Mr. Martinez to Mr. Forsyth. [Translation.] MEXICAN LEGATION, New Orleans, January 18, 1838. The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the Mexican republic, had the honor to receive the note addressed to him on the 3d instant by the Honorable John Forsyth, Secretary of State of the United States, together with documents relative to the complaint brought by William Richardson, a citizen of these States, against the Mexican Government, on account of the alleged bad conduct of the administrator of the custom-house of Tampico towards his brig called the Mary, and of some authorities of Tabasco, in the last year. The undersigned, in due fulfilment of the request of the honorable Secretary, conveyed in his said note, will this day send to his Government the above-mentioned documents; and avails himself of the opportunity to repeat to the Secretary of State the assurances of his distinguished consideration. To the Hon. J. FORSYTH, FRANCISCO PIZARRO MARTINEZ. Secretary of State. Mr. Martinez to Mr. Forsyth. LEGACION MEXICANA, Nueva Orleans, Enero 27 de 1838. MUY SEÑOR MIO: Entre varias cartas que me han devuelto del corréo de esa capital, hay una del vice-consul Mexicano en este puerto, remitiendome un aviso sacado de estos periodicos, que el comandante de la corbeta de guerra Natchez dirijió el 15 de Diciembre ultimo, desde la pasa sud-oeste del rio Misisipi, á los individuos que de aqui comercian con Texas. Como la naturaleza de este aviso me parece ser de aquellas que el Gobierno de los Estados Unidos no puede aprobar, omiteré molestar la atencion de V. E. sobre su impropriedad; limitandome, por tanto, á remitir á V. E. un egemplar de él, aunque ya lo habra visto repetido en esos periodicos, para que me haga el honor de elevarlo, con esta nota, á noticia del exmo. Señor Presidente. Tengo, con este motivo, la honra de reiterar á V. E. las veras de mi profunda consideracion. FRANCISCO PIZARRO MARTINEZ. Exmo. Señor Don JUAN FORSYTH, Secretario de Estado, &c. Mr. Martinez to Mr. Forsyth. [Translation.] MEXICAN LEGATION, New Orleans, January 27, 1838. SIR: Among various letters returned to me, by the mail, from the metropolis, is one from the Mexican vice-consul in this port, enclosing a no'tice inserted in the newspapers here, and addressed by the commander of the sloop of war Natchez, on the 15th of December last, from off the southwest pass of the river Mississippi, to persons interested in the trade between this place and Texas. As this notice appears to be of a character such as the Government of the United States cannot approve, I will refrain from any observations with regard to its impropriety, and will merely send you a copy of it, although you will have already seen it in the newspapers, in order that you may do me the honor to submit it, with this note, to his excellency the President. I have the honor to renew to you, sir, upon this occasion, the assurance of my most profound consideration. FRANCISCO PIZARRO MARTINEZ. Hon. JOHN FORSYTH, Secretary of State. [Enclosure in the preceding.] Extract of a letter received at the Merchants' Exchange, dated U. S. SLOOP OF WAR NATCHEZ, Off Southwest Pass, December 15, 1837. The merchants of New Orleans interested in the trade of Texas are respectfully informed that the subjoined information, relative to the movements of the Mexican army and navy, was received by me at the Brazos de Santiago from a source entitled to credit. W. MERVINE, Commander U. S. Navy. November 22d, a battalion of infantry, consisting of about 200 men, crossed the Rio Grande, and took up their line of march towards Texas, with two pieces of artillery. November 23, a battalion of cavalry crossed and joined the infantry, consisting of about 250 men. November 27th, a battalion of Sapos crossed the river with the intention of joining the other men. There were also about 1,200 men stationed near the stream Colorado, in the limits of Texas. On the 22d about 600 men entered Matamora, from the interior. The division in that place consists of near 3,000 men. It is confidently believed that the division intends marching into Texas. It is supposed that the first movements of the Mexicans is to take possession of Aransas inlet, which leads to the Capano. Probably the squadron will be up in a few days from Vera Cruz. Mr. Forsyth to Mr. Martinez. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 7, 1838. SIR: I have the honor to transmit a copy of a circular from the Treasury Department of the United States, addressed to officers of the customs, warning them of the approach of the period for the operation of the fifth and sixth articles of the treaty between the United States and Mexico, and directing them to be governed accordingly. . I will be obliged to you to forward this circular, so that it may reach your Government before the 5th of April next. I embrace this opportunity to offer to you renewed assurances of my distinguished consideration. Señor Don FRANCISCO PIZARRO MARTINEZ. [Enclosure in the preceding.] JOHN FORSYTH. Circular to Collectors, Naval Officers, and Surveyors. TREASURY DEpartment, First Comptroller's Office, February 2, 1838. SIR: It becomes my duty to apprize you that, by the additional article of the treaty of amity and commerce between the United States and Mexico, the ratifications of which were exchanged on the 5th of April, 1832, the fifth and sixth articles of that treaty, which place the trade and navigation of the two countries on the basis of equality and reciprocity, were suspended for the term of six years. As that period will expire on the 5th of April next, the said articles, which are hereunto subjoined, will then be revived and continued in full force; and you will, from and after the said last-mentioned day, have respect to their provisions, and be governed accordingly. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Comptroller. Articles 5th and 6th of the treaty concluded between the United States and Mexico. Article 5. No higher or other duties or charges on account of tonnage, light, or harbor dues, pilotage, salvage in case of damage or shipwreck, or any other local charges, shall be imposed, in any of the ports of Mexico, on vessels of the United States of America, than those payable in the same ports by Mexican vessels; nor in the ports of the United States of America, on Mexican vessels, than shall be payable in the same ports on vessels of the United States of America. Article 6. The same duties shall be paid on the importation into the United Mexican States, of any article, the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States of America, whether such importation shall be in Mexican vessels or in vessels of the United States of America; and the same duties shall be paid on the importation into the United States of America, of any article, the growth, produce, or manufacture of Mexico, whether such importation shall be in vessels of the United States of America or in Mexican vessels. The same duties shall be paid, and the same bounties and drawbacks allowed, on the exportation to Mexico of any articles, the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States of America, whether such exportation shall be in Mexican vessels or in vessels of the United States of America; and the same duties shall be paid, and the same bounties and drawbacks allowed, on the exportation of any articles, the growth, produce, or manufacture of Mexico, to the United States of America, whether such exportation shall be in vessels of the United States of America or in Mexican vessels. Mr. Martinez to Mr. Forsyth. LEGACION MEXICANA, Nueva Orleans, Febrero 19 de 1838. MUY SEÑOR MIO: Por el "correo extraordinario" recibi, hace cinco dias, el duplicado de la nota de V. E. de 7 del presente, con que se sirve acompañarme, para que la transmita á mi Gobierno, de modo que le llegue antes del 5 de Abril procsimo venidero, una copia de la circular espedida por el Departamento de Hacienda de los Estados Unidos á los empleados de las aduanas, advirtiendoles que se acerca la epoca en que empezaran á regir los articulos quinto y sexto del tratado de amistad, comercio, y navegacion, entre Mexico y esta republica, y previniendoles óbren con arreglo á su tenor. En el bergantin "Comet," que saldrá hoy de este puerto para Tampico, dirijo á su excelencia el Ministro de Relaciones Esteriores copia de la citada nota de V. E., y el documento á que ella se refiere. Lo que tengo el honor de decir á V. E. en debida respuesta, reiterandole, con este motivo, las seguridades de mi distinguida consideracion. FRANCISCO PIZARRO MARTINEZ. Exmo. Sr. Don. J. FORSYTH, &c. Mr. Martinez to Mr. Forsyth. [Translation.] MEXICAN LEGATION, New Orleans, February 19, 1838. SIR: By the express mail, I received, five days ago, the duplicate of your note of the 7th instant, with which you send me, for transmission to Mexico, so that it may arrive before the 5th of April next, a copy of the circular issued by the Treasury Department of the United States to the persons employed in the custom-houses, notifying them of the approach of the period when the fifth and sixth articles of the treaty of friendship, commerce, and navigation, between Mexico and the United States, are to go into operation, and directing them to act agreeably to their provisions. By the brig Comet, which will sail to-day from this port for Tampico, I send to his excellency the Minister of Foreign Relations a copy of the said note from you, sir, and of the accompanying documents. All which I have the honor to say in answer; repeating to you, at the same time, the assurances of my most distinguished consideration. FRANCISCO PIZARRO MARTINEZ. Mr. Martinez to Mr. Forsyth. LEGACION MEXICANA, Nueva Orleans, Marzo 2 de 1838. MUY SEÑOR MIO: El dia siguente á aquel en que volvió á encargarse de la Secretaría de Estado el exmo. Sr. Don Luis G. Cuevas, es decir, el 11 de Enero procsimo anterior, se sirvió avisarme el recibo de una nota que le diriji en 25 de Noviembre ultimo, acompañandole los documentos que V. E. acababa de pasarme para que se los transmitiera, referentes á las goletas Julio Cesar, Champion, Luisiana, Gardiner, y Mechanic, y á Dionisio Gahagan, ciudadano de esta republica. El mismo Señor Secretario me dice, en su respuesta, que recibi ayer, que se iba á ocupar del ecsamen de estos reclamos que sucesivamente, y con la brevedad posible, me pasará la resolucion del Presidente sobre ellos y los demas que estan pendientes. Tengo el honor de comunicarlo á V. E., para su debido conocimiento; asegurandole, al propio tiempo, que á Mexico le es sensible, que de los reclamos de los Estados Unidos, no hayan podido contestarse sino muy pocos: pero confiamos en que V. E. conocerá la dificultad de procurarse todos los datos necesarios para instruir debidamente los expedientes, pues que los sucesos á que la mayor parte de los reclamos se contraen son de epocas muy atrasadas; y tambien nos persuadimos que V. E. admitirá, que al retardo esperimentado ultimamente, han contribuido circunstancias escusables por la variacion que hubo, en Octubre ultimo, del ministerio de que formaba parte el mencionado Señor Cuevas. En este esperanza, tengo la honra de reiterar á V. E. las seguridades de mi respetuosa consideracion. FRANCISCO PIZARRO MARTINEZ. Exmo. Señor Don J. FORSYTH, &c. Mr. Martinez to Mr. Forsyth. [Translation.] MEXICAN LEGATION, New Orleans, March 2, 1838. SIR: On the day after that on which his excellency Don Louis G. Cuevas resumed the charge of the Department of State, that is to say, on |