The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-01 00:00:00

tion would not only be useless and ridiculous in the eyes of
the enemy, but a further source of anarchy and confusion,
for it is by no means certain that the nation would approve
of my resolution to abdicate. A single State might refuse
to recognise the legality of the power assumed by Senor
Ortega upon the ground that it had already made its elec-
tion, and the latter would then be under the necessity of re-
ducing the dissentients by force. Under any circumstances,
we should only afford to our enemies an additional cause for

triumph, who would not fail to put forward our dissensions

_ .
as a powerful argument in favour of intervention."

On the 28th of January Gen. Douai left Lagos at
:he head of one battalion of the Chasseurs a Pied

and three squadrons of cavalry, and on the 29th
directed his march upon Teocaltiche, which was said
to be occupied by a portion of the Liberal forces.
He arrived:before the place, which was,occupied by
600 infantry and 4 squadrons of cavalry, about 3 in
the afternoon. All the approaches had been for-

tified and the streets barricaded. In order to cut
off the eseape of the enemy, the General ordered
his cavalry to surround the to Nth As soon as the
infantry came up they were formed into three
columns, and at half-past 4 the placo was vigorously
attacked. Notwithstanding a severe fire opened
upon them, the chasseurs soon made their way to
the church and the plaza, when all further resistance
ceased. Fifty of the enemy were killed and the rest
made prisoners. In this brilliant little affair the
French had two men killed and 13 wounded.

The very day after Gonzales Ortega issued his
warlike manifesto to the inhabitants of Zacatecas,

in which he pledged " his word of honour that he
would shed the last drop of his blood in defence of
the liberties of his country," the capital of the State
was occupied by Meja and his forces without a shot
being fired ; and, if report speaks true, the worthy
patriot himself has since addressed a letter to Gen.
Douai, offering to make his aubmission to the Em-
pire if guaranteed in person and property. The
manifesto was merely an excuse for extorting more
money, and having got this, he is of on-urge anxious
to keep it. The most perfect tranquillity reigns in
all the towns occupied by the French, and the last
accounts from Guanaxuato state " that scarcely a

day passes without some of the followers of Do-
blado giving in their adhesion to the new state of
things, convinced that all further resistance is out
of the question." Trade is fast reviving, and I have
been informed by some of the principal merchants
that ii: has not for many years been known in so
flourishing a condition. As for the city of Mexico
it is becoming quite a little Paris, and it is only
those who have been resident in the country during
the last five er six years that can fully appreciate
the immensity of the change.
The last accounts from Monterey state that a very
angry correspondence had taken place between Vi-
duarri and Eglesias, one of the Ministers of Juarez,
in which the former had virtually thrown off all
allegiance to the central Government. On the Bth
Doblado arrived at Monterey, having left his troops,
reduced by desertion from upwards of 4,000 to 1,500
men, at the village of Santa Catarina, distant two
leagues from the city. Oa the 10th Suarez. accom-
panied by a few friends, also presented himself in
the capital of Nuevo Leon to have an interview with
the governor. What may have taken place nobody
seems to know, except that General Mejia writes
from Matehuala on the 12th that Vidaurri had
armed the citadel and occupied the surrounding
heights, and on the night of the same'day a courier
was despatched from Monterey informing Mejia
that hostilities between Doblado and Vidaurri had
actually commenced. Another letter dated Mate-
huala, the 17th says
"Just as Juarez wee about to make his entry into Monte-
rey, Vidaurri commenced hostilities against the troops of
Doblado, from whom he took three pieces of artillery and
300 prisoners. Juarez has returned to Santa Catarina ; as
for Vidaurri, he has shut himself up in the citadel with his
troops and artillery. Fighting is going on, and we await
the result with anxiety.
Should this intelligence prove correct, it is evi-
dent that Vidaurri has at length sine what has long
been expected of him—viz., declared in favour of
the Empire. We may, therefore, expect to hear
that Mejia, or some French troops have marched to
his support. In that case, Doblado will have some
difficulty in making his escape. There is also a
report, for the correctness of which, however, I do
cot vouch, that G meral Castegny has completely
routed Gonzales Ortega.

The Loss of the Caledonia Steamer.