The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-03 00:00:00

ber of soldiers belonging to the army of the Republic of
Mexico wore this morning captured in battle by the soldiers
of the so-called Emperor of Mexico, and that by the orders
of the traitor Mejia they are to be shot to death at day-
light to-morrow.
I wish, General, to protest in the name of humanity
against this violation of the usages of civilised warfare,
and to request that you, on the part of the Republic of the
United States of America, prevent this atrocious murder
of patriots in cold blood by the tools of the Austrian
usurper.

The opinions of the people and of tho Government of
the United States in relation to the inhuman orders of
Maximilian are well known.

To permit the patriotic soldiors of a sister Republic with
which we preserve diplomatic relations to be butchered
within sight of the flag of the United States, and within
sound of an army of United States troops, is to prove false
to every principle held dear by an American citizen.
As an officer of the army of the Mexican Republic I
earnestly ask, General, that you prevent the commission
of this dreadful crime.—l have the honour to be, General,
your obedient servant, R. CLAY CRAWFORD,
General of Division Army of Mexico.
GENERAL WEITZEL TO GENERAL CRAWFORD.

Head-quarters, District of the Rio Grande,
Brownsville, Texas, Jan. 2, 1866.
R. Clay Crawford, General of Division Army of Mexico,—
General,—l.have the honour to acknowledge the receipt
of your communication of yesterday.
I have notified General Mejia of the opinion which 1
firmly believe my Government holds on that subject, and
have entered solemn protest in writing against the act.
General Mejia replies that he is obliged to obey the orders
of his Government.

I will notify my superiors of this, but I have positive
written orders not to commence hostilities without instruc-
tions so to do.-1 am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
G. WEITZEL, Major-General Commanding.
THE CORRESPONDENCE WITH GENERAL MEJIA.

The following is the correspondence between Generals
Weitzel and Mejia :
Head-quarters, District of the Rio Grande,
Brownsville, Texas, Jan. 2, 1866.
Major-General Tomas Mejia, Commanding Line of the
Rio Grande,—

General,—l understand that you have taken seventeen
prisoners from the Liberal forces, and that you intend to
execute them.

In the name of the entire civilised world I protest against
such a horrible act of barbarity. I bAieve it will stamp
the Power which you represent with infamy for ever.
To execute Mexicans fighting in their own country, and
for the freedom of their country, against foreign power, is
an act which, at this age, will meet with universal execra-
tion.

1 cannot permit this to be done under the eye of my
Government without, on its behalf, entering this solemn
protest.—l am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient ser-
vant, G. WEITZEL, Major-General Commanding.

REPLY OF GENERAL MEJIA.
Imperial Army Mexico, Division Mejia,
Headquarters, Matainoras, Jan. 2, 1866.
General,—l acknowledge receipt of your communication
dated this day.
I find myself under the necessity of repelling energeti-
cally the participation which you pretend to take in the
internal concerns of this country.
The business to which the protest in your note refers
has now been brought before competent tribunals, and n o
one has a right to suspend the proceedings.
For your individual cognition I will add that the per-
sons in question aro accused of having taken by force of
arms thirteen waggons, twenty-six mules'and horses, and
robbed thirteen persons.
It would be very strange, General, if in the middle of
this nineteenth century the bandits and fighting robbers
were to receive help and protection from the civilised
`world.

By the same occasion I see myself obligated to remind
you of the contents of the letter which I had the honour
to address you on the 21st of last December. I shall re-
turn without answer all communications of the character
and couched in the language of the one now before me.
Accept, General, my esteem and consideration.

TOMAS MEJIA,
General Commanding Line of the.Rio'Grande.
To Major-General Weitzel, Commanding Western Dis-
trict of Texas, Brownsville.

The following is the letter of the 21st of December, re-
ferred to in the foregoing communication :
Imperial Army Mexico, Division Mejia,