nestly request of you to devote your attention to this very important subject, to adopt the plan of hearing, through the medium of commissioners of both Chambers, the claims and propositions of the authorized agents of our creditors, and to take for the basis of your adjustment a fair calculation of what may be due by New Grenada."

In MEXICO, towards the close of the preceding year, general Santanna, fighting to restore the exiled president Pedrazza, had quitted the siege of Mexico to give battle to Bustamente, who, at the head of the troops of the existing government, was advancing to relieve the city, while Montezuma, of the same faction with Santanna, marching from San Luiz, was pressing upon his rear. The armies met; but their commanders, instead of fighting a battle, entered into a convention. It was agreed between them, that Bustamente should transmit to Mexico a project of a treaty, the principal points of which were, the recognition of Pedrazza as president until the 1st of April, 1833, when, by law, a new president and new Chambers would have to be elected a general amnesty and a recognition of all the laws and measures adopted by both parties since the 1st of September, 1828. In the mean time, the armies were to suspend hostilities; and even if the proposed plan of pacification should be rejected by the government and Chambers in Mexico, hostilities were not necessarily to recommence; but the army of Bustamente was to have the power of taking the matter into further consideration. The government and Congress rejected the pro

posed terms; but their refusal was immediately nullified by the garrison, according to custom, taking the matter into its own hands. The military declared, that, although they had considered it their duty to sustain the established government while it was not disavowed by the majority of the nation, yet, since the nation had declared in favour of the right of Pedrazza to the supreme command, because he was elected in the year 1828,--and since general Bustamente also recognized it the garrison, acquiescing in the general wish of their fellow-citizens, would not in any manner oppose it, or in any way contribute to produce the misfortunes which must flow from a fruitless and criminal resistance. On the 3rd of January, Santanna and Bustamente, with their forces so lately ranged for battle, entered Mexico, accompanied by Pedrazza, who forthwith assumed the office of president. A new ministry was appointed: no vengeance was exacted.

At the election in April, Santanna himself was chosen president

a station to which, whatever might be his politics, he seemed entitled by his activity, his perseverance, and his success. He assured the Congress, when installed, that the only object of his life had been to destroy the triple yoke of ignorance, tyranny, and vice: that the moment for securing repose had arrived; and he would never cease from seeking this result, which humanity and philosophy had anticipated from the last revolution: that the exercise of the public power should never be, in his hands, the instrument of vengeance and oppression : that education, the vital element

of the prosperity of nations, would receive the first care of his government. Santanna, therefore, seemed to be a liberal; but for some classes of the community he was too liberal. He introduced into Congress measures, which interfered with certain privileges of the clergy and the army, and exposed him to the hatred of the native Spaniards. A conspiracy was formed to overturn the existing government. The malcontents denounced Santanna as wishing to make himself dictator, and as a declared enemy of religion. They held out to the troops the attack made upon their privileges, though none of the measures had passed. They called upon them to declare themselves, or to pronounce, against the principles of the new government; and hence the party took the name of Pronunciados. At the same time, to gain a momentary countenance to their cause, they gave out that Santanna himself was to be at their head, and to be raised to despotic power. The declaration which they proposed to the troops, in different towns of the republic, was, - "This garrison promises to maintain at all hazards the holy religion of Jesus Christ, and the rights and privileges of the clergy and the army, which are threatened by the intrusive authorities. In consequence, the garrison proclaims the illustrious conqueror of the Spaniards, General Antonio Lopez de Santanna, protector of the cause and supreme chief of the nation."

To save his own character, as well as to put down a growing evil, Santanna marched from Mexico, on the 2nd of June, at the head of a detachment, to attack the Pronunciados. He was, however, inveigled into a conference,

and arrested by generals Duran and Arista, who were reported to have been promised by the Spaniards a reward of 10,000 dollars for this act of treachery. Santanna rejected the offer of the sovereignty made to him in the terms of the declaration. He was then threatened with death if he did not sign orders for Mexico, Puebla, and Vera Cruz to surrender. His answer is said to have been, “Shoot me! I will not betray my country." He was given into the charge of two officers to be conducted to Cu- antla, but on the way thither, he contrived to make his escape, and arrived in safety at Puebla on the 13th of June. He immediately returned to Mexico to prepare for a campaign. The insurgents, under Duran and Arista, retired into the northern provinces, gaining partial advantages, where there were only small bodies of troops, doing a good deal of mischief, and spreading a great deal of consternation.

Santanna himself soon took the field with 4,000 men. His activity was hemmed by the ravages made in his army by cholera, which was raging with great violence throughout the greater part of the republic. Having learned, that the insurgents were marching towards San Miguel de Allendo, in Guanaxuato, he gave orders to the commandant-general of that city to fortify it, and to detain the enemy for one or two days, when he would come to his assistance. Accordingly he immediately put himself and his forces in motion. On the first day, having arrived at the village of Afiasco, the epidemic made its appearance; by next morning 200 men had fallen victims. The second day, the disease considerably increased, and

continued to grow more fatal, until the fifth day, when it was found that 2,000 men, out of the force of 4,000, were sick, dying, or dead. Despising all obstacles, however, he pursued his march with rapidity to arrive in time at Guanaxuato. When within a few miles of the place, he learned that the commandant, from a want of forces to resist the rebels, had retreated towards the coast, leaving the city in possession of Arista, while Duran occupied Silao. As Arista's troops were posted behind a strong fortification, while his own men were fatigued with forced marches and dispirited with sickness, his camp being strewed with dead and dying bodies, he did not think it prudent to venture an attack. He pushed on, however, at the head of 800 men, to surprise Duran at Silao; but a heavy rain having fallen, the roads were so bad that he was delayed for a considerable time from pursuing his march, and finally gave it up, when within two leagues of Silao, despairing of surprising the enemy. During this march 150 men died. On his return to his camp, and after consulting with his staff, he determined upon fixing his head-quarters at Queretaro, and to suspend all warlike operations until the epidemic ceased. His total loss was estimated to be above 2,000 men.

Towards the end of September, he again marched, having ordered general Montezuma, from San Luiz, to join him as he advanced. On the 4th of October he attacked Duran in a strong position which he had taken up near Silao, and succeeded in dislodging him. The insurgents, under favour of the night and incessant rain, fell back upon their comrades under Arista

at Guanaxuato, and occupied the works which they had erected on the neighbouring heights. Santanna immediately followed, and, early next morning, carried by assault one of their strongest forts. Duran, leaving Arista to defend himself in the city, retreated with about 500 cavalry. The civil governor of Guanaxuato opened negotiations for a capitulation. The president would give him no other terms than these, "That the factious party shall be placed at the disposal of the supreme government, and rely on the clemency of the nation. That the individual who heads the seduced troops, you yourself, and all who have taken part in the disgraceful proceedings to which a small fraction of the army which has broken the compact it had before sworn to maintain has lent itself, shall be responsible to the law for any misfortunes which may occur." Arista preferred trying the chances of resistance; but the positions, which defended the town, being carried one after another, he at length surrendered at discretion, and Santanna marched in on the 9th of November. Arista, and the most guilty or dangerous of his officers, were sent to Vera Cruz, to be banished for life. A body of troops was despatched to follow Duran, too strong to leave him any hope in resistance, and Santanna, in the end of October, returned to Mexico.

The people of the province of Texas, who had assembled a convention in their town of San Felipe, in the month of April, declared themselves independent, and adopted a constitution. They did not attempt to conceal their own opinion of their importance. The preamble of the constitution

set forth, "We, the people of Texas, being capable of figuring as a state in the manner contemplated in the second article of the decree of the general congress of the nation of the 7th of May, 1824, do ordain the following constitution, and do mutually agree with each other to form ourselves into a free and inde pendent state of the Mexican confederacy, by the name of Texas." The legislative authority was

vested in a senate and house of representatives, elected biennially; the legislature to meet for the first three years annually, and afterwards biennially. The constitution contained the following provision: No bank or banking institution, nor office of discount and deposits, nor other monied corporation, nor private banking establishment, shall exist during the continuance of this constitution."