The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-28 00:00:00

THE EXPEDITION TO MEXICO.

From Havannah we have advices to the Bth. The
correspondent of the New York, Journal of Com-
merce gives a list of vessels which had run the
SoUthern blockade and 'reached Cuba? The number
at Havannah was 37 ; Matanzas, 6 ; and Cardenas,
5. The latest arrival at Havannah was the steamer
Cuba, from New Orleans, with 700 bales of cotton.
Respecting the Mexican expedition, we have the
following advices :
"On the 28th ult., after a most enthusiastic re-
ception by the Spanish residents here, principally
the Catalans, his Excellency Gen. Prim, Conde de
Reus, and Marquis de los Castillejos, sailed in the
Don Francisco de Asis to take command of the ex-
pedition at Vera Cruz, accompanied by a part of the
French contingent under Vice-Admiral Jurien de la
Graviere, consisting of the Messina, with 500
Zouaves and 200 Marine Artillery; the Guerriere,
with 300 marines ; L'Ardente, with 500 infantry ;
L'Astree, with 500 infantry—making in all about
2,000 troops for disembarkation. The Aube, with
600 troops, and the Montezuma, with 228, have since
sailed, making therefore 2,821 en route for Vera
Cruz. The Berthollet, Lavoisier, Chaptal, Milan,
and Marceau have also sailed. The English vessels
Desperate, Georgina, Challenger, Plover, Nimble,
and Spiteful have all been here. The last four sailed
for Cape San Antonio, where they were to meet
transports from Jamaica with 800 troops, and then
proceed to Vera Cruz. The Pajero del Oceano ar-
rived on the 29th ult., bringing the first news from
Vera Cruz. She left on the 25th and reported the
Uraga expedition near the city with 12,000 men.
Sir Charles Wyke, English Minister, arrived on
the night of the 24th, having stopped some days at
Orizaba, where there was intense feeling against
the Spaniards. Daza Gercona of Mexico had been
deposed, and Azcarate appointed in his stead. The
Cortes closed on the 15th, after fully authorising the
President to adopt all measures he might deem pru-
dent in regard to the ' Spanish Invasion.' Gen. Par-
radi had been named Minister of War. Gen. Gas-
sett, of the Spanish force, had established a custom
house in Vera Cruz, and Uraga had established
another, five leagues from the city. Benito Juarez
issued a very temperate and dignified proclamation
to the Mexicans, calling on all parties to give up
their present quarrels and unite against the com-
mon enemy. All had been done to save Zuloaga,
who had but a small band, and Miramon's party, to
which since his departure but little more than the
name is left. The proclamation was published here
in the Diario de la Marina of the Ist inst, On the
sth arrived from Vera Cruz, in five days, the
steamer La Cabana, with little news of interest. No
sortie had been made by the Spaniards. Tampico,
occupied and well defended by the Mexicans, would
hold out a long while. Gen. Uraga has all the passes
from Vera Cruz well defended, and has under his
immediate command 20,000 troops, well armed. Ho
has received 22 deserters from the Spanish forces,
and on the arrival of my informant in the city he
found 18 more had deserted, and more `,.were ex-
pected to desert as opportunity offered. Forced con-
scripts, they are never contented. Here all is quiet
Miramon, who arrived in Matanzas on the 31st
ult., in the steamer Noc Daqui from your city, is
still here with his three aids. The attempt to get
up an exhibition of agriculture, industry, and fine
arts has failed. The first portion of the Sancti
Espiritu Railroad was opened on the 29th ult. On
the 28th ult. the English steamer Labuan sailed
under very suspicious circumstances for Meta-
mores. On December 31 the new Avuntamiento
or City Council, was sworn in, and went immedi-
ately to felicitate the Captain-General on the taking
of Vera Cruz. The French Division for Vera Cruz
got off nicely on the 2d inst. ; also General Prim,
who began to be weary of indolence and entertain-
ments. His lady and her family remain here. The
British division has also been spoken at sea, getting
near to their destination. The news from Mexico
is vague, and it is supposed there will be some
fightiug done as soon as General Prim arrives down.
A French transport with 600 Zouaves and some 300
mules (purchased here) have left this morning for
Vera Cruz. The expedition, and the secret purpose
of acquisition, is very popular here, and it will seek
to overcome opposition by an apparently:unbiassed
vote of the people."
The following is the text of President Juarez's
Proclamation :

" Mexicans,—The warnings of the approaching
war which was preparing in Earope against us
have begun, unfortunately, to be realised. Spanish
forces have invaded our territory, our national
dignity is insulted, and, perhaps, our independence
in danger. Under such difficult circumstances the
Government of the republic believes that it complies
with one of its principal duties by placing within
your reach the cardinal idea which shall be the basis
of its policy in the present state of affairs. The
interest of all is concerned, and if we all are bound,
as good sons of Mexico, to contribute our intelli-
gence, our fortune, and our blood towards the sal-
vati3n of the republic, all claim an equal right to
be informed of the conduct and proceedings of the
Government.

" On the 14th of the present month the Governor
of the State of Vera Cruz received an intimation
from the commander of the Spanish naval forces
to evacuate that city and the fortress of I.llloa,
which that commander announces his determina-
tion to hold as a security until the Government
of the Queen of Spain shall be satisfied that the
Spanish nation shall be treated in future with the
consideration which is due, and that the com-
pacts between both Governments shall be
religiously observed. The Spanish officer.
also declares that the occupation of the city
and castle will serve as a guarantee for the claims
which France and Great Britain may have against
the Mexican Government.

" The grounds for this aggression are incorrect—
namely, insults offered to her Catholic Majesty by
the Government of the republic, and the blind
obstinacy with which the Government of Mexico
has constantly refused to listen to the just claims
of Spain.
"The consistent behaviour of the Mexican Go-
vernment does not permit the impartial eyes of jus-
tice to assent to such imputation. Since the treaty
183 G the Spanish Government has always been con-
sidered as a friendly Power, and bound to Mexico
by special ties, without the expulsion of the Spanish
Ambassador being used as a well-founded objection
to that truth, since the peculiar circumstances of
that case are well known, and no less well known
is the disposition which the Government had and
still entertains, to give the most reasonable and
suitable explanation in regard to that affair,
which may be reduced to a few wordii—the