The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-06-16 00:00:00

imperial Varliament.

ss.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY.
The Earl of LINCOLN, in a speech of nearly three hours'
duration. on moving the second reading of the Protection
of Life (Ireland) Bill, endeavoured to vindicate the con-
duct of government in reference to the measure. He urged
the necessity for such a law, and declared that the causes
for its delay were inevitable.
Lord G. BENTINCK observed, that it would be in the
recollection of the house that shortly before the Easter re-
cess he had given notice that, whilst he and his friends
were prepared to support the measure, provided the go-
verninent, by their conduct in pressing it with all due
haste through the house, proved their sincerity, they were
not prepared, on the other hand, if ministers allowed mat-
ters of less importance to prevent its progress, to give
them assistance in carrying so unconstitutional a bill
through Parliament. Now this bill had come down to
the house on the 13th of March— it was not read a first
time till the first of May—and no step, till now, had since
been taken to forward it a single stage. Consistently with
the course which he had announced before Easter, he now
declared that the caves fiederis had arrived on which his
friends could no longer give their support to her Majesty's
government. They had, however, graver reasons than
those for opposing the government. They refused to trust
it with any unconstitutional powers. The ignorance or
the double-dealing which ministers had displayed on other
questions, prevented his friends from trusting them at all.
Were they who falsely told the country that famine would
be raging in Ireland at this very moment, to be trusted in
any of their other statements ? It was mockery and in-
sult both to England and Ireland for ministers to bran-
dish before their eyes a measure which they never in-
tended to carry into effect ; and feeling it to be a mockery
and insult, he would oppose this measure to the utter-
most, and would do his best t 3 kick it and the ministry
out together. He confessed he should have preferred -a
direct amendment of a want of confidence in ministers to
the amendment now proposed. Sir R. Peel used to in-
form the house that he would not be a minister on suffer-
ance, but be appealed to the house whether Sir R. Peel
was now anything better than such a minister, supported
as he was by none but his 40 paid janissaries, and the 70
other members who, in supporting him, blazoned their own
shame? He then uttered a severe invective against Sir
R. Peel for having separated himself in 1827 from the go-
vernment of an illustrious relative of his, Mr. Canning, on
the ground that he could not support a minister who sup-
ported Catholic emancipation, when he (Sir R. Peel) af-
terwards stated in his place in Parliament that in 1825 he
had declared to Lord Liverpool that that question could
not be safely resisted much longer. Was not Sir R. Peel
guilty of most dishonest conduct in resisting Catholic
emancipation for four years after the period in which he
bad come to such a conclusion ? The country would not
twice forgive in the same man the same offence. It was
time, now, that atonement should be made to the betrayed
honour of Parliament, and the betrayed constituencies of
the empire. It was time that Europe and the world
should know that treachery had been committed by the
ministers in power, and that they did not represent the
honour of England. The agricultural interests might be
betrayed and ruined ; but let not the world think that
England was a participator in the guilt of those who now
sat on the treasury benches. The time was now come,
when those who loved the treason which had been re-
cently committed, though they hated the traitor, should
join with 'hose who sat on the Protection benches, in
showing that they did not approve the recent conduct of
ministers.

Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT rose with great warmth to vin-
dicate the government from the charges which Lord G.
Bentinck, with his usual license, had considered himself
entitled to cast on her Majesty's government. The noble
lord had accused the government of not being in earnest
with this bill, because it was now engaged, at the com-
mencement of June, in discussing the second reading of
it. Who had caused that delay except the noble lord, who
was new among the first to complain of it ? The noble
lord was once among the foremost to call for the passing
of this measure. Where was now all the indignation and
horror which he had formerly expressed at the frequency
of outrage and assassination of Ireland ? Formerly, the
noble lord had told the house, that if it delayed, even for
a single clay, to pass that bill, the blood of every man mur-
dered in Ireland would be on the head of ministers and of
every member who supported them. On whose head was
that blood to be now ? When the noble lord had answered
that question he would tell him that the government would
persevere in this measure in spite of that factious combi-
nation which he had just made with the party opposite,
whose motives in opposing this bill he (Mr. S. Herbert)
respected, and did not venture to blame. Was the noble
lord aware of the rumours which were now about town,
that some of the noble lords and gentlemen below the
gangway had made an offer to Lord J. Russell to assist
him in defeating this bill and throwing out the ministry,
and that Lord J. Russell, with the manliness which be-
longed to his character, had treated that offer with that
which it would not be parliamentary to call contempt?
This declaration elicited a loud and long call of " Name,
name," from the Protection benches, but
Mr. S. HERBERT did not respond to the call, and pro-
ceeded at length to vindicate the general principles of the
bill.

In reply to Mr. Stafford O'Brien,
Lord J. RUSSELL declared thati o proposition to aid in
throwing out this bill had been made to him by any noble
lord or gentleman on the Protection benches. He then
justified his own course in voting against the second read-
ing, after supporting the first reading of the bill. Lord
G. Bentinck had come to this conclusion on grounds sa-
tisfactory to himself, and he (Lord J. Russall) had done
the same ; but those grounds were public grounds, and
there had been no private understanding between them.
Mr. S. HERBERT observed that, after the declaration of
the noble lord, he owed it to justice to state that he was
convinced of the falseness of the rumours to which he had
adverted, and therefore begged leave to withdraw them.
The debate was then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.--WEDNESDAY.
Mr. HitwEs moved that the house should go into com-
mittee on the subject of the Danish Claims, in order to
carry out the resolution in favour of the claimants sanc-
tioned by a majority a short time ago.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER met the motion
with the usual arguments, and moved as an amendment
that the horse should resolve itself into committee on the
claims that day six months.

. _
After some discussion the house divided, when the
amendment of the Chancellor of the Exchequer was car-
ried by 85 to 58, the majority being 27. _

- -
Mr. F. MAu t E moved the second reading of the Places
of Worship, &c., Sites (Scotland) Bill. The right hon.
gentleman instanced the refusals of Lord Macdonald,
Sir James Riddel, Lord Moray, Lord Forbes, the Duke
of Buccleuch, and other Scotch proprietors to grant sites
for the erection of free-church places of worship, as
grounds for this measure, by which it is proposed to
compel the granting of sites in a way similar to the com-
pulsion used by railway companies. Mr. Mauls, in the
course of his speech, stated that the Free Church had
already six hundred places of worship erected, had forts
in the course of erection, and had funds to the amount of
a million sterling.

the measure. His lordship concluded by moving that the
word "now" give place to " this day six months."
The Earl of RADNOR defended Sir Robert Peel, and
expressed his satisfaction with the measure. If it proved
injurious to-the agriculturalists, it would at all events,
prove beneficial to the manufacturer._ _ . .

The Earl of WICKLOW expressed his surprise that no
one had attempted to explain the probable effect of the
bill in Ireland. Sir Robert Peel had been asked whether
he proposed to make any reduction of the rent charges or
tithes, and his answer was that he did not, as there could
be no diminution of prices. It would be absurd to ex-
pect benefit, if there were to be no diminution of prices.
He intended to propose in committee that there should be
a fixed duty of ss.
The debate was adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TnunspAy,

The Earl of LINCOLN moved for leave to bring in three
hills to alter the law of landlord and tenant in Ireland.
These bills were, he said, of a cognate character, and
their object was to improve the cultivation of the soil,
to ensure to the tenant compensation for the expendi-
ture of capital, and to improve the relations of landlord
and tenant. The first of these measures provided for
voluntary and compulsory agreements with respect to
the investment of capital in improvements. In refe-
rence to voluntary improvements, if the landlord, when
applied to, gave his assent, they might be immediately
proceeded with ; otherwise the matter was at an end.
In relation to compulsory improvements—and under this
head be proposed that building and thorough draining
should come—notice must be given to the landlord in a
prescribed form, and in case of disagreement, arbitrators
would be appointed ; and if they could not agree, an
umpite would be appointed by the assistant barrister
of the county, who would also have power to appoint
an arbitrator if the landlord refused. In order to obviate
the difficulty of serving notice, in consequence of the
number of landlords connected with the same land in
Ireland, the provisions of the bill would, in this respect,
include only those landlords who had an interest in thirty-
one yeas, or three lives. The mode in which compensa-
tion would be arranged was, that where the tenant quitted
the land in seven years he would be entitled to all the
amount expended in improvement; if in fourteen yeats,
to three-fourths of the amount; if in twenty-one years, to
one-half ; and if within twenty-eight years, to one-fourth
of the amount; but if the tenant was kept in possession,
his tenancy expiring before twenty-eight years, he should
not be entitled to any compensation. The second bill
introduced by the noble lord related to distress and eject-
ment. Its provisions, he stated, would abolish the
power to distrain upon growing crops ; it would lessen
the costs of law proceedings, and would give to the
tenants the power to stop proceedings, on payment of
the demand, at any time before he was actually dispos-
sessed. The bill would also give to the landlord power
to eject a superior tenant without serving notices on his
sub-tenants, and to retain the latter in the position in
which they had been. The third bill related to leases ;
and in order to encourage the granting of leases, a form
was attached to the bill, according to which a lease
might be drawn by the parties without the aid of a legal
gentleman. The measure would also give a diminished
stamp duty of 2s. Gd. on all leases of lands not exceeding
£5O a-year rent. The noble lord concluded by stating
that the amount of compulsory compensation to which
the tenant would be entitled was limited to three years'
rental. These measures, he trusted, would meet with the
approbation of the house.
Leave was given to bring in the bills.

lIOUSE OF LORDS—FRIDAY.
The debate on the Corn Bill was resumed by the Mar-
quis of EXETER, who opposed it.
The Bishop of ST. DAVID'S defended himself and s

of his right reverend brethren as had voted with him from
the imputations which had been cast upon them by cer-
tain noble lords opposed to the government. lie (the
right reverend prelate) denied that the measure was not
likely to affect the clergy in the manner they had des-
cribed. The clergy had been perfectly neutral on the
question ; they had presented no petitions, and had never,
to his knowledge, privately signified to members of the
bench of bishops the course they desired to have pursued.
His lordship commended the clergy for their abstinence.
They might suffer some temporary loss, but he believed
that they would ultimately sustain no injury. Were it
otherwise, he could not consent to oppose the interests
of so limited a class as that of the clergy to those of the
public at large. The votes of himself and his right rev.
brethren would be given with a view to the general in-
terest, let the effect of the bill upon the clergy be what it
might. His lordship argued on the hypothesis that the
bill would secure cheap bread for the poorer classes. He
denied that the legislature would, by passing it, abdicate
their power in the event of its disappointing their expecta-
tions. He believed that if it were found injurious to the
interests of any particular class, the government would
have the power of remedying the evil.
The Bishop of EXETER, in a speech of considerable
power, opposed the bill, and comme.eted in stringent
terms upon certain passages of the speech of the right
reverend prelate who had preceded him. He differed from
his lordship in his opinion that the interests of so insig-
nificant a class as the clergy ought not to be placed in
competition with those of the great body of the people. It
was not because the interests of from 10,000 to 12,000
clergy were likely to be damaged that the appeal, which
had teen so imperfectly understood, had been made to the
right reverend bench, but because the best interests of the
poor were at stake on the event—the interests of morals
and religion—and because the rich and the poor would
both suffer if any injury were inflicted on the Church.
lie considered that their lordships were perfectly justified
in appealing to the right reverend prelates on such a mat-
ter. He should not be restrained from declaring that
something more than cheap provisions was necessary to
the comfort and well-being of the labouring classes, by
the taunt that no one could be the labourers' friend who
opposed the measure. It was because he considered that
the interests of the poor would, in no respect, be pro-
moted by it, that he opposed it. He saw a great number
of the agricultural population of the cou•ttry suffering, but
did not think their condition would be improved by bring-
ing them into direct competition with the serfs of Poland.
He did not sympathise with the right reverend prelate in
bis apprehensions in the event of the rejection of the mea-
sure. If he were to follow the example of appealing to
other parties, he would call upon the noble lords now
about him to give their votes in this matter as in a judicial
cause, and laying their hands on their hearts, say, " con-
tent" or " non-content," upon my honour.
The Bishop of Oxford, Lord Monteagle, Lord Grey,
and Lord Brougham spoke in favour of the bill ; and Earl
Warwick, Lord Stauley, and Lord Ashburton aaainst it ;
when the motion was withdrawn, and the house would go
into committee on the bill last (Monday) night.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—FRIDAY.
The debate on the Coercion Bill was resumed, and the
most remarkable features were the approval of Mr. O'Con-
nel of Lord Lincoln's measure for improving the relations
of landlord and tenant in Ireland, the speeches of Mr.
Milnes and Mr. Scrope upon the Irish Coercion Bill, the
onslaught of Mr. Shaw upon Ministers and the ministe-
rial policy, and the defence of Sir R. Peel of his motives
in introducing the Corn Bill, and his reply to Lord G.
Bentinck's charge that he had "hunted Mr. Canning to
death."

Sir JAMES GaAHAM moved, as an amendment, that
the bill be read a second time that day six months. He
deplored the secession that had taken place in Scotland,
and he attributed the refusal of sites by the Duke of
Buccleuch and other proprietors to the language, con-
veying implacable enmity to the Established Church of
Scotland, used by the seceders, and also to the denuncia-
tions unjustifiably made against the proprietors. If the
principle of this bill were adopted towards Scotland, it
could not be refused to the Dissenters in England and
Ireland, whether Christians or not.
Sir R. 11. INGLis rose to speak in defence of religious
toleration. He contended that rights of conscience
should be extended to landed proprietors as well as to
religious congregations. What right, he asked, had his
right hon. friend (Mr. Fox Mania) to say that any
individual should be compelled, by force of law, to ad-
vance the interest of a church which be did not approve
of—by granting sites on his land for the erection of their
buildings? If the principles were once admitted in re-
gard to the Free Church of Scotland it must be extended
to every Dissenting body in the United Kingdom. What
bad been the course adopted by the Free Church ? Did
they build churches in remote parts of Scotland, where
there was a want of places of worship? No. In every
instance they had erected their new churches in juxta-
position with those they had left; and the question the
house was called upon to decide was, would they allow
people to extort under pretext of the law sites for the
building of churches where they were not required, for ~.,„„.
the mere purpose of opposition to that establishment '''6'.
it will be remembered that Captain Walker, after the
from which they had seceded ? He thought that gentle- disastrous havoc amongst his small force, determined to
men should be allowed to manage their properties in what- march the surviving troops to join General Taylor, whose
ever manner they considered best. He admitted fully position he had learned, and he succeeded in conduct'ng
that property had its duties as well as its rights ; but he
them to Point Isabel, without interception by any of the
also contended for what he had before stated, that there enemy. On the 3rd, a heavy cannonading was heard in
were rights of conscience belonging to landed proprietors tdhe direction of Matamoros, which continued during the
as well as to congregations, and they should not be corn- ay, at intervals through the night, and during the day of
pelled by any enactments to encourage those • sects of the 4th ; and on the sth an expedition, which had been
which he did not approve, as he asserted it would be an despatched to ascertain the cause, returned with intelli-
act of tyranny to compel them to do so. Under such
gence that the Mexicans, discovering the absence of Gen.
circumstances he would support the amendment of the
right hon. baronet (Sir J. Graham). Taylor and his division, had thrown over the river a force
e debate was then adjourned. T.h
estimated at six thousand men, and opened a brisk fire
4►--. upon the fort from their batteries. The bombardment
HOUSE OF LORDS.--Tnunsriasr. was maintained until the evening of the 6th, but without
effect. On the ith, having obtained reinforcements, am-
The_Earl of RIPON moved the order of tae day for go-
ing into committee on the corn bill. munition, and supplies, General Taylor set out on his
Earl' TANnoPE moved that the bill be committed that return to the camp ; and in the course of the Bth, at Palo
day six months. He scouted the idea of a famine in Ire.
Alto, came in front of a Mexican force estimated at 6000
land. Jn _1843 he (Lord Stanhope) had expressed an men, with seven pieces of artillery, and 800 cavalry. The
opinion that Sir Robert Peel's experiments were merely American force numbered 2,300, with two eighteen-
preparatory to the removal altogether of protection. How pounders and a couple of light batteries. An engagement
could their lordships reconcile it with their public duty to ensued, and after a spirited struggle of five hours' dura-
pass a bill which might inflict a serious injury upon
!ion the Mexicans were dislodged from their position and
forced to retreat. The American force encamped upon the
millions ;Oboist any real necessity, and of the probable
field. On the 9th, the General renewed the march with
effects of whichthe minister and his party professed to
know nothing? What, therefore, became of the argu-
the main body of the army, having previously thrown for-
%y
ment of cheapness,
.on which so much stress had been laid? ard a body of light infantry into the forest which covers
the route to Matamoras. At Reseca de la Palma a ravine
The loss which the. eduction would involve to the corn-
crossing the road was discovered to have been occupied
munity would exceed £5,000,000. The small occupiers
of land could not hold their farms after the measure had by the enemy with artillery. The action took place on the
edge a the ravine, and one mile from the chapporal, which
taken effect. Many of his noble friends had prefer- twelve miles
was near in width. The Mexicans corn-
red to support the bill because they believed it to be
menced the acon with their artillery, which was posted
a :tarrow passage through which General
inevitable. This was a very futile excuse. It was not
there being a swamp on the other
to be believed that large masses of the people would so as to sweep
quietly submit to be pauperised at the will of the minister. I Taylor was advancin7,
's destructive fire, and the troops,
band. General Taylor immediately ordered a charge in
At the period of the concession of the Reform Bill, the '
Duke of Wellington had asked how the Government was the teeth of the enemy
vieces of artillery fell into
to be carried on ? How had it been carried on? By promptly responding, carric:4 the enemy's guns at the
,t innumerable quantity
basely and pusillanimously crouching to the party which point of the bayonet. Eight
appeared to be the stronger, and by trampling on that the hands of the Americans, and a.
which was believed to be the weaker. They (the house) of small arms, munitions, baggage, camp equipage, a
~
had lately seen a party, which it had taken ten years to military chest, containing a large quantitcv;of gold, General
form, scattered to the winds of heaven in as many weeks, Arista's carriage, baggage, portfolio, ~ .12 ail his official
whilst, on the other hand, in the course of a few weeks correspondence with the government, with cull
plans -of
and without any previous preparation, they found 246 the campaign and instructions from the Mexi,.an govern-
honest, enlightened, and independent members of parlia- silent, authorizing him to send General Taylt.' and his
!pent bound together by public principle, who had opposed army, when taken prisoners, to the city of Mexico, 8134 t 9 r

FOREIGN AND COLONIAL.

LATEST NEWS FROM THE UNITED STATES

The British and North American steam-ship, Britan-
nia, arrived at this port on Saturday night from Boston
and Halifax, and has brought some important intelli-
gence from the seat of hostilities in Mexico. From this
we learn that the United States army, under Gen-ral
Taylor, bad achieved two successive victories over the
Mexican forces, on the Bth and 9th of May, on the west
bank of the " Great River," or " Rio del Norte." The
effect of this success had been to avenge the previous de-
feats of portions of the American army, including the
slaughter of a body of Texican Rangers under Captain
Walker, by the Mexicans, on the Ist of May, near the
same spot, and had also reopened communications with
Point Isabel. Preparations were also being made by the
now conquerors to invade the town of Matamoras, on the
opposite side of the river, and one small Mexican town
had already been taken possession of. By this time the
American army have probably made inroads into the
enemy's territory, as well as blockaded the Mexican sea-
ports,—and, it may be, attacked the castle of St. Juan de
Ulloa, at Vera Cruz, which, however, is a fortress so
strong that if at all well defended, may be considered the
Gibraltar of the South, and would stand cut a prolonged

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

treat the General and his officers with such care and at-
tention as becomes the magnanimity of the great Mexican
nation. Four or five hundred mules, &c., with a large
number of stands of colours, were also taken.
The instructions of Arista were to possess himself of
Point Isabel, and fortify it as strongly as possible. The
Americans, it is estimated, sustained in the action the
loss of three officers and forty men killed, and thirteen
officers and one hundred men wounded. The Mexicans
had upwards of three hundred killed, many wounded, and
a considerable number taken prisoners. General Taylor's
force afterwards encamped at Point Isabel. The town of
Baritta was taken the next day by the Americans, and as
the Mexican troops had marched out of the town of Mata-
moros, it was supposed that General Taylor had taken un-
disturbed possession of the town. The Mexicans, it is
stated, ;used copper balls, a wound from which is ex-
tremely dangerous. Numerous requisitions had been is-
sued by the Executive, calling upon the governors of
several of the northern states for troops of volunteers.
New York, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, South Carolina,
&c., had each been called upon to furnish their proper
quota.

Some apprehensions were entertained of the operation
of Mexican privateers, which it was contemplated to put
down and treat as pirates. Measures had been taken by
the Secretary of the United States Navy to protect the
commerce exposed in the Gulf of Mexico, should it be
menaced or interrupted.

The proceedings in Congress had been interesting. On
the 18th ult. the Senate passed a bill to repeal so much of
the appropriation bill of 1845 as limited the number of
men in the naval service to 7,500. On the 19,h, i❑ the
House of Representatives, Mr. King reported from the
Committee on Naval Affairs a bill for .building by con-
tract twelve iron steamers and one iron frigate ; the
steamers to be of not less than 1,200, nor more than 1,600
tons ; the boilers and the machinery to be so arranged as
to be secure from the enemy's shot; the speed to be at
least fifteen miles an hour; engines not less than 1,000
horse-power ; to carry an armament of at least six
wrought-iron guns, of not less than twelve-inch calibre;
from two to four smaller guns, of the same manufacture ;
and to have at least fifteen days' fuel under high-pressure
steam. The frigate to carry sixty heavy guns ; and one
of the steamers to be built on the plan of Erricson. Five
millions proposed to be appropriated to carry the law
into effect. The bill was referred to the appropriate
committee. In the Senate, on the 23d ult., a bill autho-
rizing the construction of ten war steamers was made a
special order for the following Monday. Subsequently
both houses passed votes of thanks to General Taylor and
the " Army of Occupation." The extra appropriations
so far sanctioned by Congress amount to upwards of
seventeen millions of dollars.

Congress had further discussed the Oregon question,
and evidently with a wish to shelve the subject for the
present session. Several propositions were submitted,
one of them by Mr. Benton, in support of a compromise
on the 49th parallel of latitude, and of the rights of the
United States up to that line : but no final decision had
been come to up to the 29th ultimo—the last paper we
have received (The New York Herald) being of the 30th.
Having their hands full of the Mexican war, and its an-
ticipated great costs—for which 17,000,000 of dollars are
proposed to be appropriated, no immediate response from
the United States is to be expected to the relaxed system
of commercial policy adopted by Great Britain. The
proposed outlay had damped the never very warm advo-
cates of free trade. The official organ still calls upon
Congress to pass the bill ; but, in the beat of war and
fancied glory, the appeal was utterly neglected. A similar
fate appears to threaten the Independent Treasury scheme.
Owing to the warlike position of the country, several
propositions for the adjournment of Congress had been
rejected, and the question was deferred for consideration
2 to the Sth of June.
C 12-* -f- had

she tireat britain steam-ship had arrived out at New
York on the morning cf the 30th ultimo, after a run of
twenty days. Her prolonged passage arose from a slight
accident to the engine havihg depi iced her of the use of
steam for a portion of the voyage. She was appointed to
leave New York on her return on the 6th instant.
The predictions of public money being heedlessly and
extravagantly squandered upon a war heedlessly provoked
appear to be in course of realisation. At New Orleans
no less than 16,500 dollars per month was paid for the
hire of a steam-boat to transport troops and supplies to
the Rio Grande !

The New York Commercial Inquirer, of May 30th,
says, " Two thousand two hundred and forty-four pas-
sengers from Europe arrived at this port yesterday."
Intelligence from the Havana, in the American jour-
nals, reports that no less than sixteen members of the
Mexican Confederation had notified their Government,
that, if the scheme of establishing a monarchical govern-
ment were forced upon them, they would be compelled,
in self-defence, to ask admission into the union of the
United States of America.

The news from the Canadas is unimportant, if we ex-
cept the fact that vegetation was rapidly progressing, and
that the prospects for agriculture were most promising•

From Vera Cruz the advices were to tise 7th ultimo.
The whole of the American squadron, with the exception
of the Falmouth, had sailed on the sth to the relief of
General Taylor; and, on its return, would proceed to
blockade the Mexican seaboard, and, probably, to attack
the castle of San Juan d'Ulloa. Extensive and spirited
preparations in men and metal were being made for the
defence of the castle; and, the weather being excessively
hot, the vomito had made its appearance. This would
prove a valuable ally to the Mexicans. The Cabinet
formed by Paredes still remained in power.
The exiled chief, Santa Anna, still remained at Havana,
with little prospect of being recalled to power.
The revolt of Alvarez in the south had been entirely
suppressed. Several alterations in the constitution of the
Cabinet had been made by Paredes. The Mexicans, re-
mote from the seat of war, were universally confident of
victory upon the Rio Grande, founding their hopes upon
the numerical superiority of their troops. The acts of
the Executive were universally approved of. The re-
ported sale of the Mexican war-steamers Montezuma
and Guadaloupe is said to have been contradicted.
Accounts from Campcachy to the 13th ultimo state,
that the Congress was still engaced its constructing a new
constitution, and would no doubt confirm the declaration
made some time since of the separation of the state of
Yucatan from the Government of Mexico.

The following are a few laughable scraps from letters
relative to the Mexican war and the assumed valour of
the Yankees, from the New York Herald, the founder of
which, Mr. James Gordon Bennett, announces, in amusing
terms, his intention to revisit Europe this summer, with
a view to organ:ze a system of correspondence for his
journal from the several courts of this quarter of the
globe :

" About twenty minutes after the commencement of
the action, poor Major Ringgold (of the Sth) was struck
by a six-pound shot, and mortally wounded—he has since
died. I had lent him my pistols on going into the fight.
The shot struck one holster, cut it and the pistol in two
pieces, cut all the flesh off the upper part of the Major's
thigh, yassed through the shoulders of his horse, cut the
other pistol in two, and the flesh off the other thigh. He
fell from his horse—and Li mt. Sherer offered to assist
him—but he said, " no sir—ht rne stay—go on—you have
enough to do—go ahead:" We rested on our arms until
three o'clock, and then commenced the action again; and
fought them till night closed the scene of carnage. We
slept on the field of battle, amid the dead, dying, and
wounded, without refreshment, upon the bare ground, and
with our arms by our side. In this engagement I lost my
mare in extricating myself from a party of seven Mexicans
who had fired at me whilst executing an order on the ex-
treme left for Col. Twigge. I snapped her shoulder in
wheeling to shoot a 'Mexican who rushed at me with a
lance.

On the next day the enemy made a show, but retreated,
and took up their position in a thick undergrowth, having
every advantage. We commenced the fight; the most
awful ever known ; and the old officers say equal only to
New Orleans or Fort Erie. I was in the front rank du-
ring the whole fight, and thank God, escaped without a
wound, though unhorsed, a ball through my coat, and my
horse struck. We whipped them to death. I took the
sword off a captain, just wounded by me, and mean to
keep it—you shall see my trophy one of these days. Lieut.
Randolph Ridgely won as much glory as any officer on the
field—he is a glorious fellow. We lost some few officers
and men. Among the officers was poor Lieutenant Inge
—he bed just joined, and was killed in the charge on the
enemy's batteries ; I charged by his side, and was un-
horsed, and doubtless thus escaped- I am too gratefu
first for the opportunity of being in the fight, and then to
escape unhurt."

MR, JOHN B. CozznNs.—Extract from a letter dated
" Camp," May 11th.—Your brave friend, Lieut. Roland,
was always proud of his sword, as every American officer
should be ; and he now feels prouder than ever of it, for it
was struck by a six-pound shot near the centre, as it hung
by his side.—P.S.—The muskets of the Mexicans, I no-
ticed, were all marked George Rex, or Fourth, Tower."
The following are miscellaneous extracts :—LIGHT-
NING SPEED.—lmmediately, when the Great Britain
was telegraphed, we sent on the account by the lightning
line to the editors at Philadelphia, who sent back a re-
quest to be forwarded an abstract of her news. The en-
tire was performed within an hour ! to and from Phila-
delphia. What next !—New Hork Herald.

(From the:Mobile Herald, May 22.)
A specimen of patriotism was related to us yesterday.
A man threw a silver dollar into the street, because it
was of Mexican coinage. Whether some less patriotic
individual picked it up, we did not stay to ascertain.
Camp opposite Matamoros,
On the Rio Grande, May 14, 1846.
Dear M.,—We have had two hard-fought and victorious
battles, on the Bth and 9th instant, of which you have
doubtless had accounts in the papers. lam well and un-
harmed, though much exposed in both fights. Not until
next morning did we know our entire success, when we
found they had retired, leaving their dead, and many of
their wounded, upon the field of battle. As my regiment
was marching down in line, my company marched directly
upon a poor Mexican, who raised his arm, as if to depre-
cate any harm being done to him. My men shook hands
with him, and re-assured him, giving him water and re-
freshments, and he was turned over to our surgeons, and
very kindly treated. Since then, 150 or more of their
wounded fell into our hands, who have been all kindly
treated.

gerated terms of praise of the conduct of his subordinates.
Of himself, however, of course, he could say nothing.
His junior officers, however, will not permit injustice to
he done him. One of them, writing to his correspondent
in New Orleans. for example, says, " The General be-
haved most gallantly. In the second battle he was more
exposed than any one else; and there he sat, part of the
time, giving his orders, with his leg cocked over' the
pummel of the saddle, unheeding the solicitations of the
staff to retire."—Letter in the New York Herald.

We captured one of their generals—Gen. La Vega.—
and about twelve other officers, and 170 men. As for
their killed and wounded, the whole ground around was
covered with them. Every feeling of humanity was
excited in my breast by such sights. We bivouacked that
night on the field of battle and of victory, and late at
night, about eleven or twelve o'clock, myself and another
officer sallied out in quest of wounded men. We had the
satisfaction of saving one wounded Mexican, who was
nearly exhausted from loss of blood, abandoned in the
field, and passed over as dead by all who had previously
seen him. A serjeant who could talk Spanish was along
with us, who gave assurance to the poor fellow that he
should be treated kindly, and taken to the doctor, which
was his -desire.—New York Herald.

,general Taylor speaks in high and dgutnifss iinexag-