The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-01 00:00:00

gtIN, LONDON, TiIETELSDAY EVENING, MAY 1, 1862.

to the above letter; it was on the 24th that Doblado
replied as follows :
"My dear Sir,—l beg to answer the private letter you
addressed me the day before yesterday with regard to Don
Manuel Robles, and have to state that the Government, as
well in this case as in all others which may present them-
selves will act in strict conformity with the law. Nothing
is to be feared from the allies, seeing that they have declared
in the preliminaries that they will not interfere in the into •
nor government of Mexico, and it is undoubted that one of
the rights of sovereignty is that of punishing according to
the existing laws any ono who may have transgressed them.
" On the other hand, it is necessary to call your atten-
tion to the fact that the conduct of Don Manuel Robles
has fully justified the fears and misgivings of the Govern-
ment regarding him. "N, DonLADo,"
" March 24.

" Sir,—As the representative of a friendly Po;er,lhavo
ever viewed with a feeling of impartiality the political dis-
sensions of this country, which have caused so much bleed
to flow. In my view of the case, on the score of humanity
and of true democratic principles, it requires great crimes,
wise laws, scrupulously constitutional, which command
universal respect, to justify in any political matter the pun-
ishment of death.

"I think, therefore, that the life of Robles can be in no
danger, but the note of your Excellency does not entirely
tranquillise me, I hope, however, that in the event of his
being sentenced to death, the President will make use of
the prerogative, which the Chief of every State possesses,
to pardon ; and, if necessary, I beg of you, Sir, personally,
to implore the clemency of his Excellency, in my name, to
make use of that glorious prerogative in favour of a man
who has had the honour to represent the Mexican Govern-
ment in the United States, and who carries with him the
Sympathies of many both here and in foreign contries.

"E. DE WAGE ER."

It is reported that a conspiracy has been dis-
covered among the troops stationed at Perote, and
that 80 have been shot. These are the first fruits
of that diabolical law alluded to in my last, and we
shall not have to thank our representatives if we
escape its sanguinary enactments. There is much
to be feared. All now depends upon the activity
of the French.

MAR en 28.
It is reported in well-informed quarters that the
French, tired of waiting for conferences which it
would seem are never to take place, exasperated
with the contributions daily levied upon their coun-
trymen, and horrified at the murder of poor Robles,
have declared the preliminaries broken, and given
notice to Zaragosa, the Commander-in-Chief of the
Mexican forces, that it is their intention to retire to
their original position at Paso-Ancho, where they
will remain for 24 hours, at the expiration of which
period they will consider themselves at liberty to
march upon the capital, or in any other direction
they may think fit. God grant that this report
may be well founded, for the position of all
foreigners here has been almost intolerable.
Thus, at the expiration of three months tire French
are about to do what the allies should have done at
the outset. All those absurd reports about the
valour, unanimity, and patriotism of the Mexicans
so industriously circulated, and which certainly
seem to have had their effect upon General Prim
and her Majesty's representative, will no doubt now
be put forward in justification of the course pur-
sued by those gentlemen. Everybody here knows
that what I wrote months ago is the truth, " That
had the allies immediately upon their landing
marched to the interior there were not even troops
to oppose them, and that had there been they would
not have fired a shot." As it is, I have certain in-
formation that Zaragosa's troops are not to be relied
upon ; they are all bordering upon a state of
mutiny, and will disband the first time they are
brought face to face with the enemy. How can
the poor creatures be expected to fight when they
receive no pay and are positively starving ? The
accuracy of my statements will be tolerably well
tested if the French, with a virtual declaration of
war, make their way to the capital without any
serious opposition.
It has long been evident to every one here that
the truth of the old adage, "Too many cooks spoil
the broth," was being marvellously exemplified in
Mexico. With M. de Saligni pulling one way, Sir
C. Wyke another, and General Prim intent only
upon his own private interests, how could any good
result be expected ? Unfortunately many valuable
lives have been sacrificed by these wretched diplo-
matic:squabbles, and foreigners here have been left

into the question of who was right and who was
wrong, it is sufficient to state that public opinion
here is decidedly in favour of M. de Saligni ; and
every Englishman has heard with pleasure that
the French and English Governments are not only
perfectly d'accord upon the Mexican question,
but that the former are now to be entrusted
with the entire management of this affair, Our
interest will be sufficiently secured by England
being a party to the treaty. It would be well if
Spain would withdraw upon the same terms, al-
though, if France takes the lead, her doing so is of
secondary importance.
It appears that all our troops, with the exception
of 150 men under the command of Captain Elliott,
have been withdrawn. They were on the point of
marching when orders were given for their re-em-
barcation. The Donegal sailed on the Bth, the
Sanspareil has since sailed, and the Mersey and
Challenger were expected to leave shortly, all for
Bermuda. Our gallant fellows are naturally much
disappointed at not being allowed to take a part in
the enterprise. It appears that sickness had been
making rapid strides, and that the vomit() was mak-
ing its appearance. What explanation is to be
given for keeping these troops six weeks in that
pesthole Vera Cruz I know not, but it is to be
hoped that some will be demanded. By accounts
forwarded to me a few days back, I am informed
that up to that time 27 men had died, and that out
of 250 marched down to the port on the morning
of the 9th not more than 45 could carry their mus-
kets. The mortality among the Spaniards is said
to have been fearful. The French have not suffered
so much, but they very properly were not allowed
to remain at Vera Cruz ; they were marched at
once to th a Tejeria. Up to the present moment
every one would suppose that the allies had been
sent for the special protection of the Mexican Go-
vernment ; but now that the French are to have
the management we may hope for better things.
The expenses our Government have been put to up
to now have not bean very great—something above
6,000 dole., as all the land transport provided for
cur troops has been taken by the French at cos
price

It appears from all we hear that General Almonte
is to play an important part in the future of Mexico.
He came out by the last British packet, and is sup-
posed to be in the confidence of the Emperor of the
French. He is of the Conservative party, but a
man much respected and looked up to. It is now
an indisputable fact that the Conservatives and Mo-
deradoes are in favour of a monarchy, and I have
little doubt that if the people generally could ex-
press their opinion the great majority of the nation
would be of the same way of thinking. I trust the
French authorities will have stifle:cut savoir faire
not to side with any particular party. They ought
to come to the capital unbiassed, appoint, in the first
instance, a provisional Government and endeavour
to ascertain the real sentiments of the people. With
proper management the suggestion of a monarchical
form of government might be made to emanate from
the Mexican people themselves. They are quite
ripe for it, and it would be good policy to give
them an opportunity of expressing their opinion
upon a subject so vitally affecting their own in-
terests, more especially when we are pretty certain
that those opinions will coincide with our own. Of
course I am supposing that no determination has
already been arrived at.

Should an interregnum take place I would
strongly recommend the appointment of committees
to inquire into and report upon the liabilities of the
country, its resources, and the best means of raising
revenue, &c. ; and it would at the same time be a
mere act of justice to the country itself, as well as
to those who have claims upon it, to institute search-

log inquiries into the manner in which the church
property has been :disposed of, the effect of the
several contracts and privileges alluded to in the
former part of my letter, and various other matters

at pre,cnt involved in much mystery. At the pre-
sent moment we are wofully deficient in any correct
statistical information, and, in the event of a per-
fectly new state of things being initiated, it is im-

poitant to ascertain as far as possible the foundation
upon which we have to build, For instance, there

can be no doubt that with honest collection the duties
at the ports will net 9,000,000 dols, annually;
that with a Government affording guarantees for
life and property the waste lauds will become of
great value ; and that by a judicious system of tv ya-
tion there will be no difficulty in raising the revenues
of INfe.rzico to an amount very far exceeding, any-
thing that has yet been heard of. All these sub-
jects are deserving of much consideration, and, as
they must necessarily be interesting to the bond-
holders and all other Mexican creditors, I will en-
deavour to touch upon them more at length on some
future occasion. In the meantime, as it is known
to be the intention of the French Government to
ascertain and settle the claims of its citizens, a
like measure of justice ought to be meted out to
the subjects of all other countries. Commissioners
ought, therefore, at once to be appointed to adjudi-
cate upon these claims, most of which, arising out
of violations of our original treaty, ought in justice
to take precedence of every other debt. It has been
the fashion for British Ministers to write disparag-
ingly of such claims, but I will venture to assert
that with very few exceptions no demands can be
more just or equitable, and that any opinion formed
to the contrary is either based on ignorance of the
facts or a disinclination, and perhaps in some cases
a want of capacity, to go into their investigation.
Such a matter ought to be taken altogether out of
the hands of the Legation, and intrusted to persons
properly qualified.
The number of French troops who took up their
quarters at Tehuacan appear to have been about
3,000. Since then further reinforcements have ar-
rived at Vera Cruz, and it is expected by the end of
the month that Gen. Lorencez will have about 10,000
men under his command—a force more than suffi
cient to make their way from one end of the Re-
public to the other. Yesterday advices reached this
city that Gen. Prim had been superseded by Gen.
Dulce, who had arrived at Vera Cruz, some say,
with an additional 6,000 men.

Mr. Corwyn has been indefatigable in his endea-
vours to frustrate the objects of the intervention, he
has been doing his utmost to support the present
Government by every means in his power, and to-
day it was confidently reported that a treaty was
signed yesterday, "by which Mexico was to cede
to the United States a portion of the Northern
States and the waste lands in other parts of the
Republic, receiving in return some 20,000,000 dols.
and the assistance of 8,000 men." Although I
cannot positively affirm that this treaty has been
signed, yet I know that it has been for some time
under consideration, and that it is nearly sure to be
so as soon as certain intelligence of the march of
the French reaches the capital. It will be for
England and France to say what construction is to
be put upon this conduct. M. de Saligni will be
officially informed of the fact by the present courier
and doubtless communicate the circumstance to the
French Minister at Washington.
A Conservative organ, published under the rose,
has just been handed to me, which states that the
chiefs of that party have agreed to the following
Articles :

" 1. To recognise Almonte as chief of the Re-
public and of the forces which adhere to this plan.

"2. The said Almonte to be fully empowered to
enter into arrangements with the chiefs of the allied
forces to convoke a National Assembly, to take into
consideration the deplorable state of the country,
decide upon the form of Government, put a stop to
anarchy, and assure to Mexicans peace and order,"
This shows pretty clearly the opinion of that
party.

to bear the cost of the new street, in which case the
corporation might themselves construct it without
the intervention of the Metropolitln Board. Mr.
Fry said it was tnattcr for regret that the corpora-
:lca fur the first time were to be precluded from
making a great public improvement within their
own jurisdiction, but as they were not prepared to
accept the alternative of paying the cost of it out of
their own funds, they would be obliged to submit
to the proposed arrangement.

Mr. DE JERSEY recalled the time when the Com-
mon Council were entrusted with the expenditure
of about 1,000,000 in the erection of London-bridge,
and in the making of King William and Princes
streets, and he thought they might well have been
charged with the construction at the public cost of
the proposed new thoroughfare to the Mansion-
house.

Alderman BESLEY deprecated the interference of
the Metropolitan Board in works of public im•
provement in the City, and condemned the proposed
arrangement as the introduction by them of the thin
end of the wedge.
The further consideration of the subject was at
length adjourned, and the tout t rose.