The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-14 00:00:00

TIIE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 14, 1846.

LATEST FROM MEXICO, THE
UNITED STATES, AND CANADA.

ATTACK ON TABASCO.
IMPORTANT RE-ACTION IN THE AMERICAN
MARKETS.
ARRIVAL OF THE GREAT WESTERN.

(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)

LIVERPOOL, SUNDAY MORNING.
The steam-ship Great Western, for whose appear-
ance the rogues in grain, and the speculators in cot-
ton so anxiously sought, reached this port before
eleven o'clock last night. The Great Western sailed
from New York on the 26th inst., but anchored off
Staten Island during the night, and started on the
27th, at seven, A.M., so that her voyage may be
reckoned as sixteen days. She had a limited number
of passengers on board, and brings eleven days later
news than that previously received.
The Great 'Western arrived at New York on the
16th ult. Her passage home was completed, although
the weather was unfavourable, and the wind ahead, in
about sixteen days.

The Royal Mail steam-ship Acadia arrived al
Boston on the 15th tilt.

It should not be omitted to state that the famous
packet ship Yorkshire, Captain Bailey, which sailed
from Liverpool on the 2d ult., reached New York on
the 18th, after the very short passage of sixteen
days. This, be it observed, is another of the
many proofs which we have of the first-rate sailing
qualities of the Yorkshire, and the almost unparalleled
capabilities of her Esuccessful Commander. Captain
Bailey, may well feel proud of this great achievement.
We believe it to be unequalled in the annals of trans-
atlantic packet ships; but hope it is not the last quick
trip which, both the ship and her commander, will
make to and from Liverpool.

Although the intelligence conveyed in the papers
by this arrival, extend over the lengthened period of
eleven days, we do not find any matter of importance.
The position of affairs between the. United States and
Mexico, still continued warlike. The naval forces of
the former had made a successful attack upon Tabasco-
and captured it, butstrange to say, none of Jonathan's
forces—regular or volunteer—had ventured to retain
possession of the fruits of that brilliant achievement.
Commodore Perry had won laurels—but did not assay
to use them. Like the old veteran, rough and ready,
General Taylor, he seems to have allowed the enemy
more quarter than the Mexicans would have given
him or his. The following are the details of the affair
at Wash-
jnasgrteopno:_
reported to the secretary of the navy

-
United States, Ship Cumberland,
Off Vera Cruz, Nov. 5, 1846.
Sir,—Herewith is transmitted a copy of a letter from
Corn. Perry, accompanied by copies of other communi-
cations, giving a detailed account of his operations with
a detachment from the squadron in the river of Tabasco.
The objects of the expedition have been fully accom-
plished, and by the destruction or capture of all the
enemy's vessels, a check has been given to a commerce,
by which munitions of war were, no doubt, introduced
into Mexico from the neighbouring province of Yucatan.
Much praise is due to Corn. Perry for the skill and judg-
ment manifested throughout the whole expedition.
The department will learn with regret the death of
Lieut. Charles W. Morris, which took place on the Ist
instant, on board the Cumberland, from a wound received
at the town of Tabasco on the 26th ult. He was an
officer of great promise, and his loss is a most serious
one to the service. _

I am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant.
D. CONNER,
Commanding Home Squadron.
lion. John Y. Mason,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington.

A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE PROCEED-
INGS OF THE EXPEDITION UNDER MY
COMMAND ALONG THE EASTERN COAST
OF MEXICO.

I left the anchorage of St. John Lizardo on the even-
ing of the 16th October, with the steamer Mississippi,
having on board a detachment of 200 officers, seamen,
And marines, under command of Captain French For-
rest, and in tow the steamer Vixen, and schooners
Bonita, Reefer, and Nonato, respectively commanded
by Commander Sands, and Lieutenants Commandant
Benham, Sterrett, and Hazard, and the schooner For-
ward, and steamer APLane, commanded by Captains
Sones and Howard, of the revenue marine.

The next morning at daylight I captured oft' the bar
of Valvarde the American barque Coosa, found in trea-
sonable communication with the enemy; and the same
lay the Vixen chased and boarded the American
ihooner Portia. The Coosa was dispatched to this place
AS a prize, and the Portia was permitted to proceed, her
capers having been endorsed. From the day of our
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trouble'in keeping my little command together. During
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the interval, however, we captured and sent in the Mex'-
can schooner Telegraph.
On the 23d, all the vessels, with the exception of the
Reefer (previously separated in a gale) reached the bar
of the river Tabasco; and having determined on attack-
ing the commercial town of Frontera, at the mouth of
the river, and the city of Tabasco, situated seventy-four
miles higher up, I placed myself on board the Vixen,
ieaving the Mississippi in command of Commander
Adams, at anchor outside, and taking in tow the Bonita
and forward, with the barges containing the detachment
under command of Captain Forest, I crossed the bar, the
Nonata following under sail.
The Vixen, with this heavy drag, steadily, ascended
the stream against a four knot current. and arrivin./ near
to Frontera, I discovered two steamers (of which I had
received previous information) firing up, doubtless in the
hope of escape, but we were too close upon them.
Casting off her tow, the Vixen proceeded ahead, followed
by the other vessels and barges, and at once the town,
the steamers, and all the vessels in port were in our pos-
session, excepting only the schooner Amado, which
vessel, attempting to escape up the river, was pursued
by Lieutenant Commander Benham in the Bonita, and
captured.

Desirous of reaching Tabasco before they would have
time for increasing their defences, the detachment under
Captain Forrest was placed on board the largest of the
captured steamers, the Petrita, and she, with the No-
nata, the Forward, and the barges in tow; and the
Vixen, with the Bonita, left Frontera at half-past nine
the next morning, Lieutenant Walsh being left in com-
mand of the place.
After eteaming all night, and encountering various
incidents arising frcm the rapidity of the current and
the circuitous course of the stream, we arrived at nine
the next morning in sight of Fort Aceachappa, intended
to command a most difficult pass of the river. On our
approach the men employed in preparing the guns for
service fled, and we passed it unmolested, but I was
careful to cause the gun to be spiked.
Anticipating serious resistance at this place, arrange-
ments had been made for landing Captain Forrest with
his detachment a mile below the fort, to march up and
carry it by storm.
At noon, all the vessels anchored in line of battle in
front of the city in half-musket range, when I immedi-
ately summoned it to surrender, the boats meanwhile
being employed in securing five merchant vessels found
at anchor in the,port.
To my summons, sent by a flag with Captain Forrest,
a refusal to capitulate was returned, with
an invitation
to me to fire as soon as I pleased. Suspecting, as I did,
that this answer was given more in bravado than in
earnest, and being extremely reluctant to destroy the
place, I entertained the hope that a few shots fired
over the buildings would have caused a surrender.
Accordingly, I directed the guns of the Vixen alone to
order to all
btheofivreesds,elasntdo
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of a
gene-
ral fire, injury to the houses distinguished by consular
flags.
At the third discharge from the Vixen, the flag dis.
appeared from the staff. On seeing it down, I ordered
the firing to cease, and sent Captain Forrest again
ashore to learn whether it had been cut down by our
shot, or purposely struck. The reply was that it had
been shot away, and the city would not be surrendered.
I now directed Captain Forrest, with the force under
'his command, to land and take a position in the city
commanded by our guns. This movement brought on a
scattering fire, of musketry from various parts of the
city, which was returned by the flotilla.

Perceiving towards evening that the enemy did us but
little injury, though openly exposed on the decks of the
small vessels, and their balls passing through our slight
bulwarks, and apprehending from the proverbial heed-
lessness of sailors, that should they and the marines be
attacked in the narrow streets after dark, they would be
but off by sharp shooters from the houses, I ordered the
detachment to be re-embarked.
In this position the vessels remained all night, the
crews lying at their quarters ready to return the fire of
the artillery of the enemy, which it was supposed they
would have had the courage to have brought down un-
der cover of the night to the openings of the streets op-
posite to our vessels, but they left us undisturbed.
Learning that the merchants, and other citizens of the
city were desirous that a capitulation should be made,
but were over-ruled by the governor, who, regardless of
consequences, and secure himself against attack, was
content that the city should be destroyed rather than
surrendered, I determined from motives of humanity,
not to fire again, but to pass down to Frontera with my
prizes.
In the morning, however, the fire was re-commenced
from the shore, and was necessarily returned, but with
renewed orders to regard the consular houses, so far as
they could be distinguished. In the midst of the fire, a
flag of truce was displayed on shore ; on perceiving
which, I caused the firing again to cease, and Captain
Forrest was sent :to meet its bearer, who submitted a
written communication addressed to me, a copy of which,
with a copy of my reply, marked B and C, will be found
inclosed.

As an assurance of my sincerity, I now hoisted a white
flag, and directed the prizes to drop down the stream,
intending to follow with the flotilla ; but, in violation of
the understanding implied in the the before-mentioned