The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-21 00:00:00

ITALY.

The last disaster of Torre del Greco has suggested
to Garibaldi the following letter to an inhabitant of
Naples :

" Caprera, Jan. 10.
" Dear Belezzi,—The population of Torre del
Greco ought to interest Italy. If there is a time
when the national sympathies ought practically to
apply, it is now. Italy finds herself in a solemn
moment, when from the bases of her political edifice
ought to arise the fraternity of the populations com-
posing it. Rome and Venice—sister slaves—pos-
sess the love of free men, who have sworn to tear
them from their execrated rulers. Torre del Greco
is not so unhappy as Rome and Venice, because lava
and earthquakes have nothing equivalent to the
evils caused by priests and tyrants. Notwithstand-
ing that, the desolate people of Torre del Greco offer
Italy an occasion to show her generous character,
and to prove by the liberality of her offerings how
the coterie of priests and tyrants lose their time in
trying to disunite children of the same family, in-
dissolubly bound together by the same glories and
the same misfortunes. I join, therefore, my feeble
voice to the generous voices which are raised in
favour of that unhappy population, in order that all
Italians may co-operate in relieving it.

" G. GARIBALDI."

CANADA.

A letter from Montreal, dated Jan. 6, says: When
my last was sent off we were without the text of
the correspondence between Lord Lyons and Mr.

Seward, and the telegraphic abstract produced an
erroneous impression of the grounds of the surrender

of the Southern Commissioners and their Secreta-
ries. If the argument of Mr. Seward proves as un-
satisfactory in England as it has done in Canada,
the irrepressible smartness of the Federal Premier
will have brought him face to face with a new and
worse difficulty ; but if the reparation and apology
he offers is satisfactory to the British Government

and people, the seldomer they demand such satis-
faction in future, the better for their dignity. Here
Mr. Seward's communication to Lord Lyons is re-
garded as a greater outrage than that upon the
Trent, because, so far from containing any disavowal
of the insult to a neutral flag, it justifies it in all but
the form ; and the surrender of the captured gentle-
men is not the recognition of a wrong, but the
effect of a declaration that the vessel from which
they were taken ought to have been captured also.
The settlement of the difficulty, if it be settled,

has had no effect on the military preparations here.
The formation of Volunteer corps and drilling con-
tinue unabated, and the preparations by the mili-

tarp authorities for defence have not been checked.
The remainder of the 16th Regiment, Engineers,
and Commissariat Corps, brought out by the Persia,
with the exception of those on board when she was
compelled to leave Bic, arrived here on Monday
afternoon last, in much better condition than the
previous detachment, the weather having been more
moderate during their journey. They had an en-
thusiastic reception, and marched to their barracks
accompanied by an immense crowd cheering them
all the way. Both officers and men were disap-
' pointed to find there was no immediate prospect of
their taking the field against an enemy, and
growled, "Just like our luck." The regiment is
one of three, I believe, in the service which has
never been in action, and has not a single name
upon its colours.

The 62d and 63d Regiments are on their way
from Halifax, and may be expected to arrive at the
end of the week. Their destination is said to be
Canada West. The Guards will be quartered at
Montreal, in a splendid range of stone buildings,
just completed, on the site of the Hotel Dieu. The
Engineers are in the Roman Catholic College, where
quarters are also prepared for the Rifles.
Threats having been made by Americans on the
frontier to blow up the tube of the Victoria-bridge,
steps have been taken to prevent any such attempt.
The tube is to be closed at both ends by strong
gates, which will only be opened to allow the pas-
sage of trains ; the doors of the passenger cars will
be locked while passing through the tube, to pre-
vent any person leaving them ; and a picket guard
is to be stationed at each end.

Winter fairly set in on New Year's-night with a
furious storm of wind, which did a large amount of
damage on the Atlantic coast, and it is feared has
occasioned twiny wrecks. On Saturday the total
loss of the Parana was reported at Halifax, but it
could not be traced to any reliable source. The
rumour occasioned much painful excitement for a
time, but it was dispelled by the result of inquiries
at the various telegraph stations on the Gulf, where
the story was neither known nor believed. The re-
port appears to have originated in Halifax, whence
it was telegraphed to New York. Since New
Year's•day the cold has been intense, with a high
wind, and the St. Lawrence is at last frozen over
opposite this city. Very little snow has yet fallen,
and the roughness of the country roads is an im-
pediment to the usual winter business.

The only noticeable novelty of the past week has
been the extraordinary virulence of the attacks of
the Federal journals upon Canada ; her determina-

tion to resist invasion and the resolute unanimity
which her people have shown in taking up arms in

defence of the honour of the national flag and their
own liberties are the admitted causes of these
attacks. The Federal journals profess them-
selves unable to account for tho antagonism of
Canada, which they declare to have received no-
thing but benefits from the United States, and
from which they had therefore reason to ex-
pect a more friendly disposition. These benefits
were the Reciprocity Treaty, for the abrogation
of which the North is now clamorous. The
treaty expires by limitation, after notice, in
1866, and the Executive is hardly likely to take the
responsibility of such a violation of public faith
as its abrogation before that time, even should
Congress pass the threatened Act for that pur-
pose. That it has been largely beneficial to
Canada cannot be doubted, but it has been more
than equally so to the United States. At the
present time its advantages to Canada are sus-
pended by the Southern blockade, and the flood of
Western produce which it pours into our markets,
by lowering the value of home products, occasions
heavy losses to our farmers. We were indebted to
Southern votes for the treaty, and it was in the
South that we found a market for the great bulk of
the exports under it. The loyal States cannot
afford us a market for raw lumber and agri-
cultural produce, for they are competitors with us
in their production, and produce more than they
can consume. With the exception of wool, for
which there has been a large demand for blankets
and army clothing, all articles of Canadian pro-
duce usually exported to the United States under
the Reciprocity Treaty have, since the closure of
the Southern market declined in value fnlly a third,
with a prospect of a further decline. Butter, which
has seldom been below 20c. per pound for the last
six years, has not averaged 14c. since June; mess
pork has fallen from 20 dols. per barrel to 13 dols. ;
hogs from 6 dols. 50c. to 4 dols. 50c. per 100 lb. ;
beef, cheese, coarse grains, lumber, and ether articles
have fallen in like proportion, and would be unsale-
able at any price if pressed upon the market.

THE INTERVENTION IN
MEXICO.

La Patrze announces that it is the intention of
France to send to Mexico a body of troops equal to
that of the expeditionary corps to Syria. This
corps will be placed under the command of a general
of infantry. "We are also informed," says La
Patrie, " that the last despatches received from
Mexico have decided the allied nations to adopt
final measures as regards that country, and to oc-
cupy its capital until a permanent and regular
Government is established there with the free con-
sent of the population.
The Paris papers publish the following letter,
which is dated Vera Cruz, Dec. 20th :
"On the Bth of December, in the morning, the city of
Vera Cruz was thrown into confusion by the appearance of
a Spanish naval division, composed by two frigates and nine
steam transports. The impression produced by the arrival
of these forces in the roads of Sacrificios was the greater in-
asmuch as a hope bad been indulged in that the foreign in-
tervention with which the people knew that they were
threatened might be avoided, or at least adjourned through
diplomatic negotiations, which would allow them to pre-
pare for resistance. These illusions were doomed to dis-
appear before the reality, and a great panic succeeded the
inexplicable indifference which they had previously shown.
An immediate attack was expected ; the entrance of the port
was closed, and while the populace rushed towards the gates
which led into the country, the authorities hastened to carry
off the war materiel ; the city was declared in a state of
siege, and the National Guard was convoked in all haste.
The public agitation was calmed a little when it was ob-
served that the Spanish squadron went to take up in good
order a position in the anchorage of Anton Lizardo, 12
miles from the city; nevertheless, a species of emeute took
place in the evening, and the Government having caused
the Spanish three-masted vessel the Maria Concepcion,
which had been seized during the past year, to be brought
near the Mole, the people set fire to it. Tee Government
continued during that and the following day the disarma-
ment of the Fort San Juan d'Ulloa ; and of the 132 pieces
of artillery which it contained, it is estimatel that from 50
to 60 were carried off,
"On the morning of the 10th the second Spanish '
division, composed of 13 ships of war and sailing transports,
came to join those which were lying at anchor at Anton
Lizardo. The following day Admiral Rubalcaba, com-
mander of the fleet, announced to the captain of the French
and English vessels, the Foudre and the Ariadne, anchored
in the roads of Sacrificios, his intention to summon the
Governor of Vera Cruz to deliver into his possession the
town and fort of San Juan d'Ulloa, declaring to him that
if within 24 hours he (the Spanish Admiral) did not receive
a satisfactory answer, he would take the place by force,
leaving upon the Governor the responsibility as to what
might happen. It was agreed in the meantime between
the Spanish Admiral and the commander of the Foudre
that until the arrival of the commander-in-chief of the
French forces, the troops of her Catholic Majesty should
take under their protection the t rench and all French pro.
perty which might be found in any Mexican territory oc
cupied by the Spanish army.
" It was understood also—
" 1. That the consul of France and the superior French
commander should previously receive notice of any attack
by force against the city, so that measures might be taken
for the security of the French, as the case might require.
"2. That even after taking possession of Vera Cruz in
the name of her Cathoiic Majesty, the admiral commanding
in chief the French forces might, after his arrival, cause a
number of his troops, equal to those placed there by the
Spaniards, to enter the town and fortress.
"3. That the sums found in the public treasuries, as
well as those received at the Custom-house or the different
administration during the Spanish occupatian, should be
verified by a mixed commission, appointed ad hoc by the
Ministers of the three allied Courts, and placed in reserve
until the arrival of the commanders in chief, and that it
should not be disposed of for any purpose whatever.
"4. That no fort, no fortification, no public establish-
ment should be destroyed, unless in case of absolute neces-
sity, or if required for defence.
" That the blockade before the port against Mexican
vessels by the Spanish admiral should in no manner concern
French vessels, which should remain free to anchor in the
ports of Mexico, and carry on their commerce as previously.
" 6. That the commander-in-chief of the Spanish forces,
even when in possession of the city and forts of Vera Cruz,
should not advance into the interior, nor conclude any
treaty with the Mexican Government, without the partici-
pation of the Emperor.
" 7. In fine, that all rights soever belonging to France
should be reserved, the same as if she had assisted in taking
the place.
"Captain Von Donop, commander of the Ariadne, re-
quired on his own part the same conditions stipulated for by
the commander ofthe Foudre, and, like him, he believed it
to be his duty in the absence of precise instructions, from t
his Government, to abstain from joining the Spanish forces
in their attack on Vera Cruz,
" This last eventuality could not, besides, be realised, for
the very same day on which the interview took place on
. _

board the Foudre a proclamation from the Mexican general
announced the approaching abandonment of the city, and
forbade the inhabitants to furnish provisions to the
Spaniards.

" Prevented from moving for two days by the fury of the
north wind, it was not until the 14th that Admii al Rubal-
caba could succeed in sending to the Governor the summons
to surrender the place. As soon as the summons was known
in the city it hastened its evacuation. The Mexican General
Uraga, who had been appointed a few days previously to the
command of the eastern army, in the evening took posses-
sion of all the horses in the place, and forced all the owners
of beasts in the environs to de; art to a distance of eight
leagues at the least from Vera Cruz. The different roads
were encumbered with chariots and flying multitudes of
people inspired with terror; in the interior of the city the
houses were barricaded, and foreigners expected nothing but
pillage.

" On the 15th the reply of the Mexican authorities to the
summons was transmitted to the Spanish Admiral through
the Consul of France and the Commander of the Foudre.
It stated that the city and fort would be evacuated the same
day at noon- On the receipt of this reply the Admiral
quitted the anchorage at Anton Lizardo to go, at 4 o'clock
in the afternoon, and cast anchor before Vera Cruz, of
which the population, assembled on the terraces of the
houses, waited with a sort of unquiet desire the arrival of
the Spaniards. A deputation of the Ayuntamiento pre•
pared to open the gates; but the -weather, which during
the day had been favourable, became bad, and the debarks•
tion could not be effeceed. _ _

" On the 16th the Admiral himself advanced under the
walls of the Fort of San Juan d'Ulloa on board the steam
frigate Isabel la Catolica. He was joined towards the even-
ing by the Don Francisco do Assis, on board of which was
General Gasset. On the morning of the 17th the Spaniards
entered the city. They there found in the fort guns which
had not been even spiked, and considerable materials of
war. At noon the Spanish flag, hoisted over Vera Cruz,
was saluted by 21 guns by the Admiral's vessel.
" From that moment the Spaniards commenced to orga-
nize themselves. They disembarked at leisure their troops
and ammunition. But the proclamation of General Uraga,
who denounced as traitors to their country and threatened
with death all the Mexicans who remained with the
enemy, caused the departure of a great number of the
inhabitants of the city. Travellers arriving from the city
of Mexico found the roads choked up with abandoned
carriages, and cannon and baggage thrown into the
ditches; and they met soldiers without arms, clothing,
or bread. Suffering great
misery, and the irritation
caused thereby, it may be
expected that there will

speedily be found in the country bands of guerillas, causing
great disorders ; against which the arrival of the French
and English forces will be regarded by the majority of the
people as the surest and best guarantee, The possibility of
a modification in the political government of the country
appears to many as the only means of snatching it, once for
all, from an anarchy now become intolerable, and there is
mason to think that the honest and peaceable portion of the
nation will receive favourably, under present circumstances,
any measures which, while respecting their independence
and not affecting their amour propere, will assure to Mexico
in a durable manner order and security.
" The Minister of France at Mexico arrived on the 16th
December at Vera Cruz, He embarked the same day on
board the Foudre."