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put under batches Miff carried across ihe
ocean forced inio “voluniaiy
have done litile but lie down and ibeon the.
pseudo soil of freedom. A* I lie end of five
\cais two thirds, in Some colonies a larger
proportion, are no more ! Humane and pi-!
ous contrivance ! To alleviate the fancied
•offering of the acrursed posterity ol Ham,
you sacrifice by a cruel dfmtli two-lhitdsofi
the children of the hie set! Shem—and
demand the applause of thrisliaus ; the
blessing of Heaven ! If this “experiment”
is to go on, in God's name try your hand
upon the Thugs- That other species of,
••Immigration” to w hich you are resorting
1 will consider presently.
But what do you calculate wilt be the rc
suit of emancipation, by \vU .tever means ac
romplisfu (1 ? You will probably point me,
by way of answer, to tiro Wcstlnd.es—doubt
less tr> Antigua, the great hoist of abolition.’
Admitting that it has succeeded there—
which I will do for the sake ofclie argument
—do you know the reason of ill Ti e true, 1
and only causes of whatever rueress has at- i
tended it in Anligra are, that the population j
was before crowded, and all v r nearly all the j
arable land in cultivation. The emancipated
negroes could nut, many < f them, get away
if they desired ; ami knew not where to go,
in case they did. They had practically no
alternative but to remain on the spot; and
remaining, they must work on terms of the
proprietors, nr perish—the 6trorig arm ol
the Moth’ r Country forbidding all hope of
seizing the Land fur themselves. The Pro
prietors, well knowing tlmt they could thus
command labor for the merest necessities ol
life, which was ntttcb eheaperlltan maintain
ing the non-effective as well as effective slaves
in a stvlo which decency and interest, it'not
humanity req tired, w i ling y accepted hah
their value, and at once realized tar more
than the interest on the other hall in the dim
inution of their losses, and the reduced coin
forts of the freemen. One of your most tl-j
luetrious Judges, who was- -Iso a profound
and philosophical Historian, lias •.1 ‘-that
Ville.nage was not abolished, but went intu
decay in England.” This was the process.
This has been the ; rocess whenever (the
name of), Villeinage or slavery has been sue
ccselully abandoned. Slavery in fact “weal
into decay” in Antigua. 1 have admitted
that under similar circumstances it might !
profitably cease here—that is, profitably to,
the individual Proprietors, (five me ball the j
value of tny slave.-, and compel them to tc- .
main and labor on my plantation at 10
to 1L cents a day, as they do m Antigua, sup- j
poiimg themselves and fatnahes, and you;
shall have them to-morrrow, and it you like
dub them •'tree.” Not to stickle, 1 would |
surrender them without price. No— l recall j
inv tvoids : My humanity revolts at the idea.
1 inn attached to tny slaves, and would not
have lot or part in reducing liieiu to such a con
dp.,on. I deny however, mat Aut.goa, as a
under present circumstances, as sue was be
fore abolition, though lolly ripe for it. Toe
fact is well known. The reason is that the
Alrican, if not a distinct, is an interior Race ;
and never will effect, as it never has effected
as much ttt any oilier condition as in that ot j
Slavery.
1 know of no Slave holder who has visited ‘
the West Indies since slavery was abolished |
and published h.s views ol it. All our facts j
and opinions come through ihe friends ol me i
experiment, or at least ilmse nut opposed to I
it. Taking these, even without allowance, I
to be true as stated, 1 do not see where the ;
Abolitionists find cause lor exultation. The .
tables of exports, which are lire best evulcn- 1
ces of the condition of a people,exhibit a wo- j
ful failing oil—excused, it is true, try unpre- ,
cedeineu droughts and burricants, to which I
their free labor seems unaccouiiulj.y more
subject than Slave-labor Used to be. 1 wdJ j
not go into detail. It is well known that a
large |rroporliou of British Legislation and !
expenditure, and that proportion stiff con- !
staidly increasing, is most anxiously devoted
to repairing the monstrous error ol euiauci- j
pat wo. Your are actually galvanizing your j
expiring Colonics. Tne li utn, (icdurcJ iruin
nil tbe tacts, was tlitis pithily stated hy the
London Quarterly Review, as long ago as
1840: “None ol ilie oenefiis anticipated by
mistaken good munitions have been realized
while every evil wished for hy knaves and
foreseen by the wise has been painfully veri
fied. The ;wild rashness of fanaticism
has made the emancipation of the Slaves
equivalent to the loss ol one hail of lije Wesi
Indies, and yet pul back the chance of Negro
civilization.” (Art. Ltl. Dudley's Letters.)
Such are the real fruits ot your never to-be
loo-much-glurilied abolition, and the valuable
dividend of your twenty mil.ions of pounds
sterling mvesred therein.
If any failher proof was wanted of the ut
ter and well known though not yet openly
avowed failure ot West India..'emancipation,
it would be furnished by the startling fact,
that the African Slave Trade has .been ac- ’
tually tevived undei the-auspices and pro
lection of the British Government. Coder
the specious guise of ‘•lmmigration” they
are replenishing
from the Coast of Africa. Your colony oi
Gierra Leone, founded on that coast to pre
vent the Slave Traue, and,peopled hy the bye,
jo tbe first instance, by negroes stolen Ifmn
these States during the Revolutionary War,!
is the Depot whore captives taken lrom :
Slavers by your armed vessels are transput-1
td. 1 might say returned, since nearly halt!
the Alricati.s carried augoss the Atlantic are)
understood lobe embarked for tins vicinity.!
The wretched survivors, who are there set!
at liberty, are immediately seduced to • un- !
migruto” to the West Indies. The business
is systamctically carried on by Black “Dele- j
gates”, sent expressly from the West Indies,
where on arrival the “.milligrams” are sold
rnta Slavery for twenty one years, under con
diuons riuiculously trivial and wickedly vuid, \
since lew or none will ever he able to derive
any advantage from them. The whole piimc 1
of life thus passed in Injodage, it is contem
plated, it will be carred'iuluef
fect, to turn them out in their old age to shill
for themselves, and to supply their places
with Iresh and yworons •’lmmigrantsT”
Was ever a system ol Slavery so barbarous
devised beloie ! Can you mini! of compar
ing it with ours ? Even your own Religious!
Missionaries ol Sierra Leone denounce it “as
worse than the S.ave trade in Alrica.” And
you lllack Delegates, leailul if, the liillueuve j
of these Missionaries, as well as on atcoum .
of the inadequate supply of Cjp'ives, are now
preparing to procure ihuabl* bodied auJ com- j
paratively industrious Kruofbeo cf the mte-j
nor, by purchasing from their- Headmen the ■
privilege ol inveigling them to the West In |
ilia market! So oiuls the magnificent farce
—perhaps 1 should say tragedy, of West In !
dia Abolition ? J will not hallow your li'el-j
mgs by asking you to review.Ahe labors of
your life and tell mo what you and your bro-|
iber Eulliusiasts have accomplished lor ‘ in- j
jured Africa,” but w Inle agreeing wiih Lord j
Stowell, that “Villeinage decayed,” and ad
mitting that Slavery might do so also, I think j
lam Indy justified by passed and passing
events in saying, as Air. Orusoenur said ot j
the (Slave Trade, that Us abolition is impossi
ble ” |
You arc greatly mistaken, however, if you *
think that the consequences of emancipation!
here, would be similar and no more injurious
than those which followed lrom it iu your
little sea-girt West India Islands, where
nearly ad were blacks. The system ol
slavery is not in “decay” with us. It llorisli
cs in full and growing vigor. Our country
is boundless in extent. Dotted here and
there with villages and fields, it is lor Ilie
most part covered with immense forests and
swamps of almost unknown size. In such a
country, with a people so restless as otns
communicating of course some of that spirit
to their domestics, can you conceive lhai
anything short ot the power of ‘he masier
ol llie slave, could confine the African race
notoriously idle and Improvident, to labor on
our plantations ? Break tins bond, but for a
day. aud these plantations will bo solitudes.
The negro loves change, nevelty and seiißii
al excitement* of all kinds, icheti awake.
• Reason and order,” of w hich Mr. YYilber
lorce said “liberty was the child,” do ml
characterize him. Released from his pres
ent obligations his first impulse w ould be togu
somewhere. And bore no natural bounda
ries would restrain bun. At first they would
all seek the towns, and rapidly accumulate
in squalid groups upon their outskirts. Driv
en thence by the “armed police” wrhich would
immediately spring intoexistence, they would
scalterin all directions. Some bodies of them
might wander towards the ‘•tree States,” or
lothe western wilikrneas, tnak'ng their tiacks
by the.r depredations and their corpses.—
Many woe.'.d roam svdd in our “Big woods.”
Many mure would seek the recesses of our
swamps lor secure covert. Few, very few
of them could be prevailed onto do a stroke
of work, none to labor continually, while a
bead of cattle, sheep or swine could be found
in our ranges, or an ear of corn nodded in
our abandoned fields. These exhaused, our
folds and poultry yards, barns and store
houses would become their piey. Finally,
our scattered dwellings would be plundered,
peihaps tired and tlieir inmates murdered.—
(low long do you suppose that we could
bear these tilings ? How long would it bo
before we should sleep w ith rifles at our bed
sides, and never move without one in our
hands ? This work once begun, let the story
of our British ancestors and the aborigines of
the country tell the sequel. Far more rap and
however, would be the catastrophe. ‘ Ere
many nioi-us went by,” ltie African race
w ould be exterminated, or reduced again to
slavery, their ranks recruited, alter your ex
ample, by fresh’ Emigrants,” from their fatli
c. V-.„|.
Is timely p'-r- and jrradual emanri.
, pation suggested to avert tnf— . „. ri( ,
[ seseqncnccs I I thought your experffci.,-I
I the West Indies had at least done so much!
lias to explode that idea. If it failed there,
i | much more would it fail hete, where ihe two
, raies, approximating Inequality in numbers
I I nre daily and hofirly in ihe closest contact.
’ G-.ve room fer hot a single spark of realjeal-
y’ ousy to be kindled between them, and the
.j explosion would be instantaneous and uni
, \ versa!, it is the most fatal of all fallacies lo
s i suppose Inst these two races can exist to
”l i geiher af.er any length oi time or any process
ji of preparation, bn terms at all approaching
,j to equality. Os this both ofihem are finally
Jaw! fixedly convinced. They (litter essen
| ! tialfy, in all the leading trails w Inch charac
■d ! terize the varieties of the iiuniaii species,and
. | )ino of separation between diem. Every
e ! scheme founded upon the idea they can re
el main together on the same soil, beyond the
~ I hi iciest period, in any other relation Ilian
j I precisely that which now subsists between
,1 ! them, is not only preposterous, but fraught
with deepest danger. If there was no alter
j I native but to try die “experiment” here, rea
, sun and humanity dictate that ffiestifferings of
j “gradualism” should be saved and the calas
“ trnphe of • immediate abolition,” enacted as
“ j rapidly as possible. Are you inipadeut for
the performance to commence 1 Do you
’ | long to gloat over the scenes I have snggesi
” ! ed, but could nol hold the pen to portray 1 —
’ I In your lung life many such have passed uri
’ 1 der ynur review. You ki ovv that they are
i not •'impossible.” Can they be to your lasie?
i ! Do you believe that in laboring lo bring them
j about the Abolitionists are doing Ihe will of
’ I God ! No ! Gud is not there. It is the work
‘ol Satan. The Arch-fiend, under the spe
-11 cions guise, has found his way into iheirsouis
; and with lalse appeals to philanthropy, and
. | foul insinuations to ambition, instigates them
I to rush headlong to ihe accomplishment ol
. | his diabolical designs
j We live in a woi derfu! age. The events
j ol the last three quarters of a century ap
pear to have revolutionized the human mind.
’! Enterprise and ambition are only limited in
j their purposes by trie horizon of the irriagina-
I j lion. It is the transcendental ora. In phil
; osophy, religion, government, science, nris.
I commerce, iroiliing that lias been be ai
1 i lowed to be. Conservatism in any form is
’ i scoffed at. The slightest taint ol it is fatal.
i Where will this end? If you can tolorale
’ ! ore ancient maxim let it be that that the besi
’ j criterion of the Future is the Past. That, tl
’! anything w ill give a clue. And looking back
’ \ only through your lime, what was the earli
’ j est feat of this same Transcendentalism l j
| The rays of the new Moral Drummond Light |
‘; were first concentrated loa locus at Paris, to
illuminate tbs Ci iverse. In a twinkling it
■ consumed too political; religious, and social
1 systems of Fiance. It could not be extin
-1 guisbed there until literally drowned in blood.
’ And then trout its ashes arose that superna.
: tural rnaa, who, for twenty years kept all
! affrighted Euiujve in convulsions. Since
; Uiat"lure its scattered beams, retracted by
; broader surfaces, have'nOVtr’ihciess, cumin
ueil lo scathe wherever they Irate fallen.—
What political structure, what religious treed
I but has felt the galvanic shock and even now
1 ticmbfes to its foundations? Mankind, mil
j horror-stricken by the catastrophe of France
j have shrunk from rash experiments upon
j social systems. But they have been practis
i mg m the East, around Hie Mediterranean,
land through Iho West I.iuia Islands. And
j growing confident, a port ion of them seem
desperately bent on kindling ti e all-devour
img Haute in the bust in id our land. Let it
j ouce again blaze up to heaven and another
j cycle ol blood and devastation would dawn
upon the world. For our sake, and for the
s ike of these infatualed men who are madly
i driving on the conflagration; for the sake ol
. human ua'urc, we are culled on to strain
every nerve toarre. t it. A dbo assured our
eff.rts will ho bounded only witli our being,
j Nor do I doubt that five millions of people,
; brave, intelligent, united, and prepared to
I hazard everything, will, m such u cause,
wi ll tire blessiug of God,sustain themselves.
At al l,e ictus come what mav, it is ours to meet
| it.
We are well aware of the light estimation
j in which ■ lie Abolitionists, and those who
are taught bv them, profess to hold us. We
j have seen the attempt of a portion of the Free
j Church of .Scotland to reject our alms, on the
ground that we are “Slave-Drivers,” after
, sending missionaries to solicit them. And
; we have been Mr. O’Connell, the “irrespun
-1 s.ble master” of ragged serfs, from whom i
I poverty-stricken as they ate, be contrives to
w mg a splendid privy purse, throw hack with !
I contumely the “liihuie” of Ids own country-;
| men from the land v! “miscreants’’ Tne-e
----. people may exhaust their slang and make!
I black guards of themselves, hut they cannot!
j deliie us. And as lor the suggestion to ex- j
| elude slaveholders lrom your London clubs
vve scout it. Many of us indeed, do go to;
i Loudon, and we have seen your brood ot |
gawky Lords, both there and here, but it;
never entered into our conceptions to look on)
thorn as better than oursclees. Nor can we J
be annoyed by the ridiculous airs and such up-1
starts as your O'Connell’s, Ritch e’s, Macau j
lev’s and the like. The American slave
holders, collectively or individually, ask no;
favoisofany man, or race who tread the earth. I
In none of the attributes of men, mental or
physical, do lliey acknowledge or fear supe
riority else ivhcie. They stand in the broad
est light of tbe knowledge, civilization and
improvement of tbe age, as much ‘avored of
Heaven as any of the sons of Adam. Ex
acting nothing undue, they yield nothing but
justice and eißrtesy, even to royal blood— ;
They caQ neither be fl&VorM, duped, nor
bullied out of ilieir rights or their propriety.
They smile with contempt at scurrility and
vapouring beyond ;the and they turn
then narks upon k Where it is “irresponsible;”
hut insolence that ventures lo look them in
the fare, will never fail to he chastised.
1 Ifnnk I may trust you will not regard
this letter as intrusive. 1 should never have
entertained an idea of writing it, had you m t
opened Ihe correspondence. If you think
anything in it harsh, revise your own—which
I regret that I lost soon after it was received
—and you will probably find that yon have
taken your revenge be.’oreliaiid. If you have
not, transfer an equitable shared what you
deem severe lo the account of the Abolition
ists at large. They have accumulated against
the slave-holders a balance of invective which
with all our eff rts* we shall nol be able lo
liquidate much short of the era in winch your
National debt will be paid. At all events, I
have no desire to offend you personally, and,
with the best wishes for your continued
health, I have the honor lo he
Your obedicut servant,
J H. IIAMMOND.
Tho's. Clxßkson, Esq.
From the Georgia Con linrtionabst.
GOV. CitAWFORD’S ECONOMY.—No. 2.
THE PRINTING FUND.
The author of the ‘ School Muster” com
munication, published in the Southern Re
(•order, has adduced another wonderful evi
dence of the economy of Gov. Crawford’s
administration, in the fiscal protection which
the Governor has given to the Printing Fund.
Let us examine tins matter, and see what
credit is due to the pieseut iueumbenl o.’ the
Executive Chair, for his great economy. In
lire first place, it would he well enough to
state iliat the whig legislature of 18413, hav
ing great confidence in Gov. Crawford’s
economy, placed at Ins disposal eight thousand
dollais more than was given to Ins predeces
sor, the year previous, as an appropriation lor
the Printing Fund.
In the year 1843, there were nrany de
mands upon the Priming Fund,which could
not exist in 1841 In 1813, large sums were
, yaid lor the publication of Bank Reports—a
! ihJbluß wwL of m,,i,e y kVas P aui “ ,r FnlU
; Gcue.al and Secretafptf. ,s -J°fJ, lie Surveyor
I ardor lo u'eei tl.e unprecedeiueu l w^“ ,ctfs 1,1
I grants in 18411*—ai and many reams ol CotW
j missions for ihe Executive Office—two Vol
umes of the decisions of our Superior Courts
! —and long Reports from the Commissioner
| of lire Stale’s Rail Road—State Bonds—and
| 1 might men'ion many other absolute aud at
I that tune indispensable demayds upon the
| Printing Fund, involving an expenditure of
I several thousand dollars, which had no cause
to exist, and did not exist in 1844. Nor
ought I to omit mentioning tiie printing of
the voluminous list of debtors to the Central
Un.U, uiiiot-o tlto mime trl out present (iuvt*fli
nr, and doubtless llio name ol lire author of
“School Muster,” figured as conspicuously
as those of many Olliers.
When Gov. Crawford entered upon his
official duties, lie found the Stale House
Offices, abundantly supplied with all the
primed Blanks needed in Ihe several depart
ments. The printing fund was, therefore,
protected fully lo that extent, in 1844. Be
yond tlre payment for publishing tire Laws
aud Journals, of the last legislature, and
some very lew triffing demands otherwise for
piloting, there was no legal call upon that
fund. And, when it is known, how limned
were the demands upon the Piinting Fund
in 1844, it does seem strange to me that so
much as 9.256 dollars were expended by
Gov. Crawford. To claim fur him, that lie
used this fund with economy, after spendino
that amount, with comparatively small de
mands upon it, is a species of impudence onlv
indulged in by tire vvliigs.
s To prove that Gov. Crawford had tioagen
j cy in reducing the expenditures under tbe
i Printing Fund, but on the other hand, that it
1 was effected alike by whips and democrats in
the legislature of 1813, I call the attention of
s the public to the following :
“Sec. 2. And be it /urlher enacted, That
the public printer shall not print any docu
i, meets with the Acts or Journals* unless di
. reeled so to do by resolution of the General
. Assembly.’’— l'nblic Lutes X :43, page 47.
It had been an occasional practice, to pub
lish m the volume ol Laws, tbe Depone ol
s the Treasurer and Comptroller General, and
I think, on some i ccas on, the Bank Reports.
s The publication of these documents, alihougb
; very interesting, and always attached with
I considerable expense, was deemed iimieces
j sary. thereby greatly relieving the Printing
. Fund, of 1841.
Rut, as it may be required that I should
II establish evidence lor every assertion 1 make,
j 1 call attention to the foiiowi ig :
l “.lei’. 1. Be it enacted, ()•<’.. That the law
| requiring Ilie returns ot the Banks to be pub
. Indit'd at the expense of the slate, t>e and the
same is lieieby repealed.”— Public Laws,
184.'t, page 22.
1 It will be clearly seen, shat the “Die,”
, required Gov. McDonald, in 1842, to publish
i hose Rank Reports “of the expense of the
state.” This demand, then, upon the l'riut
. mg Fund could not exist in 1814, under the
j i adminis'ration of Guv. Craw lord-.
With a proper consideration of these facts,
i how is it possible that the friends of Gov
. Crawford can riglitluify claim lor him I lie
, exercise of any greater degree of economy in
. the use of the Printing Fund, than had been
exercised by his predecessor? Did be have|
I the Laws and Journals in 184 t, printed at a
, less rate than in 1844 ! C-namy not—for
there is an express Dtp which regulates the
i value ot this Printing ; and Governor Craw
i ford could mil, as a good citizen <*r an honest
i Governor disregard that law. Then, in what
manner has he exercised the economy that a
“School Master ” o boast ingiy claims for
l him? It has no foundation in reason or in
, truili—and is solely intended .to deceive.
But how has Gov. Crawford reduced the
expenditures under the Priming Fund ?
Has he refused to have any printing done,
, that the law Compelled hint to have execut
ed ? If lie has, then he has violated that law.
On the other ham ,il lie had printing done,
unauthorized tiy law, then lie is equally
amenable to the people for an assumption ol
power. Or if he lias had printing done, and
, refused to give a valuablo consideration for
, the work, then is he unworthy of the position
, he occupies, and deserves universal execra
Hull.
1 feel satisfied that Governor Crawford is
not obnoxious to any ot those reproaches—
and that he has had all the printing done,
| which the laws ol ilie slate made it ins duly
i to have executed, and that he gave a valuable
I consideration for the work. He could not
| have done less, and more was not expected
; from him.
; In my firs! communication, 1 trust I estab
j lished, to the satisfaction of every unpreju
; diced person, however humble may have been
! the style, ihat the Penitentiary had not been
| a source of p-ofit lo the state, but that in
j 1844, under Gov. Crawlord, the loss exceed
!ed 13,00 t) dollars. And 1 feel satisfied, that
! all who may examine this article, will be
I convinced that G'.v. Crawford has not exer-
I eised any greater degree ot economy in the
| distribution of the Printing Fund than was
! and me hy iiis predecessors.
PINEY’ WOODS.
I —S, great wns the riemnnij for grants in
; 1843. and so greet was Ihe business in lhal office,
dial live momlis afier the grauiiug ceased, thero
wire Ic.tlOO grows untecoriied in tbe SuiveyorOt-n
crude Ulfice.
A Mr. Ilenn lias started a newspaper,
and hopes by hard scratching he will he
able to make a living for his young chick
-1 cns.
GOV. CRAWF Rl> AND ECONOMY !
WBIOC Er,T .GAINST WBIGOXBT.
5. Resolved, T at the publ edebt of Geor
gia should am.uuly be reduced, and paid off
finally, at the ear,iest practicablo period.”
The above is oleos Ihe whig resolves psrea
e I a’ their recentCouvention in Milled_ eville.
How does whigprartally wnh this sen
timent? I cal, Crawford's Finance
Committee, of Docer/tber, 1944 to the nar of
the public, aud here is their statement :
>944—l'eblie debt Crairford $1.725.138 73
1843 McDonald 1614,i38 98
1844 Increase under CraurforA, $110,999 75
And who are the Finance Committee? —
Why, no less persons than Oco U. Phillips,
James A. Meriwether, and A. 11. Kenan. —
The two t last genllemec are known to he
prominent xvliigs.
And yet it would seem, to hear the fiscal
abilities of Gov. Ciawford spoken of.thatour
slate is now, under the whig management,
almost out of debt. The whig* seem to
think, that because Central Bank money is at
par value, that every thing else is right.
But, 1 ask again, how does whig practice
correspond with their sentiments 1 Is not the
S:a:e of Georgia mure in debt now than she
was before Gov. Ciawford was elected? If
any whig denies this, I refer him to the whig
Finance Report. Will they dispute the
statements ol James A. Meriwether and A.
H. Kenan? Then, if those gentlemen are
not to he believed, I must leave the question
of truth to be settled among themselves.
It is riyht that I should side ihat that Fi
nance Committee says this 110.999 7 5 is tiie
apparent increase of the pub.ic debt—but in
another portion of tl.e Report they state:
The actual increase of debt is only S)4 ’,072
only!
Again :
“10. Resolved, That the Penitentiary
should be a source oi revenue instead of ex*
pense to the State.”
:r ’ l lns is the tenth resolution of the Whig
Convention. Well let us examine how this
will accord with I lie practice or management
ol the Penitentiary under lire present \\ lug
government. And, again, I call upon Gw.
Crawford’s Finance Comm ttee, lo give evi
dence before the ptinlic. Hear them !
‘ The operations ol the entire year (1844.)
show a,lona to the Stale, beyond the annual
. appropriation of, bd”
-•ml appropriation, 9,000 (0
> Showing a loss o.
’ ill lire year 1844, in lliebperni.-®.. ” , ’
I iteniiary. 1 ‘he I cii-
And yet whig editors and whigoralors wll
endeavor lo induce the belief that the Peni
tentiary is now a great source ol revenue to
the Stale! If any reasonable doubt exists in
the minds of any, as lo the truth of the above
statement, I can only turn them over to the
friendly whig tompassi in ol James A. Meri
wether and A. H. Kenan ! These gentlemen
are good authority lor the wings.
1 have established, liien, by whig leslimo
nv. that the public debt of Georgia h s been
increased, and that the Penitentiary lias not
proved a source of revenue ‘o the Stale under
the administration of Gov. Crawford. Ihe
wings will not certainly attempt to dispute or
impeach I lie testimony (i)'their own wiiitesscs.
PINEY WOO, >B.
P. S. My “ School Masier.” friend must
excuse me fur a few days. 1 will pay early
attention lo (lie other point of his communi
cation embraced in the expenditures under
tire Contingent and Military funds.
THE GREAT CONFLAGRATION IN NEW
YOr-K.
The area swept over may be I litis describ
ed:—On the east side of Broadway, it com
mences with the great establishment, the
Waver.y Hotel. On the corner ol New street,
winch is utterly destroyed, and from this
point southward lo Alarkelfield street below
the Bowling Green, and fur three or four
houses in Whitehall street, every house is
destroyeu. This line is aboui a quarter of a
mile in lenglli, and ihe number of buildings
is about lorly-iiie or fifty, including two
among the most splendid hotels n, the cily
the reel consisting ot stores and dwellings.—
The Adelplii House o:i the corner of Beaver
street, was six stories in height, and was one
oi the ornaments of that ancient part of the
cily. It is level with the ground.
The fire then pipceeded eastward along
the middle of the block between Market field
and Slone, until it bursted mlo Stone street,
at the great storage warehouse, whose rle
structiou we have described. It then pro
ceeded along Stone street to Broad, crossed
Broad, consuming both sides of tiie way ; the
east hue ofllie burnt district passes along
the rear of tiie stores on Hie west side ol
Souili William stieet io Exchange street..—
On Exchange street the tire approached close
lo the south west corner ol the new Exchange.
1 he file crossed Exchange street, riddling
the dry goods warehouses in ils course, and
approached the rear ol flic Wall street batiks
and came into Broad stieet, atllie iron wale
house ol Davis, Brooks &. Cos.
It here crossed Brush street again, just
below ihe vast store houses belonging lo
government, which happily escaped, aud then
followed up Exchange street, to its junction
wirh Broadway, at the Waveiley if use, the
point at which it b‘gan to irace its ravages.
The space thus in unded is not puriiaily burnt,
hut it is m.e blackened mass of w reck. We
have never seen destruction more lamenta
ble or complete. It was nearly all covered,
I with the exception of liter dwelling houses on
Broadway, with Ihe largest iron and dry
goods establishments in lire cily. On the
opposite side of Broadway, at the head ol
lire Bowling Green, three or teur of the
largest aud finest dwelling liuuses in lire
city caught at about six o’clock, and w ere
wholly destroyed, nut fortunately the lire
was checked before it spread to Greenwich
street. Tiie inside of perhaps three or lour
fine buildings on this side oi tiie street were
ruined, besides those quite consumed.
The sight around the environs of Hie fire,
as well as within the space burnt over, was
heart-sickening. The families of at least
fifty houses on Broadway, both sides of Green
w.elr street, on Slate, Yv'liilehail, Stone and
l’earl slreels, and Battery i’Juce, had been
turned into Ihe stieet, with thcr furniture,
through dreau of their houses being burned
ovor their heads. Broadway, at that part
where both sides were burning, is at least one
I hundred and filly feet wide, yet so intense
was the heat in the middle ol ibo street, ilial
lor a hundred yards, not even the daring fire
men could venture upou the burning pave
ment.
The Commercial Advertiser has the follow
ing particulars gathered atlePthe lire was got
under:
We have seen some fragments of burnt
silk, cottun, &c. picked up on Siateu Island
at 5 o’clock ibis morning. A gentleman re
siding there tells us that, w hen the explosion
took place, the windows in Ins house, which
arc inconveniently light in their frames, rat
tled w tin suvii-fciek'Dce as to awake the bouse
| buhl.
A Ic-lter addressed to a Eroad street wine
merchant, was picked up at the quarantine
ground, partially burned. Capt. York, of the
br g Mi ton, as well as the Captain and pas
sengers of tbe brig Savannah, oft the High
lands, heard Ihe report and fell a concus
uiun. f
The flames were distinctly seen at New
ark, and the report was hlso heard there.—
It was supposed that the authorities were
blowing up houses lo ariesl the progress ol
the fire.
Engines wore despatched from Wifliatns
burgh, Brooklyn and Jersey City, and an ex
press was sent to Newark, whence engines
arrived during the forenoon. Some of them
returned about 1 ofelock,othera woi go this c
evening. 1
Both they amlour owi firemen, the litter i
notwithstanding tlieir long continued labors, t
will long t.e gratefully remembered on ac- ’
count of their fearful deportment and great t
exertions. *
Thieves and pickpockets are plentiful and i
active, but are vgilantly watched by tbe po
lice. One has just passer! our office under
arrest, and others have found cooler quarters
than they sougirt.
The new police have done their duty, and . <
without displaying anyining approaching to p
undue interference or the exultation ot anew- j
ly acquired authority. A mounted troop ot t
Gen. Sandlord’s biigarle was called out at an j’
early hour by proclamation of the Mayor, who
has done all that could be done under tbe
calamity.
Our cily readers will be generally aware
that the burnt district is the most important’
and valuable part of the city, being composed
of large and costly ho.lthngs, tided with ex
pensive merchandise. Tbe French and Ger
man merchants'congregated chiefly in that
district.
Astor House. —The conduct of Messrs.
Coleman & Stetson; of this house, is worthy
of the highest eommendat ion. A bystander
inform us that he me’ Coleman, followed by
his servants, carrying bread and meat and
coffee, ir. vast qanlilies, which he was active
ly distributing timong the almost exhausted
firemen at the hottest of the fire. At the same
time, Mr. Stetson opened the saloon of this
great house io four or five bundled. What
could be better timed ? Wnat could he more
grateful to the wearied men ?
Uc.curmg thus in broad day light, tiie fire
presented many scenes and incihents such as
are nol‘generally attended upon like occa
sions or at least do not tall wiilnn the obser
vation of spectators. We have mentioned
j the curious exhibition of household wares
along in front of the Tiiuity’ Church yard—
tables, mirrors, pianos bedsteads aud bedding,
costly” lamps and well worn tin candlesticks,
cradles and pictures, bitrl cages with tiie birds
in them, crockery, fenders, chairs, footstools,
knives and forks—in a word all marner of
ardeles employed in splendid or lowly luruse
keeping, heaped pell mell together with Hie
lilmosTdisregard for propriety or effect in
grouping. To the like m e l lie battery has
been also put, though on a much larger seal •,
almost the whole ot ns area being tilled with
carriages and furniture, and spo-ed in seperate
parcels, each of winch was guarded, when
| we weie there, by two or three females with
l.auxii us and sorrow shaded countenances ;
1 j.j ‘■pudsoiuely atl.red ait 1 pitting upon
rich solas... c.haiis, others un.re poor
’ re P°* l,, -,n a wooded stool, a mil
ut faded carpet or lire grec.. i ur f itself.
In the midst of one household group we
. saw a young woman in feeble health : she
reclined ianguidly in an easy chair, and her
wan, thin cheek affero-G ground for ihe
belief that she had been hastily home
amid the terror and uproar of Ihe disaster
liom a bed of sickness. In a close juxta pu
i sition was a little family parly il children,
with iheir nurse ihe youngest delighieri
with the uoveliy of their position and Ihe
• bustle all aiouud them, while Ihe elder, more
iliuuyhllul and more conscious of the evil,
looked on them with an air of bewilderment
which seemed just ready lo resolve itself in
io a burst ol lamentation. A bltie farther on
a young man was cooly arranging his hair
■ and coiileiuplaung the graces of his person
belure a large mirror, which leaned agaim-tA
tree, ai.d our attention was next caught by a
ragged, loafing boy, some 14 or 15 years old,
who had fhjhg huu. elf upon a handsome srda
ind was last asleep. Perhaps he hail been
doing yoemau service at tire bra .e of soifie
engine, or m helping lo remove t he houslmld,
ware otjsome burnt out lainiiy. At all events
ins slumbers were respected—though it
may be that all were too busy to meddle with
lilin.
If we were not well accustomed to such
sights there would have been food for wonder
m the mullilude of women, young and ojo,
• genteel and vulgar in appearance, well-dress
ed, who crowded toward am) about tiie scene
of conflagration, some 100, will iheir infants
in tlieir arms ; and we could not help think
ing lhat Ihe firemen and oilier workers might
have done Iheir part a deal more comfortably
il nol more succeslullv, bad all stayed away
who bad no business there.
From Ihe Herald ol Sunday.
The following is the estimate made of the
wliolo number of buikkngs destroyed by the
tiie.
Broad street, east side, 3a
“ “ west side, 34
New street, east side, 2(-
“ “ west side, 27
Broad way. east side, 28
“ west side, 6
Whitehall street, il
Beaver street, 48
Markeltiald | Btreet ) 16
Stone sireei, north fide, 7|
Exchange l’lace, south side, 13 1
** “ noitli side, li 1
South Willliarn street, west side, 18 j
“ “ east side, 2 j
268 i
It is estimated that the loss of merchandise I
is §'2,0011,060, we think it will prove much
greater. We heard of two Arms who lust
55300.000 each ; very many lose 8100,000;
We think the loss in buildings and mercbail
dise will be not less than $6,000,000.
ISSUANCES.
The follow ingare tne amount of insurances
affected in the different offices, together with
iheir amount ol capital, as far as is known :
Ain't insured Capiat
Firemen’s, $150,000 3uU,000
North River, 100,000 350,000
Equitable, 150 000 300,0001
Mutual Safety, €3O 000 —j
Contribution,,!. 120, 000 300000 j
Trust Fire, 1 30,000 150 000!
National, 28,000 150.000 |
Hartford Agency, 60,000 150,000 (
Howard, 150 000 30000o|
New York, 75,000 200,000 j
Williamsburg, 15.000 105.1X10
Guardian, 175,000 300,000 ;
United Slates, 150 000 250 000 I
Columbus, Ohio, 10,000 140,000 j
East River, 150,000 200,000 !
City, 72,000 210,000
Merchants’ Mutual, 100,000
Sun, between 200,000 & 400,000
American “ 200,000 & 400,000
Croton, 30,000
General Mutual, 75.000
Jefferson, 100,000 200,000
Alliance Mutua', 75,000
Long Island, not known
Pelican, 50,000
Mercantile Mutual, 110,000
Merchants’ 300,000 300 000
Etna, Hartford, 75,i'00 “00,000 i
Do. do. 110.000 200,000 j
Eagle, 350,000 500,0001
Manhattan, 250,000 250,000 I
North American, 100 (MM) 250,(XH) ‘
Bowery, 60.000 300,0 •()
Greenwich, 40,000 2,10.001)
-Protection, Hartfrd, 50,000 150,000
Total insured, 84,215,000-
The fire could not possibly have occurred
at a more unfortunate period. We under
s and lrom merchants in Exchange place,
Beaver and Broad streets, that a great many
ware-houses had upwards of $350,000 worth
of goods Ntored within them. This is an un
usually large amount lor this season ; hut il
is a fact, that all the dry goods bouses were >
overstocked with merchandize. Many largo
establishments had no insurances<a!Hl arc,
therefore, entirely ruined. There 1* some
■ thing- appalling and startling in this sudden
destruction of property. When we think of;
men, who, in the proud consciousness of bn
\n% worth millions, calfliJy retired to rest \\ i tix
the assured conviction that all was safe, and ■
whose fortune*, acquired by long years of toil, t
and hardship, have been thus swept away
forever, it makes ussivudder and gruvv s;ck
at heart—we cannot but exclaim—
**Cnu such livings he.
And overcome us like a summer's cloud,
Wnliout our specialwonder 2”
The instability of all sublunary things is
clearly rs ablished by ibis most fearful calarn
j rtv. Wending our way through the nuruiug
ruins, the pale, care-worn anxious faces ot
bankrujrt merchants met our gaze. Uu ver
!sc 1 horror, eu o fusion, terror and dismay are
-every where apparent.
This calamitous affur, it is to be feared, is
caused by the criminal practice of storing
saltpetre & other si ill more combustible ma
’ tcrial, in large quantities in the compact por
tions o>'the city kke dial of New street. In
this very case the large quantity of that dan
gerous material deposited in Crocker &t War
ren’s store, lias been ihe cause ofan immense
loss of property tha otherwise might have been
saued. The explosion of course discouraged
the firemen, and lor a time paralyzed tlieir
exertions. The noble fellows lought like
lions, however, and deserve tne highest praise
for iheir indomitable, and in most instances,
undiseouraged exertions. Il is thought by
many that something still more combustible
and of greater strength than saltpetre must
have been deposited in this store. Many old
military and naval men say that gunpowdei
alone could make such a sudden aud violent
discharge.
From the N. Y. Pica’ une.
LATISST FROM TEXAS.
Annexation Ratified —Death of Vice Presi
dent K. Jj. Anderson—lncursion and De
predations of the Indians—(ieneral News.
By the arrival of llio brig Hope Howes,
Capt. B. G. Shaw, from Galveston, yester
day, we are apprised of the glorious and
gratifying lact that the question ol Annexa
tion has beau tin ally consummated. Thus,
by ihe honest and unwavering conduct of a
free people, have ihe machinations of trait
ors ai home and enemies abroad been foiled
and frustrated. Honor to Hie republicans of
I\ zas Ibr tbe part iliey have taken in the
acliiveuieiii ol'lhe purpose!
We give our worthy correspondent’s let
• ter, wli.ch embraces a clear and succiht
narration if the proceeding ol tiie Conven
op to Hie latest period al winch it were iru
possible lo receive A tie i in news:
Au-tin, July 7, 1845.
The Convention assembled on the m wir
ing of lire 4lh, and unanimously fleeted
Gen. Rusk io preside over i's deliberations.
On taking the chair he made a short address,
which was well delivered and suitable to
me ucca-run. >v cu.i.n.ittoa . f Riitren was
soon after appointed, who reported by tlieir
chairman, Judge Lipscmni e, an ordiai ce as
senting, on behalf nl the people of Texas,
11 the terms ol Annexation pr >po>eJ by ihe
United States Government. It was adopt
ed with oue dissenting voice—but five
members absent. It was engrossed ami
signed by all the members pte-enl. It is
not a little singular that t! e only dissenting
voice was Richard Bache, the father-in
law of your Secretary ol’lhe Treasury and
brother-in-law of the Vice President.
Alter the necessary resolutions were
passed for the nan-miss,on nf the ordunce
to the United Stales, a resolution was offer
ed by Col. Love, and unanimously adopted
—“That the members wear crape on their
left arm for one month, as a l< simony ol
regret lor the decease of Gen. Jackson.”—
Whatever dtlferenc. sos opm on mav exist
as regards bis political acts, elsewhere, Tex
as owes him a debt of gratitude. To him
we are indebted to Ihe Great American Un
ion—a measure so important to us. and 1
hope to yon. The Convention then ad-,
journerl. U was a novel oelebrali nos the
L herly D.iv—lo surrender the Indepen
dence of our nation, and by the act of ihe
whole people, assent lo its incorporation
with anutuer, and oiler a tribute of respect
lo the m-io through whose influence Ihe
measure was consummated.
On the stii we appointed committees on
the pian adopted by the Virginia Conven
tion, io report on lire various subjec s sub
mitted. It. called forth some discus-ion
which was creditable to the lire speakers—
it was lire sk imish lhat precedes more hea
| vy tiring.
j The delegates lo the Convention, lor
j intelligence, integiiiy, and worth, would
! rank high in any country. Tin re is not,
perhaps, much ol bril iancy, hut a great deal
of mailer of-facl sense and sound knowl
edge; and I predict that we shall form and
send you a sound and sensible Constitution,
fee from the worst features of ul arism.
The terms ol Annexation are n'ul, per
haps, sucli as we had a right to ask; hut so
i anxmus are we lo free tne subject from
lurther agitation in the United Siates, lhat
no conditions whatever will be annexed tu
Hie Constitution riiff ring Irom the resolu
tions passed by the United Stales Congress.
A despatch was received from the United
Stales in the m ruing, and Major Dunelson
rrived on the evening of llio sth, Inning
been detained al Washington by serious in
disposition. These despatches relate to
ihe occupation of our frontier by your troops, j
They are trevv on Iheir match—tire loot by
water lo Corpus Chrisii, on the west bmk
of the Nueces; the dragoons by land to San
Antonio.
1 he step is taken that will decide Mexi
co in tier policy. Foreign troops will soon
be upon the soil she claims. Ilei cnoice
must be a declaration of war; or, if she is
wise, negotiation. She may acquire money
by the latter—defeat mid disgrace only by
i die former. T o-day a resoluiini) was
j passed, requesting tne President of I lie U.
• Stales, in belmlt of the people of Texas, to
j send troops forthwith into our Iront.er.—
| This resolution is a sanction, oil the part of
the people of Texas, of the movement noted
above.
| The intrigue o r those in power here, which
in its commencement was advised hy tne
ex President, has been dissipated by the
power of the people. The Executive oc
cupies no envied position;—l am inclined
lo think he has been victimized by his friend
and patron, as well as her Majesty’s Min
ister. True to bis faith, however, he issued
his Prod unn'ion, admitting a state of war
and a disputed territory, which if nut inten
ded astreason to the country, or procceeding
lrom disappointed hopes, was excessively
foolish.
Lord Aberdeen has avowed to Dr. Aslibel
Smith that her Majesty's Government will
not inteifere in the question, so lie writes
home. Tli-s removes one of tne prospects
of war; so if you get to loggerheads with
Joint Bull, it must be about Oregon. Jona
than will fight for wit ales and lumber, but
seems to have but little fancy for it if sugar,
cotton or negroes have anything to do with
the matter.
This once flourishing village is in a state
of entire dihpidation and rum—the effects
of an arbitrary exercise of power, without
cause and without precedent; and although
the author of nil tins ruin is elected a dele
gate, he will not take his seat, lie cannot —
lie dare not look upon hundreds which he
has in his wantonness mined!
Gen. Tarrant, a delegate from Fannin,
was on a visit to Ban Antonio. He, with Mr.
Howard, delegate from that place, has for
some days been expected. Painful appre
hensions have arisen for their safety, ns ma
ny Indians are on the frontier, who have com*’
mined several murders lately.
We are entirely exposed to the attacks of
InJiaqs an I Mexicans—not a soldier on guard,
and but few tire arms. So calicos have tha
people of Texas become to dangn', lhat they
scarcely ever prepare to repel attack. On
my way bete l met a y< ung man, vvnli two
young g rl-, in a buggy, with no protection
whatever Irom attack, almost at ihe very
spot where young Hornsby had been killed
two weeks previous by Hie Indians. They
were in high glee, laughing and talking mer
rily:— I could buMhhift Hum an hour might
consign them In death, ora worse tale !
The Hope Howes reports only 40 hours
from Galveston lo lire-Bilize. Ihe latest
Galve-lon pioer we have is.of tire 12:1) in*t.
We are nirrepted to Capt. Bfiaw and Mr.
Nick Boilvm lur papers, icc.
The British Brig Persian airived at Gal
veston a lew days a go from Vena Cruz.—
She brought despatches lor Ihe Government,
and was lo return as snor as she heard from
Washington. It was rumored at Galveston
that she w as there so the purpose of leatsning
the fete of the Mexican proposition lo Presi
dent Jones, and, if they were rejected, that
the fleet of Mexico would ne down on Gal.
vesicm without delay? We hope tbe Gal
vestonians will not evacuate their city on the
strength of this fearful rumor.
The Hon. K. L. Ander-on, Vice Presi
dent of Texas, died on the iMh inst. at Fan
lliropV, Montgomery tounty, of fever. The
papers aie in mourning for the sad event.
Mr. Edward Bourne, a native of Coven
try, Biigfend, fell his residence on Clear
Creek Like in a boat, on the 3J inst., and
is supposed lo have been drowned on ths
4th.
Ashbel Smith has been recalled fron
England. Speaking of this, the Galveston
News of the 12th s ys—“We should like to
know what he went for, w lia: he lias done,
how much money he has pockered, when he
is going again, or what plan will tiev. he fal
len, upon io disbuise our public funds.”
The following appointments have betm
made by tbe President:
lion. Ebenezer Allen, Secretary ofState.
Hon. W. B. Ochiltree, Atiorney General.
Hon. J. A. Greer, becrelaiy of the Trea
sury.
The reports of the crops throughout the
coutry are highly favorable; Galveston and
the oilier cities and towns continue healthy;
emigrants are last pressing into the country
from the adjuinii g States of the Uuioit; and
the prospects of Texas, view them through
what phase we will, are prosperous and en
couraging.
From ihe N. O. Jtflmonian.
MEXICO.
The Mexican brig Delfino, arrived at this
port yesterday morning from Vera Cinz.
whence she sailed on the 3d inst. The
news brought by ibis vessel is altyntinuatiou
of the old siory— that Mexico is f£paring
for war, arid continues, apparently, in least,
in the determination “a.ost humbly lo re
venge” our annexation of Texas. Y\ e weie
di-uppoinled in not receiving ihe full files
of Mexican papers usually sent us by every
vessel from Vera Cruz fur this purl, by our
friend and correspondent. The subjoined
letlerfrom him. In> vever. which was biuught
by die unival, advises us ofliis having writ
ten us oil the Ist inst. ; and that the letter,
with full files of papers, ate on their way
here, via Havana. In a day or two, we
may look for their arrival. In the mean
liine. we lay before our readers such items
of i formation as could he gleaned Horn ihe
f w pa; ers within out reach, and the letter*
io gentlemen io ibis city, in addition to the
matter contained in the letter of our cones
purulent.
Dates from Mexico are to the 28th ult.
’ and from Y'era Cruz lothe 3d inst.
In consequence of ihe annexation mea
’ sure being effected, anew organization of
the miiilia ol the Republic has been orilet
, ed : the levies uniterlMhis regulation, aie
called Hie “vwluniary defenders o* the laws.’
Ji is slated that, among other indications
of llie prospect ol a war at Vera Cruz, th*
inhabitants are busi y engaged ill covering
the flat iouisoflhr.il liuuses with sand, lo lire
depth of a loot or more, in anticipation of*
bombardment ofllie town.
An official statement of the mililaty force
t of the country is published, the aggregate of
which is about 3U.0U0. Os this torce about
19,000 aie irifamiy. 8.600 cavalry, 1,500,
aud 1,300 sappers aud miners.
Col. Rangel, who sei on lout and directed
the teceni insiirieciinnarv movements at
Mexico has received the veiy u ild senienc*
. often years imprisonment, loss of rank, Sic.
I President Herrera convoked Conaie-s on
the Ist lost., for the purpose ol effecting
| changes in the constitution, amending the
rules of the prnvisi nal government, and to
I lake into consideration the action which has
been had upon the annexation resolutions,
and Hie Mexican treaty by Texas. Out
Correspondent considers the object ol the
I I convocation lo be solely a th duration of
j war, Belure many uays elapse after the
i opening ol the session, Congress will have
jau additional piovocalion in the decided
j action ofllie Texas Convention.
Mexico, il appears, is as pertinacious in
j claiming Texas, as if it hail not achieved its
I independence of her, and mainutinei lhat
iiudependei.ee unaided lor ten y eats in deli
! ant eof her p .wer—as il she was able lo re
’assert liet pretended rights, or had not le
| li.nipiislied them altogether by offering to ac.
knowledge that independence on preposter
ous conditions. She nas divided her lerri.
liny into ten mililaty departments. Tlia
tilili comprehends New Leon, Coahuiia,
Tamuul pus, und Texas’.
We close our report with the interesting
letter already referred to;
Vera Cruz. July 3, 1845.
Dear Sir—An ex.ra ses-iun ol the Mexi
can Cot'giess lias been called by the presi
dent, to take into consideration the affairs of
Texas nod the United States. The result
‘of this will be beyond any mariner of doubt,
! a declaration of war. T lie day fixed (or the
! meeting of the Congress was the Ist July,
consequently by the next, mail from Mexico,
! vve shall receive the news ot its installation.
Nothing will be done iu the way ol a dec
laration of war until the official news of fbe
action of the 4th of July Convention is re
ceived. which news will he brought down
immediately by the British frigate Eurydice,
it is supposed. Government makes no great
bluster about a war, but at the same lime is
making active preparations secietlyof amort
energetic nature, as 1 am assured by these
who know w hat is going on. The intention
is to send thirty thousand men to Texas, and
with this object ordeie have been given to
General Paredes, Cominstlder-in-Chief of
ilie cantoon, slaiinned at Lagos, to march
with all his troops to San Lis P. tosi. Tho
number of those troops is said by some to
be 5 ‘OO men, and by seme 7000—cannot
say certainly.
The greatest activity is employed in the
fortification at Vera Cruz, and the Castle of
ol Man Juan de Ulloa.
The fleet left this place on the I2th ult.,
destiny unknown, and has not yet made its
appearance, much to the annoyance ot Amer
ican ciiizeiip, whu feel quite uneasy at the
emire absence of all succour at a time when
ihey are sure lom-ed it.
Gen. Almonte has been very warlike since
his return preaches np“war to the knife and
Y'ankee annihilation.” It ap. ears that he
recommends veryslrotigly the issue of letters
of marque, and has biought. it is said, fiom
toe United Slates, a copy of the documents
which wore granted to privateers by our
government during the war.
You may rest assured of one tiling, that if
tlie annexation is consummated on tbe 4di o)
July, that war will he the result of il, and that
immediately.
Suing few shoqts of Federation by th.a