638 



Bullock's Six Months' Residence in Mexico. 



Some of llie houses arc painted in proat mart of the precious metals, 



tVesco, similiir to tliose of Genoa, and wlKiue they flow to all p.iils of Iho 



most of them havi; iron balconies ii> habitable world: — a few minutes more, 



front, very elegantly constructed, with however, brought us into the city, and 



projecting roofs, and lined with por- whatever I had seen of regularity and 



ccliiin tiics. largeness of streets, size and grandeur 



I'nebia de los Angeles contains sixty of churches and houses, was here sur- 



cluin;hes, nine monasteries, thirteen passed, and I felt repaid for all the dan- 



iinnnerics.and twenty-three colleges, the gers and troubles I had undergone, 

 minute description of which might Many of the streets are nearly two 



occupy volumes, and yet leave much miles in length, perlectly level and 



undfcscribod. They are the most sump- straight, an<l with the ends terminating 



tuous I have ever seen. Those «)f in the view of the mountains that sur- 



Milan, Genoa, and Rome, are built in round the valley. Most of the houses 



better taste, but, in expensive interior are of the same height, generally three 



decorations, the quantity and value of stories, highly decorated, and orna- 



the ornaments of the altar, and tiic mented with two rows of balconies of 



lichness of the vestments, arc far sur- wrought iron, painted or gilt, and some 



passed by the churclies of Pucbla and of bronze. The stories are very lofty, 



Mexico. the apartments being from fifteen to 



That many of the inhabitants of twenty feet high. The first or ground- 



Puebla arc wealthy is attested by their floor is entered by a pair of large fold- 



tquipages and retinues: handsome car- ing gates, ornamented with bronze, 



riages, drawn by mules richly capa- often tliirly feet in height. These lead 



risoned, and attended by servants in 

 showy liveries, parade the stierts, and 

 almedas, or public walks, jjarticulaily 

 on Sundays and holjda3s; but the 

 promenade is not worthy of so fine 

 a city, and loses much of its 



into the court yard, surrounded by the 

 house, filled with trees and flowers, 

 producing a very pretty eflect, and 

 having a gallery to each floor, offering 

 so many separate promenades under 

 ^helter from the sun and rain. The 



lerest in the eyes of Europeans by the lower apartments are generally occupied 

 almost total absence of females, except by the porter and other servants ; the 



such as arc in their carriages ; indeed, 

 it is ordy in processions, and in going 

 to and from church, that the liigher 

 order of women are to be seen in the 

 streets, — which, on the former occasion, 

 are crowded to excess by all ranks 



floor above is often let off; but Iho 

 highest, which is the principal, is oc- 

 cupied by the family themselves, having 

 a separate stone staircase of great mag- 

 nificence leading to it. 



Nothing can be better calculated 



Temporary seats and elevated standing than these residences for the delightful 



places are lot for money, and thouirl 

 these showy and imposing ceremonies 

 are by no means unfrcqiient, yet their 

 interest and attraction remain unabated. 



MEXICO 



climate, in a country where change of 

 temperature is scarcely known, where 

 perennial spring reigns, where fire- 

 places are never seen, and where it is 

 scarcely necessary to have glass windows 



Nothing around gives any idea of to exclude the night air from the bed- 



Ihe magnificent city to which you are rooms. All that is requisite is a strong 



approaching; all is dreary silence and roof against the heavy rains that occur 



miserable solitude. And can this, I at certain seasons, and lofty rooms to 



thought to myself, be Mexico? — h;ivc afford a free circulation of the air ; and 



I then for such a place left my home nothing can be better adapted for this 



and all that is dear to me, whilst "half purpose than the style of architecture 



the world intervenes between me" and introduced by the Spaniards into 



the comforts of England ? wiiat have I Mexico. 



gained in exchange ! We arrived at The fronts of the houses are in 



the barriers, and passing through a part general white, crimson, brown, or light 



ot the shabby-looking troops that sur- green, painted in distemper, and having 



rounded the city, entered the suburbs, a pleasmg appearance; and the dryness 



which were mean and dirty, the people of the atmosi)here is such, that they re- 



inhabitnig them covered with rags, or tain llieirbeaulyunimpairedmany years; 



oidy wraj)ped in a blanket. So great Numbers too are entirely covered with 



was my disapj)ointmcn1, that I could glazed porcelain, in a variety of elegant 



scarcely bring myself to believe that I designs and patterns, often with subjects 



was ill the capital of >.ew Sjiain, the from scriiiluralhistory,givingthe wholes 



a rich 



