The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-28 00:00:00

MEXICO.

Files of Vera Cruz papers, to the 7th of November in-
clusive, have been received at the Navy Department.
The general character of the contents of these papers
indicate ii determination on the part of the people of
Mexico to rouse themselves to some great effort. All
means are made use of to excite a national spirit, and
inflame rational animosity. The most exaggerated
accounts are given of the excesses committed by the
American. (volunteer) troops at Monterey, who are
charged with robbery, murder, and rape. Extracts of
letters from the United States are published, in which it
is represented that our people, especially in the northern
states, have become thoroughly disgusted with the war
on account of its enormous expenses, amounting to half
a million of dollars per diem, and that it has become so
odious that it will be impracticable for our Government
to raise the required number of troops—that the Senate
will refuse any further appropriations for the war!—
that the British Government has insisted on its media-
tion
being accepted, &c.— Union.
THE PRESIDENT OF AMERICA.
THE NEESAGE.—LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY NIGHT.—
The wind having kept in the N.E. for some days past,
it is not very probable that the American President's
Message can arrive by either of the sailing packets. The
steam-ship Caledonia will be 13 days out on Wednesday
next, and may be looked for on that or the following
day. She will bring the Message and a week's proceed-
ings of Congress.

POTATO ROT.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Ripon, Dec. 22, 1846.
SIR, —Some time since I saw addressed to farmers
generally, who stored their potatoes in pies, to cover
them well with stable manure, to secure them from frost,
which I have no doubt would be the case, but it would
destroy the crop for next year, as I am sure not one-
half would ever grow ; therefore I advise those who
have done so to lose no time in uncovering them, and to
take off carefully a foot thick of those on the outside, for
house use, as I believe, it will not injure them for
use. It would not be unadvisable to take care of some
of the outsides, to satisfy themselves as to the result by
planting them next spring.

'I
am, Sir, yours, &c.,
Q. C.

DEATH OF THE HON. J. BARRINGTON FORBES.—
We hr.ve the painful duty to announce the death of the
Hon. Jonathan Barrington Forbes, eldest son of Lord
Forbes. The Hon. Gentleman died at Oxford on Thurs•
last, of scarlet fever, after an illness of only two days;
he would have attained his 18th year on the 4th prox-
imo. The deceased Has at the university pursing his
studies, being a Fellow Commoner of Oriel College. His
death will be a severe affliction to Lord and Lady Forks,
as his attainments gave great promise.
DEATH OF GENERAL GEORGE MITCHELL.—On
Saturday accounts were received of the death at Fisher-
ton Anger, near Salisbury, of General George Mitchell,
at a very advanced age, for had he lived a few days
longer he would have completed the 89th year of his
age. He died on Tuesday afternoon, at.three o'clock,
after a short illness. The gallant deceased was known
to every person residing at Salisbury and its vicinity,
from the singularity of his habits, and many tales are
told of his eccentricities. He repeatedly called in the
poorest of his neighbours to share the hospitalities of his
table ; and his benevolence to the indigent was most
bountiful. The venerable general entered the army as
fur back as February, 1776, nearly 70 years ago.
SEASONABLE BENEVOLENCE IN WINDSOR AND ITS
VICINITY.--THE QUEEN'S GIFTS.—Her Majesty's
gifts to the poor of Windsor, consisting of blankets,
meat, bread, plum-pudding, &c. will be given away to
the poor of Windsor, consisting of between 400 and 500
families, under the superintendence of the Hon. and Rev
C. L. Courtenay, the Queen's domestic chaplain, and the
parochial authorities, in the Riding-school at the Royal
Mews, on New Year's-day, in the presence of her Ma-
jesty, the Prince Consort, and the members of the court.
THE NEW GOVERNOR-GENERAL OP CANADA .
Ili I Excellency the Earl of Elgin and suite, according to
present arrangements, will embark for North America
on the 4th of next month, from Liverpool, on board the
Boston mail-racket steamer, whence his Lordship pro-
ceeds overland to Montreal. The Earl and Countess are
expected to arrive in town on Monday next from Scot-
land. The Countess will not join the Noble Earl until
the advance of the spring.
WESTMINSTER-BRIDGE AN APOTHECARY'S SHOP.
—Limestone contains from 24 to 42 per cent, of the car-
bonate of magnesia, from which Epsom salts are pro-
cured by the application of sulphuric acid. Hence, as
Westminster-bridge is built of the rock, it would, if
covered with water and sulphuric acid, be converted into
Epsom salt.