Luis Potosi to Tampico, whence he embarked for the United States. He examined on his way the great canal of Huehuetoca, which has been constructed to drain the waters of the lake Zumpango, and prevent their flowing into the Tezcuco, and thus inundating the city as was often the case formerly. The canal is a work of prodigious labor, cut through a hill to a depth varying from ninetyeight to one hundred and thirty feet. It cost the lives of some thousands of Indians, who were compelled to work in it. They were suspended by cords, and were frequently swept away by the torrents when the waters rose suddenly, or were dashed against the rocks; and many perished from excessive fatigue and bad treatment.' The plan, however, succeeded; the waters of the lake now flow into the river Tula, and are carried to the

ocean.

On the fourth day after leaving Mexico the author arrived at Queretaro, once famous for its manufactures, as far as this kind of employment was allowed under the old government. The town now contains no less than thirty thousand inhabitants, and is thus described.

'The manufactures of this place have suffered in common with every branch of industry in Mexico. They are still carried on, particularly those of woollen and cotton stuffs, but on a reduced scale. African slaves formerly worked in these manufactories, and Indians, who were held to labor by getting them in debt, and keeping them so by furnishing them the means of gratifying their love of ardent spirits. This subject was frequently discussed during the existence of the late congress, but no adequate remedy was adopted.

There are upwards of eleven thousand Indians in Queretaro, and many of them are still held in this brutal state of bondage by the manufacturers. We have been amused for some time with the motley assembly in the square. It is Saturday, and on the evening of this day there is a market or rather fair held. They began to assemble about an hour before sun-down, so as to display their wares to advantage, and the business is now going on by candle light. We saw the poor pedlar, carefully spreading out on the pavement, odd pieces of old iron, spurs, bridle bits, nails and screws; the manufacturer hanging up his cotton and woollen goods; and the jockey dashing about on a gallant steed, and loudly calling on the by-standers to admire its rare qualities and to purchase. I suppose our appearance betokened cullibility, for we have been visited by almost every salesman in market offering their wares at

enormous prices. They are accustomed to chaffer, and you may offer them one fourth of their asking price, without risk of offending them, and with a good chance of purchasing the article.' p. 139, 140.

We next find the author at the mines of Guanaxuato, which he examined with care; and he describes with great minuteness the mode of working the mines, forming the shafts which descend to them, and the whole economy of separating the metal from the ore. His description and remarks on this subject are highly interesting. The great shaft of Vallenciana, which is eighteen hundred feet deep, and thirtythree in diameter, and constructed at the expense of more than a million of dollars, was nearly two thirds full of water. The machinery of this mine was burnt by order of Mina, after his attack on Guanaxuato had failed. The owners have not been able since to restore it, and the mine has consequently remained unproductive. Mr Bullock says, that this is one of the mines engaged to be worked by the British company, and that mechanics and steam engines were on their way a year and a half ago to commence operations. The want of fuel, as Mr Poinsett suggests, will be a serious bar to the utility of steam engines, unless coal shall be discovered in the neighborhood.*

One or two sketches from the author's animated narrative of his journey from the mines to the sea shore, will place in rather a striking light some of the amusements and characteristic traits of the people. The following incident happened at San Luis, which is described as a handsome town, in the midst of a fertile country.

'My fellow travellers arrived about two o'clock, and all my arrangements are made to set out tomorrow. In the afternoon we visited the cockpit, and found a strange, motley group there. A priest was examining one of the birds, and betting largely; and we saw miserable wretches, half naked, or covered with a blanket, put five, and some as much as twenty dollars, into the broker's hands, to stake on their favorite bird. Some Señoras, not, however, the most lady like, but very finely dressed, were smoking cigars and betting. When the bets were all made, and order restored, a noble colonel pitted his own fowl against a lepero, a fellow

*An account of these mines, as described by Humboldt and others, may be seen in our number for April, 1822. Vol. XIV. p. 432

in a blanket. One of the birds was killed at the first onset. The colonel was victorious; but after the battle was over, some dispute arose, and in an instant all was confusion and wild uproar. But for the seasonable interference of the brokers, who acted as umpires, we might have witnessed a battle between the priest and the colonel.' p. 185.

At San Isidro, a village of stone huts with thatched roofs, the author writes,

'I have just returned from visiting a school, and have been much amused with the appearance of the pedagogue. In a large room, furnished with two or three cowhides spread on the floor, and half a dozen low benches, were ten or twelve little urchins, all repeating their lessons at the same time, as loud as they could bawl. The master was stalking about the room, with a ferule in his hand, and dressed in a most grotesque manner. He had an old manta wrapped about his loins, from under which, there appeared the ends of tattered leather breeches, hanging over his naked legs; sandals were bound round his ankles; a leather jerkin, the sleeves worn off, and a dirty handkerchief twisted round his head, above which his shaggy hair stood erect, completed his dress. He seemed perfectly unconscious of his uncouth appearance, but received me very courteously; dismissed his scholars immediately, and at once entered into conversation on the state of the country. He is not satisfied with the present order of things, and made some sarcastic observations on the change of masters, which the people had undergone; contrasting the colonial government with that of Iturbide, very much in favor of the former.' p. 190.

Here

The author reached Tampico on the 17th of December, two months from the time he landed at Vera Cruz. his journal in regard to Mexico ends, but several pages of valuable remarks and statistical details are added, respecting the island of Cuba, where he passed a few days on his return to the United States.

The interest of this volume is by no means confined to a parrative of the ordinary events, which happened to a traveller in passing through the country. By far the greater part is taken up with topics of higher moment. As full an exposition as can be desired is given of the political resources and condition of the country, its population, revenue, agriculture, manufactures, commerce, and military force. We hazard nothing in saying, that the volume contains the best account which can be found of the present state of Mexico, both in regard to the character of the people, and their prospects as

an independent nation. In the appendix is a sketch of the revolutionary history, with several important public documents. These we pass over for the present, intending at a future period to devote a separate article to a consideration of the political changes in Mexico.

J. Sparks.

ART. IV.-1. Ordinances of the Corporation of the City of Baltimore, with the Act of Incorporation, and the several Supplements thereto; to which is added an Appendix, &c. Compiled and prepared in Pursuance of a joint Resolution of both Branches of the City Council. By SAMUEL YOUNG. 8vo. pp. 342. Baltimore. N. Warner.

1816.

2. Remarks on the Intercourse of Baltimore, with the Western Country. 8vo. pp. 30. J. Robinson. Baltimore. 1818. 3. Report of the Maryland Commissioners on a proposed Canal from Baltimore to Conewago. Svo. pp. 84. F. Lucas, Jr. 1823.

4. General Harper's Speech to the Citizens of Baltimore, on the Expediency of Promoting a Connexion between the Ohio at Pittsburgh, and the Waters of the Chesapeake at Baltimore, by a Canal through the District of Columbia; with a Reply to some of the Objections of Mr Winchister. 8vo. pp. 78. E. J. Coale. 1824.

5. Annals of Baltimore. By THOMAS W. GRIFFITH. Svo. pp. 240. Baltimore. 1824.

AMONG the prominent features, which distinguish the United States from every part of the old world, in every period of its history, are the rapid growth of many of our towns, and the unexampled increase of population in certain districts of the country. No one can pass through our western regions, and witness the marks of industry and enterprise, which everywhere meet the eye, without feeling almost as if he walked on enchanted ground, and that the wilderness had bowed to a more than mortal arm. A ride from Albany to Niagara reveals the power of human agency, in developing the resources and multiplying the

means of social being, to a more remarkable degree than had ever been known in the history of the whole eastern continent. And if we go onward and visit the banks of the Ohio, the Wabash, Mississippi, and Missouri, we shall find towns, villages, innumerable cultivated farms, a teeming population, well organised governments, and all the details of commercial and social intercourse, established on a firm basis, and going into an harmonious operation, over an immense space of country, where thirty years ago scarcely a vestige of civilisation could be traced.

The growth of our cities on the seaboard, if it has been comparatively less rapid, than that of some parts of the interior, has nevertheless exceeded anything with which history acquaints us in the eastern hemisphere. Within the last thirty years the population of Philadelphia has increased to a number three times as great as it was at the beginning of that period, New York to a number four times as great, and Baltimore to a number five times as great. New Orleans has now more than three times the amount of population, which it had when the purchase of Louisiana was made by the United States. But among all the cities, whether of America or of the old world, in modern or ancient times, there is no record of any one, which has sprung up so quickly to as high a degree of importance as Baltimore. At the commencement of the revolution it was a village of five thousand inhabitants, and at the close of the war it had increased to no more than eight thousand. In magnitude it is now the third city in the Union, and has held that rank for nearly twenty years.

Odessa and Liverpool have been often mentioned as cities of the most rapid growth of any in Europe, but these have not equalled the cities in the United States. As to Odessa, it can hardly be compared with any other city, inasmuch as its rise and prosperity have depended on causes peculiar to itself. The building of Odessa was first begun by the Russian government thirty years ago, and from all the aid which it has received by being a free port, and from the royal patronage in erecting piers, wharves, and warehouses, and inducing farmers to settle in the neighborhood by donations of land and other privileges, the city has not yet been forced up to a population of more than about thirtysix thousand. In the last twenty years it has a little more than doubled.