"Charging myself with the money received at Washington for the purposes indicated; with the $150,000 levied upon this city for the immediate benefit of the army, in lieu of pillage; the proceeds of captured tobacco taken from the Mexican government (found in the capital), and some other small sums, all of which I shall strictly account for, I have, on the other hand, expended $63,745.50 in blankets and shoes, gratuitously distributed to enlisted men; $10,000 extra on account of hospitals, allowing $10 to every crippled man discharged or furloughed; some $60,000, I think, for secret services, including a native spy company, whose pay, commencing in July, I did not wish to bring into account with the treasury, and I enclose herewith a draft for $100,000, made up according to the memorandum, also enclosed. I hope you will allow the draft to go to the credit of an Army Asylum, and make the subject known, in the way you may deem best, to the military committee of Congress. That sum is, in small part, the price of the American blood so gallantly shed in this vicinity; and considering that the army receives no prize money, I repeat the hope that its proposed destination may be approved and carried into effect.

"Number one, of the same set of bills, is this day transmitted direct to the Bank of America.

"The remainder of the money in my hands, as well as that expended, I shall be ready to account for at the proper time and in the proper manner, [this was done in 1848,] merely offering this imperfect report to explain in the mean time the character of the $100,000 draft." (See Executive document, No. 60, page 1086, printed under a resolution of the house of representatives of April 28, 1848.)

Following that letter will be found, printed, the memorandum and draft alluded to. The draft was made payable to me; and, in order to place the deposites beyond the control of any individual functionary whatever, I endorsed it, "The Bank of America will place the within amount to the credit of Army Asylum, subject to the order of Congress."

Advised as above, the secretary of war, on the presentation for payment, caused the draft to be protested; whereby the sum of $100,000 turned over by me, in cash, to the military chest of the army, for the current pay of the troops, and paid out accordingly, was sequestered to the benefit of the United States treasury. Of course an equal sum was saved to the treasury out of the appropriation made by Congress for the current pay of the troops.

That money never had belonged to the treasury, and the treasury had no legal claim to it whatever. Look at the memoran

dum that shows the items out of which the sum was made up1st, $9000 received for licenses granted by my order in the city of Mexico; 2d, $49,569.44 received for tobacco belonging to the Mexican government, found in the capital; 3d, $38,780.16 taken from the contribution levied upon the capital, and 4th, $2650.40 saved at one of the principal army hospitals.

What claim had the United States treasury upon either of those sums? They were all, except the fourth or smallest item, raised according to the laws of war and the rights of conquest, for just and laudable objects, and applied, or attempted to be applied, accordingly.

The only title of legislation by Congress bearing on the subject that then existed, will be found in the 58th article of war, act April 10, 1806, copied and re-enacted from the resolves of the old Congress, September 20, 1776. (See Military Laws, pp. 23 and 116.) The article is in these words:

"All public stores taken in the enemy's camp, towns, forts, or magazines, whether of artillery, ammunition, clothing, forage, or provisions, shall be secured for the service of the United States."

This is the law which, from September, 1776, when the resources of the United States were low, down to the present time, has deprived our army of prize money-always allowed, on sea and land abroad, and to our own navy. The law was strictly complied with by me, while commanding in Mexico, in respect to captured "artillery," arms of every kind, "ammunition," wagons, teams, and pack animals, "clothing," "forage," and "provisions" (or subsistence); but license money, captured tobacco (previously bought by the Mexican government for resale to its own people), and contribution money are not enumerated in the law. Neither was the sum of $11,791.19, captured in a military chest at Cerro Gordo. The quartermaster and commissary departments being, however, without funds, I immediately turned over the whole of the money, on receipts, to them, for regular disbursement on account of the United States treasury.

It is thus shown that the treasury became possessed of $11,791.19 without any claim whatever. That large sum ought, therefore, to be considered as held in trust by the United States for some equitable purpose; and I again humbly petition that Congress may appropriate the whole to an Army Asylum for the worn out or decayed enlisted men (regulars and volunteers) yet in service, or who have been honourably discharged there. from, notwithstanding the ex post facto act, chapter 126, approved March 3, 1849.

I have the honour to remain, sir, with high respect, your most obedient servant, WINFIELD SCOTT.

OUR FORCES IN MEXICO.

The secretary of war has laid before the house of representatives a highly interesting report. It embraces an exposition of the character of the forces employed in the Mexican war, and the losses of the respective arms of the service during the progress of the campaign. One of the tables shows that the strength of the army at the commencement of hostilities with the republic of Mexico, in April, 1846, was 7244; the regular forces on the frontier of Texas, May, 1846, present and absent, 3554; the number of troops that joined the several divisions of the army in Mexico, including recruits, 27,470, of which 15,735 were of the old establishment, 11,186 new regiments, and 548 marines; which, added to the force on the Rio Grande in May, 1846, makes the whole number of the regular army employed every where in the prosecution of the war, inclusive of July 5, 1848, the date of the President's proclamation of peace, about 31,024; 35,009 were recruited from May 1st, 1846, to the termination of the war in 1848; 32,190 were put en route to Mexico, which exceeds the number joined, as reported on the rolls and returns.

In the old establishment, the discharges by expiration of service were 1561, for disabilities 1782, by order and civil authority 373, total 3716. Deaths-killed in battle, 41 officers, 422 men; died of wounds, 22 officers, 307 men-total killed and died of wounds, 63 officers, 729 men, ordinary deaths, 49 officers 2574 men; accidental, 5 officers, 134 men-total deaths, 117 officers, 3437 men-aggregate, 3554. Wounded in battle, 118 officers, 1685 men-aggregate, 1803. Resignations 38. Desertions 2247.

Discharges from the extra ten regiments by expiration of service, 13; for disability, 767; by order and civil authority, 114 -total 803. Deaths-killed in battle, 5 officers, 12 men; died of wounds, 5 officers, 72 men-total killed and died of wounds, 10 officers, 133 men; ordinary deaths, 26 officers, 2025 men; accidental, 30 men-total deaths, 46 officers, 2218 men-aggregate 2264. Wounded in battle, 36 officers, 236 men-aggregate 272. Resignations, 92. Desertions, 602.

Deaths among the marines serving with the army-killed in battle, 1 officer, 5 men; died of wounds, 1 officer, 8 men; ordinary deaths, 3 officers, 33 men-total deaths, 4 officers, 51 men -aggregate, 55.

We cannot but observe, in this connection, how much more the old line appears to have suffered than the new levies.

The following is a condensed view of the condition of the volunteer forces:

Three months' men.-The strength when mustered into service was 1390, and when discharged 1269, being a loss of 121. Discharged before the expiration of the term 82, of which 3 were for disability. Deaths 18, ordinary 8, killed in battle and died of wounds 10. Desertions 22.

Six months' men, (but held only for three months, the legal term)-strength when mustered into service was 11,211, and when discharged 9620, loss 1519. Discharged before the expiration of the term 815, of which 370 were for disability. Deaths 127, ordinary 107, killed in battle and died of wounds 6, accidental 14. Desertions 524.

Twelve months' men.-Strength when mustered into service. 27,053, and when discharged 18,201, loss 8852. Discharged before the expiration of the term 4530, of which 4004 were for disability. Deaths 2298, ordinary 1792, killed in battle and died of wounds 439, accidental 67. Desertions 600.

Volunteers for the war.-Strength when mustered into service 33,596, and when discharged 21,474, loss 12,122. Discharges before the expiration of the term 3732, of which 2763 were for disability. Deaths 4572, ordinary 4309, killed in battle and died of wounds 152, accidental 111. Desertions 2730.

Recapitulation of the casualties incident to the whole number of volunteers, under various periods of service, is as follows: Discharges before the expiration of the term 9169, of which 7200 were for disability.

Deaths 7015, to wit: ordinary 6216, killed in battle and died of wounds, 607, accidental 192.

Of the 15,736 men of the old line, 800 were either killed or mortally wounded. Of the 73,260 volunteers, 600 only were killed or mortally wounded, showing a difference of five to one. At Molino del Rey, in two hours, 706 men were killed and wounded. At Buena Vista, which lasted two days, General Taylor's loss was 673.

GEOGRAPHICAL STATISTICS.

OREGON, ITS CLIMATE, SOIL, PRODUCTIONS, ETC.

The following valuable letter of Mr. Thurston, addressed, through the columns of the National Intelligencer to several gentlemen in different parts of the Union, who had sought information from him, contains a minute and exceedingly interesting description of Oregon, and the route thither.

Gentlemen,—I have letters from each of you now lying on my table, and each propounding more or less questions concerning Oregon Territory, its soil, climate, people, &c. I have been receiving and answering similar letters from the four quarters of the Union ever since I landed at New York. I not only expect this, but desire it, because it is my duty, as it is my pleasure, at all times, to labour for the interests of that toil-worn and generous people of Oregon who have honoured me with their confidence. But to avoid answering you separately, and thereby being compelled to reiterate in one letter, what I may have said in another, I have concluded, at the request of some of you, to answer the several inquiries of you all through the Intelligencer. This course will not only answer equally well for you, but will doubtlessly be of use to others who may not have written to me, but who either have made, or will make, up their minds to emigrate to the true "El Dorado of the Far West." Trusting that this, my apology for not answering directly your several letters, will be satisfactory, I will proceed to answer your inquiries.

I am asked to speak of the three great divisions of Oregon. My knowledge of the first, west of the Rocky mountains, as well as of the second, west of the Blue mountains, is limited of course, as all I know of the one, personally, is what I acquired while passing over it. This is all the personal knowledge a very great proportion of the people of Oregon have of this region. With the second region, that west of the Blue mountains, our people are better acquainted, having learned much concerning its topography in the late Cayuse war. With the third, we are still better acquainted; yet it should be borne in mind that this is a new and comparatively unexplored country, even west of the Cascade mountains. It is but reasonable to conclude, therefore, that when Oregon, with its three grand divisions, shall be minutely and scientifically explored, it will develop resources yet unknown, and which will astonish mankind with their vastness and richness. It would be, indeed, singular if a tract of country extending from