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bocks of the war office. Subsequently, multifarious engagements precra ded any attention to the matter, and the hero died without having acted at all in regard to this claim. Now, however, upon a computation of interest, the small amount was found to have increased to the respectable sum of 15,000,000 francs; whereupon the Bonaparte brothers. Joseph and Jerome, brought suit, as heirs-at-law. After due deliberation, the French courts decided that the survivors could not recover, on the ground that by the treaty of Fontainbleau, in 1814, it was understood Napoleon Bonaparte made over all his rights, privileges, and immunities in France to the new government.

In the month of May, was paid into the hands of the bankers of the United States in London, the sum of sixty-two thousand six hundred and ninety-two dollars, in liquidation of a claim against the kingdom of Holland, for its interference with American commerce about the time of the recent collision with Great Britain.

A claim upon Belgium was also admitted, by the authorities of that Kingdom, for damages done to American property during the siege ol Antwerp, and an amount which was mutually satisfactory, agreed upon and paid.

In the same year, a treaty was negotiated with his majesty, Qte king of Sardinia, by which American products were to be admitted free of duty in his dominions with but one or two exceptions. It is a singular fact, that the first treaty ever made by that Kingdom with any other natioc, was this with America—a country discovered to the world by one of its own citizens—Christopher Columbus, being by birth a Genoese.

The twenty-sixth Congress commenced its regular session on the 2d of December. Among its acts, was one authorizing the taking of the sixth census of the United States. Also, to show what a "rising people" we are, it may be casually remarked, that, before the close of this session, new offices were created by the law-makers, calling for immediate appro riations of near $40,000, as follows:

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Commissioner for running the boundary between the U. S. and Texas
Commissioner and clerk to examine claims under the treaty of 1837 with

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To the chief-justice of the district court of the District of Columbia, for du-
ties imposed on him by the "act in addition to an act to promote the
progress of the useful arts
Two additional clerks in the office of the clerk of the House of Bepreseu
tativos of the United States, at $1,500 each.

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$18,000

6,000

2,000

5,500

2,500

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3,009

A recapitulation of the gross amounts required to be set apart by the same Congress for the support of the usual national relations for the space of one year, may not be unworthy a passing note:

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Some considerable additions were made to the United States' navy in the

course of this year. Steamers, and small vessels of war of an improved build, were launched at the different naval stations, and sent on exp~~imental trips. One at Philadelphia, the "Dale," named in honour of uie first commodore of the infant navy of the States, was christened by a son of that distinguished officer, who wore, on the occasion of the ceremony, a massive gold-hilted sword which was presented to his father by the renowned Paul Jones (who received it from King Louis XVI. of France) for his bravery as first lieutenant under him in the fierce action between the Bon Homme Richard and Serapis.

Requiescat in pace !—Departed this life, "full of years and full of honours," at Albany, N. Y., General Du Coudray Holstein, formerly of Napoleon's staff; same place, General Stephen Van Rensselaer, the palroon. In New-York, Rev. J. B. Seixas, Rabbi-leader to the Jewish synagogue Shearish-Israel; same place, 66, Joseph Lancaster, founder of the Lancasterian school-system; same place, William Leggett, editor, etc. In Charleston, South-Carolina, 89, Stephen Thomas, "the last of the Huguenots." At Asheville, North-Carolina, 49, General Robert Y. Hayne. In Florida, Colonel J. M. White. In Texas, L. Rathbun, of Buffalo; also Hon. William Brenan. At Utica, New-York, Antoine Latour, a soldier of the revoluton. At Newburgh, Hon C. C. De Witt, late chargé at Guatemala. In Massachusetts, Theodore Sedgewick. In Washington, Commodore Patterson. Near New-York, Commodore M'Kinney. In Jersey City, Colonel Aaron Ogden, & 83. At Baltimore, General Samuel Smith, 87; same place, Colonel William Steuart, Æ 59. In the Cherokee nation, by murder, John Ridge, a chief. At Oneida Castle, 96. the chieftain Ondayak. In the Seneca tribe, the chief Big-Kettle. In Wilmington, Delaware, 63, Hezekiah Niles, of the National Register. In Philadel phia, Matthew Carey. At Newcastle, Delaware, Hon. J. R. Black. In Missouri, Hon. A. G. Harrison. At St. Louis, Colonel Keene, of NewOrleans. At New-Orleans, Baron Hackett, of Holland, cousin-german to the comedian. In Albany, Benjamin Knower, state-treasurer. In NewYork, William Dunlap, an author. In Connecticut, Judge Jesse Bew. )n Long Island, King David, a chief, the last of the Montanks. In Kentucky, Governor Clarke. At Burlington, Iowa, Hon. W. B. Conway. In Indiana, Senator Tipton. In Louisiana, General E. W. Ripley, the defender of Fort Erie. At Portsmouth, New-Hampshire, 90, John Cochrane, the last of the Boston "Tea Party." In New-London, Daniel Keeney, a lilot for the frigate "United States" at the time of her chase by the British 74 "Valiant," and who, by manœuvring adroitly about a sunken rock, caused the enemy to strike, and with difficulty make his escape to Halifax. In Vermont, 35, Zerah Colburn, wonderful in early life as an arithmetical calculator. In New-Hampshire, Jonathan Mason, Æ 74; he 'as taken prisoner in the revolution by General Burgovne, and on being brought before that officer, was asked, "Well, my fine fellow, what do you think of yourself now?" "Same as I always did." "But what do you think of being a prisoner of war V Why, that it'll be your turn next." "Bah! all the Yankees in America can't do it"—but they did. Off Tampico, lost overboard, Lieutenant H. J. Paul, U. S. N. In Florida, Captain G. H. Griffin, U. S. A. In Maryland, Colonel Gist, 94. At Montevideo, Albert Triplet, of the District of Columbia. In France, General Count Bernard, for whom the American army was ordered in mourning. In London, Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin, formerly of Boston. At Toronto, Upper Canada, Duncan Cameron, provincial secretary. At Greenock, Scotland, John Galt, author. At Bath, England, General Sir Thomas Dallas: also, Sir Henry Trollope. In London, Lady Flora Hastings, 33. At her villa on Mount Lebanon, near Sidon, Syria, Lady Hester Stanhope, 63. In Rome, Cardinal Fesch, uncle to Napoleon; he left 200,000 scudi (1,070,000 rancni to build a church in Ajaccio, Corsica, wherein himself and sis

66

ter were to be buried, and ihe rest of the family might have their hearts deposited in urns, if they wished. At Port Republicain, Prince Saunders, a colored gentleman, native of Vermont, at time of decease attorney-general for the kingdom of Hayti. In Constantinople, Turkey, the grand sultan, Mahmoud II. In India, Rajah Runjeet Singh, chief of Lahore xad Cachemire. In Stockholm, Archbishop Waller. In Copenhagen, Frederick VI. of Denmark.

A. o. 1840. We come now to the consideration of those numerous bickerings which have from time to time arisen between the American and Mexican governments. In fact, about this period, there does not appear to be much else of a national character to refer to. A jealousy of long standing is apparent between these two nations: though if it be true that "he who is first to lose temper may be put down as gen erally in the wrong," when solving knotty points, Mexico may be said to have had the worst of it. Perhaps the widely different and irreconcilable views of the two nations upon religious matters, may be looted upon as the ground-work of all the heart-burnings and envy which has heretofore so incessantly been breaking out between them. The Romish priesthood, with its horror of "infidels," and doctrine of infallibility, has now so strongly entwined itself about the body politic of that ill-fated nation, as to render its mental elevation almost an impossibility; and, consequently, any approximation on the part of that people towards a true spirit of friendliness for any nation without the pale of "the church" a matter of much difficulty. To this cause, probably, more than any other, may be attributed the present unhappy state of the province, whose government, even at this day, is in a state bordering upon anarchy.

Troubles have existed between Mexico and almost every mercantile nation of the globe. Great Britain owns her valuable mines: France was forced to destroy her powerful castle of San Juan d'Ulloa: and Vera Cruz and Tampico have been bombarded on various occasions. The very fertility of soil and beauty of climate for which the Spanish ancestry of the present Mexicans exterminated the Aztec "children of the sun," seem now to be working out, by means of incessant internal insurrections, a retributive vengeance upon their own heads. The government, from beginniLg, has been without strength; disturbances of every grade, revolt and bloodshed, unhappily prevail, and characterize the existence of the state.

Shortly after Mexico had thrown off the yoke of Spain," while yet reel ing to the music of her broken fetters," she issued a declaration that land, in the largest and most liberal grants, should be given to whomsoever would emigrate to, and se'tle permanently in, the then wild province oi Texas. That land was ai the time almost entirely unreclaimed from a state of nature, though it was represented, and with much truth, to be beautiful and exceedingly rich. Population flocked in rapidly, and settled the coasts, and rolling lands adjoining the territory of the United States. Perhaps the feverish haste with which the new comers arrived, prevented their giving a due consideration to certain conditions which were subsequently found to be affixed to their gifts of soil. A precaution had bees taken, in the first place, to unite the dependency of Texas with that oi Coahuila, in which a Spanish population was comparatively numerous; this was with a view to secure a continuance of connexion of the newlypeopled country with Mexico. Also, according to the forms prescribed for the empresario grants of land, the number and duties of the new settler* were distinctly specified; they were all bound to profess the Roman Catholic faith, and to instruct their children in the same; to consider the Spanish language their national tongue, and have their children early taugia it; and, after the year 1840, to suffer taxation in the same manner a* otbej Mexican subjects, for the support of government.

So long as these conditions were observed, affairs seem to have glided

along pretty smoothly; but as nine-tenths of the new colonists were Anglo-Americans, they could not but feel a yearning towards the land of their birth, with its freedom from even such slight shackles as were already imposed on them in that new home which they fancied was to prove altogether delightful. With the Mexican, adhering devoutly to the faith oi his fathers, not to be Catholic was to be an outcast from all religion; and the union of the colonist to the invisible church, was made an indispcnsible condition of citizenship. To claim baptism as a convenient form, and then sneer at its obligations, was in Mexican eyes an evidence of hardened de. pravity. To the colonist, on the other hand, who from his infancy had been taught to believe the union of church and state adulterous, demoralizing, and in no way binding on the consciences of freemen, the formal demand of a certificate of baptism in the Catholic church was a mockery, and he met the demand with a mock certificate (which was purchasable, regularly filled out, at $2), for he considered it a mere form, and of nr more consequence than the colour of the paper on which it was written. As the Texians became more and more numerous, a desire to be INDEPENDENT grew among them; and it is said their leading men had that grand ulterior object in view, when they demanded of the Mexican government i separation of their province from the state of Coahuila. Moreover, the settlement of Texas was principally by slaveholders, each of whom brought with him a greater or lesser number of slaves, upon whom he relied entirely to redeem from its wild state and make serviceable his new acquisition. From this cause a new difficulty arose: Mexico, possessing but t'w slaves, was in 1823 so very liberal as to pass a law, prohibiting the >uying and selling of bondmen—although their introduction into the country was not prohibited. In 1830, the further introduction of slaves into the country was forbidden; and the children of slaves born after the year 1823, it was declared, should be free at the age of fourteen. Here, then, >as impending ruin, closely staring the colonists in the face. The law, indeed, was in itself equitable, and its intentions fair, but it created a feeling of distrust and insecurity in the minds of the Texians. A separation, therefore, was resolved upon.

In Mexico, about this time, General Santa Anna appeared to have succeeded in establishing his own authority, and the central system of government, of which he was the head, when the first Texian "rebellion" unexpectedly broke out, and threatened to overturn both his newly-promulgated "system" and personal power together. It is said the revolted Texians had obtained a loan of $200,000 in New-Orleans; and by leans of this, vessels were fitted out, aid invoked from the citizens of the United States, and, at the close of 1835, a regular standard of revolt established and rallied around. A formal declaration of indepedence was published. In that document it was proclaimed, that they had taken up arms in defence of their rights and liberty, and the republican principles of the Mexican federal constitution of 1824.

Santa Anna, in the meanwhile, had been collecting an army to recon ler the province by force. In the beginning of the year 1836, he marched from Santillo. He retook Bexar, and advanced into the interior, where he is accused of having perpetrated the most inexcusable barbarities. It was the middle of April before he reached the main body of the Texian army, which was under the command of General Sam. Houston, who had prepared to receive him on the banks of the San Jacinto. On the 19th, some skirmishing took place between the two armies, but nothing was effected; on the 20th, Santa Anna fortified himself in a camp on the bank of the river. Early on the 21st, he was in that position attacked by the Texians, and in a short time completely routed; the Mexican cavalry was at the first put to flight, and never even rallied. Santa Anna was forced to fly from his breastworks, ami attempted to make his escape in disguise.

He was taken the day following, and conducted to Houston's camp, where gome caplive soldiers betrayed his rank by exclaiming, with surprize, bis name. Instead of being instantly shot, or hanged, as he had every reason to expect he would be, Santa Anna was protected from the enraged relaives of those whom he had but a short time before caused to be, in cold blood, massacred; and he was subsequently (after a detention of near a year) conveyed through the country to the United States, from whence, by the favour of General Jackson, he was despatched home to Vera Cruz in an American national vessel.

The loss of the Mexicans at San Jacinto, was six hundred and thirty men killed, two hundred and eight wounded, and seven hundred and thirty made prisoners. That of the Texians, six killed and twenty-six woundtd. Santa Anna's army was represented to have numbered sixteen hundred men, while that of Houston consisted of but eight hundred. On the very day of the taking of the ci-devant president of Mexico, while a prisoner without possibility of rescue, he sent imperative orders to the generals et other divisions of the Mexican army to retreat, and headed his dispatches. with great nalveti, "God and liberty!" "Coast division under my com mand," &c., as if he were still generalissimo. His first communicatios from the enemy's camp began as follows.

TO GENERAL VINCBNTE FILASOLA.

"Army ef Operations,
"Coast Division, under my command.

Having yesterday had an unfortunate encounter, I have resolved to remain • frisoner of war in the hands of the enemy. After having taken every precaution, therefore hope that your excellency will cause the division under the ~ mil—i of General Purza to countermarch to Bexar, where he will wait for orders. Your excellency will also return to the same place, and order General Viesca, with ail division, to Guadaloupe Victoria. I have agreed on an armisrice with General H«us ton, ml interim, until we can agree upon terms of lasting peace.

"Your excellency will take such measures as may be necessary for the subsist ence of the army, which will remain under your command. The money that has arrived at Matamoras, and the provisions of the place, and those at Victoria, will b» distributed, &c., &c., &c.

"God and Liberty,

"ANTONIO LOPEZ de SANTA ANNA

Camp Jacinto, April 22, 1836. In the month of May, 1836, at the city of Velasco, then seat of govern mrnt for the "Republic of Texas," a formal treaty was drawn uo, stipulating for peace, amity, commerce, etcetera, which was duly witnessed, and signed by Santa Anna, president of Mexico, and David G. Burnet, president of Texas. In pursuance with an understanding. Santa Anna was then taken to Columbia and embarked in a vessel for Mexico—when, a band of volunteers under General Green arriving, tbe Mexican chief was forced to disembark and return to captivity. It was only through General Sam- Houston he at length escaped from Texas, and arrived in Vera Crro, via. the United States, towards the last of February, 1837. There he found his enemy, Bustamente at the head of the turbulent government; Don Jose Maria Tornel was secretary of war, and with principles conveniently changeable, he had pronounced the sub-generals of his ex-chtef, Santa Anna all traitors for having obeyed the commands of their superior, and paused in their career of capture or subjugation in Texas. Santa Anna, on his return home to Manga de Clavo, published a lengthy appeal to his fellow-citizens, detailing his adventures, and vindicating his conduct. The Mexican government refusing to acknowledge the validity of th» treaty entered into between President Burnet of Texas, and General Santi Anna of Mexico, announced that it was resolved, at every risk, (if means could be procured), to re-conquer the estranged province. About tin «ame

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