from the signs of the times, will probably be our last in Mexico. 28th. This morning C-n took his farewell audience of the President, and the new Minister was received. 30th.These few last days have chiefly been spent in paying visits of ceremony with the Señora - Nevertheless, we spent an hour last evening in the beautiful cemetery a little way out of the city, which is rather a favorite haunt of ours, and is known as the "Pantéon de Santa Maria." It has a beautiful chapel attached to it, where daily mass is said for the dead, and a large garden filled with flowers. Young trees of different kinds have been planted there, and the sight of the tombs themselves, in their long and melancholy array of black coffins, with gold lettered inscriptions, even while it inspires the saddest ideas, has something soothing in its effect. They are kept in perfect order, and the inscriptions, though not always eloquent, are almost always full of feeling, and sometimes extremely touching. There is one near the entrance, which is pathetic in its native language, and though it loses much in the translation, I shall transcribe it: "Here lie the beloved remains of Carmen and José Pimentel y Heras. The first died the 11th of June, 1838, aged one year and eleven months; the second on the 5th of September of 1839, in the sixteenth month of his existence; and to their dear memory maternal love dedicates the following VERSES. "EPITAPH. "Babes of my love! my Carmen and José ! Why have you left your mother's side? for whom? But hark! I hear your voice and breathlessly I listen. I hear ye say "To go to heaven! 19* 221 LETTER THE FORTY-FOURTH. Agitation Storm Revolution Manifesto Resembling a game of chess-Position of the pieces - Appearance of the city-Firing-State of parties - Comparisons "Comicios" - The people - Congress - Santa Anna - Amnesty offered. Roaring of cannon - - Proclamation - Time to look at homeThe will of the nation - Different feelings - Judge's house destroyed The mint in requisition - Preparations - Cannonading" Los Enanos." 31st. THIS afternoon the clouds, gathered together in gloomy masses, announced a thunder storm, and at the same time a certain degree of agitation apparently pervading the city, was suddenly observable from our balconies. Shops were shutting up; people hurrying in all directions, heads at all the windows, and men looking out from the azoteas; but as these symptoms were immediately followed by a tremendous storm of thunder and lightning and splashing rain, we trusted that the cause had been very simple. But these elements of nature are wielded by the Hand that called them forth, and can stay them at His will, and the sun breaking forth smilingly and scattering the clouds, made us feel that the storm had but refreshed the parched earth and cleared the sultry atmosphere. Not so with the storm which has been brooding in the hearts of a handful of ambitious men, and which has burst forth at last, its bolts directed by no wise or merciful power, but by the hands of selfish and designing and short-sighted mortals. The storm, though short, had not passed away, when news was brought us of a new revolution in Mexico! General Valencia, he who pronounced (but two short months ago!) the high-flown and flattering speech to the President, on receiving the sword of honor, has now pronounced in a very different and much clearer manner. Listen to him now: "Soldiers! The despotism of the Mexican government, the innumerable evils which the nation suffers, the unceasing remonstrances which have been made against these evils, and which have met with no attention, have forced us to take a step this evening, which is not one of rebellion, but is the energetic expression of our resolution to sacrifice everything to the common good and interest. The cause which we defend is that of all Mexicans; of the rich as of the poor; of the soldier as of the civilian. We want a country, a government, the felicity of our homes, and respect from without; and we shall obtain all; let us not doubt it. The nation will be moved by our example. The arms which our country has given us for her defence we shall know how to employ in restoring her honor - an honor which the government has stained by not acknowledging the total absence of morality and energy in the actual authorities. The army which made her independent shall also render her powerful and free. The illustrious General Santa Anna to-day marches to Puebla, at the head of our heroic companions of Vera Cruz, while upon Queretaro, already united to the valiant General Paredes, the brave General Cortazar now begins his operations. "In a few days we shall see the other forces of the republic in motion, all coöperating to the same end. The triumph is secure, my friends, and the cause which we proclaim is so noble, that, conquerors, we shall be covered with glory; and, happen what may, we shall be honored by our fellow-citizens." In this manifesto, which is mere declamation, there is no plan. It appears that no one particularly counted upon General Valencia, and that, whether fearing to be left out in the events which he saw approaching, or apprehensive of being arrested by the government, who suspected him, he has thought it wisest to strike a blow on his own account. Pacheco, who commanded the citadel, together with Generals Lombardini and Sales, who had been ordered out to march with their respective regiments against the pronunciados, are now in the citadel, and in a state of revolt. The two last had but just received payment of their troops, on the pre money for the ceding day. 8 o'clock. Nothing further, but that the President has sallied forth on horseback from San Agustin, and was received with repeated vivas by the people collected in the square. 1st September. This revolution is like a game at chess, in which kings, castles, knights and bishops |