time satisfying the just demands, of those persons in whose name I have had the honour to address you.

Señor Guzman.

I avail, &c.

C. LENNOX WYKE

No. 12.-Sir C. Wyke to Lord J. Russell.---(Received July 29.) (Extract.) Mexico, June 25, 1861.

A PERUSAL of my preceding dspatches and their inclosures will prove to your Lordship that no further reliance can be placed on the promises or even the formal engagements of the Mexican Government.

If the old Church party succeeds in driving from power the present ultra-Liberal Administration, we shall then be even still worse off, as will be seen by the inclosed copy of a decree recently sent to me by ex-President Zuloaga, who, with his Lieutenant Marquez, is at the head of a considerable armed force, which, after twice defeating the Government troops, is at this very moment attacking the gates of the city of Mexico.

It will thus be seen, that with the contending parties we have not a chance of obtaining justice from either as long as we confine ourselves to remonstrating instead of employing coercion.

Under such circumstances, it appears to me that only two courses are open to us, viz., either to withdraw the mission altogether from a country where its dignity is compromised, and where consequently it has become useless, or else to support its influence by such means as will compel obedience to our just demands, and obtain that redress for the wrongs and grievances of British subjects which they are lawfully entitled to claim.

There is but one way of obtaining such redress, and that is, by employing Her Majesty's naval forces simultaneously at the ports on both coasts of this Republic, when the moral effect produced would equal the material pressure, and ensure prompt compliance with any conditions which we might choose to impose.

Captain Aldham, who during the last three years has gained a very clear insight into the Mexican character, and the manner of evading their engagements so peculiar to their officials, is of opinion that the time for leniency is past, and that if we mean to protect the lives and properties of British subjects, coercive measures must now be employed.

Before he left the station I consulted with him upon the best means of using such coercion should it become inevitable, and I will now convey his views to your Lordship in as few words as possible. He thinks that a blockade is not advisable, on account of the large force that would be required for that purpose on so extensive a line of coast, to say nothing of the commercial difficulties to which it would give rise, besides the fact that by so blockading we should

actually be robbing ourselves of the percentage on the duties levied at Vera Cruz and Tampico.

This plan, then, presenting so many objections, Captain Aldham is of opinion that the next best thing to be done is to take possession of the Custom-houses of Vera Cruz, Tampico, and Matamoros, on the Atlantic, and of either Acapulco, Mazatlan, or San Blas, on the Pacific; to lower the duties on all goods landed at those places; and to pay ourselves by the percentage to which we are entitled, but which we now never obtain, owing to the rascality of the Mexican authorities, who either suspend payment altogether, or only give us one-fifth of what we ought to receive. Reducing the Tariff would naturally largely increase the importations, and thus enable us rapidly to pay off long arrears of what is now owing to us, and which we shall never obtain without some measure of this sort being adopted.

It may be urged against this plan, that the Mexican Government would place a line of interior Custom-Houses for levying other duties, and thus partially defeat the object we have in view. But this objection is easily set aside by anybody really knowing the country, as the badly paid and venal officers serving on this second line would not be able to resist the temptations which the importers at the ports who had paid only a low entrance duty would know how to throw in their way; besides, the Mexican traders themselves would not allow such an impost to be levied, and would, for their own interests, force the goods into the interior, when by their sale they would realize large profits.

In order to take and hold these places, Captain Aldham considers that a squadron of from 6 to 10 vessels of war should be employed; some of these should be of the frigate class, and others gun-boats, drawing not more than from 7 to 8 feet of water.

Vera Cruz and Tampico are the most important places on the Atlantic, owing to their trade and the specie shipped there, and these are the only places on either coast which would, in Captain Aldham's opinion, require any force to take possession of. Two frigates at the anchorage, and a garrison of 300 men for the Castle of San Juan de Ulloa, would be sufficient to hold the former town, it being completely commanded by the Castle, which is roomy and airy, and not unfitted, Captain Aldham says, for a British garrison.

Tampico lies some 7 miles up the river, which has seldom more than 6 to 10 feet of water on the bar. There would be no difficulty in taking the place, and a garrison of from 100 to 200 men, with one or two gun-boats, he thinks enough to hold it.

On the Pacific coast, Acapulco is probably the most important place for trade; Mazatlan comes next, and then San Blas.

The former has a good anchorage, but its climate is unhealthy.

Mazatlan could easily be garrisoned by a small force, and there is high ground overlooking the town already fortified.

San Blas is an open roadstead, and unsafe in the rainy season; it is of importance from its trade, and the specie shipped there.

For the object we have in view, I think taking one or two of those places quite sufficient, and the naval officer in command on that coast could use his discretion as to which of them he should occupy.

Should Her Majesty's Government adopt a course which I am convinced will prevent all future difficulties with Mexico, the sooner measures are taken for carrying this plan into execution the better, for the sake of putting a stop to an accumulation of grievances and claims which will go on increasing until this Government is taught that it cannot set every principle of justice at defiance with impunity.

The French have only a small debt of 190,000 dollars to recover, which is being chiefly paid off by 25 per cent. of the import duties levied at Vera Cruz on cargoes brought in French ships. The Spanish claim 8 per cent. on all import duties for some claim of theirs which is in suspense, and therefore the interest thereon is not paid. Besides this they have what is known as the Padre Moran claim of 825,000 dollars, which receives about a sixth of the sum assigned to the British Convention.

I mention these obligations to foreign Governments because they would gladly see our occupation of these ports, from a knowledge that under our administration justice would be awarded to all, and that the money thus collected would be fairly distributed amongst the various claimants.

From the moment that we show our determination no longer to suffer British subjects to be robbed and murdered with impunity, we shall be respected, and every rational Mexican will approve of a measure which they themselves are the first to say is necessary, in order to put a stop to the excesses daily and hourly committed under a Government as corrupt as it is powerless to maintain order, or cause its own laws to be executed. Lord J. Russell.

(Translation.)

(Inclosure.)-Decree.

C. LENNOX WYKE.

Tepeji del Rio, June 4, 1861.

FELIX ZULOAGA, General of Brigade and President ad interim of the Mexican Republic, to its inhabitants. Be it known—

That in virtue of the full powers with which I am invested, I have been pleased to decree the following:

ART. I. The party in Mexico that at present assumes the title of Government, not possessing any character of legality, all its acts

are null and void, and for the same reason the Government of Tacubaya does not recognize any engagements that may be entered into with the Government that has intruded itself into power.

II. Every individual who shall lend to the faction denominated "Constitutional" any sort of help, whether as a loan or in any other manner, shall pay afterwards to the Government of Tacubaya double the quantity that he may have furnished, and will remain subject to the penalties which he may have incurred, as settled by the law, as an enemy of his country.

III. All foreigners, of whatever nationality they may be, are included in the preceding Articles.

Given at head-quarters, at Tepeji del Rio, this 4th of June, 1861.

Don Antonio Andrade.

FELIX ZULOAGA.

Tepeji del Rio, June 4, 1861.

I have the honour to communicate the above to your Excellency for your information, and for the due fulfilment of the same.

God and order!

J. ANTO. ANDRADE.

No. 13.-Sir C. Wyke to Lord J. Russell.-(Received July 29.) MY LORD, Mexico, June 27, 1861. ALTHOUGH the inclosed extract from this day's "Mexican Extraordinary" gives an account of the outrages perpetrated on British subjects which is not accurate in all its details, I still think it worthy of your Lordship's notice, as showing at a glance the amount of wrong done, which still remains to be atoned for.

The list is unfortunately by no means complete, but I forward it as it is, in order that your Lordship may form an idea of the indignation felt by the English community in Mexico at being subjected to such brutality, without ever obtaining redress from the successive Governments of this Republic, each of which invariably asserts that it is not responsible for the acts of its predecessor. I have, &c.

Lord J. Russell.

C. LENNOX WYKE.

(Inclosure.)-Extract from the "Mexican Extraordinary" of June 27, 1861.

FOREIGN INTERESTS IN MEXICO. NO. 2.

British Claims of the Small and most Distressing Class.

On the 25th of last month we referred at some length to the condition of British interests in Mexico. We now resume the subject, and shall notice on this occasion a portion of the most flagrant outrages which have been perpetrated upon British residents,

leaving for another occasion the publication of more, and our own lengthened remarks. The robbery of the Legation and the various "conductas" are subjects fresh in the memory of every one; and as these outrages affect the interests of the wealthy and influential, they are likely to absorb that attention which should, we submit, be shared by the humbler sufferer. Our mission is to lay facts before the world, and thus to excite action, and it little matters whether it be from motives of duty or from shame, so long as our proper protectors are made to move. In continuation we give a brief notice of some of the objects of our present article:

Mr. Bodmer's Case.-This gentleman, who was Her Majesty's Vice-Consul at Tasco, was shot in the balcony of his house whilst endeavouring to save an unfortunate Mexican from ill-treatment at the hands of some of Vicario's troops, who had made a sudden irruption into the town. Mr. Bodmer was a man universally respected; upon three several occasions had he saved the city of Tasco from being sacked by one or other of the contending parties. He held a very lucrative appointment in the mine of the Pedregal, and has left a widow and 3 children totally unprovided for.

Mr. Burnand's Case. This gentleman was the first to establish a manufactory of glass in this country.

In the year 1852 he erected on some property, situated about 5 leagues from the city of Mexico, a manufactory on a very considerable scale, and had just got it into working order, when the whole of the premises were arbitrarily taken possession of by Santa Anna, and it was not until the end of 1856, when Comonfort came to the head of affairs that the property was restored to him, but in so dilapidated and ruined a condition that it was two years before he could place the factory in a proper state to resume operations. In March, 1860, the factory was attacked by a portion of the Liberal forces, and sacked; and on the 2nd of April of the same year, another body of men belonging to the same party entered the premises at night, attacked Mr. Burnand, inflicted on him 16 sabre cuts, broke three of his ribs, left him for dead, and effectually destroyed all that had been spared by their predecessors. The life of Mr. Burnand was for a long time despaired of, his left arm had to be amputated, and he is now a man wreck. The shock was so great that his poor wife lost her senses, and his oldest daughter has now since been subject to epileptic fits. From being a man of considerable property, Mr. Burnand has been reduced almost to a state of starvation. Maimed, mutilated, and reduced in health, it is no longer in his power by his own exertion to provide for his unfortunate family, and all that he has to look to is the reparation that may be exacted from the Mexican nation for these repeated and fearful outrages. Should this case fall under the observation of [1861-62. LII.]

T