The New York herald., 1844-09-29

INFORMANT FROM MExico by the Fortuna at
this port, says the N. O. Pcayune oithe 18th inst
we have Intelligence of late date from Mexico
have had some conversation with passenger who
came by her, from which and other sources we
derive the following information.
The town OF Matamoras has been destroyed by
a hurricane. II occurred on the night OF the 4th
alt and was more tremendous in its effects than
the hurricanes of '35 and 81. More than two
and the remainder were more or less injured. As
10 the extent OF the loss of life we are not accu-
rately informed. The correspondent Of Et Censor
de Vera Cruz estimates the whole loss at above
two hundred souls The dlrest destruction, how
ever, far we can learn, was at the two mouths
of the Rio Grande, some thirty miles below the
| city Matamoras Here scarcely any were saved.
| In writing of Matamoras, the editors have nothing
to mitigate the extent Of Its ruin. They describe
il as beautiful city; abounding IN luxurious habi-
| tatlons, and provided not only with the necessa-
res Of life, but many OF Its most refined l1xuries:
| I'm a moment, as II were, every thing was LAID
waste. We cannot do better than to copy from
ri Diario del GobiernO, being the report OF the hrst
Alcade OF the city to the General Government:
"Except the houses OF DOnPedrO Jose de la GaZa,
of Donna Juana Perea and the new church, there
is not building which is not much damaged or
which is not a heap Of ruins. The following per.
sons have perished in the crash: an infant son Of
Don Mariana Aguado, an artillery solder,and three
women are badly wounded, but still survive.
"Among those buildings are the artillerybarracks
and the hospital juna, containing nearly 100 SICK,
the wall Of the prison, and halt OF the graveyard
| To tell every thing in one word-the greater part
OF the population are compelled to 1--we IN shantees
built among the ruins of their houses. leave your
| exceency TO imagine the miserable condition OF
| all sorts of produce growing in the fields.
ssThe slckwere carried to dayto thebaracks OF the
sappers the park the church, which has lost one
tower and half OF ano her, the cannon TO the lower
story OF the conslstoral houses-prisoners OF all
| kinds have been well guarded and not one has es-
| capped"
| Our new Minister to Mexico, ex- Governor Shan
non OF Ohio. has reached his destination, but, we
| are sorry to say minus his ready money and any
| thing he may have had about his person. On his
route between Vera Ciuz and the capital, the stage
| In which ne was passenger was wayidid ana the
| minister robbed of whatever he had about him.
| fine commentary this upon the eftciency OF
| government about to send some thousands OF men
| into the field against Texas
The intelligence Is confirmed that Gen. Ampu-
| da, the man who Mr.. Cheves says in his eloquent
letter. has put himself beyond the pale OF civlliza-
| tion, 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 Tabasco, and left for his COM
mand. This is mistake, Ampudia is not to COM
nand.1
One of the pleasant features of the news we re-
ceived yesterday from Mexico was the release OF
the following individuals confined at PeroIe, VIZ:
Capt. VIM. Ryon. Col: w. F. Wilson: the famous
and efficient old Sheriff of Galveston Island, Wal
| lace James Armstrong, and Thomas Tatem. The
| same day that the news OF the release OF these
| 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 particularly into the cir
cunlstances Of each OF the prisoners, and into the
| general mode of treatment which they received.
Most sincerely do We hope that through his inter.
vention the Mexican Government may be induced
TO extend its clemency to the remaining prisoners
| there.
1t may appear rather singular that while Mr..
Shannoa was humanely acquaInting himself witt,
the state OF the prisoners at Perote. he received
from the Governor OF the Castle an order tor 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 allowed very great
ndulgeuce-for prisoners One OF the latter writes
| us truly touching letter, in which he announces
the departure OF those who were released. They
were all known to be in circumstances OF present
embarrassment and almost OF lndigence, and the
poor prisoners who were left behind failed not TO
contribute the last mite OF therte all to all I'd to
| their more fortunate comrades the means to reach
| their homes Such an incident ls honorable to hu
lnanity.
! AS to the preparations which Mexico is making
for the invasion of Texas, we can learn very little
| of defnte nature. That active operations are
going on In enllsng and equlpping troops, there is
| no doubt. But our personal lntormans and our
correspondents seem to question whether the con.
quest of Texas be the object in view. There would
seem to be but other, and that is plainly indl.
Gated in some of our letters-to make Santa Anna
| dictator. But this is subject on which we shall
not be loug left in the dark.
All the papers we receive from Vera Cruz are
| clothed In mourning tor the wife OF Santa Anna
She appears to have been held in the highest per-
| sonal esteem, independent OF her elevated rank:
The fever had almost entirely abated at Vera
| Cruz when the Fortuna lett. Our informant heard
nothing of it. The British soop of war nconstant,
| and the Rose, which lately visited US, and two
spanish brigs were the only vessels of war at Vera
| Cruz
Gen. Canalizo set out from the capital for San
| Luis de Potos on the 10Th Of August, accompanied
by all his staff to take command of his division oi
| the army destined to operate against Texas.
Our readers may remember certain paragraphs
ia the Diario del Gobierno, censurlng the Mexican
| Congress vehementy for their tardness in voting
| he four millions required by the government Tor
| the invasion of Texas These attacks appear to
nave irriated Congress, as they are suspected 10
have emanated directly from Santa Anna. They
have accordingly been formally repel!ed in mani
es0 of considerable torce and dignity issued by
Congress. That body not only conceived it ne
cessary TO reply to The violent TRADES Of the official
journal, but addressing itself directly to the gov
ernment, demand satisfactory explanations of
course offensive and scandalous, and requires
statement OF the causes which have prevented the
government from interfering for the suppression Of
such abuses. The President answers the mani
/ testo OF Congress in manner which demonstrates
pretty plainly his knowledge of and acquiescence
il the offensive articles He denies the right Of
| Congress to interrogate hm-declares that the
language OF the manifesto is that of reprimaId
addressed by superior TO an inferior, and that he
cannot recognize the exisencetof this nquisiiora
power in Congress. He concludes by protesting
| against the manifesto as illegal and improper
/ Mexican brig Roselvinia, Poucol, was lost on the
lst instant, of the mouth OF the Brazos, and iour
| OF her crew were drowned.
BUILDING IN PHrLADELPHIA-The North Ameri-
can states the following interesting and important
nets respecting the growth Of Philadelphia In the city
proper, the number Of buildings erected this year,
or now in progress is 400 in the Northern Lbertie.,
is in Spring Garden, 4b9 in Kensingon, lab Total,
Il20.
| We have not included in the above returns any
buildings In Southwark, Moyamensng, or West Phils
i axuhic husII .ha,A