THE CITY OF THE MORMONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 586, 16 June 1858, Page 3

THE CITY OF THE MORMONS.

A correspondent of the " New York Tribune' gives the following description of the city- of the Mormons:-—

The city of the Saints is fortified with a wall of mud 12 feet high,, with a broad deep ditch in front of it, and senii-bastions at half-musket range. These are pierced with loop-holes to afford a front and flank fire in case of attack. It is pretended that this wall was built as a protection against the Indians; but in the opinion of the author, its design was to keep the people busy, and thus to forestall impertinent inquiry and leaye no time for rebellion. Entering through a gate of the wall we find the city divided into blocks, often of ten acres each, intersected at right angles by streets 130 feet wide, running due north and south and , east and west, and in wet weather almost impassable. The houses in the suburbs are scattering, and consist mostly of mud hovels with dirt roofs and log shanties. The centre of the city is most thickly settled and better built. The side walks are of respectable width, often with a stream of water flowing through them, on which are planted cottofi-wood and other trees of rapid growth. Everything bears the impress of industry and toil. Improvements are visible in all quaters, which no drones could have effected. The number of inhabitants is about fifteen thousand. Most of them are English and Scotch, few Americans, many Welsh, and some Danes. The Americans, who are principally from the western borders of the United States, although composing less than a third part of the population, possess a complete monopoly of 'polital power, fill all the offices, ecclesiastical and civil, and receive all the emoluments. Almost wM_out exception they are polygamists, bitter in their hatred of the Gentiles, and full of religious zeal for their miserable faith.

Arriving at the centre of the city we come, upon Temple Block and a street full of stores. The premises are favorable to busineas, and the merchants make enormous profits, often amounting from 150 to 600 per cent. Large stocks of merchandise are yearly imported across the plains in huge waggons drawn by oxen. In this portion of the city reside the principal dignitaries of the Church, Their houses are generally comfortable, though with slight pretension to elegance. You see a large barrack-like house on the corner. This is the residence of Elder Benson and his four wives. Brother Grant, with his five wives, lately occupied the pretty house you ae£ on the east side. The celebrated anchorite, Parley P. Pratt, with his nine wives, lives in most ascetic style, and was content with that mean-looking house you pass on the west. Dr. Richards, wi#h his eleven helpmates, lfced in that long, dirty row of single rooms, halfhidden by a very beautiful orchard and garden. Looking toward the north we see a whole square covered° with houses, barns, gardens, and _ orchards. Here, in serene domestic bliss, resides the great apostle H. C. Kimball, with his eightteenor twenty wives, their families and dependents. Here is a pompous edifice, with a fierce lion in repose sculptured on its front. It can only be the dwelling of the champion of the faithful, tho " Lion of the Lord" as he is some-

times called, the world renowned Brigham Young. Here, with his seventeen wives, he watches over the welfare of his charming colony. This House was erected, at an expense of over £30.000,.in addition to the shingling, which was performed by all the carpenters in the city at the command of Brigham, "in the name of the Lord, and by the • authority of the holy priesthood." But we • have not arrived at the grand seraglio of our Occidental Sultan. This is a large showy | noble building, finely plastered, brilliantly white, balconied from ground to roof, an obser-* vatory on the top, and the whole surmounted . by the Mormon symbol of industry, a bee-hive It cost over 65,000 dollars, and is the most splendid building in the territory. It is occupied by the senior wife of the patriarch and her family. Orchards and gardens lie behind and ; around it. Near by is the Social Hall, devoted to dramatic representations and to the dance. This last is a great institution with the Mormons, and Brigham himself does not disdain to initiate the unenlightened into the mysteries of Terpsichore. He is an accomplished dancingmaster, as well as inspired prophet. The Mormons show an indiscriminate taste in their choice of dances. They especially affect cotillions, contra-dances, and reels, but show no favor to the polka, mazurka, schottishe, and . i several ambiguous performances, being averse, as they say, to seeing their wives and daughters in such close proximity to other men.

The tabernacle is an imposing structure on Tempi* Block, a square consisting of ten acres, and surrounded by a wall and handsome shade trees. The tabernacle will seat over 2000 persons, and here Brigham and the other leaders give the word of the Lord every Sabbath to the people. The Mormons love to combine the interests of religion and of the world. Even their theatrical performances are opened with prayer, and the actors are dismissed with a benediction, often while in a state of pythonic excitement from bad liquor.