Star.
London, England, 1829-12-02 00:00:00

MEXICAN EXPEDITION.

Want of apace prevented us from giving place to the
following judicious remarks of the Times of yesterday,
on the late expedition against Mexico. We shall always
be ready to do justice to our Contemporary, whether it
regards his frequent aberrations from public principle, or
occasional fits of patriotism and right feeling :
Is Some carious facts are in circulation as to the indirect views with
which this abortive enterprise was undertaken, and the resolts
which Ferdinand nattered himself that be might contrive to draw
from it.
" In his groping. about for matey wherever that useful article
could be begged, borrowed, er purloined, the beloved Ferdinand
was induced to believe that the wealthy Spaniards banished from
bleak() would render him solid assistance. A sort of bargain was
accordingly struck between them. Says Ferdinand, " Give me
money, and I will send an army to restore you to your country."
" Send an army," was the response, " to conquer Mexico, and
we will give you money." Well, some hard cash—not much—
was furnished to the beloved as an encouragement ; and when
the expedition, such as it was, bad sailed—" Now," quoth
be, look what I have done for you—hand out money—a great
deal of mouer—moantains of mettey—for I know you have them."
" Call you that an expedition I" cried the indignant capitalists:—
"verily Don Isidore Barradas and his companions might as well
bare stayed behind at Cadhs." Now it must be understood that
the Hispano-Mesican exiles knew perfectly what they were doing
when they made this reply to Ferdinand's importunities for a por-
don of their remaining dollars. They were not iw Spain when
they ventured thus to pluck him by the beard. Like wary
segodators, they would not trust him whom no human being bad
ever yet trusted with impunity ; but they put the Pyrenneee be-
tweets themselves and the oath-breaker, and fixed their head-
quarters at Bourdeaux. Another interesting absurdity is related of
retdinand and his more favoured counsellors on this occasion. The
secret, but most serious, motive with that paragon of Kings for at-
tempting the re-conquest of Mexico, was less of a political than a
Inancial nature. Driven to desperation for means to carry on any
semblance or shadow of a government at home, and dreading the
vengeance of the Spanish clergy if be Oswald so far yield to neces-
sity es to acknowledge the debt incurred under his own conaltu-
tienal Government, be was told that by recovering the mines of
Mexico, but by no other earthly expedient, could he escape the
recognition of the Cortes bonds. One of his Ministers gave a
pledge to Fenermore, that if he could only despatch troops
sosf-
dent to take and keep, for even a few weeks, possession of any
point ea the coast of Mexico, so as to persuade foreigners that
the Republic was unable to dislodge them, such a proof of his Ma-
jesty's power would be manifested, and such a prospect of the even-
tual subjugation of Mexico enfolded, that be might negociate on
say Exchange in Europe a loan to whatever amount be pleased.
The belt was swallowed ; a money association is said to have beat
opened in consequence, and now after the catastrophe of Tampico,
it may be judged with what probability of success.
" It is more evident every day that the present system of the Spi-
el& Government is drawing towards a miserable dissolution ; and
It may be fairly added, that no cad of such Government, let it
some when it may, can be more ignominious in itself than its
colonce for the last eve years has been to this age and the Spanish
mdse.
" As for say future attempts by Ferdinand upon the Republica&
states across the Atlantis, they must be subjects more of ridicule
shin alarm. If the wise policy pursued by the Mealcans in the re-
cent instance—of leaving the adventurers to waste and rot, unless au
overwhelming force can be at once brought against them—be ad-
hered to on future occasions, no possible mischief, beyond that
of a little temporary inconvenience, can ever be inflicted by Spain
upon these infant powers. We do not, however, anticipate a
renewal of any such frantic projects. If we did, we might be among
the foremost to suggest again to the British Government the justice
et that course at which we not long ago hinted—namely, an ind-
uction to Spain that the universal Interests of peace and cote.
wee required her to desist from such vexatious disturb-
slices of both, especially as we had given an early and deci-
sive rebuke to the republics, when they meditated, and
were preparing an attack upon the Havannab, which, If made,
would unavoidably, but for England, have succeeded. We do not
regret nor disapprove of such our interference. The well-being
of our own West Indian colonies required it ; but since the first
and most direct operation of that interference was in favour of
Spain, so common justice may demand that with the leave of Eng-
land neither Colombia nor Mexico should be exposed to molests-
-A from Cuba."

The Rev. Mr. YOUNG, Vicar of Heathfield, at his
tithe-audit, on Tuesday ee'nnight, very liberally abated
10 per cent. on his composition, in consequence of the
distressed state of agriculture.
JURISPRUDENCE.--Those who take an interest in
this great subject, will be glad to learn that Mr. Living-
ston has completed a code of law, civil and penal, on the
principles of Mr: Bentham, for the State of Louisiana.
The enactment of this code is suspended only, we under-
stand, until Mr. L. has deliberately considered the
Rationale of Judicial Evidence, recently published by
Mr. Bentham. At the close of Petitions for Justice
and Codification," a work just completed by Mr. B. there
is a proposal for the institution of a Despatch Court, on
the principle of substituting something like our present
summary forms for the existing regular forms of pro-
cedure. The plan has been examined, and approved of
fully by the most eminent (reformist) practising lawyers
in England. Measures founded on this plan will be
moved immediately on the sitting down of Parliament.--
Scotsman.
Don Mt° vEL.--aar be it from us ever to sanction
the rule of such a brutal " cut-purse of the empire" as
Don P&G t; ; but the mean, sneaking, dubious, two-
sided policy of our government is much more to be repro-
bated than the conduct of America. It would have been
more manly in us to have said " we do not like this
King: we do not gainsay the right of DONNA MARIA
to the throne of Portugal : but for commercial purposes,
for the sake of all British subjects who trade with
MIGUEL, or who live in his dominions, we will acknow-
ledge him as de facto ruler at the court of Lisbon"--
than to do as We did---to recognise DONNA MARIA as
a Queen, without a kingdom, and to treat Don MIG vEL
as the real King without daring so to call him 11 !---

Tyne Mercury.
On the 24th ultimo the Committee of this Association
attended a trial of Captain Manby's apparatus, stationed
at South Shields. The mortar was managed by the men
belonging to the -coast blockade service stationed
at Clifford's Fort. The day was well suited fer put-
ting the efficacy of this mode of saving lives from
shipwreck to the test? as a gale was blowing from
the eastward. The greatest length of rope carried out
by the ball with a charge of ten ounces of powder, was
ninety•seven fathoms in a direction nearly opposed
to the wind, and the shots were made with considerable
precision at the objects aimed at. The Committee re-
turned from the trial much gratified, and convinced of
the great utility of the apparatus. It is the intention of
the Committee shortly to have the set of apparatus at-
tached to their Tynemouth station exercised, and they
Lope by these trials the public, more generally than here-
tofore, may be led to consider the importance of the sub-
ject of saving lives from shipwreck, and aid with annual
subscriptions the funds now applicable to the furnishing
boats and apparatus for this purpose, and for rewarding
those who liasiud their own lives to save the lives of
others.—lbid.