The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-27 00:00:00

ATTACK ON SAN JUAN D'ULLOA.
(From the New York Herald.)

We have the pleasure of presenting to our readers
this morning some important information connected
with the contemplated attack on the city of Vera Cruz
and the Castle of San Juan d'Ulloa by the United States
army and navy. This information has been in our pos
session for several days past; but, inasmuch as its pub-
lication before to-day would have had a tendency to
embarrass the Government, or perhaps frustrate to a
certain extent their plan of operations, wo withheld it
from the public until a certain contingency should have
occurred that would enable us to divulge it without pre-
judice to the public interests.
That contingency has occurred, and the sailing of the
United States line-of-battle ship Ohio, and the sloop of
war Decatur, from Norfolk, on the Ist inst., will make
the intelligence clear to our readers.
It will be recollected by our readers that the plan of
operations of the army and navy were first published in
this journal. It may be necessary to recapitulate them here,
so that the history of the matter will becomplete. General
Scott takes command of the army, and will rendezvous
at the Island of Lobos. Thither the whole of the army,
with the exception of that portion left under the com-
mand of General Taylor, for the purpose of garrisoning
Saltillo, Monterey, Camargo, &c., which will be held by
him, will be transported from Tampico by the several
vessels, nearly 100 in number, which the Government
has chartered here and in other cities for the purpose.
That island affords an excellent harbour, and is only
eight miles distant from the main shore, and from its
abundance of water, &c., is admirably adapted for a
rendezvous. From this island the troops will be con-
veyed to the shore, and it is for this duty that the great
number of launches were ordered by the Government.
From the point of landing, General Scott will march
immediately to the city of Vera Cruz, and by a pre-
concerted arrangement between him and Commodore
Perry, the city of Vera Cruz and the Castle of San Juan
d'Ulloa will be simultaneously attacked by the army and
navy.
Thus much we published on a former occasion.
The details of the great programme have been studi-
ously concealed by General Scott and the Administra-
tion, as well as by all who were acquainted with them.
Our army officers received orders from day to day, but
their purport was never divulged. The line-of-battle
ship Ohio underwent repairs recently, with the view,
ostensibly, of proceeding to the Pacific, and joining the
blockading squadron on that side of Mexico, and sailed
with sealed orders from Hampton-roads on the Ist
instant. These orders are not to be opened until she
gets into a certain latitude ; but we will take the liberty
of making onr readers acquainted with their contents
—probably, before Captain Stringham himself will know
them.

This vessel has sailed ostensibly for the Pacific, but
before she will have reached there she will have taken
part in the grand demonstration about to be made on
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Vera Cruz until the morning of the day when General
Scott will attack that city. The appearance of a
vessel of her size and armament would reasonably in-
duce the Mexicans to suppose that an attack was immediately, and it is to prevent this suspicion
that she will remain out of sight until the eventful time
shall have arrived. The Decatur will act as an agent to
convey from the squadron there to her, and inform her
of the proper time to take her place. Between General
Scott and Commodore Perry, who will relieve Commo-
dore Conner, signals have been arranged that will
enable Commodore Perry to know the precise day or
hour that he will commence the attack on the city.
Commodore Perry will immediately communicate, by
means of the Decatur, or one of the small steamers, to
the Ohio, the commander of which will govern himself
accordingly. The moment that General Scott com
mences to attack the city the whole fleet will play on the
castle, for the purpose of preventing the garrison from
acting in concert with the Mexicans in Vera Cruz. In
this manner it is supposed that both the city and the
castle will be taken in a short time.
The time appointed for this demonstration is the 20th
of this month, if General Scott be ready by that time ;
if not, as soon after as possible. At all events the Ohio
and Decatur, which sailed on the Ist, and the Missis-
sippi, which will sail in a day or two with Commodore
Perry, are directed to be in that neighbourhood by that
time. The object of secrecy has been to put Santa Anna
off his guard, and prevent him from co-operating with
the troops in Vera Cruz. He must remain where he is,
for fear that General Taylor might advance towards
San Luis.

The Castle of San Juan d'Ulloa will be for a time oc-
cupied by our troops after its capture, for the purpose
of testing the effect of climate on them. If it prove
unhealthy, it will probably be razed to the water, so
that the enemy will not be able to avail himself of it
hereafter. This ought to be done, if the Mexicans re-
fuse to treat for peace after its capture.
If the attack be made on the 20th, an express wiii,
we understand, be immediately sent to Washington, or
to the nearest point to that city, and the news will reach
us about the Ist of April. In the meantime, however,
it is not improbable that a grand battle will be fought
between the troops under Santa Anna and those under
General Taylor. Two great battles at the same time
would be a serious blow to Mexico.
The above particulars may be relied upon for accu-
racy. It will be seen, therefore, that we may very soon
expect to hear important news from the seat of war.

SILK EXPORTS.--It appears from an account just
issued by order of the House of Lords that the value of the
silk manufactures exported in 1844 was 736,455..; of this
amount the aggregate official value of silk. goods not of the
manufacture of the United Kingdom (principally Bandannas,
Coral's, and other handkerchiefs) was 642.234/. In 1845, the
value of the silk exports was 766,4051., of which the foreign
manufactures were of the official value of 629,5781. In 1846,
the total value of the silk exports was 837,5771., of which
amount 696,1804 was the official value of the foreign silk
manufactures.