The Sun.
London, England, 1836-08-09 00:00:00

TEXAS.

So sudden and so unexpected have been the changes in
Texas, that it is worthy a brief retrenspect. During the
spring and summer of 1835 an important alteration in the
government of Mexico was in progress. it was the object
of Santa Anna and his adherents to consolit!ate the several
states under one general or "central "government. Some
of them temporarily resisted. The people of Texas, or a
portion of them, refused their assent to the chi.r. ge. In
pursuance of this determination they closed the custom-
houses, and took the management of public into
their own hands. Santa Anna, however, at the pc:4J of
the bayonet, soon compelled obedience "among the rc!rac-
tory, with the exception of the province of Texas.
In September, 1835, General Cos, with an army of less
than 1,000 men, took his station at Copan°, for the pur-
pose of protecting the civil authorities in the collection of
the revenue, and enforcing the laws. From thence he pro-
ceeded to Goliad, and havin7, left a detachment in that fort,
.he marched for Bexar. Some insurgents had collected and
were in arms at Gonzales, distant about 30 miles. He di-
rected them to be attacked; but being repulsed, he retreated
upon I3exar, and there fortified himself.
About this time, Colonel Milan, having command of a
detachment. surprised Goliad,.and captured the Mexicans
who were in possession of it. An army of 800 or 1,000
Men, principally volunteers from the western states, was
collected, and beseiged, for more than two months, the for-
tress of Bexar. Wearied with their situation, the New
Orleans volunteers, led on by Colonel Milan, assaulted the
fort for several days in succession. The Colonel was
slain ; but General CO3 evacuated the town, arid retreated
to the Alamo. Here, closely besieged and short of provi-
sions, be agreed to surrender the fort, and march his troops
out of Texas.

After the departure of the Mexicans, the revolutionists
divided among themselves, :Ind a scene of distraction and
confusion ensued. Colonel Johnson, with some troops
under his command, moved towards the Rio Grande ;
another portion were stationed near Gonzales ; while some
of the most honest and patriotic American volunteers re-
turn «I to their homes in disgust. Thus, disorganized and
divided into factions, a convention was called, but separated
without coining to any definitive conclusion as to the policy
which ought to be pursued, or the form of govehment that.
they should adopt.
A second convention was held in March, 1836, and a
temporary Government arranged. The constitution was
formed at a Moment when the members of the .-onvention
were terror-stricken, and under the influence, if not eon-
tror, of some of the worst men that even Te.xas has within
her boundaries. That constitution contains provisions, in
reference to grants of land, which would disgrace A
band of acknowledged freebooters. In this instrument no
respect is paid to that ancient proverb—" Honour among
thieves." The civil Government "was dissolved, almost
as soon as .formed ; whereupon General Houstoun. the
Commander-in-Chief of the Tcxian army, declared Texas
" a free, sovereign, and independent state."
_ .

Colonel Fannin took command of about 500 volunteers
at Brazona, and marched against the city of Matamoras.
Near Goliad he halted, having heard that the Mexican army
was advancing upon him. In this fortress he took refuge.
The Mexicans entered Texas, from San Luis, in February.
and with the aid of their cavalry surprised and killed a num-
ber of Texians. Colonel Travis, with 200 men, held, but
subsequently gave up, the town of Bcxar, and entered the
Alamo. This the Mexicans carried by storm, and put to
death every soul within its walls. No attempt was made
hy General Houstoun to succour or relieve Colonel Travis.
As soon as Houstoun heard of the tregedy of the Alamo, he
burnt Gonzales, and ordered a precipitate retreat, which he
continued across the Colorado and the Brazoa. The panic
nroduced by the massacre of the Alamo, and the retreat of
Houstoun, can only be imagined, no adequate description of
it can be given. It was at this moment, and under such
circumstances, that the constitution was formed.
In the morasses and swamps near San Filippo General
Houstoun encamped, while the newly created President of
Texas, with his Ministers of State, sought refuge at Harris-
burgh. The Mexican General Urrea, with his division, was
at Matamoras, and advancing upon Goliad, where Colonel
Fannin commanded. Fannin burnt Goliad, and in an at-
tempt-to retreat with his forces to Gonzales was surrounded,
and surrendered himself and men as prisoners of war to the
Mexican army. He and his brave companions were after-
wards butchered in cold blood. Other detachments of
Texian volunteers surrendered about this period, in some
instances without firing a gun.
'1 be whole of the improved country was now abandoned
to the Mexicans. The settlements were made a heap o
of smouldering ruins. San Filippo was burnt. An unex-
atripled rise of the water in the Brazos retarded the advance
of the Mexicans who were on the western side of the river.
Houston was encamped on the east side. Santa Anna
crossed below San Filippe, and proceeded upon Harrisburg.
After they had burnt this place, the Texian Cabinet fled to
Galveston. Consternation and dismay seemed to pervade
every branch of the new Government. General Houstoun,
with his troops, was on the point of being hemmed in on
every side, and overwhelmed by a superior and triumphant
army. Victory or death were the alternatives. Texians
demanded of their General to be led to battle. Houstoun
promptly advanced by forced marches about sixty miles,
and fell in with the Mexicans on the 20th of April. The
next day he surprised and attacked them in a totally unpre-
pared state. The assault was desperate and furious.
" Remember the Alamo," was the pass-word. No quarter
for .some time was given, and such was the panic in the
Mexican ranks, that but little resistance was made. Santa
Anna's whole division was routed, captured, or put to
death. He, with many of his officers were made prisoners.
In pursuance of his orders, the remainder of the Mexican
army retreated. Since that action no military movements
have been made, but the War will be renew° 1, and probably
with great fury.
In conducting the next campaign the Texians must suffer
severely from the want of provisions. The country is
devastated, the settlements depopulated, and, conse-
quently, no crops have been planted, or if planted, have
mostly perished from the want of care and culture. A
strong and powerful army can easily be recruited by them
from the south and south-western parts of the United
States ; but the want of means to support that army will
be sensibly felt. The Texas, however, will never be
reconquered by the Spaniards of Mexico. It will remain
in possession of Americans as an appendage to the
United States, or as a sovereign and independent power.

To-morrow will be the anniversary of the founding
of Greenwich Observatory, in the year ¶675.