"It is with sentiments of regret that I learn your just cause of complaint founded upon the grounds stated by your excellency. Your excellency must be aware that it is no easy task to keep such men in subjection; and although my great desire is to maintain good order, yet excesses have been committed; but I believe none of a grave character.

"The volunteers now in the city will be removed in a few days, and by their absence I hope all cause of further complaints will cease. In the mean time, Brigadier-general Worth will use all efficacious measures to maintain order in the city. He is now invested with orders to this effect. Your excellency must be aware, that my desire is to comply with the guarantees I have given in the name of my government, relative to the security of persons and property."

The exertions of General Taylor, relative to this subject, seem to have been productive of some benefit; so that in a short time the evils, althouga not yet fully removed, were of much less frequency than before.

EFORE entering into a detailed acccount of this battle, it may not be amiss to recede for a moment from the regular progress of events, in order to notice some of the important movements which gave rise to it.

Perhaps at no time since Mexico was an independent nation, has there been so much of a revolutionary spirit predominant among all classes,

as has existed during her present war with the United States. Against the latter power, nothing but the most united efforts, conducted by active and patriotic generals, can give them the least chance of success; and yet at the very moment when these are most needed, the nation is distracted by intestine tumults, and the jarrings of ambitious demagogues. In the commencement of the war, as we have seen, General Herrera was at the head of affairs. He seems to have been of a pacific disposition, and well inclined to settle the difficulties with the United States; but he was speedily deprived of power, and superseded by Gene

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ral Paredes, whose views and designs were entirely different from those of his predecessor. Under his administration, war was declared, and every exertion made to conduct it with vigour. Success, however, did not crown his efforts, and soon the populace, ever ready to judge of men by their fortunes, began to look for another ruler. Several candidates were now in the field, each at the head of a small army, and each differing from the others in all points except one-hatred and opposition to the United States.

A party differing from these soon arose, whose object was the restoration of the banished Santa Anna. This general, as is well known, long acted a conspicuous part in the revolutions of his country, as well as in the Texan war, and was for a long while Supreme Dictator of all Mexico. In 1844, however, after the siege of Vera Cruz, he was expatriated, and continued afterwards to remain in exile at Havana. The revolution in his favour rapidly gained ground, and was finally consummated by the election of General Salas, his avowed supporter, to the presidency of Mexico. Puebla and several other large cities declared for him; Paredes was deposed, and while endeavouring to make his escape with a company of lancers, was arrested and thrown into prison. One avowed object of the restoration was the re-establishment of the constitution of 1824, by which the Mexican states constituted a federal republic, similar to our own country, instead of a consolidated republic, which made each separate state a mere department of the Union, and deprived the people in a great measure of representation. In pursuance of this project, General Salas issued a proclamation, directing Congress to meet on the 6th of December, under the rules and restrictions of the aforesaid constitution. Soon after he despatched his two sons to meet and welcome Santa Anna, who was daily expected at Vera Cruz.

On the 16th of August, Santa Anna reached Vera Cruz in the ship Arab, having passed through the American blockading squadron under Commodore Conner, without opposition. Upon landing, he immediately placed himself at the head of the movement in that department, and the same day issued a proclamation, setting forth at large his views and designs with regard to the origin, former conduct, and prosecution of the

war.

This proclamation was in accordance with a previous one in his favour which had been issued by the city of Mexico, detailing the plan proposed to be pursued by that city. It is as follows:

ARTICLE I. Instead of the present Congress, another shall assemble, composed of representatives, popularly chosen according to the electoral laws in force for the election of 1824, whose duty shall be as well to frame a constitution for the nation, adopting the form of government which they may deem in conformity to the national will, as to take charge of all mat

ters relating to the war with the United States, and the affair of Texas, and other frontier departments. The monarchical form of government which the nation evidently detests shall be excluded.

ART. 2. All Mexicans, faithful to their country, including those out of the country, are called upon to give it their services in the present national movement, for which purpose very particular invitation is given to his excellency, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who is from this time recognised as general-in-chief of all the forces engaged, and resolved to combat, in order that the nation may recover its rights, secure its liberty, and govern itself.

ART. 3. Until the sovereign Congress shall assemble and adopt the requisite measures for the war, it will be the indispensable duty of the executive to dictate such measures as may be urgent and necessary to sustain with honour the national flag, and this sacred duty must be discharged without the loss of a single moment.

ART. 4. Within four months from the occupation, by the liberating forces, of the capital of the republic, the Congress referred to in the first article must be assembled; for which purpose it will be the duty of the general-in-chief to issue the order of convocation, in the terms indicated, and to take care that the elections proceed with all possible liberty.

ART. 5. The existence of the army is guarantied, and it is assured of such attention and protection as are due to the well-deserving military class of a free people.

ART. 6. Any one will be declared a traitor to the nation, who shall endeavour to retard the assembling of the said Congress, make any attempt against it by infringing the liberty of its members, dissolve it or suspend its sessions, or attempt to oppose the constitution which it may establish, or the laws which it may enact in conformity with the present plan.

N September, Santa Anna left the hacienda near Vera Cruz, and advanced towards Ayotla, which he reached on the 14th of September. He here received a commission, appointing him supreme dictator, to which he replied in a dignified note, of course accepting the appointment.

On the 15th the dictator entered the capital, and was welcomed with demonstrations of joy and confidence He immediately directed his attention to the raising of money and troops, and for that purpose republished the following proclamations or decrees:

1. (Declaring, in substance, that) all Mexicans between the ages of eighteen and fifty years were under obligations to take up arms in defence of their country whenever required to do so.

2. Declaring free from import duty, for one year, the importation into

any part of the republic, as well as the sale in it, of muskets, carbines sabres, brass and iron cannon, with gun-carriages, and in general every species of warlike arms and projectiles; and declaring that the government will purchase such quantity of the arms and projectiles referred to as it may require, and at such prices as may be agreed upon by the importer or holders.

3. Declaring an extraordinary contingent of thirty thousand men, to be contributed by the several states.

4. Giving pardon to all who may have deserted from the regular army, provided that they give themselves up within three months, and permitting them to serve in such corps as they may select.

5. Declaring that all officers, in civil or military employment, who shall refuse, without good cause, in the opinion of the government, to render such services as may be required of them during the war in which the republic is at present engaged, shall be dismissed from their employments, and declared incapable of being employed hereafter as military officers; being liable, moreover, to the punishment already provided by law for such offences as they may have committed.

T will be remembered that the terms of capitulation at Monterey stipulated for a conditional armistice of eight weeks, during which time neither army was to cross a certain line. General Taylor had no doubt that these terms would be endorsed by his government, but in this he was mistaken. The whole stipulation seems to have been somewhat opposed to the views of the Washington Cabinet, and orders were immediately despatched to the general, to recommence hostilities. In obedience to the instructions, he directed a letter to Santa Anna, notifying him of the recommencement of hostilities, and requesting the release of some prisoners detained at San Luis Potosi, on the ground of the general's similar conduct to others who had fallen in his hands. Santa Anna replied in a courteous and dignified manner, acknowledging the conclusion of the armistice, and at the same time releasing the prisoners, and providing money for their journey. This first correspondence between the two great generals is highly pleasing.

While Santa Anna was at San Luis Potosi, every exertion was being made to raise an army sufficient to arrest all further successes of General Taylor. These operations seemed to have been enthusiastically entered into by the people, and soon the dictator found himself at the head of nearly twenty thousand men. The greater portion of the press warmly seconded his measures, and paraded him to the people as invincible. The following extracts from the leading journal, dated November 14, will give some idea of the spirit of their addresses:

"By the communication which we this day insert, our readers will