can simplicity vi bis is,
where he lives happily With his family Snd enjoys ths
benefit Of The breeze, under ria ''own Woe and
"fr-r.e" The si,le of living Of This truly good
il in kee ping with the rest Of bis habthe "a one %
the "poblesi works VI God al honest man AID
only desires 10 see the regenerpn ~ bis people, ghO
look up % him With p.risct devotion.
The market $50 called is most miserable speei-
n'en. paid il Writ nsorning N antc patton OF
se,tirg .oO. faod fruit but disappointed in my
Whole .,Ga,e 70 feed dozen iaD,Aes- TFo q three