The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-30 00:00:00

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

NEW YORK, AUG. 14.—During the last three or
four days this city has been inundated with rumours
in relation to General Scott and his command. It
has been confidently stated that an action had taken
place between his army and the troops of Mexico,
near that city, in which the latter had been defeated
and completely routed. It is further stated that
General Scott, after the action, had received Mexican
commissioners, who in due form had surrendered the
city to the conquering General, he pledging himself
that the private property, &c., should be respected.
He entered the city, it is said, on the 17th of July.
Another account states that no opposition was made
to his entry.
It is reduced to a certainty that the date cannot be
correct. In fact, although the rumour is received
from different quarters, yet, as no details are given,
its accuracy is generally doubted. The account most
direct is from a letter written by a lady in Mexico,
dated the 17th of July, to a gentleman in New Or-
leans, in which she says—" General Scott, at the
head of his army, is now marching into the city."
It would be a waste of time, if nothing worse, to
attempt a repetition of all the rumours that are con-
stantly received from Mexico ; and perhaps my
opinion on the question of peace or war is more fre-
quently given than is necessary; but, witnessing as I
do daily the anxiety that is evinced here to learn the
opinions of those who are supposed to watch the
movements of the hostile armies, I have thought that
some of your readers might wish to know whether
your correspondent had changed his view of the
question, which for more than a year he has con-
tended presented no aspect but that of unrelenting
warfare. On the 31st of July, by the Richmond
telegraph, we were informed that Mexico had ap-
pointed commissioners to negotiate a peace. I ex-
pressed to you my unbelief of this tale. The result
has proved that I was correct.
In one particular, and in one only, all parties seem
to concur, and that is—Mr. Trist's mission has totally
failed, notwithstanding the friendly interference of
the British Minister, which was volunteered. In my
letter to you of the 15th June I predicted that such
would be the result. It is now said that General
Scott will probably be authorised to negotiate, while
another section of the party in power speak of Mr.
Buchanan, the Secretary of State, as the individual
who will be charged with the negotiation, so soon as
Mexico is prepared to receive him as Envoy Extra-
ordinary for the special purpose.
But, in judging of the prospects of peace, we must
look back and inquire what are the difficulties to
be overcome, and what the probability of success.
I will only refer to two or three points, early assumed
by the President and his followers, viz.:-
Ist. That the boundary on the Rio Grande must
and should be arranged according to the will and
pleasure of Mr. Polk.
2d. That California, New Mexico, &c., should be
transferred to the United States for a mere nominal

sum.
3d. That the American claims for spoliation on
their commerce should be paid.
4th. That the Mexican Government should pay all
the expenses incurred by the United States in prose-
cuting the present water.
sth. That the American Government would hold,
and continue to hold, until the preceding stipulations
were complied with, all that district of country which
their army might conquer.
Now, it is not my intention to enter into a discus-
sion of these or any other points of difficulty. I
present them merely to show that there are difficulties
to adjust, and sacrifices to be made, before a treaty
of peace can be concluded, and, permit me to add,
not less important measures to be adopted before
it can be ratified by the Senate. There is the
preliminary question—ls the territory, which may
be acquired by conquest or by purchase, to be con-
sidered a slave-holding territory, or is it not ? This
question will be warmly debated, both in and out of
Congress, and may convulse the Government to its
centre.

Some time ago I referred to the then existing diffi-
culties in California. Since that period these
difficulties have been greatly increased, insomuch
that the present situation of the territory is adisgrace
to the American Government, which has assumed the
control of it, and appointed officers to manage its
affairs, whose duty it is to execute the laws in such
a way as best to promote the happiness and welfare of
the people. The consequences have been of a most
disgraceful character. Colonel Freemont has been
arrested by General (now Governor) Kearney, and
ordered to the United States to be tried by a court-
martial.
It is stated that the Secretary of the Treasury, Mr.
Walker, has made an arrangement with Messrs.
Rothschild for all the specie the United States may
require in Mexico. The specie is to be furnished
when required, and draughts on the Treasury to be
given for the amount supplied from time to time.
Interest to commence when Messrs. Rothschild have
notified to the American Government the amount
supplied. This will probably prove a convenience to
both parties, and will certainly relieve, to a limited
extent, the heavy draughts upon our banks for specie
to carry on the war with Mexico.
In a former letter I expressed an opinion that the
Whig party would probably have in the next House
of Representatives a majority of 10 or 12 members.
Owing to the unexpected divisions in strong Whig
districts in Kentucky, two Locofocos have licceeded,
where large Whig majorities voted for different can-
didates, both of which were defeated. I yet believe,ho%sever, that there will be a Whig majority in the
house of eight or ten.
—Times. A GENEVESE TRAVELLER.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

We have received further advices from the Cape to

the 17th June. Heavy rains had set in. Ii the
neighbourhood of Uitenhage such incessant rains had
not been experienced during the last twenty-seven
years. On the 9th June the post rider was unable
to cross the Krotnrne river, and only came over on
the afternoon of the following day at the peril of
his life. At Gamtoos river the current was so strong
that the ferry boat had to lie idle during sixteen
hours ; and at Langekloof the river was so high that
the post boy was prevented from continuing his
journey.

We have intelligence from the N. E. boundary to
the end of May. It is to the effect that the emigrant
Jack Kock has taken the field, it is supposed, against
the emigrants at Windburgh, who are favourably
disposed towards the British. Captain Warden has
already marched against him, and a force of 150
Griquas were to leave Pbillippolis immediately to
strengthen Bloem Fontein, which it is thought might
be devastated during the absence of the military.
The inhubitants of Fort Beaufort have presented an
address to Sir Henry Edward Fox Young, the new
Lieutenant-Governor of the eastern districts, congra-
tulating him on his appointment, and requesting him
to turn his attention to the judicial institutions of the
colony, to which his Excellency was pleased to make
a gracious reply.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE. CHELMSFORD, SATURDAY
NIGHT.—This afternoon a terrible conflagration took
place about two o'clock, in the immediate vicinity of
the Chelmsford Railway station. It appears that a
large quantity of hay had been collected by several
persons in the town of Chelmsford., !And cedeplae in ricks
on a piece of waste ground adjoining t ailway,
amounting to several hundred ponds in value. About
the time stated,
some sparks falling from the funnel of
the down two o'clock train to Colchester on to the hay
ricks, they immediately ignited, and in a very short time
the whole was in flames. The engine of the Economic
Insurance Company was brought to the spot. Before
five o'clock the entire was consumed.
IMPORTATION OF CATTLE INTO BELGIum' An
ordinance just issued by the King of the Belgians pro.
longs, until the Ist of March next, the entrance of cattle
into Belgium free of duty. The frontiers of Luxem-
bourg are exempted from this measure.