Star.
London, England, 1823-12-19 00:00:00

I.

Mexico has atepthation of somewhat above eight'
millions, and SP s.not had a single soldier, Go-
vernor, Commandant, or-recognized authority, in the'
whole country for the last two years and a half. The
only semblance of possession still retained by the mother
country, is the occupation of the Castle- of St. John de
Ulloa, by General Lemour, with a force of about 300
soldiers. This castle is situated on a small island, or
rather swamp, near Vera Cruz, which city has suffered
much, but not to the extent stated, from a bombard.
ment of it by Lemony. The consequences of this hostile
proceeding on the.part of Lemour have been, that the
Spanish Commissioners, who were negotiating with the
Mexican Government for favourable conditions of fu-
ture intercourse with the mother country, upon the
basis of recognizing the independence of Mexico, were
peremptorily dismissed, all Spaniards ordered to quit
the country, and the commerce of the port of Vera
Cruz removed to the port of Alvarado. A declaration
of war has alssi been formally declared against Spain
by the Mexican Government.
Bit it has been asked, Who or what the Mexican
Government is.?" The Executive Government of Mexico
is composed of three members, at the head of which is
General Victoria, a man of _superior powers, and of
whose singularly romantic history we have heard most
extraordinary and curious,: details. All persdns who
have had opportunities of approaching him, and observ-
ing bas character, speak of him as a second Washington,
unitifig at once the active talents of a soldier, the pru-
dence and sagacity of a statesman, and the wisdom of a
legislator. Under his auspices Mexito is about to re-
ceive a central form of Governiterft, with a Congress,
which was to meet on the 31st of October, when the
Constitution would be definitively settled. We may soon
expect, therefore, to hear something of the proceedings
of this Congress.
Victoria looks with great anxiety to England, and
would eagerly embrace an opportunity of establishing
permanent relations with this country. The British re-
sidents at Vera Cruz have, of course, suffered much in-
convenience, and some loss, from the hostile attack of
Lemour, and at the date of our last advices from that
city (October 11), were sending all their property into
the interior. The town was almost deserted. Victoria
was of opinion that it must be sacrificed, if necessary,
for the national honour and character. It was deter-
mined not to open the port again, until the Castle of St.
John de Ulloa bad surrendered. ictoria afforded every
protection to our countrymen which it was in his power
to do. He was urged to conclude an armistice with
Lemour, to enable the British to remove their property.
He acceded- to everything that could be reasonably
asked, but Lemour would listen to nothing. but a gene-
ral arrangement of differences. An armistice would
not suit him.

Iturbide, who raised himself to temporary power by
means of a faction, was driven from his elevation by
the voice of the nation at large. He was a mere ad-
venturer, and had recommended himself so little to
po-
pular favour, that when he attempted to escape, a
his deposition, the populace arrested his flight by cut-
ting the harness from the horses. Nor did he “ con-
trive to escape with a good round sum." The present.
Government of Mexico honourably recognized all the
debts he incurred during his short reign ; undertook to
replace to private individuals the convoys of money
seized by him on their way from Mexico to Vera Cras,
and granted to Iturbide himself the yearly sum of
25,000 dollars, on condition that he should reside in
Italy, whither he was subsequently conveyed. with his
family, in an English vessel, at the expense of the Mexi-
can Government.--We shall now briefly advert to the
main consideration, namely, has Mexico established her
independence? Si; far as a complete separation from
the mother country, a successful renunciation of her
authority, and a determined spirit to resist all attempts,
if any should be made, to regain that authority. may
be received as evidences of independence, Mexico is, to
all intents and purposes, independent.
There is no province, city, or town, throughout that
vast empire, where a Spanish party can be said to exist ;
and the measure which has been adopted, according to
the last accounts, of ordering out of the country all the
old Spaniards, in consequence of the conduct of Le-
mour, will effectually relieve it from those partial in-,
trigues which, although too insignificant to subvert the
existing order of things. might still be potent enough
to harass and agitate the Government. It appears, too,
that French emissaries have been at work there ; but
their machinations were detected, and theamelvps thrown

into prison.
We do not say that Mexico has passed tbrbugh her
transition, from connexion to separation, and conloli.
dated all her institutions. This must necessarily be a
work of time. but we have a security in the unanimous
feeling of the Mexicans themselves, that there will be no
regattas in favour of Old. Spain ; and we have the no
less important security. in the character and talents of
Victoria, that the progress towards tranquility and a
settled form of Government will be stegdy and certain.
-A singular occurrence seems to have taken place in
Russia. Count Wurclastrrerw, who rendered such ins-,
portant services to Russia in the war against the'French,
in 1812, and till lately commanded the Russian Army
of Observation on the borders of Turkey, is said to
have suddenly quitted the service of the Emperor
ALEXANDER, and to have bean succeeded in his com-
mand by Count MILORADOWITCH. This is the MOIR
singular on account of its taking place immediately
after the visit paid by ALEXANDER to WITTOEN•
STEIN'S army, and the sataactios which that Monarch
publicly expressed of its efficient state.
A MONSTER.—We have to record another most
horrible attack made on a female, by a ruffian in the
garb of a gentleman, on Tuesday night last, in the
neighbourhood of Grosvenor-squire. A young female
of re,pectable family, named Navu.c, was proceeding
through Mount-street, about ten o'clock, on her return
to her residence, near Covent•garden, when she was ae-
costed by a man of fashionable appearance, who rather
rudely made some approaches to her, which she re-
pulsed, and was about to retreat, when be caught
her round the waist and stabbed her with a-sharp
instrument in the thick part of the thigh : he was
about to repeat the blow, but the girl screamed, and
the cowardly assassin fled. The unfortunate victim,
with great difficulty, walked into Grosvenor-street,
where, suffering the most extreme agony, she sunk on
the step of a door and fainted. Assistance was pro-
cured ; she was restored and taken into a house, where
Mr. Howship, an eminent surgeon, dressed the wound,
which, although severe, was not dangerous. The young
lady was then sent home in a coach. This is the fourth
Instance of the kind which bas occurred within these
row days.

TH

rG ,STA R.

• -
, -LONDON.
•
FRIDAY, DECENISER 19. 11.125.

.

THE FUNDS. . ".„ .
"-
STOCK EXCHANGE. TWELVE O'CLOCK.
Consols opened this morning at 116 to j, and continued at that
price, with little variation. There war' a good deal doing IN the
early part of the morning, and it 'appeared that the Bails wet*
taking their profit.
We do not hear yet of any Express halting arrived from Pads
later than that with Tuesday's pious, wblb were—Artesia Mande
re. 20e. after 'Change, and Spanish iii. It is supposed that as
Wednesday there was no great alteration in the prim at Paris,
an we should have had an Express this morning. A private letter of
Tuesday, asserts that the present Spanish Shatry are determined
not to acknowledge the Old Spanish Loan, and that therefore ano-
ther change ot the Ministry must take place before that desirable
event can take place.

FOREIGN FUNDS.

Spanish Bonds opened this :naming at 28 j, 28, fa, 21. Scarcely
any budness transacting.
Current Prices s New Spanish 19; to 20, MU, Colombian
to j, Russian MI& Pork 41. In as other Foreign &guides r•

is nothing doing.
PRICE OF STOCKS AT ONE O'CLOCK.

Bank Stock 228)4 228
3 per Ct. Red: QS% 144 3/4-41/2 per Cts. 981499
4 per Cents. Old 100%
Imp. 3 per Cenis.B4-11idia Bonds 80s.
Exchequer Bilk (LA MOO) surfs. 525.

Do. Small 51i. s..pr.—Bank for Acct. 25181,4 %
Cons. for Acct 86 8614 86.

We have received to-day by the packet, Lisbon Ga-
zettes to the sth instant. The only article of interebt in
them, is an account of an audience given to the Spanith
Ambassador, who had been appointed by his Royal
Master to compliment the King of Pottruuati on " his
having happily resumed his legitimate rights." The
speech of this Ambassador contains some sayings which,
but for their proceeding from his Excellency, might
have excited surprise.
LISBON, DICCEMBIR I.

His Catholic Majesty having ordered oar august'
Monarch to be complinsented on his having bappfly re-
sumed his legitimate rights, the King, our Sovereign,'
fixed the 28th of November for this solemn public au.
dience ; on which day, between one and two o'clock,
his Excellency the Duke of Villa Hermosa, Ambassador,
from his Catholic Majesty to this Court, went to tbe
Royal Palace of Bemposta, conducted by the Count ofj

Castro Marim, in cos of the royal coaches, accompanied
by four others, containing the Secretary and other per-
SOW attached to the Legation, preceded by the carriages
of the Grandees of the Kingdom, in which were their
Gentlemen. His Excellency's carriage was attended by
a detachment of cavalry.

The Ambassador, arriving at the Royal Palace, where
the Court was assembled, was presented to his Maks%
and declared the object of his proem Entbassy in the
following terms :
“ Sleet-16s Catholic Majesty, my august master,,
on returning to the capital of his dominions, after the
chains '6l his unhappy captivity were broken by the ef-
forts of the French armies and the co-operation of the
loyal Spanish people, thought be ought to offer to your
Most Faithful Majesty a public testimony of the inters*
he feels in the glorious re-establishment of your MI
jesty in your rights and prerogatives. My Sovereign,
bound by the most sacred ties to the august House of
Braganaa, seeing your Majesty surrounded with the,

love, the respect, and submission of your people, enjoy.
ing the legitimate authority. which Portuguese loyalty
recovered for you, his heart takes pleasure—Chewing
to your Majesty, by this solemn Binbasey, his utilise.,
tion in congratulating your Majesty on having again
ascended your sovereign throne, as he boasts of being,
of all the Monarchs of the earth, the one who feels the,
greatest interest in the proslerity and happiness of
your august person and family.

4, This letter, which his Catholic Majesty cammissiens
me to deliver into your Royal hands, will certify toy
your Majesty what I hays said. It is a great pleasure
to me that the King, my Master, by honouring me with
this extraordinary mission, procures me the happiness
of being, for the wood time, the faithful interpreter to
your Most Faithful Majesty of the sentiments which
animate my Court, and of the friendship, anion, and
perfect harmony which, for their mutual prosperity,
must necessarily prevail between the two Peninsular
Powers."

To this Speech his Majesty replied as follows :
" I have beard with the most lively and grateful sen-
sity the expression of the sentiments of affection of
Ibis Catholic Majesty for my person and family : I re-
*ice with the King, my brother-in-law, on the ;late
events, which, by generous efforts, and with the Myna
lisseing, delivered the two States of the Peninsula from
a Indignant influence, and reestablished in them order
irad legitimacy.
“ I receive with pleasure the letter which you deliver
to me, and in which I can 'find assurances of friend
-
leap and perfect harmony, from which must result
the prosperity and happiniss of the two nations.
It is agreeable to me, that your Grace has beanie"
keted, by your august Master, for this solemn miss*
your person and noble character being already known
to me."
The audience being concluded, his Excellency