The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-20 00:00:00

MEXICO.
CHARACTERISTICS OF ITS PEOPLE.

The following are extracts (at the present time, per-
haps, of peculiar interest) from Mr. John Macgregor's
Parliamentary volume on the States of Mexico, which
has just been issued by on'er of Parliament (having been
presented to both Houses by command of her Majesty,
just before the prorogation).
The Spanish Mexicans are accused of great indolence
of character, occasioned by the abundant means of
subsistence acquired by little industry.
.They are.
from idleness, addicted to gambling, which is charged
against them as a prevailing vice. Probably no two
men differ from each other so widely in habits and cha-
aacters as the Anglo-Saxon Americans and the Spanish
Americans.
Mr. Mayer says—" The Mexicans are a proud and
sensitive people ; yet, none are mere easily subdued by
kindness, none more easily won by a ready disposition
to mingle in their ranks, and treat them with a due re-
spect for their habitudes and their prejudices.
"It seems impossible for them to get rid of the
idea, that European Powers are seeking to obtain their
wealth and territory, and to re-establish the systems
from which they freed themselves by so many years of
revolutionary war ; nor can they (since the Texan war)
divest themselves of the erroneous notion, that the
United States has ever a lunging eye on their capital
and country.
" There are but few entertainments given in Mexico. in
comparison with those of other cities abroad,where a lavish
expenditure in viands, lights, and amusements for the few,
hours of a single evening are mistaken for the elegancies
and refinements of genuine hospitality; instead, how-
ever, of these ostentatious displays, there are frequent
re-unions at turtulias, where an hour or two are most
agreeably spent.
" I have already alluded to the extreme of fashionable
life, and its disposition for the theatre; and I do not in-
tend to treat again of the propensity of the ultras to
living thus constantly in the public eye, without devoting
a portion of each day to that domestic intercourse and
reunion which make the comfort and beauty of an Eng-
lish, or American fireside. I speak, however, of that
juste milieu of society, wherein resides the virtue and in-
tellect of a country.
" It was my good fortune to reside for more than half a
year in a native family, once rich and titled, but broken in
fortunes by the political and commercial vicissitudes of
the republic, and it was there that I constantly witnessed
the most beautiful evidences of filial devotion and pa-
rental love, amounting almost to passionate attachment.
The lady at the head of the establishment, was a person
who had been distinguished for her talents and accom-
plishments in the days when Mexico was adorned with
the splendour of a Spanish court. She would have been
considered highly cultivated in any country; her manners
were excellent; her bearing graceful and courteous, and
a wide circulation in her youth among distinguished
men (both before and during the revolution), and a
ready talent for imparting her recollections, made ber
conversation delightful and instructive. Besides this,
the possessed a genius for miniature painting and sketch-
ing in crayons, rarely attained by a female, and worthy
of a distinguished artist. Qualities like these, brought
around her constantly a large and intelligent circle of
both sexes. The change of fortune had by no means
diminished her estimation in society, and the numbers of
fast friends who adhered to her in her comparative indi-
gence, proved their admiration of her talent, and the
constancy of attachment, by the repetition of the most
delicate and disinterested assiduities.
" It was in this Mexican home, and not from the un-
sympathising distance of the .hotel and ball-room (the
scene of most travellers' observation), that I obtained
my insight in'o the structure of Mexican society and
character. Had I kept myself aloof in my own house,
or my own inn, as is the habit of foreigners, I should
have judged from the theatre, the passe, the bull ring,
the cock pit, and the gaming table, that the women were
but so many painted dolls, without more education or
soul than was required to languish over a love sick
play, or to ogle, with idle gaze, a favoured cavalier.
I might have supposed, too, that the men were su-
premely blessed by this dalliance with the sex, and con-
sidered themselves in perfect elysium when they could
divide their attention between their sirens, their horses,
and the card table—but in the privacy of this dwelling,
I learned to estimate the lore and regard between
parents and children ; the beautiful benevolence of
ancient friendship ; the universal respect for genius ;
and, besides, had frequent occasion to notice the expand-
ing spirit, ardent patriotism, desire of cultivation, and
quick talent, which embellish the Mexican character,

"There are in Mexico, as in all other countries,
specimens of egotism, selfishness, haughtiness, ill-
breeding, and loose morals, both among the men and
the women ; but, although we find these floating,
like bubbles, on the top of society, they must not,
therefore, be considered the characteristics of the
country. A nation in which ' revolutions and counter-
revolutions are events of almost daily occurrence, is
naturally prolific in desperate and crafty political ad-
♦enturers,' and dissimulation and stratagem may, in
time, form the chief element of the character of such a
people ; yet such, it is hoped, is not to be the corrupting
fate of Mexico.
" The idea that large social entertainments require
great magnificence and lavish expense, deprives the
Mexicans, in their towns, of many of those agreeable
gatherings which fill up su pleasantly our winter nights
and autumn evenings, but it is on their haciendas or
plantations that their hospitality is most distinguished.
Nothing is withheld from you ; their establishments are
placed at your entire control, and the welcome is as sin-
cere as it is hearty and cheerful.
" That they are brave none will doubt who read the
history of their War of Independence, although the bad
discipline (especially of their officers) has prevented the
very eminent exhibition of this quality in their foreign
battles. In fact, regard them in any way, and they will
be found to possess the elements of a fine people who
want but peace and the stimulus of foreign emulation to
bring them forward among the nations of the earth with
great distinction.
" Their geographical position, however, is very unfa-
vourable for this emulative stimulus. They are placed
among the mountains, on an isthmus connecting two
large continents, while their territory is washed by two
seas. They are cut off by a large belt of savage country
from us at the north, and the communication with Europe
is both distant and uncertain. They have a small popu-
lation, spread over an immense territory, and want,
therefore, both the constant comparison of the intellect
of other nations, and social compacting or aggregation
among themselves."

The following is a horrible picture of crime and cri
minals in Mexico:—

" CRl3lE.—Passing westward, towards the Passeo
Nuevo from the Alameda, you cross the scpare in front
of the Accordada, the common prison of the capital. In
the front of one of its wings a low barred window is
constantly open, and within, on an inclined plane, are
laid the dead bodies found ily within the limits of the
city. It is almost impossible to take your morning walk
to the adjoining fields, without seeing one, and fre-
quently two corpses, stretched bleeding on the stones.
These are the victims of some sudden quarrel, or un-
known murder during the night ; and all who miss a
friend, a parent, or a brother, resort to these iron bars
ti seek the lost one. It is painful to behold the scenes
to which this melancholy assemblage frequently give
rise, and hear the wails of sorrow that break from the
homeless orphan, whose parent lies murdered on the
stones of the dead house.

" Yet this is scarcely more shocking than the scenes
presented by the living within the walls of the loathsome
prison. A strong guard of rui.itary is stationed at the
gate, and you enter, after due permission from the com
manding officer. A gloomy stair leads to the second
story, the entrance to which is guarded by a portal mas-
sive enough to resist the assault of a powerful force.
Within, a lofty apartment is filled with the officers of
the prison and a crowd of subalterns, engaged in writing,
talking, and walking—amid the hum of the crowd, the
clank of chains, the shouts of prisoners, and the eternal
din of an ill-regulated establishment.
" Passing through several iron and wood barred gates,
you enter a lofty corridor, running round a quadrangular
courtyard, in the centre of which, beneath, is a fountain
of troubled water. The whole of this area is filled with
human beings—the great congress of Mi xican crime—
mixed and mingled, like a hill of busy ants swarming
from their sandy caverns. Some are stripped and bath-
ing in the fountain; some are fighting in a corner; some
making baskets in another. In one plaee a crowd is
gathered around a witty story-teller, relating the adven-
tures of his rascally life. In another, a group is engaged
in weaving with a hand-loom. Robbers, murderers,
thieves, ravishers, felons of every description, and vaga-
bonds of every aspect, are crammed within this court-
yard; and, almost free from discipline or moral restraint,
form perhaps the most splendid school of misdemeanour
and villany on the American continent.
" Below, within the corridor of the second story—from
which I have described the view of this wretched mass of
humanity—a rather better sort of criminals are kept ;
and yet, even here, many were pointed out to me as
being under sentence of death, who still went about en-
tirely without restraint.
" In one corner of the quadrangle is the chapel, where
convicts for capital offences are condemned to solitude
and penance, during the last three days of their mise-
rable life ; and, at a certain hour, it is usual for all the
prisoners to gather in front of the door, and chant a
hymn for the victim of the laws. It is a solemn service
of crime for crime.
" I did not see the prison for women, but I am told it
is much the same as the one I have just dedescribed.About one hundred of the men, chained in pairs like
galley-slaves, are driven daily into the streets, under a
strong guard, as scavengers • and it seems to be the
chief idea of the utility of prisons in Mexico, to support
this class of coerced labourers.

" There can be no apology, at this period of general
enlightment in the world for such disgraceful exhibi-
tions of the congregated vice of a country. Punishment,
or rather incarceration, and labour on the streets, m the
manner I have described, is, in fact, no sacrifice—both
because public exhibition deadens the felor's shame, and
because it cannot become an actual punishment under
any circumstances of lepero's life. Indeed, what object
in existence can the lepero propose to himself ? His
day is one of precarious labour and income—he thieves
—he has no regular home, or if he has it is some mise-
rable hovel of earth and mud, where his wife and chil-
dren crawl about with scarce the instinct of beavers. His
food and clothing are scant and miserable. He is with-
out education, or prospect of improvement. He belongs
to a class that does not rise. lie dulls his sense of pre-
sent misery by intoxicating drinks. His quick temper
stimulates him to quarrel. His sleep is heavy and un-
refreshing, and he only rises to a day of similar uncer-
tainty and wickedness. What, then, is the value of life
to him, or to one like shim ? Why toil ? Why not
steal ? What shame has he ? Is the prison, with certainty
of food, more punishment than the free air, with uncer-
tainty- ? On the contrary, it is a lighter pnnishineut ;
and as for the degradation, he knows not how to esti-
raate

Mexico will thus continue to be infested with felons,

as long as its prison is a house of refuge, and a com-
paratively happy home to so large a portion of its out-
cast population.
" I have collected some statistical information on these
subjects, which I think will be interesting in connexion
with Mexican prisons, and prove how necessary it is,

in the first place, to alter their whole system of coercive
discipline ; and, in the second, to, strike immediately
at the root of the evil, by improving ti e condition
of the people, by educating and proposing advantages
to them, in the cultivation of the extensive tracts of
country that now lie barren over their immense terri-
tory.

4 Without specifying each of the several crimes for
which these persons were committed to prison, or being
able, from all the accounts furnished me, to state the ex-
act number of those who were finally convicted, I will
present some lists of the numbers imprisoned for the
crimes during the whole year:—
" The total number of prisoners of both sexes for
1842 was 6,055 men and 2,806 women, which, added
together, give the frightful amount of 8,934 males and
females, for the higher crimes and misdemeanors—leav-
ing a balance of 1,927 only to be divided among the
lesser. It should be stated, in addition to the above,
that numbers were committed for throwing vitriol on
the clothes and faces of persons passing along the street;
that 113 dead bodies were found; 17 individuals exe-
outed, and 894 sent to the hospital.
" The sum of 4,121 dollars is expended in salaries of
officers for this institution, and 30,232 dollars for the
support of the prisoners."
' "As an evidence of the little value these leperos place
upon their liveA, an old resident in Mexico told me that he
had once been the witness of a street-fight between two wo-
men, which resulted in the use of knives, and the ripping of
one's belly, so that her bowels were exposed. The wound
was not fatal, and as soon as she had slightly recovered
from the loss of blond, while the attendants were preparing
a litter, she drew forth a cigarrito from her bosom, obtained
a light from a bystander, and was borne off to the hospital
smoking as contentedly as if preparing fora siesta!"

GREAT EASTERN AND WESTERN

RAILWAY.

A meeting of the shareholders in this Company was
called for 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon by the committee
appointed by holders of more than 10,000 shares. The
advertisement stated that this committee so appointed
addressed a letter to the Chairman of the Company, re-
questing to be allowed to examine the books and ac-
counts ; the answer which t'iey received was far from
satisfactory, and therefore iluy thought it advisable to
call the shareholders together, in order to take into con-
sideration the measures which ought to be adopted for
the protection of the interests of the shareholders. At
the appointed hour several shareholders were present.
Mr. Manbert occupied the chair.
Mr. SPACLMANN read a copy of the letter which.
at the request of the committee, he addressed
to H. G. Ward, Esq., M.P., the chairman of the Com-
pany, expressing the wish of the committee to inspect
the books and accounts of the Company. It further stated
that they had addressed a similar letter to all the mem-
bers of the provisional committee, but that they had only
received a reply from one ; it also intimated that he had
never sanctioned the use of his name in connexion with the
undertaking. The reply of Mr. Ward simply intimated
that he had made an offer to Mr. Manbert, which he con-'I
sidered would have led to the co operation of the dis-
sentient with the satisfied shareholders, but that he
(Mr. Manbert) had rejected his offer.
The CHAIRMAN explained, that Mr. Ward offered to
allow him to examine the books and accounts, on condi-
tion that he did not make use of the results. Such an offer
was perfectly absurd, and he replied, with considerable
warmth, that he should make use of such an examination
in favour of the shareholders. and, if deserving, against
the directors. On Monday last he addressed a letter
to Mr. Ward, offering to give up all further claims on
the Company on receiving 15s. per share, and being
allowed, with the assistance of an accountant, to
inspect all the books and accounts of the Corn.
pany, and to make a report to the shareholders.
Up to the present time he had received no answer.
Mr. Slaughter, of the Stock Exchange, who kept a
copy of the letter, had received a note on the subject,
but he (the Chairman) was not at liberty to mention the
purport of it. Some verbal alterations had been made
in the printed forms issued by the Company, to be filled
up by parties wishing for a return of fifteen
shillings per share, but he understood from
Mr. Valiance that this was immaterial, as any
one taking the 15s. per share forfeited all legal
claim to any further sum, except what the directors
might think proper to give. Ho reminded them that the
prospectus stated that no more than 10s. per share would
be expended until a meeting of the shareholders was
called and they sanctioned a further expenditure. 103.
per share would amount to 35,0004 which he considered was
a sufficient sum for preliminary expenses. Then only
40,000 shares, out of the 70,000, were issued ; thus, those
holding the 40,000 shares would have to bear the ex-
penses which ought to have been spread amongst 70,000.
They ought not to submit to have 11. 15s. per share de-
ducted. They ought not to submit quietly, and ought
to make every exertion in their power to put a stop to
such proceedings. If they were tolerated, confidence
between man and man would be destroyed.
A series of resolutions were then submitted to the
meeting, and carried, pledging the meeting not to submit
to a deduction of 11. 15s. per share, unless it should be
shown that the money had been properly expended, espe-
cially as 10s. per share was only promised to be expended,
and as every application to inspect the books of the Company
had been heretofore refused; and appointing a com-
mittee to take on behalf of the shareholders any mea-
sures they might think proper to obtain a return of the
deposits, and to bring the matter under the attention of
the House of Commons, and the shareholders invited to
pay 2s. per share to defray the necessary expenses.
After a few words from Mr. CoHEN and Mr. SPACK-
MANN, a vete of thanks was awarded to the Chairman,
and the meeting separated.

INQUEST ON THE LATE MP.

VALENTINE LEE.

The melancholy circumstances attending the sudden
and premature death of Mr. Lee, the well-known and
eminent barrister on the Oxford Circuit, were briefly
detailed in The Sun last week. An inquest on the body
has since been held at the Peacock Inn, Boraston, bef ,re
'Thomas Weyman, Esq., Coroner, when the circum-
stances of Mr. Lee's sudden decease were more fully ex-
plained, and present features of a very singular cha-
racter.

As before stated, the deceased had been out shooting
after a hearty dinner, and it appears had just shot a
partridge, which one of his dogs rushed upon when killed.
On this Mr. Lee called out vehemently to the dog, and
at that moment .something appeared to give way at his
heart, and he immediately became sick and faint. With
considerable difficulty he contrived to crawl to'the road-
side, where he was first observed by Mr. W. Goode,
farmer, of Boraston, who was passing by on horseback.
Mr. Goode was examined on the inquest, and deposed
to finding the deceased sitting by the side of the road
with his hands down on each side, apparently supporting
him. Witness asked him what was the matter ; to
which he replied that he could 'not stand. Witness
offered him the use of his horse, but Mr. Lee could not
mount from weakness, and accordingly witness fetched
his (Mr. Lee's) servant, who soon arrived with a horse.
Ou being lifted on the horse, however, the deceased
could riot maintain his seat, and accordingly a message
was sent to Mr. Lee's house for his carriage, which
promptly arrived, bringing Mrs. Lee. The Rev. H. M.
M-Laughlin arrived on the spot about the same time,
and acc,rmpanied the deceased and Mrs. Lee home in
the carriage. Mr. Davis, surgeon, of Tenbury, arrived
shortly after their arrival home.
Mr. Davis deposed that he found the deceased in a
state of collapse, but perfectly sensible. lle was ex-
tremely faint, and was only kept alive by the c.nstitit
application of stimulants. He was put to bed, and in
about half an hour was very sick, and vomited the con-
tents of his stomach, which contained his dinner in an
undigested state. There was nothing deleterious in the
contents of the stomach, the deceased had had two
similar attacks on former occasions, and had frequently
complained of pain in the region of the heart, though
not very recently. The deceased was extremely coil,
notwithstanding the free use of friction and the appli-
cation of stimulants. Dr. Hastings, of Worcester, was
sent for, and arrived at Boraston about one o'clock in
the morning, when Mr. Davis left the patient apparently
rather better. Witness returned to him at half-past
three, when he found him more feeble, and although
stimulants were again had recourse to he gradually
grew weaker, and died about nine, some 18 hours after
his seizure.

Dr. Hastings and Mr. Davis were both in attendance
at the time of his death. They did not think there was
any rupture at the region of the heart, but were firmly
of opinion that death had resulted from natural causes.
The precise cause of death could not be ascertained
without opening the body, and this step the jury did not
think necessary. Accordingly they returned a verdict
that the deceased had died a natural death.