The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-02-10
OPTICAL WORKS, North Oxford. Mass, ,
January Goth, 1916.

| oH-h Pdragfapn appeared IN 1he DnttU
Globe, of the 10th of Octuber last intlmating tina,
the attempts on my life were connected with Ger.
tain political movements, and that it was duty
that owed my fellow citizens 10 make public
statement OF the facts, in order that the public
might be disabused as regarded myself, and jus
tlce take lis course with the criminal parity
From whatever source you Obtained your nforina-
ton, II was In the main correct, and | should
have long since responded to your article, had not
peculiar circumstances prohibited me from So do
ING. Those circumstances do not now fully exist.
aud although In the communication that I am
about to make do not mention the names or
position OF all the parties concerned, yet the cor
roboratlng circumstances will, trust. make up
ior an omission that pecuniary results demand
Sumo months previous Ia the late Mexican min.
ister's (Aimonte) leaving this country a negotia-
ton or correspondence had been entered with him,
by certain agents of two foreign powers, relative
To Mexican affairs but in the intercourse he
Ainonte) was only the second person. being the
medium through whom arrangements were made
To Santa Anna at Havana, and Paroles and others
in Mexico. After Amonte left for Mexico. i, was
deemed more safe To communicate with Santa Anna
than the parties in Mexico, and a special rnessen-
ger was accordingly sent in charge of dispatches
Tor the Havana. and paid one half Of a liberal
sum for their safe deverance the other half to be
paid on his return with replies. This special
messenger became acquainted with while doing
| business with one of the Departments at Wash.
| ingtnn, and he communicated 10 me one evening
the fact OF his mission, adding hat he had lost
the whole of his outfit billiard table the even
ing beinre, and that his object IN communicating
his position, was 10 get me TO assist him 10 the
necessary funds to perform his mission, promising
to pay me when he received the balance of his
| payment. | loaned him the amount required, but
nave reason To suppose that II was lost imme-
diaely at the gambling table, for the next day he
proposed that should carry the dispatches nv
SELF and that he would pay me on my return out
ot the balance coming 10 him.. To this consent.
ed. and the papers were placed in my possession
win the strongest nJunctOns of secreSy as To the
mission. For reasons best known to myself, [
| have no particular love for Santa Anna, aud de-
termIned Ia know what intrigue he was engaged
IN. l broke the seals of the PACKAGE and learnt
that certain powers pretending to act in good
faith with our government, were, through their
agents, man9uvrinG 10 thwart some movements
of vital Importance My first impulse was to
hand the papers To- the Secretary of State but on
more mature reflection, Il determined To wait on the
writers of the documents and inform them of nv
possession and know ledge of the contents of these
papers-prnpose to deliver them up for certain
consideration. did ST., and might be expect
ed, my announcement was received with no little
perturbation on their part. The sum | named
was too high. and after much qnibbling [ left
them, giving them certain number of days to
consider my propnsaiS--wth the prospect that if
not accepted al the end of the time mentioned
The papers would 90 intoorher hands.
The second night after our interview, while on
my return home from the depot Of charts was
attacked by Two men. who after aring the clothes
from my body. succeeded in getting my money
and papers, but they did not get the papers they
we're after; the taking of the money was mask
on their real desi2n. Nearly a month afterwards
| oi,aI n
ford, on my way home, about eight ~ ouk in the
evening. A gun was fired, from which two
ounce ball passed through the front of both thighs
between the muscles and boDe-and nothing but
the speed at which ] was driving, as passed the
party. Sd we'd my life. After this second attempt
there was double motive to destroy me | was
IN possession OF dangerous secret, and had re-
cognzed the party who fired on me, SO as TO set
the police on his Trail and consequently the da
ring attempts. while in my own parlor Office, and
on the plaza of the United States Hotel in Wash
ngtOn, followed.
After the last mentioned affair, | waited on the
principal party and informed them that if their
shot had taken effect. the evening before that the
momeHt the news had reached New York, their
secret would have been known that had left the
papers in tie hands Of the late Clinton De Wit,
Esq, with discretion TO open them the moment
that was dead or missing. This declaration
brought them to their senses. They denied hay-
ing any hand in the affair Of taking my life. but
admitted that they had agreed to give certain
person $4,000 if he would obtain the papers
held. We finally came to the conclusion that
within certain period a certain sum of money
should be paid into my cOunseI's hands, and the
papers he given mp. binding myself not to car
ry matters any further after such settlement
The time approaches when the moneys are to be
pad-if they meet their engagements | shall
mine; IT they do not, their high positions and in
fiuence wiIl'not deter me from attempting to re-
dress myself.
With reference 10 the contents Of the papers,
will take the liberty to remark, that they were of
nature to enable me to predict, more than six
months ago, To- the Hon. David Henshaw, Messrs
Clinton De Witt Of New York, and Granville
Parker OF Worcester, my counsellors, and many
others, the present state Of affairs in Mexico and
now confidently state. that within twelve
l3nooihs from this date Santa Anna will be Vice
roy of Mexico And further. let the Spanish 20
vernment look to it, 0r Cuba will change masters.
win reference to my predictions as to Santa
Annas position within twelve months, I wish to
insert this clanse: Proriding he does not sell, M
has not 'otd. his hno,oledge Of English intrigue
10 The Spanish government
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