The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-22 00:00:00

,FRInAY EVENIN:G, DECEMBE-R 22,

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, TittrßsnAT.

The Queen and Prince Albert arrived at the Castle at
twenty minutes before two o'clock this afternoon, in a
carriage and four from the Slough station of the Great
Western Railway. Her Majesty and his Royal High
ness was accompanied from her Majesty's marine resi-
dtnee, Osborne, Isle of Wight, by their Royal High-
nesses the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, the Princess
Royal, the Princess Alice, the Princess Helena, and the
Princess Louisa. The royal suite consisted of the
Viscountess Canning, Lady in waiting; Lady Caroline
Somers Cocks, Maid of Honour in waiting; Major-
General Wemyss, Equerry in waiting; and Colonel
Bouverie, Equerry in waiting to his Royal Highness.
A detachment of the 2d Life Guards formed the es-
cort of the august party from the Slough station to the
Castle.
The Queen and Prince Albert were received at the
grand entrance by Lord Camoys. Lord in waiting; the
Master of the Household, and-the Hon. and Rev. C.
Leslie Courtenay.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended
by Baroness de Speth, and Sir George Couper, returned
to-day to her residence, Frogmen) House, from a visit
to her Majesty the Queen Dowager, at the Priory,
Stanmore.
Lady Fanny Howard, Lady in Waiting on her Royal
Highness the Duchess of Kent, arrived at Frogmoro
House to-day.

Mr. Yates had an interview with Earl Grey yester-
day, et the Colonial-office. The Marquis of Breadal-
bane had also an interview yesterday with the. Noble Earl.
Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office tram the Governor of Canada, and also from the
Governors of the other North American colonies.

WEST INDIA MAIL.
(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH).
SOUTHAMPTON, Fams.v.—The Great Western steamer,
with the West Indian and Mexican mails, has arrived at
SouthaMpton.
Her-dates are—Vera Cruz, Nov.lsth; Tampio, 13th;
'llavannah, 26th; Honduras, 6th; Jamaica, 21st
She brings 37,313 dolls. for account of Mexican bond-
holders, and 2,000,000 dolls. on merchants' accounts.
The commercial intelligence brought by her from the
West India islands is not very important. Sugar was de-
clining in value at Jamaica.
Mexico was tolerably tranquil, and business matters
improving.

WEST RIDING ELECTION.
TO THF: EDITOR OF THE SUN.
think the result of the poll in the West Rid-
ing clearly proves the necessity of electing more than
two Representatives for such a constituency. According
to the sheriff's declaration, nearly 12,000 electors voted
against Mr. Denison, and yet this gentleman is sent to
Parliament to represent their opinions, or, more properly
speaking, to misrepresent them. Such a numerous dis-
trict should have at least four or six Members; and, had
it been so in the present case, those 12,000 voters would
have had an opportunity of choosing a man partaking
a little of their own sentiments and ideas.
Yours faithfully,
A SUBSCRIBER.
South Molton-street, Dec. 20, 1148.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
TATTERsAWs.—YESTERDAY.
The few bets given underneath do not show any change
in the prices:—

THE UNITED STATES

THE

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

We gave in the whole of our impression yesterday
a summary of the news brought by the Cambria. We
have since received our files, with A copy of the Pre-
sident's Message. The Message Was presented to
Congress on the 6th inst., and is of unusual length.
In reprinting it, we have omitted a few prragraphs,
chiefly of repetition, and have indicated the various
subjects enlarged on, by headings. The document
commences by reference to
THE POLITICAL CONVULSIONS 01' THE EUROPEAN CON•

TINENT.
In reviewing the great events of the past year, and
contrasting the agitated and disturbed state of other
countries with our own tranquil and happy condition,
we may congratulate ourselves that we are the moat
favoured people on the face of the earth. While
the people of other countries are struggling to es.
tablish free institutions, under which man may govern
himself, we are in the actual enjoyment of them—a rich
inheritance front our. fathers. While enlightened na-
tions of Europe are convulsed and distracted by civi,l
at ar or intestine strife, we settle• all our political eon.
troversiea by the peaceful exercise of the rights of freemen at
the ballot-box. The great republican maxim, so deeply en-
graven on the hearts of our• people, that the will of the ma-
jority, constitutionally expressed, shall prevail, is our sure
safeguard against force and violence. It is a subject of juat
pride, that our fame and character as a nation continue ray
pidly to advance in the estimation of the civilized world.
'f o our wise and free institutions it is to be attributed, that
while other nations have achieved glory at the price of the
suffering, distress, and impoverishment of their people, w 9
have won our honourable position in the midst of an uninter-
rupted prosperity, and of an increasing.• individual comfort
and happiness. lam happy to inform yuu that our relations
with all nations are friendly. ; Advantageous treaties of•
commerce have been concluded within the last few
sears with New Granada, Peru, the Two Sicilies,
nelgium, Hanover, Oldenburg, and Mecklenburgh-Schwerin.
Pursuing our example, the restrictive system of Great Bri-
tain, our principal foreign customer, has been relaxed, a mom
liberal commercial policy has been adopted by other enlight-
ened nations, and our trade has been greatly enlarged and
extended. Our country stands higher in the respect of the
world than at any former period. To continue to occupy
this proud position, it iaonly necessary to preserve peace, and
faithfully adhere to the great and fundamental principle 9f
our foreign policy, of non-interference in the domestic con-
cerns of other nations. 'We recognise the rights which we
enjoy ourselves, to change and reform their political institu-
tions according to their own will and pleasure. Hence we
do not look behind existing governments capable of main•
taining their own authority. We recognise all such actual
governments, not only from the dictates of truly policy, but
from s sacred regard for the independence of nations.
While this is our settled policy, it does not follow that we
can ever be indifferent spectators of the progress of 'lbw*
principles. The Government and people of the United States
hailed with enthusiasm and delight the establishment of the
French Republic, as we now hail the efforts in progress to
unite the States of Germany in a confederation similar in
many respects to our own Federal Union. If the great and
enlightened German States, occupying as they do a central
and commanding position in Europe, shall succeed in esta-
blishing such a confederated government, securing at the
same time to the citizens of each state local governments
adapted to the peculiar condition of each, with unrestricted
trade and intercourse with each other, it will be an important
era in the history of human events. Whilst it will consoli-
date and strengthen the power of ,Gera any, it must essen-
tially promote the cause of peace, commerce, civilization, and
constitutional liberty throughout the world.
With all the Governments on this continent our relations,
it is believed, are now on a more friendly and satisfactory
footing than they have ever been at any former period.

THE WAR WIT! MEXICO.

Since the exchange of ratifications of the treaty of peace
with Mexico, our intercourse with the Government of that
Republic has been of the most friendly character. The Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United
States of Mexico has been received and accredited; and a
diplomatic representative from Mexico of similar rank has
been received and accredited by this Government. The
amicable relations between the two countries, which had
been suspended, have been happily restored, and are des-
tined. I trust, to be long preserved. The two republics, both
situated on this continent, and with coterminous territories,
have every motive of sympathy and of interest to bind them
together in perpetual amity.
One of the most important results of the war into which
we were recently forced with a neighbouring nation, is the
demonstaation it has afforded of the military strength of our
country. Before the late war with Mexico, European and
other foreign powers entertained imperfect and erroneous
views of our physical strength as a nation, and of our ability
to prosecute war, and especially a war waged out of our own
country. They saw that our standing army, on the peace
establishment, did not exceed ten thousand men. Accus-
tomed themselves to maintain, in peace, large standing
armies, for the protection of thrones, against their own sub-
jects, as well as against foreign enemies, they had not con-
ceived that it was possible for a nation without such an
army, well disciplined and of long service, to wage war suc-
cessfully. They held in low repute our militia, and were far
from regarding them as an effective force, unless it might be
for the temporary defensive operations when invaded on our
own soil. The events of the late war with Mexico have not
only undeceived them, but have removed erroneous impres-
sions which prevailed to some extent even among a portion
of our own countrymen. That war has demonstrated that
upon the breaking out of hostilities not anticipated, and for
which no previous preparation had been made, a volunteer
army of citizen soldiers, equal to veteran troops, and in num-
bers equal to any emergency, can, in a short period, be brought
into the field. Unlike what would have occurred in any
other country, we were under no necessity of resorting
to drafts or conscriptions. On the contrary, such was
the number of volunteers who patriotically tendered
their services, that the chief difficulty was in making
selections and determini.:g who should be disappointed
and compelled to remain at home. Our citizen-soldiers are
unlike those drawn from the population of any other coun-
try. They are composed indiscriminately of all professions
and pursuits; of farmers, lawyers, physicians, •merchants,
manufacturers, mechanics and labourers; and this, not only
among the officers, but the private soldiers in the ranks. Our
citizen soldiers are unlike those of any other country in
otter respects. They are armed, and have been accustomed,
from their youth up, to handle and use firearms ; and a large
proportion of them, especially in the western and more
newly settled states, are expert marksmen. They are min
who have a repution to maintain at home by their good
conduct in the field. They are intelligent, and there is an
individuality of character which is found in the ranks of
no other army. In battle, each private man, as well as
every officer, fights not only for his country, but for glory
and distinction among his fellow-citizens when he shall re-
tuin to civil life.
After some further details respecting the war, the Presi- ,
dent says—
The war with Mexico has thus fully developed the capacity
of Republican Governments to prosecute successfully ajust and
necessary foreign war with all the vigour usually attributed
to more arbitrary forms of government. It has been usual
for writers on public law to impute to republics a want of hat
unity, concentration of purpose, and vigour of execution,
which are generally admitted to belong to the monarchical
and aristocratic forms • and this feature of popular govern-
ment has been supposed to display itself more particularly in
the conduct of a war carried on in an enemy's territory.
The war with Great Britain, in 1812, was to a great extent
confined within our own limits, and shed but little light on
'this subject. But the war which we have just closed by an
honourable peace evinces beyond all doubt that a popular
representative Government is equal to any emergency which
is likely to arise in the affairs of a nation.
The war with Mexico has developed most strikingly and
conspicuously another feature in our institutions. It is, that
without cost to the Governments or danger to our liberties,
we have, in the bosom of our society of freemen, available in
a just and necessary war, virtually a standing army of two
millions of armed citizen soldiers, such as fought at the bat•
ties of Mexico.
But our military strength does not consist alone in our ca-
pacity for extended and successful operations on land. The
navy is an important arm of the national defence. the ser-
vices of the navy were sot so brilliant as those of the army in
the late war with Mexico, it was because they had no enemy
to meet on their own element. While the army had oppors
tunity of performing more conspicuous service, the navy
largely participated in the conduct of the war. Both branches
of the service performed their whole duty to the country.
For the able and gallant services of the officers and men of
the navy—acting independently as well as in co-operation
with our troops—in the conquest of the California., the cap-
ture of Vera Cruz, and the seizure and occupation of other
important positions on the Gulph and Pacific coasts, the
highest praise is due. Their vigilaace, energy, and akin ren-
dered the most effective service in excluding munitions of
war and other supplies from the enemy, while they secured
a safe entrance for abundant supplies for our own army. Our
extended commerce was nowhere interrupted; and for this
immunity from the evils of war, the country is indebted to
the navy. High praise is also given to the officers of the
several executive bureaus.
THE NEW TERRITORIES.
The area of these several territories (Texas, New Mexico,
and California), according to a report carefully prepared by
the Commissioner of the General Land Office, from the most
authentic information in his possession, and which is here.
with transmitted, contains one million one hundred sold
ninety-three thousand and sixty-one square miles, or seven
hundred and sixty-three million five hundred and fifty-nine
thousand and forty acres; while the area of the remaining
twenty-nine States, and the territory not yet organized into
states, east of the Rocky Mountains, contains two million fifty-
nine thousand five hundred and thirteen square miles, or
thirteen htindred and eighteen million one hundred and
twenty-six thousand and fifty-eight acres. These estimates
show that the territories recently acquired, and over which
our exclusive jurisdiction and dominion have been extended.
constitute a country more than half as large as all thatwhi_e h
was held by the United States before their acquisition. The
Mississippi, so lately the frontier of our country, is now
only
its centre. With the addition of the late acquisitions, the
United States are now estimated to be nearly as large as the
whole of Europe. Other statistical details follow. ,
of RtheespveaecttinlngiUneprpael rwCeaallirfhorrneieae,
nittlyis
sdtallvteeldoptehda4thierrrees, iptehcotilvdes
in point of value and importance to the rest of
at
the
e thisUnion,day,
the same relation that Louisiana did when that
finwas acquired from France forty-five years ago.
ten degrees of latitude along the Pacific,
Extending
rynearly
and embracing the only sate and commodious harbours on
that coast for many hundred miles, with a temperate climate,
xet et
and an extensive interior of fertile lands, it is scarcely pos-
sible to estimate its wealth until it shall be brought under •
the government of our laws, and its resources fully deve-
loped. From its position, it must command the rich com-
merce of China, of Asia, of the islands of the Pacific, of Wes-
tern Mexico, of Central America, the South American States,,
and of the Russian possessions bordering- on that ocean. A
great emporium will doubtless speedily arise on the Cali-
fornian coast,
O ' w
h
rli
ens i
c
ah
metyself be destined to rival in im-
portance. The depot of the vast
New
commerce which must exist on the Pacific will pro-
bably be at some piAint on the bay, of San Francisco,
and will occupy the same relation to the whole western coast
of that ocean as New Orleans does to the valley of the Mis-
sissippi and the Gulph of Mexico. To this depot our nume-
rous whale ships will resort with their cargoes, to trade,
refit, and obtain supplies. This, of itself, will largely contri-
bute to build up a city, which would soon become the cen-
tre of a great and rapidly increasing commerce. Situated
on a safe harbour, sufficiently capacious for
,all,
the -navies
as well as the marine of the world, and convenient to excel-
lent timber for ship building, owned by the United States, it
must become our great western naval depot.
It was known that mines of the precious metals existed to
a considerable extent in California at the time of its acquisi-
tion. , Recent discoveries render it probable that these mines
are more extensive and valuable than was anticipated. The
accounts of the abundance of gold in that territory are of
such an extraordinary character as would scarcely command