SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 143 



and painted statues. Many of the smaller 

 paintings appeared to be of value, and to be 

 the works of the old Spanish and Italian 

 masters ; but they are so placed, and in such 

 obscure lights, that it is not possible to judge 

 decisively of their merits. There are in the 

 apartments adjoining the cathedral, allegorical 

 and sacred subjects, pictures of a prodigious 

 size, and of considerable skill in their com- 

 position and design, though few of them are 

 executed by masters held in estimation in 

 Europe. 



The high altar and its appendages are en- 

 closed by a massive railing, of great extent, 

 of cast metal, said to have been founded in 

 China, from models sent from Mexico. The 

 figures which ornament it are very numerous, 

 but of mean execution and design. The 

 metal, resembling brass, is considered to be 

 of such value, on account of the gold it 

 contains, that a silversmith of Mexico is said 



