The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-30 00:00:00

The Siege of Mexico.

A writer in a letter to a contemporary says :
" Thinking that from the recent tragic events in
this unhappy country a good share of public inte-
rest will be attracted towards it, I venture to send
you a short account of the terrible siege the capital
has just sustained—one of the worst, perhaps, taking
into account the size of the place, that this century
has seen in the whole world. This can easily be
imagined when it is known that during the 67 days
the siege lasted no food entered the city, containing
over 200,000 inhabitants, who had not only failed
to make any previous provision or preparation for

it, but during the preceding two months had been
unable to get the usual supply, owing to the partial
blockade of the place, and also to the shortsighted
policy of the Government in seizing many of the
Indians, who brought provisions, to serve in the
army, and thus deterring others from venturing to
the market with their goods. Necessaries of life,
therefore, rose to a fabulous price, bread being from
10s. to 12s. per lb., meat of lean mach cows 4s. per
lb., horseflesh from 9d. to ls. Indian corn or maize,
which is sometimes sold for Bs. a carga of 3001 b.,
was £3O ; lean fowls Bs. each, eggs three for 2s.
Many of these prices were merely nominal ; it was
often impossible to get flour or maize for love or
money, as there was no regular sale of them in the
market. Those who had them were obliged to
keep it a profound secret, for immediately it was
known the Government pounced upon them and gave
them to its soldiers ; they had, in fact, the power to
enter any house to search for provisions. I have
seen soldiers go into the miserable huts of the poor
and bring out a few handsful of maize that the in-
mates had carefully hoarded up. Hundreds, if not
thousands, died of starvation, and those who were
left had hardly strength left to crawl up to you in
the streets to ask for alms. The scenes at the
panaderias, or bread shops, before their stocks were
exhausted, which happened about three weeks be-
fore the termination of the siege, was most heart-
rending. There were only three open in the whole
city ; the doors were crowded at one or two o'clock
in the morning in order to get a good place by the
time they were opened ; all day the streets leading
to them were crowded. Outside one near where I

live five persons were found dead one morning,
having dropped down from exhaustion, many others
perished by the crush, or by the swords of the
soldiers put there to guard the place. There was
sometimes an opportunity of leaving the city, of
which thousands availed themselves at the risk of
being shot on the way ; in fact, seven women and
children were killed by one shell while halfway

. ..
between the two camps, for white flags received no
respect, the only chance being that both sides were
wretched marksmen.

While the poor suffered so fearfully, the rich
had also their shares ; forced loans never to be
paid and contributions following in quick suc-
cession. Those whd refused to pay were put in
prison, without anything to eat or drink, until they
did ; while others who hid themselves had their
houses guarded to prevent the entry of any food for
their wives and children. Nearly half the money,
moreover, thus collected went into the pockets of

the chief officials. All commerce, of course, was
suspended, the only life in the streets being the
movement of troops from one point to another, the
press-gang going about seizing almost any one they
could catch, and searching houses for horses and
the carriage of the wounded to the hospitals. It is
needless to dwell on all the horrors which are
common to all sieges. I cannot, however, help
mentioning one that came under my notice. A.
poor man who had lately lost his wife and was left
with three little children was seized one day by the
press-gang, or leva, while out searching for food
for his little ones, whom he had left locked up at
home. He begged and prayed to be allowed to go
home to let them out and give them in charge to
some neighbours, or else to send and do so. This
was refused him till the third day, when he found
them dead. Another incident occurred at the in-

trenchments of the two camps. The Liberals, or
besiegers, stuck up a dead horse, with a large
placard, with %Came para los traidores' (meat for
the traitors). The besieged, or Imperials, answered
by putting up an old woman who had died of star-
vation, with Came pm, los cobardes ' (meat for
the cowards), a stinging reproach for their not pro-
perly attacking the place, instead of trying to starve
it out.

Amid all this misery an anomalous scene pre-
sented itself every evening in the Plaza, or principal
square, where the band played. Crowds of caval-
leros and senoritas, decked in their best, walked
about utterly indifferent to the roar of the cannon,
which did not make a bad accompaniment to the
music, often coming in right for the bass-drum
part. _ _

We, the English of the city, have particular cause

for rejoicing at the termination of the siege, for our
position has been anything but enviable, as the
commander, Marquez, appointed lieutenant-general
by the poor Emperor while he was at Queretaro, is
less a man than a demon, and a demon possessed of
inveterate hatred to the English. It was he who
murdered the English doctors at Tacubaya, a town
near here, ordering them out to be shot while at-
tending the wounded, and who broke open the seals
of the English Legation some years ago, taking out
$600,000. This appointment of the late Emperor
was tho greatest fault be ever committed, but dearly
has he paid for it, for nearly all unite in saying
that had it not been for the obstinate resistance of
Mexico, carried on five weeks after the fall of
Queretaro, his life might have been spared. This
resistance was effected by Marquez by the vilest
lies—his assuring the Austrians, a chivalrous set
of men, 700 strong, who fought only for their coun-
trymen, that the capture of the Emperor was
only an invention of the Liberals, although he had
received official reports of the fact four days after it
occurred. He actually, on the day of his condem-
nation to death ordered public rejoicings to be cele-
brated for his victory said to be gained over the
Liberals. Five days after these rejoicings, June 21,
the Austrians in the meantime being officially con-
vinced of the fall of Queretaro, and having come to
terms with the Liberals, the besiegers entered the

city to the joy of all, in splendid order, without the
slightest tumult or least act of violence. So far
they certainly by their conduct merit the highest
praise. We only hope they will continue to do so,
although from the past history of Mexico no very
sanguine hopes can be entertained. As they en-
tered they certainly were a motley crew—most of
the men in rags and without shoes, and even
some of the officers in the same plight and in
their shirit Sleeves, while others were decked in

all the colours of the rainbow. They were nearly
all, however, well armed. The day they entered
the aspect of the city changed as if by magic—.
herds of sheep and oxen thronged the streets,
making one's mouth water, cartloads of bread, and
long lines of mules and donkeys laden with pro-
visions. On the 20th the man who had lately eaten
a piece of bread would almost be looked on as a
phenomenon, and pointed out in the streets. On
the 21st all were hurrying home with pieces in their
hands to enjoy the uncommon feast.
All commerce has assumed extraordinary brisk-
ness, and if peace lasts the losses and sufferings of
the last six months will soon be forgotten. The
argument in favour of our enjoying this peace is the
almost entire annihilation of one great party, the
Conservatives, or the Government of the five M's,
as they have been recently called, from the fact of
the names of the five leading men of it beginning
with the letter M—namely, Maximilian, Marquez,
Miratnon, Mejia, and Mendez. Of these five, four
were killed at one blow at Queretaro, Marquez being
the only one left, he having hid himself in the city,
and hitherto baffled the vigilant search of his enemies.
On the other hand, the incongruous mixture among
the Liberals an'l the difficulty of amalgamating
them, threaten a continuance of disorder and re-
volutions. if the moderate Liberals came into
power, as it is generally expected they will, these
evils will be averted, and a few prosperous years
may then be looked forward to.
The melancholy death of the Emperor, and the
dignified, kingly manlier in which he met it, have
produced a profound sensation here even among
many of the Liberals; his disinterested and chival-
rous conduct, as also that of the handful of Austrians
who stuck by their prince to the last against over-
whelming odds, will meet with admiration through-
t out the civilised world,

grAt
'xmrt ..I'Cirinta

HER MAJESTY, &c.

OSBORNE, July 29.

The Queen walked and drove in the grounds this
morning, accompanied by Princess Louis of Hesse.
Their Royal Highnesses Princess Louise, Prince
Arthur, Prince Leopold, and Prince Louis of Hesse,
went out also.

Miss Bond, of Southsea, has had the honour of
attending at Osborne to colour photographic por-
traits of members of the royal family.

THE PRINCE ANI) PRINCESS OF WALES.

The Prince and Princess Leiningen visited the
Prince and Princess of Wales, yesterday, at Marl-
borough House.

The Prince of Wales went to the House of Lords
in the afternoon.

The Volunteer Artillery Contests at Shoe-
buryness.

SHOEBURYNESS, Monday.

The fine weather of the last two days and nights
has made a grateful change in the camp. The
volunteers have found time to set their places in
more than apple pie order, for, by the aid of nature's
ornamentation of brook and hedge and field, they
have made the entrances of their temporary homes
under canvas even more picturesque than the florally-
decorated camp at Wimbledon. The Royal Artil-
lery commandant of the station, Colonel Wilmot,
was so pleased at the taste displayed by the volun-
teers that he has given instructions for the station
photographer to take pictures of the diffe-
rent tents. The Royal Artillery field officers
showed their kindly interest in the volunteers by
allowing them to gather the treasures of the field,
and added to these flowers from their own gardens.
Nearly all the volunteers from the north left the
camp on Saturday night, in order to spend Sunday
in the metropolis, They of course first obtained
leave of absence, and returned last night in excel-
lent order. Before the first post at ten o'clock, the
whole of the encamped volunteers and their officers
assembled on the parade ground, many of them
bearing their lanterns, and sang the " Evening
Hymn." The scene presented was a most interesting
one, and the singing over, the volunteers dispersed
to their tents, where they awaited in order the " last
post" bugle, when all lights were extinguished and
silence reigned throughout the encampment.
This morning the volunteers paraded to shoot for
the Duke of Cambridge's prize, to which was added
a second prize given by Col. Durnford. The ranges
were 1,250 and 1,500, with smooth bore guns and
spherical shot. The shooting continued until the
afternoon, and though the certified registers from
both the range and battery had not come in at the
time when it became necessary to despatch this re-
port, yet it was understood the Durhamdetachment,
with a score of 36, the highest score made yet, had
won the prize given by the Duke of Cambridge.
We announced that it was believed the Sheffield
detachment of the 4th West York had won the
Lords' and Commons' prize, and this statement was
verified this morning by the issue from the statistical
department of the detailed scores. The question
which it was understood was in dispute was an inte-
resting one. The 2d detachment of the Ist Surrey,
which in this competition fired exceedingly well, was
at one shot announced to have hit the target. The
points are given for the closeness to which the shot
strikes near the target, front, rear, and sides
all being " bounded," or marked off with poles,
and an actual hit on the target is of great value
in the smooth bore guu contests, counting 11,
whereas the best of ill other shots count only as 7 ;
so that this shot, if so scored to them, would have
" pulled up the score" of the Ist Surrey to the winning
point. The " range party," that is, the scoring
party, who are stationed in a vessel between the two
targets at which each detachment fires—for each de-
tachment fires alternately at 1,230 and 1,500 yards
—gave the shot as " out of bounds, and it scored
nothing. With the other four shots the Ist Surrey
scored 27.

The second detachment of the 4th Wrest York, the
Sheffield men, aro, the winners of Lords' and Com-
mons' prize.
A very interesting and peculiar competition is
promised for Wedneslay, in a contest for a prize
given by Colonel Shafto Adair for what is called
" Eccentric firing." Many of those even who handle
rifles have arrived at the conclusion that a good deal
of firing is eccentric ; but the eccentricity of this
firing is in a manner important, and may lead to
weighty results. The firing is to be with solid
spherical shot, which are to be previously floated in
quicksilver so as to show which is the lightest side,
which will then be marked and afterwards have a
" sabot" fixed. By this means the true centre of
gravity of the shot will be ascertained, for the centre
of gravity of a cast-iron spherical shot is rarely, if
ever, coincident with the centre of figure, on account
of the metal not having " ruu" the same all through;
and it is believed, and, indeed, it is said to have
been established, that a higher range can be ob-
tained with greater accuracy from smooth-bore guns
with spherical shot by the shot being placed in the
gun with the lighter part foremost. This contest is
for the purpose of still further testing the point,
and the association has put itself to the great ex-
pense of weighing every shot, as the test of the
question is believed to be in the interest not only of
the artillery world, but of the public. The prize is
an electrotype copy of the Cadiz mortar in front of
the Horse Guards, and with it will be given £5,
presented by the officers of the Ist Surrey Artillery.
To-day there were sports in camp after the firing,
the officers having subscribed upwards of £2l for
prizes.

IRELAND,

DUBLIN, Monday Night.

General Fariola was committed for trial to-day
on the charge of treason. His identity was esta-
blished by the information of General Massey,
who states that he was first introduced to Fariola
in London by General Clesuret, the Frenchman
who was to have taken the command of the
Fenians in Ireland. Clesuret said that Fariola was
to be the chief of his staff. Massey also saw the pri-
soner in Cork, and conversed with him about
Fenianism. He also identified a letter found in
Fariola's travelling-bag, written to him by Colonel
Kelly, chief organiser of the Irish Republic. The
prisoner, who alleged he had not the means to fee
counsel, listened to the evidence with great cool-
ness.

DEATH OF MR. KENNETH MACAULAY, Q.C.—Mr.
Kenneth Macaulay, Q.C., formerly member of Parliament
for the borough of Cambridge, died yesterday morning at
his residence, Shaftesbury-road, Brooklands, Cambridge.
The deceased gentleman was a first cousin of Lord Macau-
lay. He was born in 1815, educated at Jesus College, called
to the bar in 1839, and became the loader of tho Midland
Circuit, Queen's counsel in 1850. Ile was first elected to
represent Cambridge borough in 1852, but was unseated
in the following year for bribery and corruption. In 1837
he was again chosen, and at the election of 1859 headed
the poll. Ho came forward once more in 1865, but during
the election, while addressing a meeting, he was suddenly
stricken with paralysis. Ile never appeared in publio
again, but front tho effects of this seizure, resulting from
ovortasking of the brain, ho died yesterday.
TILE STRAND MUSIC HALL.—The sale of this
important freehold property, consisting of the Strand Musi°
Hall (now closed), together with the adjoining houses ana
shops in the Strand and Catherine-street, was announced
to take place at the auction mart in Tokenhouse-yard,
City, on Monday, by Messrs. Chinnock, Galsworthy, and
Chinaock, of Waterloo-place. The site, extending over an
area of 14,000 foot, is described as " unrivalled in point of
situation, standing as it does in the centre of the great
avenue of the City and West-end." After descanting on
the advantages which the property offered to purchasers,
the auctioneer started the bidding at X 40,000. No advance
being offered on that sum it was withdrawn from sale. A
portion of the site was next offered, but as no bid Was inacle
over £30,000 no sale was effected.
DESTRUCTION OF GAME BY FIRE.—" It is iinpos-
sible," says a communication from Toulon, "to estimate
the enormous quantity of game destroyed by the late hi°
in the forest of the Var ; for an extraordinary thing V'''.°
remarked in this, as in other similar cases, that tho animals
and birds were so paralysed by the light of the flames hat
they remehati without otreligth to eeeape the door.