The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-13 00:00:00

Palace as the head of the Government.

the dissensions of Moderados and Puros (the
Conservatives and Radicals of Mexico) have termi-
nated for the present in the elevation of an indi,
vidual towards whom both parties entertain feelings
of dislike and distrust ; and it is one great proof of
Santa Anna's superior energy that, in spits of those
feelings, his presence seldom fails to produce submis-
sion. The clergy, whose money and influence con-
tributed largely to the recent change, have obtained
from Santa Anna the repeal of the late law for the sale
of church property. The church must, however, suff,:r.
Santa Anna has obtained from Congress authority to
raise 20,000,000 of dollars, and from no other source than
the ecclesiastical coffers can any efficient aid be obtained.
Forced loans are proscribed as dangerous and ineffi-
cacious ; taxes are slow in operation, and tend to ex-
asperate the classes on whom the pressure of the war
chiefly falls ; Mexican credit in foreign countries is a
jest. The clergy must, therefore, consent to sacrifice a
portion of their property ; and this conceded, the ques-
tion becomes merely an arithmetical one, Santa Anna
endeavouring to extract as much, and the reverend body
to give as little as possible. Changes of Ministry have
become so common here, as to be scarcely worth record-
ing. Latterly, Gomez Ferias could find no one
to accept those appointments, and was obliged
to dispense with the assistance of a Cabinet. Santa
Anna has, however, succeeded in forming a Ministry
of rather a respectable character. The War Depart-
ment is given to General Ignacio Gutierrez, that of
Foreign Affairs to Senor Baranaa, Justice to Senor
Suarez Iriarte (a remnant of the Puros party), and
Finance to Don Juan Rondero. The last appoint-
ment is the only one which will excite any interest
in England. In peaceable times I should consider it
favourable to the bondholders. Senor Rondero has
never before been in office, but few men here are more
deeply versed in the abstruse mysteries of Mexican
finance. Originally a military man, he retains fob"
traces of that profession, and has long been closely con-
nected with the moneyed interest, which he may be c;)n-
sidered as representing in the present Cabinet. For a
Mexican, he is unusually sensitive on the subject of
credit, and en the whole I do not think Santa Anna
could have made a better selection. _

A note of woe is heard from Vera Cruz. That city,
styled " the heroic," as well as the strong castle of San
Juan de Ulloa, are said to have fallen into the hands of
the Americans, after a few days' bombardment by
General Scott. As yet it is difficult to learn here
any particulars of the surrender, but the public
dejection is evidently very great. The forces of General
Scott arrived late in the season on the coast.
The deadly scourge of the vomito appears generally in
the present month; and he has now not a moment to
lose in pushing his way to Jalapa, which he will perhaps
not do without opposition. Peurto Nacional and Plan
del Rio have to be passed, and both present natural obsta-
cles to the march of an army. The former has some forti-
fications, which have been thought impregnable by
the Mexicans, but fatal experience has shown that they
are not likely to prove so- to the Americans. Attacking
or attacked, the Mexicans seem fated to be defe ited.
The battle of the Angostura was fought chiefly
by American volunteers, who are described in a
letter from Saltillo as a most undisciplined rabble ; yet
Santa Anna, at the head of his chosen troops, much
more than double their number, was compelled to re-
treat before them. Already some indications of what is
likely to occur have been shown at Santa Fe, near
Vera Cruz, where General Romulo de la Vaya at-
tempted an attack on an American outpost, and was
immediately abandoned by his troops. This officer has
acquired an inconvenient sort of reputation by his con-
duct at Resaca de Guerrero, where he allowed himself
to be made a prisoner, instead of running away, like the
rest, for which Congress voted him a gold medal, and
the most extravagant expections are entertained of
his future exploits. Santa Anna has obtained per-
mission from Congress to resume the command of
the army, and- now goes to undertake the most dan-
gerous of his campaigns. Of the 25,000 men as•
sembled at San Luis Potosi previous to the battle of
the Angostura, probably not more than half are now
in the ranks, and a part of those must be left to
garrison San Luis. With national guards, militia,
and volunteers, Santa Anna may be able to oppose about
15,000 men to General Scott, in the neighbourhood of
Jalapa. Notwithstanding the dislike which Mexicans
entertain towards all foreigners, and the tenacity
with which every offer of peace from the Americans
has been rejected, there is little show of war-
like enthusiasm here. Every Mexican, indeed, asserts
that the war must be continued; but few are inclined to
take any personal share in the contest, and still fewer
to contribute to its expenses. A party, too,
exists who desire the subjugation of the country,
not from any love to a foreign yoke, but from disgust
at their own internal dissensions, and a convic-
tion of the impossibility of their establishing a perma-
nent Government amongst themselves. This party,
under the mask of patriotism, will continue to augment
the obstacles to peace, in order that the Americans may
be forced to convert their invasion into a conquest.
In the northern provinces the war has already taken the
latter form. The capital of the State of Chihuahua
has been occupied by eight hundred Ameri-
cans. They were met (I cannot say opposed)
by at least 3,000 Mexicans, who abandoned the field in
receiving one volley of artillery. This little band of ad-
venturers is now threatening the populous capital of
Durango. A strong American squadron has arrived at
Acapulco, and there can be no doubt that all the Mexi-
can ports on the Pacific will fall, like these on the At-
lantic, into the hands of the United States.
Santa Anna has been authorised by Congress to name
a deputy-president during his absence, in order to ex,
elude Gomez Farias from a return to power.—Tines.