Show The Crest Cathedral of NIcaragua The great cathedral of San Pedro of Leon Is probably the finest reo Ilrfius edifice touUi of the City of Mexico It was finbhetlln 1743 at a cost of S3 < XW WO < occupying thir = S t tyseven relIcs In j oonstructlon It is of cut stone and Is one Una mass of masonry covers an entire square and Its front extends naoa one side of the Grand Tlio Like similar buildings whose rulneil arches ana wolltfmav be seen In Antigua do GuaUmola this church has walla at least fifteen fitt In thickness IIIId bas tho solidity of a rock Nuns coons earttquaC8 have produced ne ioiprefElon and tie ttorms of a century and a linlf have In no way Injured Its fine qualify of stone While Inspecting fbC rr r I met the cure an old gentleman of perhaps C5 years of age whothough r well traveledEuropeanliiu never visited the United States He told t me that In the numerous disputes between Leon and Grenada the church had often been converted Into aortress and sustained a few bombardment frpm besieging fbrcea Thirty pieces artillery are Ud to have been planted on Its roof at onetime one-time and on Its eastern side there are many indentations made by shot shotThis This cathedral was once possessed ofgrcat wealth the chancel was surrounded with a railing of solid silver while all OlD altar ornaments were of gold With the exception oCtho cup and plato usedatma the church has DO ornaments precious metals Much I now was shipped to Spain and what remained did not escape the rapacity of the soldiers who have many times advanced and retreated through Loon AToaraoua letter |