by the weakness of the general and State governments, which did not exhibit a proper degree of energy in quelling these depredations. Similar outrages were committed in the State of Sonora, where the Indians murdered several of the inhabitants.

The war against the Indians of Yucatan still continued, with much suffering to the people, but without any decisive result, although upwards of twelve thousand troops were employed against the rebels. The distracted state of the country had produced a great scarcity and dearth of provisions, and the general government furnished neither corn nor military stores to prosecute the war. Complaints were made by the Yucatanese that the British supplied the Indians with munitions of war at Belize, in exchange for the plunder of churches, or any other that might be offered. It is said that at this time there were twenty thousand Indian troops in Yucatan, in arms against the government, well supplied with ammunition and necessaries, while the government forces had neither ammunition, food, nor clothing. The Indians consequently ruled the country, and treated the white inhabitants who fell into their power with severity.

The government of the new President was, upon the whole, rather popular, although some of the appointments made by him were highly offensive to certain parties; and there were various complaints of his extravagance and inertness. Much difficulty was experienced in raising money to carry on the government, as the instalment paid by the United States, under the late treaty, was exhausted, and there were no apparent means of supplying the deficiency. An occurrence which took place at this time is worthy of notice. Señor Ocampo was sent as collector of customs to Guaymas, on the Pacific; and he no sooner arrived there than he was besieged by smugglers, with offers of heavy bribes, for conniving at violations of the revenue laws. Ocampo resisted these temptations; and the consequence was, that he was seized, along with his secretary, by a band of armed men, at night, put on board a small sloop, and after undergoing various dangers, landed at Mazatlan, about a week afterwards. There is no account that the perpetrators of this outrage were punished.

About the same time, a decree was passed granting a donation to all soldiers who had been disabled by wounds received in the late war against the United States. But where the money was to be procured for the purpose, we have not learned. No practicable means had yet been devised for supplying the deficiency in the revenue. Robberies were common, and several heavy failures took place among the merchants. The diligence which left Mexico for Morelia, on the 13th of May, was robbed; and it indicates that such occurrences were very common, when the papers boasted

that this was the first case in which a diligence of that line had been robbed for four months. There were also many complaints of extortion, fraud, and bribery in the administration of justice; but no efficient steps were taken to remedy these evils.

The Tehuantepec grant to Garay was annulled by the Congress, which entertained a motion to impeach Señor Lacunza for having negotiated such a treaty; and the American engineers were consequently notified to stop working on the projected railroad. Arista was much disappointed and mortified at this result, as he was anxious that the treaty should be ratified.

About this time Señor S. Navarro returned from Carthagena, and reported that Santa Anna was living there, busily engaged in cockfighting, and other amusements of that kind. But he was suspected of having had some intercourse with that notable personage of a political kind, and was therefore arrested and incarcerated.

The increasing depredations of the Indians in Yucatan, led to some degree of vigor in opposing them; and they were afterwards defeated at Bacalar, which town they attempted to take by assault. A destructive fire was opened on them from the garrison; and they were routed with great loss, their dead bodies actually damming up the river.

The Congress adjourned on the 23d of May, without having done anything towards raising a revenue. The Senate passed a bill giving the President dictatorial power for that purpose; but it was lost in the Chamber of Deputies. An extra session assembled on the 1st of June, called by the President on account of the embarrassed state of the treasury. The session was opened by an address from the President, in which he reminded them of the efforts and proposals of the government to meet the difficulty, and of its economy in disbursing the public money. He expressed a strong hope that the object for which they were re-assembled would be accomplished.

The Minister of Finance submitted to the Congress a project for raising a sufficient revenue by increased duties and taxes; but it was rejected. At the same time the Chambers showed itself hostile to grant dictatorial powers to the President, by passing a resolution requiring all its proceedings regarding any such proposition to be published. Another similar proposal was afterwards made by the minister, but with no better success.

About the end of June, the Government published a decree, stating that, in consequence of various propositions having been made for the privilege to construct a railroad from Vera Cruz to Acapulco, it would sell this privilege to the highest bidder. The whole road was to be finished within fifteen years, and to be commenced within two; the contractors were to have the exclusive

privilege of the road for fifty years. All foreigners who engaged in the work were to renounce their nationality in all matters connected with the road.

On the whole, the political aspect of Mexico at this period was gloomy. The administration of Arista had not realized public expectation. The Treasury was exhausted: no mutual confidence existed between government and people, and there seemed neither vitality nor harmony enough in the organization of society to maintain an independent republic for any length of time.

CHAPTER VI.

Continuance of difficulties in Nicaragua-War between Guatemala and the States of San Salvador and Honduras-Advance of Carrera-Impeachment of Vasconcelos, and overtures for peace-West Indies-Cuba-arrests at Puerto Principe-discovery of a secreted printing-press-incendiary papers-Jamaica-cholera there-discussions respecting laborers-Hayti-conspiracy-interference of foreign powers on behalf of Dominica-Peru-new President-insurrection-Guano trade-Brazil -the slave trade-Argentine Republic, Rosas dictator-his character-Disaffection in the interior States-Uruguay-opposition to Rosas-difficulties with Brazil-a league agnaist the dictator-his position and cruelties-Chili-prosperous conditionrevolt suppressed-Sandwich Islands—first public reception of the U. S. Commissioner-misunderstanding with the French-treaty made.

CENTRAL AMERICA.

THE difficulties between the British and the State of Nicaragua still continued. Mr. Chatfield informed Nicaragua that his Government had determined to continue the protectorate of the Mosquito kingdom, and that no canal could be built, or route of transit established, unless the State submitted. The British authorities still kept possession of San Juan, and gave no evidence of a disposition to comply with the recent treaty with the United States. The port of Tigre, and several others, were blockaded by vessels acting under Mr. Chatfield's directions.

Very early in the year, the troubles between Guatemala on the one side, and the States of Honduras and San Salvador on the other, broke out into open hostilities. The troops of the latter States invaded the territories of Guatemala, with a force of about 4,000 men; but they were met by the Guatemalan troops under Carrera, at La Arada, not far from Chiquimala, and defeated with great loss. Their killed exceeded 500, but the Guatemalan loss was comparatively trifling. The allied troops were commanded

by Vasconcelos, President of San Salvador, who retired to San Jacinto, closely pursued by the enemy.

The Guatemalan government, contrary to the wishes of a majority of the people, who rather desired a federal league of all the Central States, had made a treaty with England, and expected to receive a share of the spoils of the State of Honduras, of which Chatfield claimed about one-half as belonging to his pretended kingdom of Mosquito. How far the British government was implicated in these proceedings is not yet settled: but it is generally believed that Chatfield acted under instructions from the ministry.

After the defeat of Vasconcelos, Carrera invaded San Salvador, in his turn, and occupied the town of Santa Anna. There he offered to make peace on condition that Vasconcelos should resign his office, that his State should be indemnified for its losses, and that the Guatemalan refugees should be given up. To these offers Señor Duenas, the provisional President, replied that Vasconcelos' resignation must be voluntary, and that the refugees could not be surrendered. Carrera, however, withdrew his forces at the request of the Guatemalan government, which was unwilling to leave San Salvador any objection for refusing peace.

Vasconcelos was now impeached for having made war on Guatemala without the sanction of Congress; and the two houses voted an accusation against him, for a violation of the constitution. The Vice-President, Felix Quiros, took his place at the head of the executive, about the beginning of March. Vasconcelos demanded, in an address to the Senate, to be immediately tried, that he might justify his conduct before the country; but this request was not complied with.

In Honduras, the people equally disapproved of the conduct of their President, Juan Lindo, for having entered into the coalition with San Salvador against Guatemala. Had the expedition been successful, the opinions of both States would probably have been, different; and there would have been no accusations against the Presidents.

When Quiros assumed the government of San Salvador, he made overtures of peace to Guatemala and to Chatfield, for a settlement of the pending difficulties. These were favorably received, and the British blockade was withdrawn.

WEST INDIES.

CUBA. The expectation of an outbreak among the malconsents on the island, coupled with the fear of their receiving aid from abroad, and especially from sympathizers in the United States, kept the Government anxious and on the alert, during the

winter and spring; and the fortifications were put in the best practicable state of defence. No appearance of any conspiracy or outbreak, however, occurred till the beginning of May. On the 3d of that month, nine of the principal citizens of Puerto Principe were arrested, on a charge of being concerned in a conspiracy to overturn the existing government. Several others, supposed to be implicated, escaped to the mountains, and took with them a printing-press, which they employed in printing addresses in favor of Cuban independence. They found no difficulty in procuring supplies from their friends, and spreading their papers or pamphlets among the Creoles. It was said that those who were seized, had been engaged in secretly publishing a newspaper, advocating independence and annexation to the United States, and censuring the acts of the Governor. The parties concerned in this undertaking for a long time baffled all the efforts of the Government to discover their proceedings, although many copies of the paper were circulated through the town and vicinity. At length it was discovered that this paper was issued from a cave near Principe, whereupon, search being made, a regular printing establishment was found, and some persons diligently at work. The latter were arrested and banished from the island without trial.

Several further arrests were made, and the Government vigilance was not in the least relaxed, it being believed that the danger of an invasion was still imminent, and that the apparent disbanding of the malcontents was a mere artifice to induce negligence and false security.

About the end of June, some guerilla parties of insurgents appeared in the neighborhood of Coscorro, a village between Principe and Nuevitas. But some government troops from the garrison of Principe were sent against them; and they dispersed for the time, without effecting anything of consequence.

JAMAICA. The cholera still continued to prevail on this island, but yet with diminished virulence, till the beginning of spring, when it may be said to have disappeared, although a few cases occurred early in the summer.

The difficulty of procuring a sufficient number of suitable laborers, led to prolonged discussions regarding the propriety of introducing free persons of color from the United States and Canada, to supply the deficiency. But there were serious objec tions made against the government holding out inducements to immigrants, in the shape of special rewards or privileges. It was alleged that this would bring into the country indolent persons, of whom they had too many already, rather than industrious and active laborers, such as they wanted. It was argued that persons