Great fears are felt that, on the approach of the Indians, riots and disorders will occur in the throngs that will be driven to seek shelter within the walls, arising from the destitution of all means of subsistence, to which large numbers will be reduced. There will be assembled, perhaps, 40,000 souls, taking into account the inhabitants of the suburbs and the fugitives from the interior. A large proportion of this multitude will consist of Indians, whose sympathies with their race will be likely to render them disaffected. There can be very little doubt that all these dangers are magnified by the panic which seems to have seized upon all minds; but I am reluctant to believe for a moment that, if the Campechanos are true to themselves, and profit by the ample means of defence with which the city is provided, there is any well-grounded fear of its falling into the possession of the Indians.

Answers to the overtures made to our Government by Yucatan are still anxiously awaited. Mr. Mendez received recently letters from the Commissioner at Washington, which promised no prospect of aid from that quarter; they were written, however, before the despatches sent by the Falcon had arrived. A communication has been received from the British Minister, which gives the Government encouragement to hope for assistance from England, as soon as the condition of affairs is made known there.

It is urged by men of intelligence here that foreign aid, in an emergency so pressing, cannot justly be regarded as a political question. It resolves itself into a simple act of humanity. The war is one of extermination on the part of the Indians; characterized by the most ferocious cruelty, and directed against a civilized community, far inferior to them in numerical force; and it is earnestly contended that, in such an unhappy exigency, the appeal that has been made for succour and protection cannot, with any show of justice, be denied.

It is very far from my purpose to offer any opinion of my own on a question at once so delicate and of that magnitude; and I have permitted myself to allude to what the Yucatecoes urge in their own behalf, solely with a view of exhibiting to you public sentiment, on that subject, as it exists here. I am, &c. Commodore M. C. Perry.

C. H. McBLAIR.

(Inclosure 2.)-Señor Mendez to Commodore Perry. RESPECTED SIR,

(Translation.) Campeachy, May 9, 1848. ALTHOUGH I have received no letter from you since your departture from this city, I take the liberty of intruding on you, because the situation in which we find ourselves is most distressing, and

perhaps, desperate; and because I cannot persuade myself that, while you have the means of saving at least this beautiful town and the capital of the State, by extending some assistance to us; and while your Government views with dissatisfaction, and is even disposed to prevent our obtaining assistance from other Powers, it will leave us to perish; and take pleasure in the spectacle of the prolonged agony, and the destruction of a civilized and friendly people, who, perhaps, on account of their being friendly, are now involved in this terrible calamity.

You will have been apprised that I retired from the Governorship and transferred it to Don Miguel Barbachano; and you will also have been informed that the object of this political measure was to facilitate the conclusion of a truce with a portion of the insurgent Indians, whose Chief manifested a disposition to come to terms, but was apparently distrustful of any other Governor than Señor Barbachano. The agreement referred to was, in fact, concluded, and Mr. Barbachano had to ratify it with closed eyes, although it covered us with shame, and himself especially, since it is asserted in Article V that the object of the insurrection was to replace him in the Governorship, which is absolutely false; but it was necessary to overlook everything, with the view of neutralizing a portion of the insurgents, and being able to make head against the others, thus gaining time to see whether The United States would resolve to aid us, or consent that some other Power should do so, and receive in payment the sovereignty and dominion of the peninsula of Yucatan.

But all has been unavailing; for, whether the Chief, Jacinto Pat, was actuated by bad faith, or was unable to compel his followers to obedience, the Convention has been disregarded by them, and they have invaded other towns, slaughtering a multitude of victims, and are now preparing, after having destroyed the beautiful towns of the district of Hopelchen, belonging to the department of Campeachy, to besiege this city, from which the insurgents are only 12 leagues distant; and in which, although we might arm 3,000 men, and sustain ourselves a long time, if we could reckon on some assistance in provisions and munitions of war, yet we have only 600 muskets a number too small and insignificant for the defence of the town, which must succumb, miserably, a victim to the egotism (pardon my grief for indulging in this expression) of The United States, unless you resolve to aid us, if you can do nothing else, at least with 2,000 of the muskets found in Vera Cruz when it capitulated.

I hope, Mr. Commodore, that you will, for this once, and while you are awaiting the orders of your Government, which I have no doubt will be favourable to our wishes, risk your responsibility

somewhat by following the impulses of your heart, which cannot otherwise than incline you to aid us in our extreme affliction and peril.

So may God prosper your nation and Government, yourself and family, &c.

Commodore M. C. Perry.

SANTIAGO MENDEZ.

(21.)-The Commissioner of Yucatan to the Secretary of State of The United States.

SIR,

(Translation.)

Washington, May 23, 1848. ALTHOUGH it may be for the last time, allow me to bring to the hearing of the Government and people of The United States the expiring voice of Yucatan, perishing as she is, not only by the murderous knife of the barbarians, but from the horrible effects of famine, already beginning to extend its ravages over the unfortunate beings who have escaped the fury of the assassins. I address the present note in compliance with express orders which I have just received, under date of 1st of this month of May.

True it is, Sir, that the Government of Yucatan had submitted to all the conditious of a Treaty of Peace with the barbarians, in which, in order to save from extermination the rich and important cities of Fewax and Izamal, the only barriers restraining the savages, who were about to fall upon the capital, the said Government consented to accept all the sacrifices required by the Indians, even to the sacrifice of the Republican principle so much revered by the people of Yucatan. And this was done, not because the slightest faith was placed in the treacherous and felonious conduct of a race which it pleases some now to call civilized, without their having any other titles to that appellation than those given by our absurd policy, which called them to participate in the enjoyments and rights which they cannot comprehend, and they probably never will comprehend, judging by the brutal stupidity with which they have resisted them; but it was done in order to obtain a moment for breathing, and to see if it would be possible in the end to obtain the assistance which had been so earnestly entreated, in the most holy name which can be invoked towards a Christian people.

But, Sir, not for a moment could any advantage be secured by this ignominious submission to the savages. Emboldened by this new and decisive triumph, they treacherously violated the peace on the very day when it was concluded, and setting at naught the compact dictated by themselves at their own pleasure, they rushed forth again in the career of extermination and destruction with ever-increasing fury. The towns of Iturbide and Zibalchen were

destroyed on the third day after the conclusion of the peace; the cities of Izamal and Fewax must have already undergone the same fate; and if so, the capital, Merida, must have been placed in imminent peril. I cannot delay you by making any commentaries on this treacherous and infamous conduct, as I find no epithets sufficiently energetic to apply to it.

Mr. Secretary, the situation of Yucatan, so far from having been improved, has already reached a point absolutely desperate. And for its greater misfortune, the Captain-General of the island of Cuba has expressly refused to afford any further aid, from reasons of high policy. The Secretary of State may easily conceive what these reasons are.

Famine and misery, combined with all the pervading panic, are now about to produce the most strange and terrific consequences, even among the people of the white race themselves. Disarmed, starving, and naked, the wretched people of Yucatan, unless the protection and mercy of God should move the generous hearts of the people of The United States, are about to perish in a manner never before seen on earth; in a manner of which history offers no example; and only because their misfortunes are not understood, and they are judged, not from positive and certain evidence, but on vague and slight assertions.

In compliance with the new orders which I have just received, I again implore the generous aid of The United States. Give us, Sir, arms, arms and munitions of war, in the first place; a little assistance in money, if possible, in order to appease hunger, and to clothe the nakedness of our wretched people; and some regiments to assist us in repelling the savages, who are murdering us, robbing us, and destroying all the wealth of the country, hitherto so flourishing. This assistance can alone save that most unfortunate people, who have never been cowards in reality, but whom a number of causes have combined to cast into humiliation and misery.

I lose no time in communicating to the Secretary these new supplications of Yucatan, and I pray him to communicate them to the President of The United States, that he may use them as he may prefer.

I repeat to Mr. Buchanan, &c. The Hon. J. Buchanan.

JUSTO SIERRA.

DECREE of the President of New Granada, granting an exclusive privilege for Opening a Canal between the Gulf of San Miguel and Caledonia Bay (Isthmus of Darien.)—Bogotá, June 1, 1852.

THE SENATE AND CHAMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES OF

NEW GRANADA IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED,

UPON the petition addressed to the Executive Power by Mr. Patrick Wilson and Doctor Edward Cullen, asking in their own names and on the part of Messrs. Charles Fox, John Henderson, and Thomas Brassey, for an exclusive privilege for constructing an interoceanic canal across the Isthmus of Darien,

DECREE:

ART. I. An exclusive privilege is hereby granted for opening a canal to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Isthmus of Darien; the contractors to be at liberty to select the line they think proper between the Gulf of San Miguel and the Bay of Caledonia, and they are moreover at liberty to adopt on the Atlantic side any spot they may deem convenient between Mosquito Point and the westernmost mouth of the Atrato, for the termination of the canal, should there be any obstacle to its terminating in the bay above-mentioned. The conditions of this privilege are contained in the following Articles:

II. The privilege granted by the preceding Article shall last for 99 years.

III. The time of the duration of the privilege shall begin to run from the day on which, the works being concluded, the canal shall be opened to the public, and dues shall be collected for passage, on account of the contracting Company.

IV. During the time of the privilege, the Government of the Republic will not undertake on its own account, nor will it grant to any Company or individual whatever the right to construct a canal to communicate between the two oceans across the territory specified in Article I.

Should the Company construct a railroad as an auxiliary to the canal, across the said territory, the Government will not make on its own account, nor allow any Company or individual whatsoever to make another railroad in the same territory, during the period granted for making and holding possession of the canal.

V. The canal shall be put into operation within 10 years from the day on which the privilege is granted; but if, after more than a third part is constructed, the Company should become aware that the whole cannot be completed within the 10 years specified in this Article, then the Executive Government may extend the term for