THE CATHEDRAL. 25 
of Mexican marbles in the Republic. The variety of colors is very great, 
among which is one of a pure and brilliant white, as transparent as ala' 
baster. The rail and steps, which, of course, are of fine marble, lead to 
a circular platform eight or ten feet above the floor, beneath which is the 
sepulchre of the bishops, (constructed entirely of the most precious mate- 
rials,) divided into niches and panels, and covered with a depressed dome 
of marble, relieved by bronze and gold circles, from the centre of which 
depends a silver lamp, for ever burning in the habitation of the dead. 
To the right of the altar is the gem of the building. It is a fio-ure of 
the Virgin Mary, nigh the size of life. Dressed in the richest embroi- 
dered satin, she displays strings of the largest pearls hanging from her 
neck below her knees. Around her brow is clasped a crown of gold, 
inlaid with emeralds of a size I had never seen before ; and her waist is 
bound with a zone of diamonds, from the centre of which blaze num- 
bers of enormous brilliants ! 
But this is not all. The candelabras surrounding the platform before 
the altar, are of silver and gold, and so ponderous that a strong man could 
neither move nor lifl them. Immediately above the altar, and within the 
columns of the large temple erected there, is a smaller one, the interior 
of which is displayed or concealed by secret machinery. From this the 
Host, amid a blaze of priceless and innumerable jewels, is exhibited to 
the kneeling multitude. 
^ The principal dome is, of course, in the centre of the church ; and oppo- 
site the front of the altar is the choir, remarkable, principally, for the 
workmanship and preservation of the richly carved woodwork of its 
stalls for the canons and clergy. Above the seat of the bishop is a pic- 
ture of St. Peter, formed by the inlaying of different woods ; yet so skil- 
fully is this work of art executed, that at a. short distance it has all the 
effect and gracefulness of a painting in oil. It is to be regretted that the 
organ is rather too small for so large a building, and that the rich tone 
of the noble instrument is therefore greatly lost in the services of a church 
where the effect of the Catholic rite, amid so many other magnificent 
adjuncts, would be greatly enhanced in pomp by the perfection of solemn 
music. 
It was too obscure to see the pictures which are said to be worthy of 
notice, or the three sets of valuable jewels of the bishop; and we there- 
fore departed at dusk from this mine of wealth and splendor. 
As I went out of the door in the dim twilight, and found a miserable 
and ragged woman kneeling before the image of a saint, and heard the 
hollow sounding of her breast as she beat it with penitential fervor; I could 
not help askmg myself, if the church that subsisted upon alms, in order to 
be the greatest almoner of the nation, had fulfilled its sacred charge while 
there was one diamond in the zone of the Virgin, or one homeless or 
foodless wretch in the whole Republic. 
