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REPORTS OF THE DEPARTMENTS.
As these documents are too lengthy for our
columns we copy the following synopsis of
them from exchanges:—
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASU-
RY.
This document was communicated to Con
gress on Wednesday. The financial state
ments have been already embodied in th.*
Message of the President. The following
embraces a summary of the other portions of
the Reports :
1. A duty of 25 per cent is proposed on Tea.
and Cotfee, which it is calculated will produce
$3,000,000, within a fraction, to go into ef
fect not later than the Ist of January next.
2. A loan is propost'd to be made tor 19 or
20 millions of dollars, for twenty years, the
first half to be negotiated early in the spring,
payments to be required only as the money
may be needed, the remainder to be negotia
ted during the sticceding summer or tall, as
the money may be required.
'Fite sum paid into the Treasury on account
of the five million loan on the Ist of Decem
ber last was $3,461,660.
; 4. The rules established by Congress in re-
lation to Treasury drafts are slated in the Re
port to be defective, it being impossible, that
they can ever be converted into a circulating
medium.
5. The defects in the details of the act
creating the Independent Treasury requiring
amendment, enumerated to be—l. No appro
priation in the, law for the salaries of the. As
sistant Treasurers, or for additional salaries
of the Treasurers of a Mint, or lor payment
of services by examining agents, or for inci
dental expenses. The number of clerks is
recommended to be augmented. 2. No se
curity is provided in the law for the public
money in the hands of disbursing agents and
whilst transfers arc required to be made from
place to place, of specie, for the expense of
those transfers. The powers of the Treasury
Department to pay foreign engagements on
the other side of the Atlantic, by the opera
tion of bills of exchange, is not sufficiently
defined. This authority is said to lie of the
highest importance, by the payments and dis
bursements required to be made in so many
portions of Mexico, and many of them so dis
tant from any depository. 4. The establish
ments is recommended of a branch Mint in
the city of New-York, to perform, among its
other functions, that of a depository of the pub
lic money.
6. No alteration in the Tariff is proposed
m ith the exception above stated, of a duty on
tea and coffee. Adherance to the principal of
ad valorem valuations is forcible recommend
ed.
7. The benefits of the Warehousing sys
tem is strongly insisted on. It is stated that it
would have been more desirable if no limit of
time had been prescribed for retaining goods
in public warehouses, but as this partofthe act
was the result of compromise it is recom
mended that it should not be disturbed.
8. it nd reduction in xheori.
ces of public lands, with the sale of the cop
per mines owned by the United States is rec
ommended
9. The completion of the Coast survey is
suggested, and cluses the Report, which is
maiked by clearness and ability.— Charleston
Evening News.
From the N. Y. Sun.
REPORT OF THE SECRERTARY OF WAR.
This document has not yet been printed. A
brief synopsis made from the original report
has been furnished us. The Secretary gives
a full history of the commencement and prog
ress of our Mexican war operations ; the bat
tles of Palo Alto, Reseca de la Palma, and
Monterey arc narrated; then we have the
termination of the armistice; the conquest of
Santa he and the Californian, and accounts of
the various movements of the armies. Satis
factory information has been received of the
taking of Monclova, but not Chihuahua. Gen.
Kearney’s department was expected to reach
the Pacific about November last, 'Phe opera
tions of Col. Fremont and Com. Stockton west
of the Rocky Mountains, arc referred to with
commendation. Authentic information but no
official report has been received of their op
erations. The military three of the United
States has been augmented from 7,640 men to
30,000 men. The duties of the war depart
ment have been arduous and embarrassing.
The department of Tamaulipas, and right
bank of the Rio Grande for several hundred
miles from its mouth, New Leon, Coahuila
and Chihuahua have all in effect been wrested
from the enemy, and the Mexican authority,
civil and military displaced in New Mexico
and the Californias—all in the short space of
seven months. The regular army under the
law of last ses-ion, when filled up, would a
mount to 16,998 officers and men, but does not
now exceed 10,300. Our success in the field
is attributable probably not to the large num
her of volunteers called out since the passage
of the bill increasing the army. It is impos
sible to tell the number of troops which exi
gencies of the war may require. The volun
teers calico out who have encountered the en
emy, have more than justified the expectations
of this description of troops; but it is no dis
paragement to them to say that regular troops
would be preferred in a war to be prosecuted
in a ioieign couutiy. Considerations ol econ
omy are also decidedly in favor of troops en
gaged to serve during the war. The Secre
tary is most solicitous that this subject sho ild
receive the attention of Congress, and a body
of troops should be raised to take the place ot
those volunteers who will claim a discharge at
the end of their term.of service.
THe plan suggested by Gen. McComb in
Jiis .report in 1836, is recommended now in ref
erence to regimental field officers. Provision
piadc tor offences committed by our troops and
by persons connected with the army. An in
crease of the regular aimy is recommended.
The estimated appropriations for fortification.
lor ut At feai amount to $495,600. I’fio rc-
| port then goes on to speak of our national de- [
ponces; of sappers, miners, and topographic-:
•' nl engineers and their organization ; of lhe i
: ordnance bureau being inadequate; delicieny |
Icy in the medical stall’ of lhe. army; histor-
• I of operations in mineral lands lhe pas* year; l
1 number of pension agencies, thirty.four. '
.] exclusive of Navy pensions; and number of
. pensions about 20,001). Phe independent
■' treasury act contemplates the employment of
• officers therein named as pension agents and ,
f renders it doubtful whether those hitherto em-
. ployed are not. suspended. lie recommends
that authority be given to continue the
. present agents at a. reasonable compensation. ■
.(Three thousand four hundred and thirty-four J
j Indians have been removed west of the Mis- 1
. 1 sissippi River since last annual report. New
>jtreaties with Indians are referred to, and the
,I solicitude of Government to promote the wel
f i fare ot the Indian tribes, is feelingly express-
i ed.
:i
I REPORT OF THE SECRETARY or THE NAVY,
t 'Phe report of the Secretary of the Navy
• has not yet been presented to Congress, bill
by the kindness ofthe chief Clerk of thei
- Department, we are enabled to present the
- ; following synopsis of it : The .Mediterranean
t ; Squadron has not been continued during (he
> last year. It is proposed to revive it aT’soon
as circumstances will permit. The sta-
t tion at Mahon has been discontinued at the
, eainest lequestof the Portugese government,
- and measures are in progress for the removal
-of the public stores at that place. The East
’ India Squadron, consisting of the Columbus
t 74, and the sloop Vincennes, is suppled to
• have sailed from Japan and Kam-katka, in
• lhe month of May or .hme last, and to have
- returned to Macao about this time. They will
j probably commence their homeward cruise
• via the North Pacific in January or February.
‘ Orders were sent to Com. Biddle in January
t last, to proceed to the west coast of Mexico,
and assume command ot the squadron the,re.
i i No acknowledgment ofthe receipt of them
■ I has been received at the Department. The
Brazil Squadron consists of the frigate Co
lumbus, Commander Ritchie, and lhe brig
Bainbridge, Lieutenant commanding Penning
' ton, under Commodore Rosseau. The Afn
can Squadron consists of the frigate United
States, the sloop Marion, brigs Dolphin and
1 Boxer, and store ship Southampton, 36 guns j
’ in all. A (ml and interesting narrative is l
• given of the operations of the Pacific Squad- j
ron since the war, both under Com. Sloat and i
(.oin. Stockton, and copies are annexed ofthe •
■ official reports of these officers. The Squad- '
ron now consists of the Savannah and the [
■ Congress, brigates; the sloops Portsmouth, i
Levant, Warren, and Cyane; schooner Shark
and store-ship Erie, 'lhe Razee Independ-
J. ence is on her way out with Com. Shubric,
who will, on his arrival assume command, and !
’. the. sloop Prebie has sailed tor the same desti-1
nation, lhe doings of the Home Squadron!
are also narrated, and copies annexed of the j
ofiicial reports ot Com. Conner in reference
lA—,i... .»
■ j affairs at l obasco, and the taking of Tampi- ■
j co. hull justice is done to the commanders !
of both squadrons, in whom the confidence of.
’ the Department seems unabated. Extracts j
from the instructions under which they acted
I show also a disposition on the part of the Gov- J
eminent to avoid ail collision with Mexico, if;
possible. Ihe vessels comprising the Navy!
ot lexas seem to have been found unworthy !
of repair, with the exception of the Austin,'
which is at Pensacola. The others have been j
II ordered to be sold. The estimates of the do-|
i 1 partment are based upon the employment of
. I 10,000 men, though no more than 8,500 are i
. now in service. Authority is asked to build j
I ■ 4 sea steamers, to be employed in connection i
• ■ with our squadrons abroad. The practica-;
f bility ot the dry dock at New York is not'
t doubled, and the work is urged upon the fa-
-. vorable notice of Congress. A dock at Pen- j
5 sacola is also recommended, and other im
. j provements to increase the efficiency at that
i ! place. The restriction on the Memphis works
-' adopted at the last Congress, it is thought may
t jbe advantageously removed. The exclusive
t i employment G’s naval officeis. as naval store
> , keepers abroad, is not thought to be wise, and
-j a modification of. the law on the subject is
1 [ recommended. The naval school is spoken
>! of in terms of approbation, and the same ap
propriation is asked for it as was had last
- year. A suitable notice is also given to the
t officers ofthe observatory, whose valuable
I' operations are beginning to attract the atten
-1 . tion they deserve. An addition to the number
I of assistant surgeons is vc-y much desired,
»i and the Department also recommends an in
' i crease in the rank and file of the marine
1 corps and the number of warrant officers.—
- | The report concludes with advising that an-
• ■ thority be given the President to appoint one ;
Uout of 5 or 6 midshipmen at large, irrespne-1
Utive of the place of residence of the person !
- appointed. Provision might thus be made for •
“ cases of peculiar merit which are now exclu-1
■ ded. Nothing in said in the report on lhe j
- system of promotion. 'Phe Secretary con-1
’ fines himself to a faithful narration of the do. j
' ings of the Navy, with a few practical sug-1
j gestions such as we have mentioned. His re-'
’ port is ably written, is clear and interesting. 1
1 LOSS OF THE CHARLEST()N MAIL.,
‘ The Charleston Evening News,and Patrioti
.of the 19th inst. say—An extra from the of-1
1 flee, ofthe Wilmington Chronicle, dated “Fri-i
; day, Dec. 18th, 12 o’clock, A. M.,” conveys I
‘'the following intelligence of the loss of the I
| whole of the mails made up at Charleston on '
, ' Wednesday last.
-| “The steamer Gladiator. Capt. Smith '
ij which left here yesterday for Charleston, but’
1; without proceeding any farther than across '
. i the main bar. has ju t returned with the stea- 1
. i mer Vanderbilt in tow. From Cant. Potter
Jof the Vanderbilt, wc Icanj the following par
. ticuluio. ° 1 '
“I’he \ . cam? out m' Ca irleslon at her u-
■ suul hour on Wednesday, about 3P. M. At
i 10, ofl G eorgetown, the wind which had been
: blowing f< r some linn? in heavy gusts, set in-
■lo a furious gale from the East, accompanied
I with some rain. At about 11 the steamer
was thrown upon her beam ends. After a
while she righted, not having essentially dam
aged. At 2on Thursday morning she was
again thrown on her beam ends, her rudder
, much crippled, bo'h wheel houses nearly de
molished, the Mail apartment broken open,
and all the Mails from the South taken in at
Charleston, together with tin? Charleston
i Mail, swept into the ocean. 'Phe mainmast
i was cut away—the steamer righted again in a
! short time, and not having had her machinery
injured, proceeded on her way, the wind con
tinuing to tremendously as it did, until a
bout 12 o’dock on Thursday.
“By great skill and judgement, Capt. Potter
worked the Steamer along for forty miles,
brought her up to the main liar, thence she
was towed to town by the Gladiator. The
passengers who were on board bestow the ve
iry highest encomiums on the Vanderbilt, as
j also on the management of Capt. Pottter, the
I officers and crew, in the awful conflict with
the elements.”
Ju ige Butler, U. S. Senator from South'
Carolina, was a passenger on board the Van-1
derbilt. |
[From the. rV. (J. Picayune.]
LATER FROM THE ARMY.
Arrival of the Alabama—Anticipated Move
incuts of Gen. Taylor—Loss of the Steam-!
er Sea.—Gales at the Erazos—Further
( from Gen. HooZ— Latest from Monterey'.
I and Saltillo—lieported Capture of a IV «g-'
| on Train by Camdcs, rye.
j By the arrival last evening ot - the steamship .
| Alabama; Capt. Win lie, we have dates from
i Brazos Santiago to the JUh inst., and from '
Monterey up to the first of the month. Below >
will be found several lettersjfrom Mr. Lumsden,:
one ot lhe editors ot this paper, who is now
on his way to join the army at Tampico. The 1
i news is highly interesting as regards the pres-1
cut position of the forces in Mexico and par-|
licuhtrly so as indicating (he future movements ;
of the army. The drift of the intelligence i
points to a crisis of bloody import.
Among the passengers by the Alabama'
|we notice the names of Cols. Mitchell and I
j Baker. Majors Denny, Gaines and Jones, j
I (Japts. Freeman,Berry’ Fenner, Marshall and!
Eikin, Lieut. Potter. Armstrong, Humphrey, I
I Merritt, Wilson, Malone, Mcßimnells, Allen I
i Poe and Curtis, and Dis. Cabanis, Potter,
j M elis and Scott. \\ e notice the names also
( of Messrs, Cozzens, Hall, Leare, Jenkins, H.'
; M alley, A. Wilson, P. Bilde, Sneade, andj
Jno. Lane, besides 25(> sick and discharged I
soldiers. Col. Mitchell, and Lieuts. Potter, 1
and Armstrong, are among those who were :
! badly wounded at JZonterey.
I lhe editor of the Flag has been assured:
i that a. Mexican had given information on i
I board the steamer Troy, on her last down-'
•j'ward Jri'y* * i n • i
I des ot Reyonsa had now in their possession
! two tilinks and other valuables belonging to
the Rogers family, murdered on the Colorado
I last spring. All the arrticles taken from the
murdered party can be found, it is said, in lhe
i neighborhood of Reynosa. A division ofthe 1
I spoils caused discatisfaction, and induced dis-|
I closeure to be made.
: The Flag mentions that Theodore Murphy, I
j a private of Capt. Caswell’s company of the j
J Tennessee cavalry, was drowned in the Rio j
! Grande opposite Fort Paredes on the Ist inst. 1
I His hat was blown oft’ by the wind and car-!
tried into the river, and to regain it he plung. i
ed into the stream having a heavy sword sus-l
1 pended to his side, and a considerable weight!
jof silver in his pockets, just received at the
! Pay Department. Although said to be an!
I expert swimmer, he was carried under by the!
j weight about, his person. His body has not!
jbeen recovered.
| [Editorial Correspondence of the. Picayune.']
Brazos Santiago, Dec. 6, 1816.
Here lam once more in Texas. 'Phe
j Alabama arrived safely off the bar at this
! place on the evening ofthe 4th, and yesterday
i morning 1 came on shore, and am “doing as
• well as could be expected.” Our passajre"was
! entirely safe, though not the most agreeable
I ever made. On the morning of the 2d inst.
after all hands had taken a hearty
we camo out over the bar at the South West
Pass of the Mississippi, and it was not long
before (here, was a general epidemic on board"
for my part, although ; was born in the sweet
month of May, the 2d of December wos my
berth day ! No doubt you will think this a
very bad pun; but [ think it requires a bad pun
to be a good one. Please excuse the bull. I
Now lor what little army news 1 have boon '
| able io gather. It was my good (brume toi
I meet this morning an old friend and a gentle
, man direct from Monterey, who gave me the ,
{data for what follows. My informant left!
I Monterey on the 27th of November. Gen.f
j Taylor had returned from Saltillo,and express
fed himself pie, se d with tiie appearance ofthe
I city, which was in quiet possession ofthe
i troops under (Jem. V/orth, Saltillo is about :
iSixtj-five miles from Monterey and has an
! elevation of some 2.090 feet above the letter i
j place. The cold, in consequence, is frequent
lly quite intense. Gen. Taylor saw ice while !
ihe was there. 'Phe most delicious fruits are
j said to abound in Saltillo. No demonstration
; against General Wurth had been made by the i
! enemy, although only at the distance oftwen- I
ty miles from Inn). His scouts had discovered
t about 3,000 Mexican cavalry, said to have :
1 been sent from San Luis Potosi for lhe purpose i
| of grazing their horses. (
i Gen. Wool had been ordered by Gen. Ta y- <
f lor to occupy forthwith the town of Parras, a '
small bill beautiful place seventy miles north- i
east of Saltillo. General Wool would no op- <
; position at Parras, as the inhabitants were 1
prepared to receive him peaceably. His :rooi>~
. are repre.a ipt d to be m the fines! health and i
: discipime. |
• j 'Phe ultimate plans of General Taylm" hid
! not ot course been fully developed, but suft’r
11 cient was known to render it quite ceitain
I that something like the following outline was
!. to be adhered to. He had received intelli
•jgence from (he Government of the call for al
ii ditional troops. He would therefore occupy
■lull the posts, towns. <V,c., either immediately
i 1 or remotely, on the line of’ operations to i am
ipico. Lieut. Col. Riley now occupies Mor
| ales with the 2d Regiment of U. S. Inf’an
j try. Gen. Taylor would himself take tip his
| line of’march for Victoria, where, rumor has
jit. Santa Aima has 10,000 choice troops. —
This city is indispensably necessary to Gen.
Taylor, in order that he may secure his lines
of communication in an attack upon San Luis
Potosi. Santa Anna knows its importance,
and will no (lout resist its possession by our
troops. But I shall not speculate. Gen. Tay
lor intended to march, as soon as provisions
could be hastened up —which would probably
be by the 10th December—*with tin? 31, 4th
and 7th Infantry, the Dragoons under Col.
Harney, who had arrived at Monterey,Bragg’s
battery,and two regiments of volunteers.which
later had not been designated. It would seem
that Gen. Taylor himself attached some im-
I poitancc to the rumor of Santa Anna’s 10 000
j troops, as he heads in person the expedition
(against Victoria. After taking this point,
I which he most assuredly will do, it is thought
j he will make no further demonstration until
| the desiredreinforccinents reach him from
j Tampico,
Should Gen. Butler’s hea’th admit of it, hr
1 will be left at Monterey in command; other
; wise (Joi. Smith, of the Rifles, will be detain
jed fur that purpose. Gem Biitler’s was
| not improving; indeed it is said to be getting
jworse. The air of Monterey is considered
unfavorable to wounded invalids, and the sur
geons have advised that at such should leave
i the country if practicable.
'lhe Mexicans, finding that they cannot
, successfully fight “Uncle Sam’s boys” either
in the open field or behind entrenched works,
• have resorted to the insidious means ofseduc
: ing our men to desert by oilers of tempting
I bounty and high promotion, and it is to be re
gretted that in too many instances their vil
lainou s schemes have succeeded. 'Phe Al-
■ calde’s son was arrested a ii w days since and
I imprisoned, having been detected in carrying
, on this species of tear, and remains a prisoner
: still. When the Alcalde, who has been treated !
| with all kindness and consideration by Gen. !
| Tayler, heard of his son’s imprisonment Jic !
j remonstrated with the General against his fur-!
ther detention. The old hero “biied over” 1
l in a moment, and “let out” upon the alcalde ’
iin hot style. He told him, in no measured (
1 phraselogy, that he was well convinced of his
’ son’s guilt, and not entirely free from suspic- !
ions of his worthy self: and that if he did not I
I at once assist in restoring those who had been I
j seduced to desert, he would hang his son and j
! himself too, as high as Haman was hung! A
| deserter, who fought against us at Monterey i
las an officer, had been seen m the cilv, a tool j
<of Aaiia. His name is /**/**//-. I <)»•-!
serted from the sth infantry before the battles. 1
We have already made mention of this fel-1
low ] i
It is said, and on good autority, that Santa I
Anna fearing the Congress about to assemble I
■ at Mexico would not carry out his measures,!
i or fully sustain him, had detached and march-j
ed to the capital 7000 men; underthe pretence 1
j of putting down another outbreak of the popu- i
j lace, being well aw are that Gen. Taylor can- j
, not attack him in his strongholds at San Louis 1
i for some two months or more. .Santa Anna
I it is no news to say, is a mast wiley foe, and
• in respect to knowing the position of affairs !
I has the advantage,from natural causes, of Gen. i
i Taylor, and he is determined to resist. It is 1
how conceded, by the officers of our army!
[generally, that the Mexicans trill, fight. San
I Luis. I uto.->i is in a strong state of defence, and i
| is daily being strengthened still more, and it
may be that the battles of Pullo Allo and
Resaca, and those ot Monterey, wen? but
specimens of what may occur before San Lu
is. Officers believe that a harder fight than i
any one yet is before them. San Li’its Potosi
is one ofthe richest, cities in all Mexico, beiim
directly in the mining districts, and you may
depend upon it the Mexicans will make the
b ; g stand there. One thing, however, is cer
tain. old “Rough and Ready” is not going to
be caught aga n deficient in any thing—either
in men, munitions or besieging cannot. Nor
will he be again caught by ‘‘white flags” or
treacherous parleys. You may decive him’
once, .but twice, never! But. more of tifis
hereafles. My letter is already too loim, and
I fear Las but little to interest v'’U.
In closing 1 will add that Maj. Gen. Pat
terson had left Camargo with lhe Alabama and i
i was conveying these troops down to the mouth !
ofthe Rio Grande, intending to go to Tampico
by water. Having duly reported his inten
lions to lhe commanding general, an express
was despatched and arrived in time, orderin ’- (
Gen. Patterson to go to Tampico by land.— i
Gen. 1. and stall have arrived at Alatamoros, t
„ <
Brazos bAxw.uio, Dec. 10, 1816. <
Owing to prevailing contrary winds, I am s
still detained at this place. The Alabama 1
and the McKim arp not yet discharged, noth- t
ing being able to go alongside of either, 'f’be
McKim arrived off the bar on Sunday lust, •.
live days ago.
The steamboat Sea is a perfect creek, as r
I supposed she would be. The Brazos bur is
a most dangerous place for vessels, and it is 1 5
to be regretted that so important a post as this ’ j
Island is to the Army should be so difficult (
and dangerous of access. There is a areat L
number of vessels now inside the bar not yet r
discharged. Some ofthem have been detain K
ed from sixty to seventy days on demurrage. I.
Ihe war is costing “Uncle Sam” a large°a-1 I
mount ol mone in ti i- wav besides the him j v
dreds ot other expenses. ‘But I suppose there',
IS no way to avoid it.
Gen. fields, who is ordered to take com-I
mandol I ampico, H here, waiting an oppor- t
lumij lu embark. Some Ibur hundred of th- ' i
1 ( A’abama troops will leave here for Tampico
i-[by water : the remainder ofthe regiment will
n . go by lan d.
s j Gen. Pillow goes hack from this place to
- .take com nan I in Ger. Patterson’s column,
- which marches for Victoria. Gen. Pillow
v was on bis way home, as I informed you in a
f previous letter: but owing to letters received
- . from above, developing something of the, f,i.
- jtm-e operations of (he Army, as well as letters
- J from home rend u ing it unnecessary for him
s! to return; ho goes back to bis command.
s Ill’s health, too, is greatly impiovcd.
-1 Yours’ <-Vc. F. A. L.
•! , ~
s Brazos Santiago Dec. II; 1846.
' • A rumor which needs confirnritin, but which
, was believed generally, however reached
r; this place three days ago, stating that sixty
• Government wagons, with provisions, spebie;
; d[’c., for our army, had been captured by Ca
’ i uales somewhere between Camargo and
jMier. No paiticulars stated. Whether jthis
be true or not I understand it is not improba
ble, as the incautious and unguarded way in
'which the trains too often move would render
i their capiure no difficult thing. Canalesis a
• cut-thret plunderer; and our people k: ow it,
and if they give him opportunities they deserve
to men wiiii losses.
j From what I see and ther'in certain quar.
tors, I am more and more inclined to believe
; lhat’Santa Anna intends to harrass (Jen. 'Pay
lor,and that a stand will be made against him
| that will require fighting, and nut long first.—
Adieu.
■ j Yours. &c. j-, A .
; LATE INTELLIGENCE FROM MEXI-
U CO.
I ' 'The X. O. De’ta of the 18th inst. says:
■, We received through the Havana papers
■ [ brought by the barque Catharine, severuT in
11<?resting items of .Mexican news, of which
jwe give full details belmv. 'Phe most impor
jtant part of the news is the accounts given of
I the active preparations by the Mexicans in
' San Luis—the amount and character of their
•force—and their news ol the condition and
intentions of our army. Os course, many of
(the statements published in the Mexican jour
nals are rediculous false awd- ;d».-uid—such as
! the desertion of a wlwde brigade of our army,
. the dostnretiem in our ranks by the typhus fe
i ver,&c. But as we have not time to winnow
. the probable and creditible finm the absurd
I and improbable, we give their stories just as
j they appear in their prints; and if they do
: not interest, they certaiffiy will amuse our
; readers.
i “
! By the packet barque Catharine, Captain
■ Swift, we received Hiivana j>apers containing
the Mexican, brought over by the British
mail steamer Clyde, which left Vera Cruz on
[the Ist inst. The particulars we find in the
j Havana journals are of some interest.
El Locomotor of the 27th nit. states that on'
[the night of the 25;h, a boat from the squad
ron entered the port and set tho national
I setoonci Vrcolla uii fire. was at anchor
■ under the moorings of San Juan do Ulloa
! El I jocomotor complains of the want of vi,>i
[lance on the part ofthe commander ofthe
1 San Juan de Ulloa on this occtvsion.
j According to the same paper; a- schoom'r
laud a brig, anchored oft’ Antonia Lizardo,
j were wrecked on the 24th ult. Said vessels
were two of those captured at Tabasco, and'
they were manned by nine American sailors,
iof whom five were drowned, and the other
‘ four picked up on the 25th. The commander
o* the detachment at Anton Lizardo was cn*
i the beach alter the gale commenced, in order
ito affiud assistance to the men on board the
■ vessels. The brig was totally lost and the
schooner is ashore, but in good order.
1 1-1 Indicador ot the 29. h November states,
that on the evening ofthe 28th, four lar<m
! boats, belonging to the U. S. man of war skt
. tioned at Isla Verde, came near the foot, on
. the side of San Miguel’s battery. Their ob
ject seemed tube take three or four large Mcx
, ican boats which were fastened near the afore--
said battery. As soon as the sentinel on the
battery saw the boats, he informed his com
rades, and a boat was despatched from the
Ibrt, filled with armed men, to watch the ap
proaching lighters. W hen the Mexican boat
came near those ofthe enemy the latter drew
off and fired too musket shots; on hearing
the report two guns with shells were fired from
the fort at the American boats, which retired
immediately. Whether they sustained any
damage or not is not known. The Mexican
boat returned uninjured. Fiomthe city two
guns were likewise fired, as a sign of alarm,
1 the citizens believing that an engagement hud
taken place between the fort and the fleet.
Tht municipal As embly of Vera Cruz had
made a petition to the State Legislature, that
it should appoint Gen Soto as Governor of (but
Department.
Senor Haro y Tamariz the Minister of Fi
nance, had resigned, on account of sonic mis,
understanding with the other ministers, and
Gen. Almonte had taken charge of his place.
On taking his station as Minister of Finance,
Gen. Almonte gave orders that all payments
should be suspended ; but finding such icon,
latiou unsuitable to the existing
ces, he immediately countermanded the order.
(Jen. Salas has published a decree on the
21st, prohibiting the introduction of such goods
as should be imported through the ports in
possession of the North Americans.
According to correspondents, writing from
San Luis Potosi to several of the Mexican
journals, it appears that Santa Anna had ‘2s,-
000 men at that place, viz : 12,000 iiifantry,
of regulars; 8000 cavalry, w<Jl ami
mounted ; and 10,000 Cossacks, armed with
swo’dsand lances, Besides, there were 52
pieces of artillery, none smaller than 24 plun
ders. Some 500 meq a.qd about loot) women
were coqstgntly employed in tbrlifi ing tho
place, aqd from 200 to 300 men in fitting uU t
arms, &c. 11
Besides the 28,0.00 men at San Lui* de
tosi, it is said that Generals Valencia, Co te.
zaA ami i’achccu, at the Vale of San