Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-02-06

To bis excellency Don Augustine L.
turbide, admiral ard Geieralissi-
mo ofthe Fleet and Army of Mex.
leo.
The memorial of Lnrenz5 Christie,
a native or the State of New York
in the United States of America, res
pcctfully represents. that on the 4th OF
March, 1917, he entered into the SER
vice OF Mexico. as captain of infant
~ in the expedition raised by Gener-
al in Xavier Nina. in favor of the in
dependence of Mexico. and was eDga-
ged in every action fought by the Sen
eral. until he was taken prisoner
After this event, he repaired to the In
dependent government! which was then
established at Xauxiila, where he sus
tanned siege of seventy six days,
during which time a reward was of
icrred him by Gen. Aguerri Of 5000
dollars to Leave the fort and return to
his own country ; Tut having embar
ked in the cause from motives of patri
oiism, and with ardent desire to aid
the Mexican people TO burst the chains
which bound them to trans atlantic
tyranny, he rejected the proifered re-
ward, with the feelings it meritcd, and
continued faithful to The service in
which he had embarked.
On the 9th of March 1918, he was
made prisoner at Vanilla. by Gen.
Agueri, and sent to the city of Mexico
inironS, and from thence, by way of
La Vera Cruz, Havana and Cadiz, 10
Ccnta, in Africa, where he was sen
fenced a prisoner for life +; and where
he remained until the Goth of March,
1920, when he was liberated, on the
adoption, having been two years and
twenty days prisoner, loaded during
the whole time with irons, with no bed
bdt the pavement of his prison. for not
even straw was allowed him and
from the time he arrived at In Vera
Cruz until his release, his appetite was
never satisfied, being allowed Just pro
visions enough to sustain life, and no
more.
There is. one circumstance of crual.
ty and suffering, which he will relate
US a specimen OF the rest just before
his arrival at CadiS, he was SO un
fortunate as to loose his hat overheard.
and after the ship anchored in the
Bay of Cadiz, he was chained to the
upper deck. exposed to the burning
sun for "a days in the month of Au
gust, without any awning Or hat, and
the captain refused to let him send to
the city for one, saying that the more
he Suffered the better. Don Pablo
Cabellero was prisoner with him,
and can testify 10 these facts.
Having escaped from prison, he re.
turned to the United States and thence
to this country, to lay his services and
suffcrings before the government of the
ration, to obtain whose independence
the last FIVE years of his life have been
devoted, and the most eXcruciating suf
feIings endured.
The claims which he had against
this government, are for services and
pay as u Captain of Infantry, from
the 4ih Of March, 1917, up to this
date.
iic would, with all respect, repre-,
sent, that the length of time he has
been a prisoner, and the great extent
OF the journey he has taken, have ex-
hcustcd his funds he is therefore I'M
able to wait many days for an answer
10 this application--If his claims are
not acknowledged he wishes to know
itas soon as possible that he may re-
turn to the bosom of that country,
where patriotism is appreciated as il
ought to be, and where his sutierlngs
for the cause of freedom, will secure
him the respect of his countrymcn,-
There be will live honorcd though
poor, monument ofthe ingra.itudc OF
the Mexican nation.
With sentiments OF the highest res
pcct he has the honor TO be your
Excelicncy's most obcdicnt ser
caht.
Merico, Mag 10, 1922.
This petition presented to the EN-
peror Iturbide, personally without
any hesitation he promised me that on
The next day it should be settled to
my satisfaction accordingly called
the next day, and was requested to call
at another time inthis way Twas put
off for the space of twenty days, and
finding that the Emperor was in the