3}1trim.—A long and important letter from the correspondent of the
Times in Mexico appears in that journal yesterday. The Mexican Government have, as was expected, gone still further in their career of repudiation, by their non-payment of the "Laguna Seca" money, due on the 11th June. They have, however, offered the national palace, the only available assets they possess, as security. Marques, the general of the reactionary party, who a few weeks ago could scarcely muster 500 men, was threatening the city at the head of between 4000 and 5000, and was in daily expectation of being joined bj Mejia with 2000 more. He has a opted for his war-cry, "The Catholic religion and death to foreigners." That his hatred is prin-
cipally directed against the French for having dared to denounce, under a general lair, portions of the Church property, may be true ; but let if not for one moment be supposed that the citizens of other countries will be leniently dealt with should the priestly portion again get the upperhand. That they are likely to do so seems now almost a certainty, thanks to the utter imbecility of those who direct th6 councils of the Liberal party.
-"Every foreigner has now taken refuge within the city, as the only place where there is even a chance of safety. Sir C. Wyke is fully alive to the imminence of the crisis; but what can lie do single- handed against parties who respect neither treaties, legations, nor anything else? He certainly did not underrate what were likely to be the difficulties of his position when lie informed Lord Palmerston, previous to his departure, that there was little use in sending him to such a country unless backed by a sufficient force to make himself respected.
"Outrages are continually committed upon the persons and pro- perty of Englishmen. Besides numerous isolated instances of attacks on the houses of Englishmen, the following wholesale deeds of rapine and violence were perpetrated: "Subsequently to his feint upon the city of Mexico, Marques di- rected his march upon the famous mining district of Pachuca and Real del Monte, and although no opposition was offered at either of these places, his troops have committed the most frightful excesses. Every house has been sacked, and upwards of 200 Englishmen and their families, exclusive of other foreigners, have been sufferers. Dr. Griffin narrowly escaped with his life, and it was only the fear of reducing some 300 or 400 foreigners to desperation that prevented the barbarians from sacrificing the lives as well as the property of these industrious and hard-working miners." On July 29, the same correspondent writes again; "As if the violation of treaties, the sacking of a legation, and the plunder and murder of our citizens were not sufficient, the Mexican Government have now added to the list of their delinquencies the deliberate violation of a contract solemnly entered into with the British Govern- ment itself. On the 17th, Congress, at the recommendation of Government, passed by an overwhelming majority (112 to 4), a decree suspending all payments for the period of two years. In this sus- pension is included the 'British Convention.' This is bearding the lion in his den with a vengeance. The English Government has ever shown extreme jealousy in all that related to this Convention; every Minister has received orders to take it under his special protection, and now, without so much as a communication being previously made to her Majesty's representative, a stoppage of payment is decreed. It is the last feather that breaks the camel's back.. This final act of spoliation must at length arouse the British Government from an apathy which has ruined hundreds of their citizens, degraded their representatives, and utterly annihilated the prestige of England. That this suspension, if tamely submitted to, will at the expiration of the two years be indefinitely extended, no one can doubt. "The matter has been very warmly taken up by the French and English Legations, who demanded the repeal of the law within forty- eight hours. This demand not having been acceded to, M. Dubois de Suligny and Sir Charles Wyke, on the morning of the 26th, sus- pended all diplomatic intercourse." •
Previous page
