The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-01 00:00:00

AMERICAN AFFAIR

NEW YORK, Me; the last five or six
days the whole country has been in a state of high ex-
citement in relation to the Mexican war, which has ac-
tually commenced. The Mexican army crossed the Rio
mdeolros.
strong, Norte, near General Taylor's post, opposite Mats,-
moron.
rTheirng f h
i forcenot isin
gmore, variously
to
represented,
render General
bu t
suffi-
cientlyTay'
and the
ei
forl
position not only precarious, but, in his opinion,
he-shouldtivo
cwffii
tehe irns ,t
receivehs
su c
mt
reinforcements;p hator
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es
dbuadtytitlonirynn auipn
Previous to the Mexicans crossing the Rio del Norte,
Colonel Cross, an American officer, had been murdered
within three or four miles of his camp. After two or
three days' search his body was found. A scouting
party, under the command of a cavalry officer, was sent
out to reconnoitre. The party consisted of about seventy
men. They fell in with a Mexican corps, whose force
they did not know until an action was commenced, when
it appeared that the Mexican force numbered 200 or 300.
Fifteen or sixteen of the Americans were killed or
wounded, and the residue of the command captured,
with the exception of tho commanding officer, Captain
Tborntor, and two or three privates. As soon as Cap-
tain Thornton discovered his hopeless situation, he
dashed upon the enemy, and cut his way through them,
returning the next day in safety to the camp, with two
privates.
These details reached Washington on Saturday even-
ing, the 9th inst. On Sunday a Cabinet Council was
held, and the louse Military Committee also convened.
They prepared, and on Monday morning reported, a Bill
to accept and call into service for 12 months 150,000 vo-
lunteers, and a Bill appropriating 10,000,000 dollars to
meet the expenses. These Bills passed the House on
Monday, the 11th, and the Sena'e on Tuesday, the 12th
inst. Everything was immediately put in a state of ac-
tive preparation. General Taylor had previously called
upon Louisiana and other adjacent states for reinforce-
ments, which were pressing forward with great alacrity.
As you will find in the journals of the day the de-
bates in both Houses of Congress on the war mes-
sage, it is deemed unnecessary to refer to them in
detail. You will perceive, however, that the Whig
party, to a man, denied the existence of war between
Mexico and the United States, and made a strenuous
exertion to strike out the preamble, which avowed
the fact ; but all such efforts were unavailing. While'
the Whigs were opposed to an assumption that the
two countries were actually in a state of war, they
were perfectly willing to vote any number of men, or
amount of money, that the President might deem neces-
sary and ask of Congress.
A word as to the present position of affairs. The war
party, by the movements of the Mexicans, have obtained
a triumph. Whether that triumph is, or is not, to be
temporary, is very questionable. Certain it is, how-
ever, that the friends of peace were defeated on every
trial. Not to admit the fact 'would be to evince a want
of candour. For the two days (the 11th and 12th) the
Locofoco party, even in the Senate, rallied nearly their
whole force; and so formidable did they consider them-
selves, that they became almost frantic with exultation.

On reviewini this state of things, the question presents
itself—will the democratic party, after their fiery zeal has
cooled down, continue, as they now are on the Mexican
war question, united, or nearly so, or will a portion of
them resume the position they occupied the Ist of this
month, as the friends of peace ? I hope they will con-
tinue as the friends of peace, but I have great misgivings
on this point. And here let me remark, that although
the Oregon question is in no way avowedly connected
with the Mexican war, yet indirectly it will have a bear-
ing upon it, especially if the Mexicans should be com-
pletely and promptly overwhelmed, cf which there is a
great probability. I consider this war inauspicious to
an amicable adjustment of pending difficulties between
Great Britain and the United States.

From the remarks which were made during this dis-
cussion, in both Houses of Congress, I have no doubt,
as soon as General Taylor receives the necessary rein-
forcements, he will cross the Rio del Norte and give the
Mexican army battle, if they remain in that vicinity.
If they do not, he will pursue them. The Western
volunteers will insist upon proceeding to Mexico, unless,
they are defeated and so cut up as to be incapable of
rallying, They will listen to no suspension of hostilities
short of absolute and almeist unconditional submission, if
General Taylor possesses the power to enforce it. Every-
thing indicates that he will possess that power. He will
have in abundance both men and money.
Nor am I sure that California will be forgotten in the
negotiation for peace between Mexico and the United
States. The rage for emigration to California is rapidly
spreading in the Western States. It is, therefore, pos-
sible that for the, purpose of settling all claims of the
United States and her citizens, this Government may be
disposed to purchase from Mexico that district of
country.
There is one other topic I will briefly notice in their
letter. You may
.have observed in some of the Ameri-
can journals hints that the British Government was at
the bottom of the movement of the Mexican army. I
assure you that great efforts are making to impress upon
the public mind of this country that the British are fur-
nishing the Mexicans with money to carry on the cam-
paign which has just opensei. I du not believe it, and
I have so stated on different occasions. But the rumour
has a deleterious influence, being well calculated, at this
crisis, to create prejudices and unkind feelings.
We have no further intelligence from the present seat
of war, or of the situation of General Taylor and his
army, than was received at Washington on Saturday
evening, the 9th, and referred to in the preeediorpart
of this letter, which I will not seal until near the hour
of the departure of the mail for Boston.
The President has issued a proclamation declaring that
war exists between the United States and the republic of
Mexico.
Nothing tofe interest in reference
to
pendingonscr difficulties
between Great Britain and the United States, has
the Oregon
reg in
on the leastesti degree
h question,
occurred since the date of my last letter. It is hoped
and expected by the friends of peace, that on re
ceiving the notice a pacific proposition will be tendered
by the British Government.
A GENEVEEE TRAVELLER.
—Times.

THE BOOK OF COSTUME ; or, ANNALS OF FASHION,
with numerous Illustrations. In its notice of this attractive
volume, the Weekly Chronicle observes :—" This is a happy
idea, very happily realised: elegance for those who consider
books as a species of elegant furniture—interest for such as
take interest in their literary contents, and utility for all who
look upon a taste in dress as one of the essentials of female
ornament ; which is equivalent to extending its usefulness to
pretty nearly the whole of the sex. The work takes a very
extended view of the toilette, male and female, not only for
the present, but for all time, and has this advantage, that, in
as much as physiognomy and figure have most to do with
the matter, the reader is here enabled to form a better es-
timate of how the design would look reduced to actual wear,
by the spirit and animation of the numberless designs scat-
tered over every page. In relation indeed to the prevalent
fashion of fancy-dress balls the book seems to us to be not
et
u fromre sq uthe
e y Saxon
the current time,
only invaluable, but absolutely indispensable ; since, although
most diffuse in relattiisonsu%Ecine
ng tl ys ha c dp s u imc
descrip-
tive of the rest of the British isles, the whole of continental
Europe, ancient and modern Greece and Rome, Africa, and
the great and varied empires of the East.
We have derived
considerable information and amusement from its pages, and
recommend it as especially designed for the purposes in-
dicated, with a wider interest inseparable from a subject
confessedly popular, and very ably treated, and most artis-
tically illustrated."
DREADFUL FIRE, CASIBRIDGE. About two hours
after midnight (Friday) an awful fire suddenly burst forth
near the village of Bottisham, which for hours threw a lurid
glare over the surrounding country, and was not extinguished
till an immense quantity of buildings and valuable property.
were destroyed. The scene of destruction was at the exten-
sive homestead of the Trinity College, rented by Mr. New-
man, one of the oldest and most respectable inhabitants in
that part of the country. The fire commenced at the corner
of a cow lodge and piggeries which abut upon the
turnpike-road. These were soon in a blaze, and
the flames speedily communicated to a large barn,
-upwards of eighty feet in length and tbrty in
breadth, and a stack of clover close by. The fire
next attacked the stables, and some other buildings, wherein
were six fat calves, twenty store hogs, and a brace of grey-
hounds, all of which perished in the flames. The conflagra-
tion then crossed the farmyard, consuming several small
buildings, and eventually reached five cottages situated in
the road, which were likewise consumed, also their contents.
Luckily its career was here stopped, but the havoc it had
done was frightful. Not a doubt exists but that the calamity
is the work of an incendiary.
BRISTOL SUGAR-MARKET, MAY 29.—We have had a
quiet week in sugar, the trade showing no inclination to put,
chase beyond the requirements to sun immediate wants
and the sales since our last do not excee 300 hhds., at from
6d. to Is. per cwt. decline on previous transactions. For rum
there is a good demand, but importers are not free sellers at
the present currency.—Bristol
ereurY
SALZBURG, MAY 23.—Her Majesty the Empress of Russia
accompanied by the Grand Duchess of Olga and the Crown
arrived
here yesterday afternoon, at
Prince of Wurtemburg,
four o'clock, where a brilliant circle had been for two days
expecting their aryival; this circle will break up by to-
/*am and the Emprese will proceed on her journey.