The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-15 00:00:00

AMERICAN NEWS.

(EXPRESS FROM LIVERPOOL.)
ARRIVAL OF THE BRITANNIA.
LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY MORNING, 4 O'CLOCK.
The British and North American mail steam-ship
Britannia, Captain Hewitt, arrived in the Mersey
last night, after a passage of thirteen days from
Boston. She brings about fifty passengers, and the
mails from Canada and the United States.

By this arrival we have New York papers to the
Ist inst., five days later than those brought by the
Sea, at this port to-day.
The most important news by this arrival is from
Mexico, which is described in the following extract
from a New Orleans paper :

The Mexican schooner Fortuna arrived at New Or-
leans on the 19th inst., from Vera Cruz, which port she
left on the Bth ; and we copy from the Picayune a sum-
mary of the intelligence received by that vessel. It is
of great interest and importance.
The first and most important news which we have re-
ceived is, that the town of Matamoras has been de-
stroyed by a hurricane. It occurred on the night of the
4th ult., and was more tremendous in its effects than the
hurricanes of 1835 and 1837. More than two-thirds of the
houses of the city were prostrated, and the remainder
were more or less injured. As to the extent of the loss
of life we are not accurately informed. The correspon-
dent of El Censor de Vera Cruz estimates the loss at
above two hundred souls. The direst destruction, how-
ever, so far as we can learn, was at the two mouths of
the Rio Grande, some thirty miles below the city of
Matamoras. Here scarcely any were saved.
In writing of Matamoras, the editors have nothing to
mitigate the extent of its ruin. They describe it as a
beautiful city, abounding in luxurious habitations, and
provided not only with the necessaries of life, but many
of its most refined luxuries. In a moment, as it were,
every thing was laid waste. We cannot do better than
to copy portions of the Courier's translations from El
Diario del Gobierno, being the report of the first Alcade
of the city to the General Government
" Except the houses of Don Pedro Jose de la Gaza, of
Donna Juana Perea, and the new church, there is not a
building which is not much damaged or which is not a
heap of ruins. The following persons have perished in
the crash, an infant son of Don Mariano Aguado, an
artillery soldier; three women are badly wounded, but
still survive.

"Among those buildings are the artillery barracks and
the hospital Malta, containing nearly 100 sick, the IN all
of the prison, and half of the wall of the grave-yard. To
tell everything in one word—the greater part of the
population are compelled to live in shantees built among
the ruins of their houses. I leave your Excellency to
imagine the miserable condition of all sorts of produce
growing in the fields. _

" The sick were carried to-day to the barracks of the
sappers : the park to the church, which has lost one tower
and half of another, the cannon to the lower story of the
consistorial houses—prisoners of all kinds have been well
guarded, and but one has escaped."
The most active measures were taken at once for the
relief of the sufferers, and a general subscription was
about to be opened for the purpose. But to pass to other
matters.

Our new Minister to Mexico, ex-Governer Shannon
of Ohio, has reached his destination, but, we are sorry to
say, minus his ready money, and anything he may have
had about his person. On his route between Vera Cruz
and the capital, the stage in which he was a passenger
was waylaid, and gie Minister robbed of whatever he
had about him. A fine commentary this upon the effi-
ciency of a Gevernment about to send some thousands of
men into the field against Texas.
The intelligence is confirmed that General Ampudia
—the man who Mr. Cheeves says in his eloquent letter
has put himself beyond the pale of civilisation—is to
command the forces destined to act against Texas. He
has been at the capital, where we almost hoped he would
not dare venture after the atrocities of Tobasco, and left
for his command.

One of the pleasantest features of the news we re-
ceived yesterday from Mexico, was the release of the
following individuals confined at Perote, viz. :—Captain
W. Ryon, Col. W. F. Wilson, the famous and efficient
old sheriff of Galveston Island, Wallace James Arm-
strong, and Thomas Tatem. The same day that the
news of the release of the prisoners was communicated
to them, the prison was visited by the Hon. Mr. Shannon,
then on his way to Mexico. Of course, he was most
warmly welcomed. He inquired particulary into the
circumstances of each of the prisoners, and into the
mode of treatment which they received. Most sineerely
do we hope that, through his intervention, the Mexican
Government may be induced to extend its clemency to
the remaining prisoners there.
It may appear rather singular that while Mr. Shannon
was humanely acquainting himself with the state of the
prisoners at Perote, he received from the Governor of
the castle an order for his protection on the road to
Puebla. As it turned out, the escort failed near Puebla,
and the robbery took place which we have mentioned
above.

The treatment received by the Perote prisoners
would seem to vary very much. While some of
them are compelled to work, coupled in chains, like
beasts of burden, others are allowed very great indul-
gence—for prisoners. One of the latter writes us a
truly touching letter, in which he announces the de-
parture of those who were released. They were r.ll
known to be in circumstances of present embarrassment,
and almost of indigence, and the poor prisoners who
were left behind, failed not to contribute the last mite
of their little all to afford to their more fortunate com-
rades the means to reach their homes. Such an incident
is honourable to humanity.
The feelings of the prisoners towards the Government
of Texas, we hardly need say, are deeply embittered.
They deem themselves forsaken by the sole Government
to which they owe allegiance, and in fighting whose
battles they were made prisoners ; and yet they breathe
nothing but enthusiastic regard fur the " lone star."
But we must recur to this theme and others when we
have more room.

As to the preparations which Mexico is making for
the invasion of Texas, we can learn very little of a de-
finite nature. That active operations are going on in
enlisting and equipping troops, there is no doubt. But
our personal informants, and our correspondents, seem
to question whether the conquest of Texas be the object
in view. There would seem to be but one other, and
that is plainly indicated in some of our letters—to make
Santa Anna dictator. But this is a subject on which
we shall not be long left in the dark.
All the papers we receive from Vera Cruz are clothed
in mourning, for the wife of Santa Anna. She appears
to have been held in the highest personal esteem, inde-
pendent of her elevated rank.
The fever had almost entirely abated at Vera Cruz
when the Fortuna left. Our informant heard nothing
of it. The British sloop of war Inconstant, and the
Rose, which lately visited us, and two Spanish brigs
were the only vessels of war at Vera Cruz.

New York, Philadelphia, and other cities on the
seaboard, had been visited by a dreadful storm.
Montreal also seems to have been visited by the same
sale.

Our advices from New Orleans afford us the satis-
faction of stating that the health of that city is- most
favourably reported. The Picayune says—
" It is a source of great gratification to us to be able
to say, as we feel confidently assured we may, that the
health of this city was never better 'at this season of the
year. There is no pretext for saying that there is an
epidemic, and in many years of residence here we do not
recal one in which we have heard of so little sickne,s.
We trust sincerely that it may continue so, and that
business may revive at an early date."
NEW YORK MONEY MARKET, SEPT. 30.
SALES AT THE STOCK EXCHANGE.
$20,000 Ohio Sixes
5,000 Illinois
835 Farmers' Loan .
100 North American Trust
50 United States Bank ....
25 Canton b3o 46
10 Mohawk 62
100 Harlem .
25 Long Island
150 shares Long Island
100 Paterson
125 Ditto
100 Stonington
293 Nor. and Wor.
50 New Haven
6 Western R.
25 lludson and Berkshire l5
50 Reading R.
The operations at the Board of Brokers' this morning
were to a fair extent. State Stocks were firm, with the
exception of Pennsylvania Fives, which fell off 4 per
cent ; Norwich and Worcester Railroad advanced 11
per cent. • Farmers' Loan, i ; and Stonington Railroad, 1.
Canton cent.
declined ; Delaware and lludson, ;
New Jersey Railroad, ; Harlem Railroad, ; and Long
Island Railroad, 1 per cent.
At the Public Stock Exchange, Farmers' Loan im-
proved , and Norwich and Worcester Railroad, 1-;
Canton Company declined and Long Island Railroad
* per cent.
Foreign Exchange was in active demand, and exten-
sive operations were made in sterling at 110, and in
francs at 5 20. The supply was moderate.
Money is easy—loans " on call" are made at 4 to 5
per cent., and discounts at 5 to 6 per cent per annum.
PHILADELPHIA, SEPT. 29.
_ _

99
43,f
42
131

Operations at the Stock Exchange on Saturday were
to a pretty fair amount. About 1,200 shares Wilming-
ton Railroad changed hands at 241, 243, and 241 ; 2,000
dolls. Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Loan at 69+ ;
2,000 dolls. Reading Railroad at 71+ ; 4,100 Philadel-
phia County Fives, 1880, at 93 ; 1,500 Lehigh Mortgage
Loan at 67 ; 50 shares United States Bank at 84 ; 10
Mechanics' Bank, at 26k.
Closing Prices.—Bank of North America, 370 ; Penn-
sylvania Bank,. 253 a 254 ; Philadelphia Bank, 1064 a
1071 ; Girard Bank, 111 a 113 ; United States Bank,
83 a 8+ ; Reading Railroad Bonds, 71+ a 714 ; Phila-
delphia City Fives 105 ; Pennsylvania Fives 713 a 72.

BATAS AND y IXT ASH-110USES FOR TIIX POOR.—
Yesterday a committee meeting ou the subject of the
baths aad wash-houses for the use of the poor in the
crowded parts of the metropolis, took place at the Man-
sion -house, Mr. Cotton, the Governor of the Bank of
England, in the chair, preparatory to the public meeting
in the Egyptian-hall, on Wednesday. Archdeacon
Samuel Wilberforce, Mr. Wakley, Lord Dudley Stuart,
Dr. Russell, Mr. Edwin Chadwick, and others will, it
is expected, address the meeting, which will no doubt
be very numerously attended. The Lord Mayor will
take the chair Precisely at two 9'a)*