stores in the town are mostly owned, and the mercantile business chiefly carried on, by Americans.  These American speculators are celebrated for the daring manner with which they launch out their money upon various enterprises.  With them, the greater the risk when their chances appear that the gain will be large, the more eager they are in facing the hazard.  They sometimes lose, but oftentimes realize large fortunes.  The appearance of these stores is captivating to the fancy, and many of them would be ornaments to any of the larger cities or towns of the east.  The most expensive articles of luxury and dress are to be found in them, and in these distant parts, such property commands a price which would startle and quite shake the nerves of a prince; but, when the people can obtain the money, they purchase everything which their fancy dictates.  A Santa Fe senorita dashes in her rich silks which have cost hundreds of dollars with as much grace as does one of the Washington or Fifth Avenue belles, clothed in the same luxuriant style.  In Santa Fe, we are sorry to say, it requires vice of the worst shade for women to support such a style of living; but the morals of the Mexicans are so loose in all classes, that virtue is boldly parted with by both sexes in a spirit which the triumphs of natural reason alone ought to prevent, and which no lover of humanity can admire or tolerate.  Gambling, in this town, has long held its full sway, and many is the victim which this wretched wickedness has prematurely hurried into a vortex, from which there has been no recovery.

The palmy days of gambling, in San Francisco, have been rivaled in the little town of Santa Fe, and the boldness with which the Mexican player will part with his last dollar, shows the hardened state to which the man, and, what is perhaps worse, the woman, have been brought, by years of habitual playing for money.  In olden times, the Mexicans used to travel hundreds of miles, and bring their money with them in order to squander it at their favorite game of monte.  Not only this fact is true, but men will often sell themselves into the slavery of debt in order to satisfy their craving desire to gamble.

The town of Santa Fe is watered by azequias or small canals, which are used in every section of the Territory, with which to irrigate the soil.  Near the town, and on a hill adjoining, stands the ruins of Fort Marcy, which was used by the American Volunteers during the conquest of the country in the year 1846.  This fort commands the town; and, for the purpose which governed its building it answered very well.  There are several good boarding-houses in Santa Fe, and one hotel, which is well fitted up and well kept.  It forms the rendezvous for the whole town.  The commanding general of the military department which comprises the Territory of New Mexico, with his staff, makes this town his head-quarters.  There is also a garrison of American soldiers stationed in the town.