The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-13 00:00:00

" EARL RUSSELL TO EARL COWLEY.

" (Extract.) " Foreign-office, Jan. 20.
" I saw Count Flahault yesterday. His Excel-
lency informed me that he was instructed to state
that the French Government considered it neces-
sary to send an additional land force to Mexico. I
had been prepared for this communication by your
Excellency's despatch of the 17th of January.
" Count Flahault went on to say that the precipi-
tate step taken by General Serrano in commencing
orerations without waiting for the forces of France
and England was calculated to enhance the diffi-
culties of the expedition ; that it now seemed in-
evitable that the allied forces must advance into the
interior of Mexico ; and not only would the force
at present agreed upon be insufficient for such an
operation, but the operation itself would assume a
character in regard to which the Emperor could
not allow the French force to be in a position of in-
feriority to that of Spain, or to run the risk of being
compromised.

" His Imperial Majesty has therefore determined
to send a reinforcement of between 3,000 and 4,000
men to Mexico.

" I told Count Flahaultthatl very much regretted
this step. I had no objection to offer on behalf of
her Majesty's Government to the validity of the
argument that the forces of France should not be
inferior in numbers to those of Spain. I would,
therefore, only observe that it would not be possible
for her Majesty's Government to detach any greater
amount of troops for operations on shore than the
force of marines already sent to the Mexican coast."

" EARL RUSSELL TO M. ISTURIZ.

" Foreign-office, Jan. 23.
" M. le Ministre,—ln acknowledging the receipt
of your Excellency's communicatioa of the 18th
of January last I have to state to your Excel-
lency that, although her Majesty's Government
are not entirely satisfied with the explanation
offered by your Excellency as to the departure
from Cuba of the Spanish expedition to Mexico be-
fore the time agreed upon between the three Powers,
they are willing to accept your Excellency's declara-
tion that it has been the intention of her Catholic
Majesty's Government to act in conformity with
the provisions of the treaty of the 20th of Novem-
ber, 1861,

" I am, &c.,

" RUSSELL."

" EARL RUSSELL TO SIR J. CRAMPTON.

" Foreign-office, Jan. 19, 1862.
"Sir,—Although her Majesty's Government are
estisfied, from the explanations given by M. Isturiz,
that the Government of her Catholic Majesty has
given instructions to her Catholic Majebty's com-
manders at Savannah in conformity with the agree-
ments entered into with her Majesty and his Ma-
jesty the Emperor of the French, yet the proceeding
of Marshal Serrano are calculated to produce some
uneasiness.

" The departure of the Spanish expedition from
ilavannah and the military occupation of Vera
Cruz, to say nothing of the tone of the proclamation
issued by the Spanish Government, demonstrate
that a combined expedition, at a great distance from
Europe, is subject to the discretion at all times, to
the rashness sometimes, of the separate commanders
and diplomatic agents.
" I wish you to read to Marshal O'Donnell and
M. Calderon Collantes the preamble and the article
of our convention which define what our interven-
tion is intended to do, and what it is not intended
to do.

4. You will point out that the allied forces are not
to be used for the purpose of depriving the Mexi-
cans of their undoubted right of choosing their own
form (it' Government.

" Should the Mexicans choose to constitute a new
Government which can restore order and preserve
amicable relations with foreign nations, her Ma-
jesty's Government will be delighted to hail the
formation, and to support the consolidation of such
a Government. If, on the contrary, the troops of
foreign Powers are to be used to set up a Govern-
ment repugnant to the sentiments of Mexico, and
to support it by military force, her Majesty's Go-
vernment could expect no other result from such
an attempt than discord and disappointment. In
such a case the allied Governments would only
have to choose between withdrawing from such an
enterprise with some shame, or extending their in-
terference beyond the limits, scope, and intention
of the triple convention.
"You will explain to Marshal O'Donnell that
this apprehension on our part does not arise from
any suspicion of the good faith of the Government
of her Catholie Majesty, but commanders acting at
a distance require to be very closely watched, lest
they should commit their principals to unwarrant-
able proceedings.
" You will real this despatch to M. Calderon
Collantes.—l am, &c.,

is RUSSELL."

" EARL COWLEY TO EARL RUSSELL.-(RECEIVED

JAN. 25.)
" (Extract.)

" Paris, Jan. 24.
" have heard from so many quarters that the
language of
Officers going with the reinforcements
to Mexico is that it is for the purpose of placing the
Archduke ;Maximilian upon the throne of that
country that I have thought it necessary to ques-
tion M. Thouvencl upon the subject.
I inquired of M. Thouvenel whether any nego-
tiations had been pending between this Government
and that of Austria with reference to the Archduke
Maximilian. His Excellency replied in the nega-
tive. He said that the negotiations had been car-
ried on by Mexicans only, who had come over for
the purpose and gone to Vienna."

"EARL RUSSELL TO SIR C. WITICE.

" Foreign-office, Sao. 27.
" Sir,—I have received and laid before the Queen
your despatches from the 18th to the 28th of
November.
"Since I last wrote to you the Emperor of the
French has decided to send 3,000 more troops to

Vera Cruz.
" It is supposed that these +roops will march at
cnee with the French and a part of the Spanish
troops already there to the city of Mexico.
" It is said that the Archduke Ferdinand Maxi-
milian will be invited by a large body of Mexicans
to place himself on the throne of Mexico, and that
the Mexican people will gladly hail such a change.
" I have little to add to my former iostructions

on this head. If the Mexican people, by a sponta-
neous movement, place the Austrian Archduke on
the throne of Mexico, there is nothing in the con-
vention to prevent it.

" On the other hand, we could be no parties to a
forcible intervention for this purpose. The Mexi-
cans must consult their own interests.

" I have to add to my former iustructions respect-
ing the Admirals in the Atlantic and Pacific, that
you will make no objection to the withdrawal of
the Marines from Vera Cruz when the unhealthy
season shall arrive.

"You will also not object to any measures which
may be concerted between the senior British naval
officer at Vera Cruz and Admiral Maitland for the
occupation or blockade of any or all the Mexican
ports on the Pacific which may be thought neces-
sary, for the purposes of the convention, to occupy
or to blockade. Acapulco, San Blas, and Mazatlan
are the ports chiefly alluded to in this instruction.
" I am, &c., " RUSSELL."

SIR C. TYKE TO EARL RUSSELL.-(RECEIVED
JAN. 29, 1862.)

" (Extract.) " Vera Cruz, Dec. 29, 1861.
" The nation are now thoroughly frightened at
the formidable coalition formed against them, and
will be more disposed to grant what we want before
blood has been shed and their passions excited, than
they will be when once engaged in a struggle with
the Spaniards.
" The rejection of my convention by the Con-
gress, as described in my last month's correspon-
dence, had the effect of breaking up the late Cabi-
net, and the crisis which then ensued brought Gen.
Doblado forward, who would only consent to form
a Government on the condition of having full
powers conferred on him by Congress, authorising
him to settle pending questions with the three
Powers as he deemed best. Having obtained these
he adjourned the Assembly until April next, and
now remains unfettered to make the best arrange-
ment he can with us.

" He is a man of such talent and influence in the
country, that the Reactionary chiefs began to lay
down their arms and give in their adhesion on his
appointment becoming known, and he is now en-
gaged in forming his Cabinet from the best men he
could find, irrespective of their political opinions.
" His first act was to entreat me not to leave
Mexico, as he was, he said, now able to conclude an
arrangement with me that would give England
positive guarantees for the due fulfilment of their
engagements towards us. As this overture was
made to me after the arrival of last month's mail,
bringing English newspapers in which it was posi-
tively stated that a convention was about being
signed, binding the three Powers to a joint inter-
vention in Mexico, I could not, of course, take ad.
vantage of an offer which, under other circum-
stances, I should have gladly availed myself of.

" Everything depends on the manner in which
matters are managed here at first. If the interven-
tion is properly received, it will prove a blessing to
the country; but, on the other hand, violent mea-
sures at first will spoil all, and engage us in an un-
dertaking the difficulties of which can hardly be
overrated.

" Fortunately, the Spanish commanders both
military and naval, appear to be men of great pru-
dence and discretion, and up to the present moment
they have shown a spirit of justice and conciliation
which speaks highly in their favour.
"In a long conversation I had with Admiral Ru-
balcava the day before yesterday, he expressed his
opinion on this subject in terms nearly identical to
those I have now used in giving my own."

VOYAGE OF R.M.S. ORLANDO FROM

PLYMOUTH TO HALIF.dX.

From the size and description of the frigate
Orlando, 51, Captain Scott, C. 8., as well as from the
circumstances under which she was commissioned
and sent away from England, more than ordinary
interest is felt in her movements. It will be re-
membered that this ship was commissioned, got
ready, manned, and sent to sea within a week. She
left Plymouth Sound on Dec. 24, and passed out at
the east end of the breakwater with a fair wind.
When off the Eddystone she shaped her course and
made easy sail. Steaming easy and easy she made
11 and 12 knots. In the meantime things about
the ship had been put to rights, and everything got
into ship-shape and comfortable trim. In these five
days half the distance was accomplished. The first
misfortune happened to one of the topping-lifts of
one of the quarter davits, which went, followed by
a cutter and jollyboat. Then came an appalling
gale of wind. It was deemed best to put the ship
under sail to save coals. The fires were banked
up. Away went tiller ropes, and the drawbacks of
hasty fitting-out began to show themselves in the
stretching of the rigging or lanyards ; the masts
worked threateningly and frightfully, and the more
they worked the more the rigging stretched. The
pitching and straining thus occasioned made the
ship leak. The water at last got so high as to put
out the fires in the after boilers. The pumps were
resorted to, but every one of them refused to work ;
not a drop of water could be drawn. Here was fresh
and serious cause of anxiety, and almost alarm. It
was found that the pipes had been broken by the
working of the ship. After much trouble steam
was got up in the foremost boilers, and the engines
put to work, so as to inject from the bilge. In a
short time this means of relieving the ship failed;
the pipe had become choked: Bailing was com-
menced, but was found ineffective against the rate
at which the ship was taking in water. The chief
engineer, Mr. Oliver, at this juncture proved him-
self equal to the emergency, and went into the water
up to his neck, gropped, and found the rose of the
Injection pipe. It was covered and rendered useless
. ' by old clothes, chips, and rubbish that had been
stowed away in the bilge. He soon cleared it and
cut off the end of the bilge pump. Away went the
engines, and now the water was soon under com-
mand. Some tons of rubbish were cleared out of the
bilge, so that the donkey engines could work effec-
tively. The ship was now put under sail. Even
after the water difficulty had been abated, troubles
continued. Gale followed gale in rapid and conti-
nuous succession. The Orlando leaked everywhere;
over the beds of officers it was necessary to have the
protection of awnings, and in spite of these water
was rushing about in all directions. So great was
the force of the gale, and so much did it stretch,
that it became necessary to swift in the rigging.
Tho compasses had not been swung before the de-
parture of the ship, and the safety of sailing by the
chronometer was uncertain. On Jan. 14th the land
was sighted. A better landfall could not have been
made, which, under the circumstances, is most cre-
ditable to the master, Mr. A. I, Vcitch. On the 15th
the ship came into Halifax harbour. The cold was
frightfully severe, and every one on board felt it
more or less. The Orlando was taken alongside the
dockyard, for the purpose of having her defects
made good. This would take some time. An inspec-
tion of the ship after she came into harbour only
served to proved how much she had suffered, and
increases the wonder how she could have been
brought in.

The Madrid diligence, which left Bayonne on
the 6th, was robbed at Irun of 4,000 piastres during tho
examination of the travellers' luggage. The conductor
has been arrested.

NEGLECT OF A PROVERB.—A correspondent at
Rome writes on the 4th inst :—"Two American travellers,
forgetful of the adage that at Rome one must do as the
Romans do, got into a row yesterday for not taking off their
hats when a procession issued from a church, on the Piazzi
di Trevi, carrying the Host with the usual solemnity.
As the two gentlemen alluded to rendered themselves rather
conspicuous by standing erect and covered amidthe kneel-
ing and bareheaded spectators, one of the priests remon-
strated with them on the subject, but, finding that they
would neither withdraw nor uncover, he proceeded to
knock their hats off; a scuffle ensued, and the priest re-
joined the procession, which, making a round, soon after
returned to the same spot. The Americans had resumed
their hats and their stand ; but the priest, instead of con
descending to fisticuffs a second time, sent a couple of
fe
nwntsiturhaattaectihowniesi
tptbyhlulimett,theeilelnnt
inflicting
oi eoftfioffenders,anagmusket
similar
ua saks:
eht
staggering
ckgohgi
nne
kind
ihononengye
did in gendarmesthe
travellers,obflotwheonth
the other. The best piece of advice to over scrupulous
iert ob usualr
ea
Protestants on such occasions is to turn into a side street
if they object to raise their hats on passing the pro-
c,enion."
_.,