The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-18 00:00:00

THE BATTLE Al PUEBLA.

The following is the official report of General
Zaragoza, addressed to the Mexican Minister of War,
respecting the above engagement :
" Army of the East,Headquarters, Puebla, May 9.

" After having commenced my retrograde move-
ment, starting from the Cumbres de Acultzingo, I
arrived in this city on the third inst., as I already
have had the honour to inform your Excellency.
The enemy followed me at a small day's distance,
and having left the rearguard of the 2d Cavalry
Brigade, consisting of about 300 men, to obstruct
his advance as far as possible, I proceeded, as al-
ready stated, to Puebla. Immediately issued orders
to place the heights of Guadaloupe and Loreto in a
regular state of defence, and I hastily completed the
fortifications of the place, which had hitherto been
neglected.

" On the morning of the 4th I ordered General
Miguel Negrete, a most distinguished officer, to
take the head of the Second Division under his
orders, 1,200 strong, to be prepared to fight directly
he should give the signal, and to occupy the heights
already mentioned of Loreto and Guadaloupe, which
were provided with two batteries of field artillery
and mountain guns. O❑ the same day I formed out
of the brigades Berrizabal, Diaz, and Lamadrid,
three attacking columns, consisting, the first of
1,082 men, the second of 1,00) men, and the third of
1,020 men, all infantry, with the exception of 550
horse, under Gen. Antonio Alvarez, to whom I en-
trusted a field battery. These troops remained
assembled on the Place San Jose till noon ; they
then returned to their quarters. The enemy passed
the night at Azamoc.
" At 5 o'clock on the morning of the 6th of May
our troops advanced in *the order of battle I had
assigned to them, and which your Excellency will
find in the accompany sketch. I ordered the Com-
mander-General of the Artillery, Colonel Zeferino
Rodriguez, to distribute the rest of his guns on the
ramparts of the town, placing them under the orders
of Gen. Santiago Tapia, Military Commandant of
the State.

" At 10 a.m. the enemy was discerned, not taking

the necessary time to encamp, and advancing his
attacking columns—one towards the heights of
Guadaloupe, about 4,000 strong, with two batteries ;
the other, not so numerous, probably 1,000 men,
threatened our front. This attack, which I had not
expected, though I was aware of the daring of the
French army, modified my plan, and decided me to
take the offensive, I consequently ordered the Ber-

riozabal brigade to attack at double quick step, to
reinforce Loreto and Guadeloupe, and the mounted
carabineera to take the left of the infantry, to
charge at an opportune moment.
" Shortly afterwards I ordered the battalion
1 Reforme,' of Lamadrid's brigade, to go to the sup-
port of the troops on the heights, and which were
becoming hotly engaged, I advanced a battalion of

sappers of the Ist brigade, with orders to occupy
village situated almost on the summit of the ridge-.
It arrived in such good time that it stopped the ad-
vance of a column sent to that point in a hand-to-
hand engagement. The French made three sudden
charges, but were each time repulsed. The cavalry
placed to the left of Loreto took advantage of the
opportunity, and charged them vigorously, prevent-
ing them from re-forming and making another at-
tack.

" While the battle was being waged hotly on the
heights a no less desperate struggle was taking
place in the plain, to the right of my front of battle.
" General Diaz, with two corps of his brigade,
one corps of Lamadrid's brigade, with two field
pieces, and the remainder of Alvarez's brigade, met
and drove back the enemy's column, which was
advancing boldly against our positions. It fell back
on the Hacienda de San Jose, where it was joined
by those we had driven from the heights, and who,
already reorganised, prepared to defend themselves,
and again sounded the charge. I could not. attack
them, because they had a n umerical force superior
to mine. I therefore ordered General Diaz, who
was eagerly following them, to halt, and satisfied
myself with holding a threatening attitude.
" The opposing forces remained in face of each
other till 6 o'clock in the evening. The enemy then
withdrew to his encampment at the Hacienda de los
Alamos, while our troops gradually returned within
their lines.
" The night was passed on the field of battle,
where we picked up the dead and wounded of the
enemy. This occupied the whole of the following
day, and, though I have not a correct return of the
loss of the French, I am told it is not under 1,000
killed and wounded and eight or ten prisoners.* I
have to point out to your Excellency the conduct of
my brave companions ; the glorious action which has
just been fought speaks well for their courage, and
suffices to recommend them.
" The French army fought most vigorously.
" I conclude by informing you that at the same
time I was preparing the defence of the national
army I was obliged to order the brigades O'Horar
and Carvajal to watch the seditious assembled in
considerable numbers at Matamoros, a circum-
stance which, perhaps, saved the enemy from a
total rout, and deprives the little army of the East
of the opportunity of a victory which would have
immortalised its name.

" J. ZARAGOZA.
" Head-quarters, Puebla, May 9, •
" To the Minister of War at Mexico.

• The Paris lioniteur, which publishes the above, adds
the following note, after stating that it has not as yet re-
ceived General Lorencez's despatches :
" According to a letter worthy of belief, dated Puebla,
May 10, and which has been communicated to us, the loss
of the French army would be :42 men hors de combat ; that
of the Mexican army, 240 wounded and 146 killed,"

THE SPECIAL COMMISSION IN IRE-

LAND,

The Special Commission for the counties of Lime-
rick and Tipperary was opened on Monday after..
noon at Limerick. The judges of the commission,
Mr. Justice Fitzgerald and Mr. Baron Deasy, were
received at the station by the high sheriff of the
county, Captain Croker, of Ballinagar, and the sub-
sheriff, Mr. George Hoare. The Right Hon. the
Attorney-General, Mr. O'Hagan ; the Solicitor..
General, Mr. Lawson ; Mr. Sergeant Sullivan, and
Mr. De Moleytas, Q.C., are counsel for the Crown.
The streets presented no appearance of anything un-
usual during the morning ; but towards three
o'clock groups of people collected at the railway
station and also near the court-house. It is under-
stood that three persons will be brought to trial at
Limerick—namely, Thomas Beckham, who is
charged with being one of the persons who mur-
dered Mr. Francis Fitzgerald on the 18th of May
last; Denis Dillane, who is charged with conspiring
to murder Mr. Fitzgerald; and John Punch,
charged with having written a threatening letter to
Mr. Hamilton Langley. At three o'clock p.m. their
lordships took their seats on the bench. The court-
houses l fully
on occupied,having tbheoeung
read,h not
and
nr odwtdheed
grand
nd
The
Royal wascom
jury panel called over, Mr. Justice Fitzgerald ad-
dressed the grand jury at some length on the origin
and object of the commission, and the cases which
it would be their duty to inquire into. A
minutes before five the grand jury came into courtto2
with a true bill against Thomas Beckham for the
wilful murder of Francis Fitzgerald. Thomas Beck-
ham was then arraigned, but did not answer to the
question whether he was guilty or not. Mr. Coffey
(his counsel) said the prisoner was deaf, and asked
to have a plea of " not guilty" entered, which was
done. The court was then adjourned to the follow-
ing morning at ten o'clock.

We learn by British and Irish Magnetic Tele-
graph that Beckham was found guilty last evening
of the murder of Mr. Fitzgerald, The sentence was
deferred.

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.—The Royal
Agricultural Society of England will hold their great agrL.
cultural show in Battersea-park, commencing Monday next,
the 23d of June, and continuing open to the public until the
2d of July, On Thursday the 26th, Friday the 27th, and
Saturday the 28th June, a public exhibition of steam cul-
tivators at work will take place, under the auspices of the
society, near Parningham station, in Kent, to which place
cheap return tickets will be issued by the London, Chatham,
and Dover Railway, from the Victoria and London-bridge
termini,

MONEY MARKET.

CITY NEWS-YESTERDAY.

The annual meeting of proprietors of the Union
Bank of Australia is convened for the 14th of July.
A meeting of the holders of Venezuela Bonds is
convened for Friday next, to consider the proposals
of Senor Nadal, the Fiscal Commissioner of the
Republic, relating to the settlement of the old debt
and to a new loan.

In the foreign exchanges this afternoon there was
no variation of importance from the rates of last
post.

£144,000 in b-.4r gold was taken to the Bank to-
day.

The excitement in the Liverpool cotton-market
is undirsir:ished, and a further advance of between
Id. and. Id. per lb. has been realized to-day.
A despatch from Vienna states that the remainder
oti the Austrian Loan of 1860 (about £5,000,000)
lhas been taken by three parties—namely, the Credit
-Bank, Baron Solomon Rothschild, and a combina-
tion of Vienna and Frankfort houses. The form of
stock in which this loan is constituted is not suit-
able for:the London market, and therefore no por-
tion of it will be offered here, but the applications
for it at Frankfort, Berlin, and elsewhere are stated
:to have been considerably in excess of the total
amount, thus indicating a more hopeful feeling with
regard to the future political course of the empire.
The very large amount of dollars brought by the
Mexican packet has been disposed of at 610. per
ounce. This establishes an advance of Id. on the
price realized at the beginning of last month,
although transactions to a considerable extent have
:been effected :in the interval at 611 d., 611 d., and
,611 d. The bar silver and dollars by the Atrato are
not yet sold.

Owing to the death of Mr. W, T. Fraser, East
India merchant, Great St. Helens, a circular has
been issued to the creditors of the house, stating
that the books have been placed in the hands of
Mr. Kemp, the accountant, and that meanwhile
negotiations are in progress for continuing the
business. It is thought that the liabilities ulti-
mately to rank upon the estate will not exceed
£30,000, and that, subject to realization, the assets
will show a considerable surplus.

CITY NEWS---THIS DAY.

CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK.

Gold is now about 2:loths per cent. dearer in
London than in Paris, but it is of about the same
value here as in Hamburg.
At the yearly meeting of the Northern Assurance
Company, the usual dividend of 7f per cent. was
declared.

The Alhambra, for Lisbon, conveyed £63,000 in
specie.

The traffic receipts of the Great Western Rail-
-way of Canada for the week ending the 6th inst.,
amounted to £8,445 against £6,838 last year.
There is an increase of about £3,000 in the traffic
returns of the Lancashire Railway for the past
Week.

Two O'CLOCK.

At the annual meeting of the South Australian
Company, held to-day, a dividend of 7 per cent.
Was unanimously agreed to, and Mr. Alderman
Saloroons, M.P., elected to fill the vacancy occa-
81°1'0- by the death of Mr. Wheelton.

A moderate supply of commercial bills have
been negotiated to-day, at previous quatations.
The transactions in the English Stock Market
to-day have been very limited, and the quotations
have been steadily supported, Consols being 91t
for transfer, and 91192 for the 10th proximo. Specu-
lative business is still remarkably dull, and the
dealings for delivery are equally circumscribed.
The New Threes and the Reduced remained at 911 21
Exchequer Bills, at 3s. to 6s. prem. ; India 5 per
Cent. Loan is 1074 I.
In the Foreign department the dealings have
been to a fair extent, and, in most instances, a fur-
-ther improvement has taken place in values.'
Turkish 6 per Cents., 1854, however, are firm at
831 ; ditto, 1858, have advanced to 70,1 711; ditto
New Loan Scrip, to 41 prem.; Egyptian, to 21 *
prem.; Moorish 5 per Cents., to 96; and Russian
Scrip, to 1 prem.; Spanish 3 per Cents. have rea-
lised 541 # ; ditto Deferred, 44 ; ditto Passive,
191 f ; and ditto Certificates, 81 Mexican, after
receding to 291, has recovered to 291 I.
The operations in the Railway Share Market
have again been very restricted, and prices have
remained without material alteration. Midlands,
South-Easterns, and South-Westerns have improved
about 55., and Norfolk £l, while Manchester, Shef-
field, and Lincoln have declined 10s.
The Foreign and Colonial lines have exhibited
very little animation. Great Luxembourg realise
104* ; Recife and San Francisco, 141 ; Sambre and
Meuse, 101; East Indian 1062; Great Indian Pe-
ninsula, 1042 ; and Grand Trunk of Canada have
improved to 231 1.
Joint Stock Bank and Miscellaneous Shares
show rather more firmness. London Chartered of
Australia realise 24t ; English, Scottish, and Aus-
tralian Chartered, 181 ; Alliance of London and
Liverpool, 4; Peninsular and Oriental Steath, 69};
and Oriental Inland Steam, 7.
The shares of the Eastern Bengal Tea Company
area a prem., and of the Strand Hotel Company
prem.
BRITISH FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES.
2 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 9ll
per Cent. Consols Annuities
New 3 per Cent. Annuities 9ll
ladia stock
Ditto 5 per Cent.
Ditto Debentures, 4 per Cent., Oct., 1863 99.4
Ditto dtito April, 1864 991
Consols f
DorittoAccounts July 1 dittol/ /
Aug.
g. 1864 or 66 91 I
A 0
9 2
Exchequer Bills £l,OOO, 3 per Cent 6 3
Ditto £500
Ditto Small ........
FOREIGN FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES.
Buenos Ayres 6 per Cent
Ditto 1 per Cent. (Deferred 3 per Cent ) 38
Egyptian, 7 per Cent
4 4
Ditto Paid-up Scrip B5/ 5
Mexican, 3 per Cent
.... 291
Ditto Account ...............
Moorish Imperial 5 per Cent
Peruvian 3 per Cent
Ditto (Uribarren), 41 per Cent.
Portuguese 3 per Cent.,' 1853 92
Ditto Account ... . . 464 6
qnssian 5 per Cent 1822. . St .......
. .
Ditto, 5 per Cent., 1862
, Scrip
Spanish 3 per Cent ..
Ditto Account
Ditto New Deferred.....'... ..
Ditto Account
Spanish Cert. of Coup. not funded
• 8/
Turkish 6 per Cent. 1854 ..............
Ditto Account
_Ditto 6 per Cent. 1858 ..
Ditto Account
Ditto 1862 (Scrip) 4 4
Ditto, Paid up Scrip
• Ditto Guaranteed, 4 per Cent.
Venezuela, 3 per Cent..
1 / 1
Ditto Account
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Dutch 21 per Cent., Exchange 12 Gu11.
Italian 6 per Cent., 1861, ex 25f. 724
THREE O'CLOCK.
Consols, Money ..
.4
Ditto Account

no longer
has
The Courrier de Lorient announces in the fol-
lowing paragraph that the French navy has
completely
any need of English coal :—." French coal
Our art ro-
of p
replaced Engliah coal in the Imperial navy.
the mines
ceives "erY day several boatloads of coal from
the Loire, which reach us by canal and river as fir as
Lorient, without the necessity of unloading them. Thus,
o
b
this vexed question f
supplying our navy with coal has
be
resolved to the advantage of French coal, which may
a trifling change hi the heating apparatus replace on
aa
occasions the
England." coal we were accustomed to draw from
THE HOP PLANTATIONS. Rochester, June 17.
The late heavy storms of rin, with the hi
Past fortnight, have had a rather disastrous effect on the
gh gales of the
growiug hops, which have thereby received a severe check,
many of the plants beginning
appearanc©, to assume a sickly yellow
most Notwithstanding this
however, the hops in
of the Plantations are still looking remarkably healthy)
and in the less
out their midsummer exposed
hootssituations are beginning to throw
On the whole there is an
absence of vermin, the plant being singularly clear for the
time of the
plantationsyear,ln comparison with the appearance of
ftertilight since,
the hop healthy; ab
the plants are cer.
tainly less
ieo of
tuhesome
v_ ,
arm genial weather would
undo the mischfilfm,
choicPeasstlwweeka. The hop market
continues very
and Sussex 100.ds.1(t erg making as high aos,
cwt., and
on to a consider:blie°B.
130 s. per
hops is still carried The exports of
ten sent abroad lib the upwearnding
200 tons having ue
same period
while the imports during the Week
Saturday last,
were 71g: