The Sun.
London, England, 1847-10-11 00:00:00

No. 17,176.] LONDON, MONDAY Evi -;;NING SUN, OCTOBER

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AMERICAN NEWS.

The following are additional particulars brought
by the steamer Washington, which arrived at South-
ampton on Saturday morning, a summary of which
appeared i❑ our paper of that day :
The steam-.,:hip Britannia, which sailed from Liver-
pool on the 4th ult., reached Boston early on the
19th. We regret to learn that she touched the
ground off Cape Race, Newfoundland, on the 14th, in
a thick fog, but got off with no very serious injury.
She was to be docked at New York the day after the
Washington left, in order to ascertain exactly the
extent of damage which she had sustained.
The following account of the perilous position of
the Britannia is extracted from the correspondence of
the New York Commercial Advertiser:—
" BAY OF FUNDY, SEPT. 18.

" When I made up the news of the day it was my
expectation to be in New York early on Sunday
morning, notwithstanding we had head winds to the
Banks of Newfoundland. On our arrival on that
dangerous coast, at this season of fogs, we found our-
selves on the 14th enveloped in the most dense forr I
ever saw; it was such a one as was never seen, I
think, in your city.
" On the afternoon of that day the steamer went on
the rocks at Cape Race, the southern point of New-
foundland. As you may imagine, it was a moment
of deep solicitude. Many of us bad been for some
time watching for land, anxious to know our true
situation, that we might escape all apprehension
during the approaching night. My eye was at the
moment fixed on Captain Harrison, our excellent
commander, and I saw him turn quickly, and heard
him exclaim, Starboard—stop her l' Before the echo
could have died away, the ship struck, and for the first
time I saw the bleak and barren rocks.

"It may be said by some, 'Did not the captain
keep too near the shore ?' To this I reply, that nine
times out of ten the fog 'lifts' when near the shore,
and land is generally seen at a distance of two or
three miles. This is peculiarly the case off New-
foundland.

"The course the captain instantly adopted entitles
him to great praise. As soon as it was ascertained
that the steamer was ashore, orders were given to
clew up the sails, the guns were run aft, and the
provisions and everything else that could be removed
were shifted; the water in two of the boilers was let
off, and the passengers all crowded to the stern; the
engines were reversed, and two waves or rollers
corning in, we were, under the gracious protection of
an overruling Providence, once more afloat.
" The captain then summoned the chief engineer
to ascertain whether the ship made water. The result
was that she was making at the rate of about twelve
inches per hour, but he was sure the two pumps,
usually in service would keep the water down.
Under this impression the captain determined to pro-
ceed on his course.

" The passengers, both ladies and gentlemen, be-
haved with great coolness during the exciting moment,
and no one attempted to interfere with the com-
mander in the course he pursued, nor did any one
converse with him until we were again under way.
Soon after some half-dozen gentlemen met the cap-
tain in his state room and looked over his chart, and
ascertained our position. St. John's was some fifty
miles north of us, but as the fog still continued there
was no probability ofgetting into that port, and having
full confidence in Captain Harrison's statement that
the ordinary pumps would keep the ship free, Mr.
Winthrop made a report to the passengers which
allayed their fears, and we arrived at Halifax on the
Friday morning, where a survey was held, and the
report was made in substance, that the steamer had
been ashore at Newfoundland, that her forefoot had
been knocked off, her keel injured, and that she made
fourteen inches of water per hour, but that her two
bilge pumps could throw out the water she made, and
that she might proceed safely to Boston.
" Previous to our arrival in Boston, the following
statement was submitted to the passengers, and by
most of them approved and signed.
" Thursday, Sept. 16, off Halifax.
" The undersigned, passengers in the Britannia,
feel that it will be expected of them to make some
public exprelsion in regard to the dangerous accident
which has befallen them during the voyage which is
just drawing to a close. They have, therefore, pre-
pared the following statement, which they believe to
embrace all that is necessary to a right understanding
of the case, and to a just appreciation of the conduct
of all concerned.

" The steamer Britannia left Liverpool on the 4th
of September, at four o'clock, P.M., and having en
joyed nine days of generally clear weather, was found
in latitude 48, longitude 45 51, on the 13th inst. at
noon ; the distance from Cape Race was then sup-
posed to be about 304 miles.
" At day-break on the 14th the 'steamer encoun-
tered a dense fog, which continued during the day
and night. Wind light. The sea by no means
rough in the morning, became sensibly smoother and
smoother as the day advanced, and the steamer pro-
ceeded steadily on at the rate, as shown by the log,
of from 91- to 10-i miles the hour. There was, of
course, no possibility of taking an observation during
the continuance of the fog, which was of extraor-
dinary density, and at times it was impossible to see
further than a full ship's length ahead. At twelve
o'clock the dead reckoning of the captain gave lati-
tude 46 50, longitude 51 51, and the run of the
previous 24 hours was set down at 250 miles.
" Our distance from Cape Race was still supposed
to be about fifty-four miles. Many expressions of
anxiety were interchanged among some of the pas-
sengers at so close an approach to land as was indi-
cated by ithese figures, in such thick weather, but
the captain expressed entire confidence that we
should pass quite clear of Cape Race in the course of
the afternoon. He expressed also, what all concurred
in, the extreme desirableness of making the land
before night set in.
"At a few minutes after six P.M., the steamer
struck the shore, and a rocky headland, believed to
be between Cape Race and Cape Ballard, was seen
within one hundred yards of our bows.
" Captain Harrison was at his post on the larboard
paddle-box when the accident occurred. He had re-
mained in that neighbourhood while the passengers
were at dinner, and had united, during the afternoon,
with the officers of the ship and with the appointed
watch, in looking out for the land ; but the thickness
of the fog was such that the land was seen hardly an
instant before the ship was upon it, and the prompt
orders to Stop her' were too late.
" The undersigned cordially unite in bearing testi-
mony to the coolness, presence of mind, and good
judgment displayed by Captain Harrison and his
officers and men at this critical moment. In less
than half-an-hour from the time when the accident
occurred the steamer was again pursuing her way to
Halifax, under circumstances which gave the pas-
sengers every assurance of safety of which the case
admitted. The promptness and skill of Captain Har-
rison in thus extricating the ship from her perilous
position, as well as his uniform courtesy and untiring
devotion to his duties during the whole voyage, have
won from us all our kindest feelings towards him as a
man, and our confidence in him as a commander.
" The undersigned cannot conclude without an ex-
pression of their gratitude to God for so signal a pre-
servation under circumstances of so much peril.
Had the accident taken place at night—had it hap-
pened during the violent winds which belong to this
season of the year—had the ship even touched the
ground a few rods of either side of the precise point on
which she struck, the entire immunity from loss of life
and property in which we now rejoice could not have
been experienced.

" Mille, therefore, we would do full justice to
the human agencies which were exerted in our be-
half, we would not forget how eminently it is of
God's goodness that we are all here at this hour, to
give an account of the dangers to which we have been
exposed."
[Signed by 65 passengers.]

Santa Anna has published the following explanation
of his defeat :

MANIFESTO OF THE PROVISIONAL PRE-
SIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

OF THE AR NIY.
" In moments so critical and solemn, it becomes
the duty of him who presides over the destiny of the
Republic to give publicity to the recent events, and I
comply with pleasure, as candour has at all times
been the character of my Administration. The inci-
dents of the 19th and 20th are too notorious,- having
been disastrous ; but I am bound to present a review
of them, lest they should be misrepresented as much
by the spirit of detraction and malevolence, as by
errors which may result from a false analysis of such
grave and transcendent affairs.
" The nation has witnessed the great and extra-
ordinary efforts with which, in the space of three
months, I prepared for the defence of the capital,
which was on the point of being surrendered to the
enemy without resistance. I have formed, armed,
and equipped an army of more than twenty thousand
men ; I have provided a Tut material for this army;
I have fortified various lines in order to remove from
Mexico the ravages of war ; I .have created resources

in spite of the isolated position to which the Govern-
ment was reduced ; and I have spared no time and no
labour in order to snake my country appear with
dignity and firmness in the contest to which it was
unjustly provoked.
" In war an accident, a thing that appears trifling,
overthrows the best formed combinations. A glance
at the defences which I established round the city is
.sufficient to discover the plan which I had proposed
to myself. The forces which I had advanced on one
of the flanks, supported by others stationed at con-
venient distances, had a point to fall back upon, well
known to them, and of which I gave notice at the
proper moment. To one general who had command
of a strong division of 5,000 men, with twenty-four
pieces of artillery, and whose head-quarters were at
the village of San Angel, I sent orders at eleven
o'clock on the morning of the 18th to fall back
upon the town of Coyoacan, in order to form a
concentration of forces, following the movements
of the enemy, which Were already evident, and parti-
cularly to unfold my plan of operations. But this
general, forgetting that no two men can cowmen l in
a field of battle, and that for the execution of a plan
no observation which may annul orxetard it can bead-
mitted, tools upon himself to object to the orders which
he had received ; and as we had banished from among
us obedience and discipline, so indispensable in mili-
tary matters, I had to be tolerant in order to avoid
greater evils, and let him, to my great regret, act,
throwing upon him the responsibility of whatever
might happen.
" The result was as fatal as I had foreseen. He
advanced. of his own accord, more than a league, and
selected a position to meet the enemy without giving me
notice of his movement or of his intentions. The refusal
which he gave to my advice was the first news I had
of his temerity, and soon aftei the roar of cannon
showed me his position, and give me notice that an
action had commenced. Although overwhelmed with
a presentiment of what was to happen, I put myself
immediately at the head of a brilliant division of 4,000
men and five pieces of artillery. I arrived at the mo-
ment when the enemy had cut off by the rear the
position of the ill-fated general with a respectable
force, and I was hardly able to check his operations,
aes the night was already setting in.
"But I perceived with sorrow that the position was
isolated ; a deep ravine, and a wood occupied by the
enemy, being interposed beween us, it was impossible
for the troops under my immediate command to ad-
vance by the only road there was, without exposing
themselves as were already the others, and only one
battery, which arrived late, could do any injury.
The firing having ceased, our brigade took up its
quarters in the neighbouring village of San Angel,
because, as it rained in torrents, it would have been
equal to a defeat to hare kept the troops in the open
field.

" Previous to this, however, I had ordered my
aide-de-camp, Colonel Romiro, to pass the terrible
ravine which was in our front, and guided by Don
Jose Maria del Rio, well acquainted with the coun-
try, to reach the camp of the general, and to advise
him to withdraw that very night to San Angel with
his infantry and cavalry, by the only road which was
left to him, spiking previously the artillery which it
was not possible to save. My aide-de-camp suc-
ceeded, and communicated my orders between ten and
twelve o'clock that night, but instead of being obeyed
with punctuality, the above-named general hardly
allowed my aide-de-camp to speak, interrupted him
by stating that he wanted 6,000 men and ammunition,
and sent him off with two dispatches, already signed
and sealed, in one of which he gives a report of the ac-
tion of the evening, stating that he had beaten and put
the enemy to a shameful flight, and that in conse-
quencel he conferred promotions on the generals, chiefs,
and officers.

"Early the next morning I presented myself again
in the same camp, reinforced by a brigade which I had
drawn from the capital, and with the intention of
forcing the bridge at any cost; but when I was about
to commence, the enemy made his attack, which lasted
ten minutes, and I witnessed, overwhelmed with
despair, the defeat of those soldiers, worthy of a
better fate, because the general who unfortunately
commanded them had cut himself off. The conse-
quence of this success appeared terrible to any sight.
The enemy could arrive by a rapid move at the capi-
tal before it would be in my power to render assist-
ance; the enemy could by a flank movement cut off
my detached forces ; the enemy had obtained as a fruit
of his victory the power of bringing the whole of his
torces against only a part of mine ; and, finally, the
enemy, owing to the insubordination and want of
skill of one general, could turn.to his profit- the ad-
vantages of my position.

" The advanced fort of San Antonio could not be
maintained, because our line had been cut, and I
gave orders for its garrison to withdraw whilst I pro-
tected the fort and ate de pont of Churubusco. The
enemy advanced and cut off part cf the troops that
were retreating, and appeared in front of our nearest
defences. There again I placed myself at the head
of our troops, and my efforts cost the enemy a good
deal of blood. The losses, although much to be
lamented, naturally proceeded from the retreat, which
was hasty, unexpected, and confused, owing to the
trains that bad to pass through a narrow lane, flanked
in its whole extent. The defence was made from line
to line until we came to the third, where I personally
restrained the enemy and saved the capital, which had
been so unexpectedly placed in danger.
" When I was occupied on the 22d in re-organizing
forces and manning the batteries, having placed my-
self again at the head of a column which should offer
resistance to the last extremity, I received a commu-
nication from the general-in-chief of the enemy, pro-
posing an armistice that might give time to listen to
the propositions which may be made by the Commis-
sioner of the Government of the United States, to put
an end to the contest between the two nations. I ac-
cepted the armistice, and after having had a meeting
of the ministers, I resolved to listen to the above
propositions.

"The suspension of hostilities is always a blessing,
because war is always an evil, particularly after the
failure of grand combinations. To free the capital
of its horrors, or at least to retard them, was an
emergency which I could not resist, and the more so
when it presented the means of arriving at an honour-
able peace.

" When two nations are in a state of war, they
enjoy the right of reciprocity, making propositions,
which presupposes the obligation to listen. A per-
petual war is an absurdity, because it is a calamity,
and the instinct of self-preservation, which is stronger
in nations than in private individuals, counsels us not
to refuse any means which may lead to an advan-
tageous settlement. To adopt this step the constitu•
tions confers ample powers on me.
" Devoted to interests so noble and exalted, I must
at all hazards maintain the prestige and respect of the
on s authoritysh ould molest the Government, they
particularly at present, when if
would deprive it of the liberty of deliberating, and it
would fall into utter insignificance in the presence of
our enemies. I will still be more explicit. Attempts
supremethf factions
at subversive sedition will be punished in an exem-
plary manner.
,4 I have still a respectable body of troops, and the
nation will assist me to maintain its dignity and vin-
dicate its glory. I consider myself as free as if I had
just obtained a distinguished victory, and there is no
danger that the negotiations of the enemy willim-
pose upon me what their troops and cannon did not
inspire me with. We will settle our difficulties
amicably, if above all things our honour is saved, and
we will again appeal to the sword, if force should be
interposed to withhold from us justice and the
acknowledgment of the rights of the nation.
"ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA.
" Mexico, Aug. 23, 1847."

" TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT,
COAIMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMY OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
" Ministry of War and Marine,
Mexico, Aug. 21, 1847.
" Sir,—The undersigned, Minister of War and
Marine of the Government of the United States of
Mexico, is instructed by his Excellency the Pre-
sident, Commander-in-Chief, to reply to your com-
munication, in which you propose to enter into an
armistice, with a view to avoid the further shedding
of blood between the two great republics of this con-
tinent, for the purpose of hearing the propositions
which may be made for this purpose by the Commis-
sioner of his Excellency the Presi lent of the United
States of America, who is at the head-quarters of the
American army.
" It is certainly lamentable that in consequence of
the disregard of the rights of the Mexican republic
the shedding of blood has become inevitable between
the first republics of the American continent; and
your Excellency with great propriety qualifies this
unnatural, as well on account of its origin as the
antecedents of two people identified by their rela-
tions and their interests. The proposttion of an ar-
miAtice to terminate this scandal has been received
with pleasure by his Excellency the President, Com-
mander-in-Chief, as it will enable the propositions to
be entertained which the Commissioner of the Presi-
dent of the United States may make for the honour-
able termination of the war.
" Accordingly the President, Commander-in-Chief,
directs me to say to your Excellency that he accepts
the proposition to enter into an armistice, and for this
object he has appointed the Brigadier-Generals D.
Ignacio Mora y Villamil and D. Benito Quijano, who
will be present at the time and place which may be
designated.

"—His Excellency also instructed me to communi-
cate his satisfaction that the army of the United States
should occupy convenient and fitting quarters, trust-
ing and hoping that they will be out of reach of the
fire of the Mexican fortifications.

" I have the honour to be, with high consideration
and respect, your Excellency's most obedient servant,
" ALCORTA."
The same day Senor Pacheco, the Secretary of
State, issue4he following summons for the assembling
of Congress :-
1 " Ministry of Internal and Foreign Relations,
Mexico, Aug. 21, 1847.
" Most Excellent Sir,—A.ll Mexicans, but espe-
cially the inhabitants of this capital, have been wit-
nesses to the extraordinary exertions which have been
made by his Excellency the Provisional President to
collect an army capable of meeting that of the United
States and restoring the lustre of the arms of the
republic. They are witnesses also that he has fought
with intrepidity, exposing his own life until the mo-
ment when the victory was lost and the enemy was at
the gates of the capital.
" In these circumstances, and when the numerous
inhabitants of Mexico have made every kind of sacri-
fice to carry on the war, it is one of the most imperi-
ous duties of the first magistrate to prevent the cala-
mities inseparable from an assault, and to avoid all
the consequences of a violent occupation of the city.
To this end, in the exercise of his constitutional
power, and in conformity with the wishes of Congress
communicated to him on the 16th of July last, he has
determined to hear the propositions which Mr.
Nicholas Trist has to make on the part of the United
States, and to consent that in the meantime there
shall be a suspension of hostilities.
" As this question is of the utmost interest to the
Republic, his Excellency desires that the National
Congress should take their appropriate part, and ac-
cordingly he directs me to notify your Excellency
that you may take measures diligently to summon the
Deputies to assemble at twelve o'clock to-day.
" I reiterate the assurances of my distinguished
consideration. God and Liberty.

" JOHN RAMON PACHECO."

AMERICAN:REPUDIATION.
(From the New York Herald.)
The efforts made within the past two years by
those States having large debts, the interest on which
has for many years been in arrears, to resume pay-
ment and place their financial affairs in a prosperous
condition, have failed to meet with that response from
those interested:as4bunelholders which they deserve,
and under techstrumstances are entitled to. There
is :large caw of foreign bondholders who encolkage
'the most gross attacks upon those States which have
partially resumed the payment of interest on their
debts, who imagine that these attacks have been the
prime cause of the resumption, so far as it goes, and
who believe that if they are kept up, and the cry of
repudiation continually kept ringing in our ears, a
more speedy resumption of the full payment will fol-
low. English papers are feed by English capitalists
holding these bonds to continually harp on repudia-
tion, believing that it advances their interests, and
will speedily bring about a resumption of payment,
and an acknowledgment of all the claims against the
States.
They will be most awfully mistaken in this matter.
These attacks have already produced a feeling in op-
position to these movements; and in every instance
where it can be made available, efforts will be made
to put off the day of payment, rather than to hasten
it. We have seen this feeling exhibited in the State
of Illinois, in the convention recently held for the
revisal of the constitution. A tax of two mills on
every dollar of taxable property has been anthorised
for the payment of the principal of the internal im-
provement debt, leaving the canal debt, which is
held mostly by foreigners, to take its chance with the
canal and canal property. This distinction was made
principally on account of the course pursued by the
trustees of the foreign bondholders in relation to the
progress of the canal, and the speeches in the British
Parliament about using coercive measures to bring
about the payment of debts due to British subjects
from the States of this Union. The foreign bond-
holders have obtained all they will from these repu-
diating States, as their organs choose to call them.
The laws passed enforcing taxes will be carried out
as strictly as possible, the payments promised in the
way of interest will be made as promptly as the re-
ceipts will permit, and all laws relating to their
public debts will be carried out to the letter, but no-
thing more. Even in the event Of a full resumption
being within their means much sooner than antici-
pated, we do not believe any efforts would be made to
carry it into effect.
The disposition manifested by the Legislature of
Illinois and Indiana to make satisfactory arrange-
ments with their creditors have been misconstrued
by the foreign portion of the bondholders, and such
remarks have been made by their organs, and such
the course pursued in reference to the former State,
by their agents here, that all anxiety to do anything
more has been removed, and a feeling just the reverse
taken its place. Since the arrangements referred to
have been perfected, these States have been accused
of repudiating a portion of their debts—a term never
applied to them before. After having given up their
lands to their creditors, placed their canals in the
hands of trustees, appointed by the very bond-
holders making this charge—after having placed
the arrears of interest in a tangible shape, to
draw interest after a certain period—after, in fact,
acknowledging every farthing of their debts, prin-
cipal and interest, and secured them by pledging all
their available property—after increasing the taxes
for the purpose of raising revenue to meet promptly
the payments of interest, they are met with the
charges of repudiation, and accused of swindling
their creditors, by forcing them to accept the terms
proposed within a certain period, or lose their claims
against the State.
There are undoubtedly many innocent parties in-
jured by the bad policy pursued by those who are no
better judges of the character of our people than to
suppose that they are to be intimidated by any of
their threats, or forced into measures by their sneers,
which would not willingly be done otherwise; but
such is always the case, and we regret it is so. The
character of our people, particularly those of the
western states, will be understood, perhaps, when it
is too late to do these foreigners any good. It is
well enough for them to know that they will gain
very little by the course they are now pursuing.