The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JUNE 15, 1846.

mencement, promise a book without any parallel. Un-
doubtedly minor errors have insinuated them-
selves, in the midst of so much elaboration, but
these are surely excusable and can be readily
corrected in a supplementary part. Had this compila-
tion app,ared many 3 ears back it would have
been regarded as a wonderful literary achievement.
Intrinsically, it is -so still, though we have become so
habituated to the recurrence of marvels, that the ap-
p-arance of a hippogriff would scarcely excite any asto-
nishment among the populace. We are sucked at the rate
of sixty miles an hour over the surface of the earth ;
our elodpoles are become experimental chemists ; we talk
to each other through wires when separated by many
leagues ; and have grown familiar with various other
equally marvellous proceedings. Ilence we are but
rarely seduced into anything like a display of astonish-
ment. The present work is worthy of the present age ;
it betrays the profound research and the continual in-
dustry of its editor.

AMERICAN NEWS.

UNITED STATES AND MEXICOI

DEFEAT AND ROUTE OF THE LATTER
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the semi-monthly mails, and ninety-one passengers, after
in-
cluding her call and detention at Halifax.
By this arrival we have received our usual files of
New York, Washington, New Orleans, Philadelphia,
Boston, and Canada papers.
Those from the United States are thirteen days later
than those brought by the Yorkshire. The steam-ship
Great Britain had reached New York on the 29th ult.,
after a passage of twenty days. The cause assigned
for this lengthened voyage was owing to some de-
rangement of her machinery. The packet-ship Henry
Clay, which had been wrecked on Square Beach, had
been got off, and was reitted. She was to sail for Li-
verpool, from New York on the 6th instant.
The only important news by this arrival is that which
relates to the position of affairs between the United
States and Mexico. Two battles have been fought
between the contending armies, the United States
being the victors, having cut the Mexicans to pieces,
seized their cannon and ammunition, and taken their
General prisoner. Great has been the excitement, and
unbounded the joy which the news of these battles caused
on being known throughout the States. It has really re-
primed the courage of Jonathan, who begins to think
that he will be able to meet a victorious army at the
point of tke bayonet, should the Oregon dispute con-
tinue unsettled. Several of the New York papers are
embellished with drawings and illustrations of the plan
of the battles. Never did the Pictorial Times, or its
senior colleague the London Illustrated, blazon forth the
representation of battles in such an imposing style as
appears in the New York Sun of May 24, making as
much of the paltry skirmish that took place ou the 7th
of May as if it were like Waterloo, or our recent
campaign on the Sutlej. The following is an outline
of the news by this arrival:—On the 25th ult. news was
received at New York of General Taylor's progress,
from Point Isabel to his camp opposite the city,
on their position, neither having yielded. The Mexicans
are said to have retreated during the night, leaving 200
dead or wounded on the field. The Americans estimate
their loss at 79 killed or wounded. General Taylor
continued his march on the following day, May 8, and
came up with the enemy, who were posted to cut off his
road to the camp. A second engagement took place ;
the Mexicans were defeated, and lost 500 men, while
the Americans estimate their loss at 120 as killed or
wounded. Reports were in circulation that General
Paredes was advancing towards Matamoras at the head
of 15,000 men. The report proved unfounded, although
believed for a time. According to the late accounts the
Mexicans were dispersing rapidly, and the United
States army had no enemy in view. The latest news
from the seat of war is to the 19th ult., brought by
the steam-ship Alabama to New Orleans from Brason de
Santiago, on the 22d ult. By her arrival we find that
official intelligence had reached Point Isabel of the
capture of the Mexican town of Barite, without oppo-
sition, by Colonel Wilson, with four companies of
regulars and three companies of Alabama and Louisiana
volunteers.
It appears that General Taylor was to cross the Rio
Grande on Monday, the 18th instant, and invest
Matamoras.
Two thousand Mexican troops had been seen to march
out of that city, and as no canonading had been heard at
Point Isabel, it was supposed that the Mexicans had
evacuated the place, and allowed General Taylor to take
quiet possession of the houses and squares.
It is said that General Smith and his troop"; had com-
menced their march to the Island of Boca Chica, to cross
the Rio Grande at its mouth, and thence advance up the
river on the Mexican side, to form a junction probably
with General Taylor's forces as they cross opposite
Matamoras.
It is the report of Capt. Windle, that the Mexicans I
are in a starving condition.
The Sea, with volunteers, had arrived at Point Isabel,
and the commands of Cols. O'Neils, Marks, and Waltons,
were therefore complete. Officers and men were all well
and in excellent spirits.
The officers and men wounded in the recent battles
were doing well.
It was rumoured that the American squadron would
bombard Vera Cruz. The New York Herald, of the
31st ultimo, in commenting on the war, has the follow-
ing article:—
THE WAR—WHAT NEXT ?

GILBERT'S MODERN ATLAS of the WORLD,

Four Parts.

Another of those cheap and useful publications which
tend so much to facilitate the enlightenment of the
people. By issuing periodicals of this character, Mr.
Gilbert evinces his anxiety to follow in the footsteps
of the late Society for the Diffusion of Useful
Knowledge, and in acting thus, he shows his appreciation
of the objects of that admirable institution. The maps
are clearly printed, and the engravings pencilled with
extreme neatness ; even the recent discoveries of Capt.
Ross, in the neighbourhood of the South Pole, are in-
cluded ; and the work altogether is as complete as our
present knowledge of the globe will permit. When
completed, it will form an admirable addition to any and
every library.

The war against Mexico makes a rapid and brilliant
progress. The American army have gained two bril-
liant victories in the field, resisted a bombardment of
160 hours, crossed the Rio Grande, planted the Ame-
rican standard in Burita, and, probably at this time,
the " stars and stripes" float over Matamoras itself.
The intelligence of the capture of Burita was received
by telegraph yesterday in this city, our dates being to
the 19th, from Point Isabel. It was conjectured, also,
on the strongest possibilities, that General Taylor had
crossed the Rio Grande, and had taken possession of
Matamoras without any opposition, the belief being that
the Mexican army evacuated that place in a panic, and
retreated to the interior; probably for the purpose of
getting provisions, or creating a new revolution in that
miserable and distracted country.
The brilliancy of this campaign, thus far, has sur-
passed that of many other countries, and certainly equals
that of any campaign in the history of the Anglo-Saxon
race, throughout the world, in proportion to the num-
bers engaged. The bravery, valour, skill, and energy of
the American General, and his troops, have created a
spirit throughout this great r( public, of perfect unity
and undivided enthusiasm. The only miserable ex-
ception to this general spirit exists in the contemptible
organs and sections of the abolitionists—traitors to their
country and to their race as they are. Nothing now can
prevent the further progress of the American arms to-
wards the capital of Mexico itself, if that should be deemed
the best policy and the wisest course of action to pursue by
our own Government, or should Mexico still further re-
sist.
In the pretent position, therefore, of our affairs on
the Rio Grande, and in the relations of the United
States with Mexico, it becomes an important question of
inquiry to pause, and to ask, what is the next step ?
Will the American Government procure a peace by the
occupation of Matamoras and the country around it, on
the other side of the RiosGrande, and invite negotiations
on the part of Mexico ?—or, will the American army
remain there until the plan for the general invasion of
Mexico be completed, and then, let that republic be in-
vaded at all points, by sea and by land, let the conse-
quences be what they may ?
It is difficult to ascertain the sentiments of our Govern-
ment, in the present crisis of our relations with Mexico.
The action of Mr. Polk and his cabinet has, heretofore,
been very slow and dilatory, in assuming the responsibility
of beginning brilliant and masterly achievements, either
of diplomacy or war. We hear it stated on very good
authority, that Mr. ,Slidell remains at Washington,
waiting daily for any slight overtures coming from the
Mexican Government, in order to return to his post in
Mexico, and to re-open negotiations on the footing for-
merly proposed. It is possible, however, that the defeat
of the Mexican army, and their total route, with the occu-
pation of Matamoras, may produce another revolution
in that country. By the last accounts, it was said that
two thousand Mexicans had left Matamoras immediately
on perceiving General Taylor's intention to cross the
Rio Grande ; and who knows but Arista may now be
on his route towards Mexico, for the purpose of effecting
another revolution against Paredes. It is hardly possi-
ble, however, for our Government to open any negotia-
tion with Paredes, the present military dictator of that
republic, with any hopes of success or permanency, for
the re-establishment of peace. It is difficult to believe
that any Government coming into power as that military
dictator has, can be ever treated with at all.
In the meantime, while the American Government
may be devising plans for negotiation, they are also pre-
pared with plans and projects for the re-establishment of
the Mexican republic, on such a plan, and in the same
form which we ourselves have put in practice. The
army of volunteers authorised by Congress, amounting
to fifty thousand men, is preparing. The Governments
of the various States, on the requisition of the general
Government, are forming them, and mustering them as
rapidly as possible. In less than six months, an army
of fifty thousand men will be on the Mexican frontier,
ready to proceed to the city of Mexico. An expedition,
it is said, is also preparing at St. Louis, to go to Santa
Fe, for the purpose of taking that place. Dispatches
have been sent to the American squadron in the Pacific,
to take Monterey and San Francisco ; to blockade
Mazatlan, San Blas, and other ports on the Pacific.
Some difficulties in these plans and preparations have
been encountered at Washington, in consequence of a
difference of opinion between the War Department and
General Scott, relative to the command of the army of
invasion. The old, ridiculous, technical disputes about
rank, have been revived—such as was recently seen in
the case of Colonel Worth at the Rio Grande. The
American people will not tolerate any such captious
difficulties between the civil and military officers of the
Government. There must be union—harmony—concilia-
tion—kindness, in all branches of the Government, in
order to carry this war to a successful and
rapid termination. If obstacles prevent any ne-
gotiation, we hope that the invasion of Mexico
will take place by fifty or sixty thousand
troops—that a proclamation will be issued by
the American General, declaring that the wishes
of the Government is not to war upon the people
of Mexico, but make the rulers respect treaties, and
abstain from insult. The whole country on the Rio
Grande, and all Upper California, will probably be occu-
pied by American troops, and never will be given up
either to Mexico or any other power, until all the ex-
penses of the war are paid. Some think that France
sad England have been called upon to interfere, and
that the Government of Paredes has invited those
powers to come into The field of diplomacy or war.
The interference of any European power would only
protract the war ; and if the American people only look
to their own interest, they will carry on the war in such
a way as to command the respect of the whole world.
We want nothing from the Mexican only that

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