LETTER XXVI. 
CITY 01 MEXICO. PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. PRISONS. PRISON STATISTICS. 
ACADEMY. PRIVATE COLLECTIONS. 
"We will return now from the edifices of Ancient Mexico, to the mod- 
ern institutions and erections of the Spaniards, who have displaced the 
Indians. 
I have already given you some descriptions of the City of Mexico, and 
the a,ppearance and character of the castle-like dwellings of the people ; 
but, (with the exception of the Cathedral,) I have as yet said nothing of 
the public edifices and churches. 
There are two Palaces in the City of Mexico, one of which is appro- 
priated to the Archbishop, and the other to the President and Government 
officers. 
The Archbishop's Palace fronts the northern end of the President's, 
and is plain and simple both within and without. The same may be said 
of the National Palace ; it has no architectural pretensions, and until the 
year 1842, was a long low pile of unadorned buildings, filled with a mis- 
erable collection of comfortless rooms. Upon the accession of General 
Santa Anna, however, a change took place. The Minister of Finance 
fitted up a suite of apartments for his bureaux, in a tasteful modern style ; 
and, in the months of August and September, the Grand Sala was en- 
tirely completed, and opened to the public for the first time on the anni- 
versary of the crowning victory of Mexican Independence. 
In this spacious and well-proportioned apartment they have gathered a 
quantity of gorgeous furniture, and placed, on a platform at the northern 
end, under a crimson canopy, a magnificently carved and gilded throne. 
Various flags, alleged to have been taken from the Texans, in battle, are 
affixed to staffs extending from the cornice. The walls are covered with 
large French mirrors, and the deep windows are festooned with the 
most tasteful upholstery of French artistes. I have wandered over 
the whole of this immense pile of edifices, but I recollect nothing else 
about it worthy of notice. The private apartments of General Santa 
Anna are plain, neat, and tasteful, and a full-length portrait of General 
Washington adorns an obscure chamber. 
In "an inner court, to the eastward, is the Botanic Garden, surrounded 
by the lofty walls of adjoining edifices. It is of small extent, and the 
