The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-08 00:00:00

MEXICO.

The following is a letter from General Santa Anna:—
" San Luis Potosi, Nov. 19, 1846.
" My esteemed Friend,—Various persons interested
in my good name inform me by last post that my ene-
mies in the capital have spread the tale that the late
conversion of the English debt, effected by Don Manuel
Escandon, has been approved with my consent; and, as
this assertion is entirely contrary to truth, and at the
same time injurious to my reputation, I request you to
make known to the public, through the press, that so far
have I been from approving this transaction, that I have
done everything in my power to prevent the consumma-
tion of such an iniquity. Ever since I learned at the
Havannah from Don Ignacio Taoperena that Escandon
had ;gone to London with that object, I wrote to my
friends there to oppose his views, and on my return to
Vera Cruz, I wrote to the same effect to the capital,
learning afterwards with satisfaction, at my estate of the
Encero, that the Government had disapproved an ope-
ration which would leave us without resources, and aug-
ment considerably that unfortunate London debt, which
is the cancer of the republic. To Don Antonio de Haro
I recommended, at Tucubaya, the fulfilment of his pre-
decessor's resolution on this subject, and, above all, that
he should leave the decision of the affair entirely to the
extraordinary Congress, in consideration of its import-
ance. I was lately informed by General Sales, ' that the
said Minister, by his own sole authority, had approved,
in the name of the Government, the conversion of the
debt as effected by Escandon, and that, disregarding the
difficulties which the affair presented, he relinquished
some hundreds of thousands of dollars which the Go-
vernment might have obtained, if obliged to give its
approbation, and without considering the afflicting cir-
cumstances of the republic, and compromising, perhaps,
the fate of its valiant and enduring army, he had applied
to the payment of dividends sums which would now
afford us prompt and effective assistance.' Tbis news
surprised me to such a degree that I could not but write
to Senor Hera, begging him, by the friendship which
unites us, to vindicate himself to the public from what I
believed to be a mistake, or a calumny of his enemies.
Unfortunately, as is now notoriour, this friend did'com-
mit the error referred to, although, in reply to my let-
ter, he assured me that he was about to give a proper
explanation t) the public.. Iha a felt this affair most
sensibly, as it was I who recommended Senor Haro for
the Ministry, and because from it, and the sincere
friendship which I entertained for him, parties interested
in calumniating me have s.).llL;ht to draw conclusions un-
favourable to my reputation, involving me in the cloud
of vile fabrications which they spread in 1844 in order
to sacrifice me with impunity. It is painful tome to
make this statement when it conceit's a man like Senor
llaro, to whom I was warmly attached; but I beliPve
that my silence would occasion my conduct to be misin-
terpreted at the pleasure of my enemies. For this rea-
son I have determined to break silence in defence of my
honour, which I am bound zealously to guard.
" ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA."