AMERICA.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 239, 13 November 1847, Page 3

AMERICA.

[From the Times, July 25.] Liverpool, Thursday. By the packet ship Henry Clay, Captain Nye, we have advices from New York to the 7th instant inclusive. From the seat of war we learn that General Worth had entered the^city of Puebla on the 16th ult., after a slight skirmish with a party of lancers sent out by Santa Anna to oppose his advance. Colonel Childs had been left as Governor of Jalapa, with a" lorce of 2,000 men. From the city of- Mexico we learn that Anaya, the President-Substitute, had published a decree on the 2nd ult , declaring the whole district in a siate of siege. In auother decree of the Commander ot the Federal District, it is prohibited to introduce any goods or merchandise in the towns or cities in possession of the Americans, under a fine of from 100 to 500 dollars, which will be appropriated to the expenses of the war. The sale of any provisions, goods, horses, or cattle, to the Americans, is also prohibited, under a fine of from 100 to 1000 dollars, applicable to the aforesaid purpose. " ' The Government had issued a decree suspending the liberty of the Press, accompanied by a long address from the clergy. At San Luis Potosi the priests were striving their utmost to rais* the enthusiasm of the people, and prevail on them to take up arms in defence of their country ; in consequence of these appeals enlistments were going on rapidly. The Bishop of Chjaca had contributed twenty thousand dolLrs for the prosecution of the war, and the churches were giving their plate, &c M for the same purpose. The papers still breathe war and defiance to the North' Americans, and urge the people to unite iv adopting vigorous measures ot defiance. They complain of the desertion of members ol the National Congress, seventeen I of whom had left their posts -ntliout license; and many others declined to attend the sittings, j on the ground of sickness, which was feigned. The Government had appointed a committee to receive subscriptions ior the purpose of carrying on the war, and solicited sums from both the" rich arid the poor. Herr'ara was elected President of Mexico, on the 15th ult., at the convocation of Congress at the capital. General Bravo had published a decree, ordering every person having two or more horses in his possession to deliver one of them to the commissary, at or before the expiiation of the sixth day. The prices to be paid for the same were set down at from twelve dollars to twenty dollars per head ; and in case the horses delivered should not be fit for use, the owners would be compelled to replace them with good ones. By another decree of the same date, General Bravo, General-in-Chief of the Central Army, orders all citizens from fifteen to sixty years, to enlist at the shortest notice, and be prepared to present themselves, armed and equipped, when they should be called upon. It was stated that fifteen battalions of the National Guard of Mexico were being thoroughly organised. Another battle was shortly expected. Santa Anna, with a force of 12,000 men, was reported as preparing for another , engagement at Rio Frio, a strong post situate between Puebla and the capital.' '

We 'extract the following from the Neto Orleans Delta :—" The road for some distance beyond Puebla is excellent, but near Cordova it reaches to the mountains, and passes through deep, narrow defiles, and over steep and rugged heights. The country is wild-looking, thinly wooded with oaks and pines, and rendered very rough and uneven by rocks of lava and porphyry. Near Tesmelucos, a little village or hacienda, the road begins to wind along the side of the mountain, in many places being cut through solid rock. Here . road is commanded, by the - heights of Eppocatapete), which, if occupied by a strong battery, would render the passage of an army over this steep, rugged, and exposed ascent, a task of very great danger and difficulty. But, even ,wlien the heights are passed, the perils and* obstacles of the position are not entirely surmounted ; for the roajl descends into a deep narrow del), where a small and brave force might operate with "great "effect upon a large array, accompanied by long trains and parks, of artillery. This, (fell is traversed by the Rio Frio (Cold River), where our brave soldiers may assuage their thirst after the labours of this difficult passage. The Rio Frio is the only point on the road between Puebla and Mexico which is likely to give our army any trouble. It is midway between the two cities : when U is passed, tbe road to the capital is smooth and delightful, well watered and well shaded: In some places it passes for miles between paiallel canals and rows of Lombardy poplars. If. Santa Anna makes his stand „at .'the -Bio Frio, with an adequate artillery force and complete batteries, our army will have tbfiglit perhaps the most serious, bloody, and destructive battle which has yet been fought. There will be no want of men in this thickly-settled part of the country to back Santa, Anna in this last stand which the Mexicans will liaye an opportunity of making." General Taylor was reported to have left Sa'tillo, and to have removed either upon Zacatecas or San Luis Potosi. The American Governor of Alvarado had taken possession of the town of Talascoya without opposition. • h f The reported defeat of the force under Colonel Domphan is not confirmed. v ,