upon your deliberations, it will be my highest duty, no less than my sincere pleasure, to cooperate with you in all measures which may tend to promote the honour and enduring welfare of our common country.

"JAMES K. POLK. "Washington, Dec., 1847."

MEXICO. The Mexican Congress met on the 6th of December last year, when Santa Anna was appointed President, and Gomez Fanas Vice-President. The former retained the command of the army, and was actively engaged in opposing the advances of the American forces. General Taylor, however, continued to force his way towards the capital; and, with the exception of one or two engagements, hostilities were carried on by the Mexicans in a series of guerilla actions, none of which were of sufficient importance to decide the issue of the war. From December until the middle of February, Santa Anna had his head-quarters at San Luis Potosi; but he then marched northwards towards the line of the Grande, leaving the city of Vera Cruz to its fate. He came upon the American army under General Taylor, at Buena Vista, near Saltilla, and on the 22nd and 23rd of February a sharp conflict took place between the hostile forces. Both parties claimed the victory. The American account stated that Santa Anna had a force of 17,000 men; General Taylor of 4000 or 5000, mostly volunteers. The Mexicans advanced boldly, charging with the bayonet up to the very muzzles of the guns, and receiving a deadly fire: the fight continued for two whole days; and on the evening of the second the

Mexicans retired to Agua Nueva, twenty miles in their rear; leaving their dead and wounded on the field, and sustaining a loss of 4000. Santa Anna, however, in a short letter addressed to the Government at Mexico, estimated the adverse force at 8000 or 9000, and boasted that the enemy lost five of his positions, three pieces of artillery, two flags, and 2000 men, and appealed to the " trophies of war to attest on which side victory fell. As to his own retreat, he said he only retired to obtain provisions; being without a single biscuit or grain of rice, and having struggled with hunger and thirst for forty hours."

It would be of little interest to the reader to follow in detail the various movements and manoeuvres which took place during this tediously protracted war, or to give an account of the numerous engagements at different places between divisions of the American and Mexican forces. General Taylor remained stationary for a long time at a place called Wallnut Springs; and General Scott, having in May advanced as far as Puebla, which he took without resistance, did not push forward until the 7th of August. On that day he left Puebla with his whole force, and marched on the capital. Santa Anna had concentrated his chief strength at El Penon and Mexicalcingo, where he had raised very strong fortifications; but, after a reconnoissance on the 14th August, General Scott decided upon a line of advance by which these formidable positions would be completely turned. Instead of pursuing the high road from La Puebla to Mexico, he turned round Lake Chalco, and gained the great outhern road to the capital. In

this change of position and sidemarch, the American army had its flank completely sheltered by the lakes, round whose banks it marched to St. Augustine. Here, on the 18th, it came upon an inferior division of the Mexicans, under General Valencia, posted in the village of St. Angel. General Worth established himself in the Hacienda of Bureo, where he could see the enemy at work upon their batteries. The Mexicans opened a brisk fire upon the advancing force, but did not maintain it. However, they resumed their cannonade on the 19th, and the Americans were compelled to shelter themselves behind the building. The whole of the day was spent in vain attempts to dislodge Valencia from his position; and night closed in without effecting this important object.

The weather was very bad, and a large portion of the troops was compelled to bivouack, without blankets, in the midst of a pitiless

storm.

On the following morning, the American troops carried the batteries, the enemy being completed routed, with the loss of 700 killed, 15 pieces of artillery taken, and 1500 prisoners.

While the main body of the army pushed on to Mexico, General Worth was ordered to fall back on San Antonio, with directions to turn and capture that work. This was effected after two hours of hard fighting. The Mexican force was numbered at 15,000, while the Americans had only 6000. The total loss of the latter was about 1000 men, among whom were 5 Colonels, 3 Majors, 22 Captains, 51 Lieutenants, and 1 Adjutant. The Mexican loss was estimated at 5000 killed. A truce, proposed

by General Scott, was agreed to, with a view to negotiations for peace. The official announcement, at Washington, of the success which had attended the decisive conflict on the 20th was as follows:

"The American forces, consisting of 7000 men, met the enemy at Charbuses, three or four miles from the capital. The Mexicans were 32,000 strong, and posted behind an immense battery of heavy artillery. After two hours' bloody conflict, our gallant troops swept every thing before them, mainly at the point of the bayonet.

The American loss was less than 1000, while that of the Mexicans is estimated at 5000, and amongst the killed are many distinguished men, both generals and civilians.

"The armistice was agreed upon, and five commissioners appointed on the Mexican side, at the head of whom was Herrera."

A negotiation was, in fact, opened immediately after these engagements; and Mr. Twist, as the plenipotentiary of the United States, made the following proposition on the part of the Government :

"Art. 1. There shall be a firm and universal peace as soon as the treaty is ratified by both parties.

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2. All prisoners of both sides shall be returned as soon as the treaty is ratified.

"3. As soon as the treaty is ratified by the United States, all towns captured by the Americans shall be given up, except such as are comprised within the limits of the United States by article 4 of this treaty without transportation of any artillery or public property within said town at the time of the ratification of said treaty.

"4. The dividing line between

the two republics will commence in the Gulf of Mexico, three leagues off land, fronting the mouth of the Rio Grande, thence upwards by the middle of the said river to a point where it touches the Mexican line of New Mexico, thence towards the west to the longitude of the southern limit of New Mexico, at the angle south-west of the longitude of the northern line of New Mexico, until intersected by the first arm of the Rio Gila. If it should not be intersected by any arm of that river, thence to the point of said line nearest to said arm; thence in a direct line to the same, descending by the said arm, and by the said river Gila, until its discharge into the river Colorado, and thence downwards by the Colorado and the middle of the Gulf of California to the Pacific Ocean.

peace.

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2. Stipulates for releases for all prisoners as soon as a treaty is signed.

3. All the towns, forts, and artillery captured shall be returned.

"4. The dividing line between the two republics shall commence in the Gulf of Mexico, three leagues from land in front, and from the southern mouth of Corpus Christi, to run in straight line through said bay to the mouth of Rio del Nueces, to follow thence the course of that river to its source. From the course of the river Nueces, a straight line will be traced until it meets the actual front tier of New Mexico in the east-south-east part. It will then follow the actual front tier of New Mexico, by the east, north, and west of New Mexico, by the east, until it meets latitude 37, which will serve as the boundary of the two republics, from the point at which it touches the front tier of New Mexico to the Pacific. The Government of Mexico agrees not to found any new establishment or colonies in the space of land which lies between the Rio Grande and the Nueces.

5. Stipulates for the payment of the sum (not named) to Mexico in consideration of the territory thus ceded.

" 6 and 7. Release the Mexican Government from all claim from the citizens of the United States.

"8. Agrees as to the mode of

settling claims proposed by Mr. Trist.

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9. Stipulates that the Catholic religion and the property belonging to that persuasion shall be respected in the territory ceded to the United States.

"10. Secures the Mexicans the privilege of returning to Mexico.

11. Stipulates as to the validity of all grants of land made by the Mexican Government previous to the cession of territory.

"12. All goods now in the ports occupied by the American troops will pay the duties established by the republic, otherwise they will be confiscated.

"The Government of the United States will satisfy justly the claims of Mexican citizens for the damage the American troops have done them.

15. Relates to the ratification of the treaty."

The Mexican Commissioners refused to accede to the terms offered by the American plenipotientiary; and Santa Anna gave notice, on the 7th of September, that the armistice would be considered at an end, and hostilities recommenced on the 9th.

General Scott had, however, on the 7th, addressed a letter to Santa Anna from Tacubaya, accusing him of having violated several articles of the armistice, and one of the charges was that he had not allowed the American army to obtain supplies from the city of Mexico. General Scott demanded an explanation, and concluded as follows:

"I hereby formally notify you, that if I do not receive the most complete satisfaction on all these points before 12 o'clock to morrow I shall consider the armistice as terminated from that hour."

To this letter General Santa

Anna replied at considerable length. He accused General Scott of having violated the terms of the armistice in refusing to allow flour from the mills in the vicinity to be brought into the city, and says that the American waggons were driven out of the city on account of the objectionable conduct of the officers accompanying them. Santa Anna also charged General Scott with having sacked the Mexican towns in the vicinity of the capital, and robbed and desecrated the churches, and with stealing and destroying ar ticles held sacred by every Mexican. He concluded as follows:

"I flatter myself that your Excellency will be convinced, on calm reflection, upon the weight of my reasons; but, if by misfortune you should seek only a pretext to deprive the first city of the American continent of an opportunity to free the unarmed population of the horrors of war, there will be left me no other means of salvation but to repel force by force, with the decision and energy which my high obligations impose upon me.'

On the 7th General Herrera, as commandant of the city of Mexico, addressed the clergy, exhorting them to exert all their influence to incite the people to arm themselves, and prepare to resist the American army.

General Scott did not wait for the time fixed upon by Santa Anna (the 9th), but on the 8th attacked the Mill del Rey, in the immediate vicinity of Chapoltepec, and prepared for an immediate assault upon the capital.

Before it was stormed Santa Anna issued the following proclamation to the inhabitants :

"The President Provisional of the Republic and Commander-inChief of the Army to the Nation:

"Countrymen, The enemy, availing himself of idle pretexts, has determined to commence hostilities upon your beautiful city. Presuming us to be disheartened and humiliated by the reverses of fortune, he expected that I should subscribe a treaty by which the territory of the republic would have been essentially reduced, and the republic covered with shame and ignominy. Mexicans do not deserve a fate so ignominious, and having been called upon spontaneously to direct their destinies, I have felt it my duty to respond with all loyalty to their signal mark of confidence, preserving those precious rights which cannot be alienated, and thus affording an example of energy and firmness which are the glory of nations.

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The enemy had proclaimed that they would propose to us a peace honourable for both nations, and it became our duty to listen to them, that their treachery might be made known.

"Their propositions, and all the sequel of the negotiations, are to be published, so that the civilized world may see that we were ready to sacrifice all that our honour would permit us to sacrifice; and that on the other hand our enemies set up measureless pretensions, which would have destroyed the republic, and converted it into a miserable colony of the United States. To such audacity we could oppose nothing but our firmness and our valour.

"Mexicans! you will find me, as ever, leading in your defence, striving to free you from a heavy yoke, and to preserve your altars from infamous violation, and your daughters and your wives from the extremity of insult. The enemy raises the sword to wound your VOL. LXXXIX.

noble fronts; do you draw it likewise to chastise the rancorous pride of the invader.

"Mexicans! for ever live the independence of the country!"

On the 14th of September the American troops, after having carried Chapoltepec and the citadel, took possession of the capital. Santa Anna retreated with the forces under his command to Guadaloupe, from which place Alcosta, the Mexican Minister of war and Marine, issued a proclamation "to the generals of the several departments," in which he said :

:

"After the important and great events that have yesterday taken place, there remains no other alternative to the Government of the Union than that of abandoning the capital, in order that other means be adopted and pursued for the harassing of the enemy. Accordingly, his Excellency orders me to inform you, in order that through you the honourable Congress of the State over which you preside may know it, that his Excellency is firmly resolved to prosecute military operations against the invaders; and that, whatever be the consequences resulting from the war, his Excellency is determined to wage it in every possible manner and by every attainable