BURFORD'S PANORAMA.
Once more the scene has shifted at the Panorama in Leicester Square, and Nineveh makes way fqr a picture of the city of Mexico. The first thing that strikes the eye is the extreme regularity of the disposition of the streets; indeed in this respect it is considered one of the finest cities in the world : it is otherwise well built, spacious and handsome ; and has something of an Oriental appearance.—probably from the houses being all flat-roofed, and from the great number of churches with gaily-painted cupolas. Mexico remains pretty nearly in the same condition in which Cortez left it, having no traces of modern additions. The spectator is supposed to stand on the roof of the Cathedral, which is in the centre of the city in the Plaza Mayor or great square, around which are several fine buildings ; among them the Government House, a massive stone edi- fice, erected by Cortez. There is also the Parian, a kind of bazaar or market-place, an old Moorish-looking nest of buildings, curious and pic- turesque in appearance, now unfortunately destroyed, as well as a small chapel built by Cortez. Leaving the city, the eye traverses the vast plain in which it is placed, and which to the North, East, and South, is varied by the large lake of Tezcuco, the smaller lake Chaco, and the Alameda or promenade until it reaches the Cordilleras of Anahuac, a grand range of mountains, forming a splendid and complete amphitheatre. Altogether, the panorama forms a striking scene, of great historical inte- rest ; and Mr. Burford has been wise in selecting it for representation at Ois time, when a new interest attaches to Mexico from her perilous re- lations with a gigantic and aggressive neighbour.
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