AMERICA.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 805, 20 April 1853, Page 3

AMERICA.

[From the Melbourne Argut, March 25 ] We mentioned yesterday that the newly-de-dared republic of Sonora had been annexed to France. The following extracts from New York papers will explain circumstances more fully : — From the New York Tribune. A party of Sooorians arrived here a few days ago, having been twenty-four days on the road. At the Colorado they found everything tranquil, and oar troops absent on * campaign. Tht aspect of affairs in Sonora is sorrowful indeed. The Apaches are committing depredation* io the neighbourhood of Hermttillo, and there seems now to be as great a necessity to defend the interior, aa there has been hithertofore to protect the frontier. A civil war has also broken oat, and from the accumulating eviU the inhabitants are seeking refuge wherever their means ;will best carry them. We have already announced the arrival of a French Count at Guaymas, with men and means, for the purpose of making war upon the Apaches, under a contract with the Mexican Government. It seems, that he proceeded to the Apache country, and succeeded in driving off the Indians from a tract fifty leagues in circuit, when be was called upon by the military commandant of Sonora to render an account to him of bis proceedings. The Count, who had about 500 men with him, thereupon issued a proclamation, declaring bis intention to chastise tbt military commandant, Blanco, and advising the natives of the country to assnme a neutral position in the contest, as he had a force sufficient to accomplish his object. He had seized upon a train of mules, with money and supplies, which Blanco bad despatched to tbe military post in the Apache country, and, at the time oar information left, the Frenchman was on his way to Arispe, with about 500 troops, avowing hia determination to displace Blanco. Don Manuel Gandara, an influential Mexican, had joined tbe forces of the Frenchman, and the triumph of the revolutionary party seems to be regarded as nearly certain. — Los Angeles Star. Don Manuel Gandara is, perhaps, the most influential man in Sonora. He is very rich, being worth some 5,000,000 dollars. Sonora is divided between the rival interests of the houses of Monte Verde and Gandara ; Monte Verde is about as wealthy as bis antagonist. Blanco is tbe friend of Monte Verde, and to serve his (Verde's) interests, intended 1 to remove the capital from Ures to Arispe, the ancient teat of government, under the plea that it was nearer the frontier, and consequently the base of his operations against the Apaches. Bnt that this is a subterfuge is evident, as all his supplies are drawn from the port of Guaymas. Gaodarahas been engaged in a number of revolutions in bis life, not tbe least of which was his celebrated and bloody war with Urrea, who was the Mexican General sent to put him down. It »o happened that the Supreme Government owed Gandara nearly half a 'million of dollars. Nearly the whole of the Yacki tribe of Indians are dependants of bis ; he therefore armed and organised them against Urrea. The Mexican Government, as aoon as it learns that Gandara is likely to overthrow its general, privately writes him that "in case he catches Orrea, he is at liberty to hang him !" The General finding himself bstrayed by his Government, is of conrse overthrown, and saves bis life by flight. This is the same Gandara who now lends his aid and assistance, backed by his Yacki Indians, to the French Connt.

[From the New York Herald.] Our latest intelligence from the Mexican republic has brought us information of a most important movement made by a party of French colonists in Sonora, headed by Count Raousset le Boulbon. This band, to the number of five or liz hundred energetic, well-armed men, set up a claim, to a very valuable silver mine in Sonora ; and their pretensions having been declared unfounded ly the government they prepared 10

defend them by force, and encountered a body o! troops, under General Blanco, whom they defeated. Count Boulbon then formally declared the state of Sonora independent, and proclaimed its annexation to France. The two united provinces of Sonora and Sinaloa, in the republic of Mexico, may be regarded as the southern extension oi California. Their western coast is laved by the waters of the guli which separates those states from the peninsula of Lower California. They comprise a territory of two hundred and fifty-four thousand square miles, rich in mines of gold, silver, and iron ; but from the spareness of the population, which does not reach a hundred and ninety thousand, and from the hostility of the Indians of the Apache tribes, who inhabit the frontier, the inhabitants have not derived much advantage from the natural wealth of their territory. Its advantages of position have for some time past attracted the attention of the French government ; and from time to time the official journals of Paris have devoted articles to the subject, recommending a system ot French colonization, for the purpose of preventing its absortion into the territory of the United States. The stsairnr Illinois has brought us files of papers from Kingston, Jimaica, extending down to the 6th instant. The small pox had disappeared from the city, but cases still occurred shout the suburbs. Several cases of fever existed on board the Illinois — some very serious. On the 9th two deaths took place, and the bodies Were committed to the deep soon after. We learn on the 26th ult. a severe earthquake visited all parts of the island, but fortunately did no material damage. The shock at Kingston is thus described in the Standard This morning, at two minutes to three o'clock, the inhabitants of this city were thrown into a state of alarm by a very severe shock of earthquake, which lasted for a considerable time. So violent was the oscillation of the earth that we were awakened by it, when we became distinctly sensible that tht shock proceeded north and soutb, unaccompanied, as far as we are aware, by that hollow rumbling sound which is the usual attendant of an earthquake. At the time oi the shock the zenith was tolerably clear, but rather dense masses of cumuloui clouds were j gathered all round the horizon, except the northeast, which was perfectly clear. The clouds were most dense towards the east and south-east. The previous night had been very sultry. The violent rattling of tbe sashes in every house, and the vibratory motion of articles suspended overhead, sufficiently indicated tbe violence of the shock. The alarm attendant on so terrifying a visitation was greatly augmented in consequence of the still hour of the morning, when all nature was hushed in deep repose, at which j it occurred. Incidental to this visitation we are also informed that the weather throughout the island has been very inclement, and fears were entertained that the crops would suffer materially. These misfortunes btve been accompanied, in several districts, by small-pox in its most malignant form, and many persons had fallen victims to tbe horrible scourge. In the House of Assembly the only matters of interest had been the appointment of a committee to investigate and report on the governmental expenses of the island, and an intimation by Mr. Stennelt — That he will move that a committee be appointed to draw up a memorial to the Queen stating the distressed condition of the island, and praying that the government would grant to tbe island a loan of £700,000, to be applied to the pay (rent of the island debts ; interest on the 6«id j sum of £700,000 to be paid (or three years, at the rate of three per cent., and after that period at the rate of five per cent., two per cent, of which to be applied to the liquidation of tbe said capital sum ; tbe House pledging itself to secure pay* ment of tbe same in such manner as will be satisfactory to the government. A few days 1 later advices bad been received from St. Thomas, from which we learn that the yellow fever has been making sad havoc. Tbe Nassau Guardian alludes to it as follows : — "We deeply regret to announce that several of the offi cers and crew of the Esk were seized with yellow fever soon after leaving St. Thomas, and that Mr. Vincent, tbe second officer, had died. A Georgia correspondent of the Janus, a German paper in New York, says that be was at Cedartown lately, when a negress was bung, and thus relates the case : — The master of the negress told her that he had sold her four children to a man to vi horn they were to be delivered next day. i The purchaser was known through the neighbourhood as a tyrant and miser, who not only half-starved bis slaves, but beat them brutally at every opportunity. The mother, who tenderly loved her children, was overcome with grief at the thought of having them sold to such a monster. She begged her master on her knees to keep tbe children, or if they must be sold, to let •them go to a more humane master. But all her efforts proving vain, and being driven to desperation, the on tbe following night murdered the children. This was tbe crime for which the was •hung. H, Lecount was executed at Cincinnati on Friday, December 3rd, for the murder of Mr. Clinch, in a drunken brawl. The criminal was forty- seven years of age, aud left a wife and six children the inheritance of his ignominy. He attributed bis crimes, disgrace, and felon's end to that bane of man — strong drink — which fired a fierce* ungovernable temper. The execution was in private. The following touching scene trans.pirtd in the prison the day before Lecount's ex* j ecution :—: — " His wife visited him in the afternoon, and the scene of their meeting was extremely affecting — so much so, that even the stern cheek of the guard sparkled with a tear. They conversed for a consideiable time, embraced, and when she was about to leave, after having bidden him the last farewell, and taken her last look upou the face of the choice of her heart, he frantically called her back, crying, • Pray for me !' " Both the wife and brother stood mute, when Lecount threw himself upon his knees, saying, 'I will pray for you !' lie gave forth his thoughts —asked the blessing of Heaven upon his wife and children, his mother and his brothers, and added : ' May God keep them from an end like mine 1' Mrs. L. is a plain, small woman, of jquiet and unassuming manners, worn down by 'grief. After having completed his prayer, he bid his wife and brother farewell, saying, ' Give my love to my children, 1 and seizing Mr. Baumgirt-

tier (assistant jailor) by the hand, said : 'If I had been treated by all men, Joe, as I have been treated by you, I would never have been here. The world has used me roughly. May you nlways be happy! 1" The receipts of the New York and Harlem Railroad for the first eleven months during five years are as follows :—: —

This shows a very favorable result and an increase of receipts of 100 per cent, iv three years from 1848 to 1851. The Illinois has arrived safely with 2| millions of gold on freight and in the hands ot passengers. This T/ill give our banks new strength, and prevent the necessity of any contraction, should the drain from the West and South, or for Europe, be renewed. A new dodge has recently been tried in Wallstreet, by which a dozen of the shrewdest firms in the street have been victimized. A short time since these houses received orders from a person, who signed himself by different names in the different letters, to purchase certain amounts of New Hav:n and New London Railroad Stock. Under these simultaneous orders the market advanced from 70 to 80. After « few days the parties, hearing nothing from their client, addressed him at New London, where bis orders were dated, but no sucb person could be beard of there, and after a while the parties came to the conclusion that the whole thing was a ruse of some graceless rogue having New Haven and New London Stock to sell, who had adopted this scheme to obtain a good price for it. The amount purchased was about 500 shares. The orders were all in the same handwriting, and were written with a circumstantiality which deceived the most careful house in the street. Anothr Revolution in Mexico', — Santa Anna Recalled. — We yesterday for the first time learned from a gentleman who came passenger in the New Orleans, which arrived last Sunday night, that a revolution had broken out on the western coast of Mexico, having for its object the recall of Santa Anna, to again take hold of the reins of Government. How far into the interior the revolutionary spirit had spread was not known at the moment of our latest advices from Acapulco ; but from previous* indications and intelligence from the Atlantic side, we cannot but suppose it to be general throughout the country. It is well known that General Santa Anna has been living, since his exile from Mexico, near Cartbagena, on the Atlantic side of this republic. A large paper from that city, brings us in formation «that intelligence had reached the distinguished Mexican as to the feelings of his countrymen; and that b# "would sail for Mexico in a few days, to assume the new powers conferred upon him. — From the Panama Star, November 27th. Considerable excitement had been caused by the seizure of the peninsula of Sanama, in St, Domingo, by a French force. It was asserted that this was only a commencement of a system of encroachment by France, and this opinion was further strengthened by the fact that an expedition had been mad* to Sonora, by a French Count named Reausiet Bonlbon, who had annexed that republic to France. A new British colony had been constituted on certain Islands on the coast near Nicaragua. This was another deadly offence ; all tending, in Jonathan's opinion, to prove a conspiracy on the part of the despotic powers of Europe, to prevent the natural and legitimate result of the progress of democratic principles, viz., the annexation of Mexico, Canada, &c, &c, to the Great Republic. We copy the following rather interesting gold news from the Panama Echo t of* Nov. 24 :—: — " We received yesterday a letter from Major Doss, under date of the 15th, now sojourning in the gold region of Chepo. The Major says he has been prospecting almost constantly, and that he hat found great quantities of gold, but that it is impossible now to wcik it. He says, also, that he has explored the whole region round about, and has extended his explorations to the head waters of the Chagres river, and very near to Porto Bello, travelling over an area of from fifty to a hundred miles square. " Speaking of one among the spots he visited, he says : — * Looking to northeast from your office, you will see a high mountain, which the natives call Sierre Francisco. On the first of this month I was on its summit, prospecting, with thret natives and a Californian companion. I stayed there five days, and built a small log cabin, while from the door I shot wild turkeys and hogs in abundance for food. There is there a great abundance of all kinds of game, arid the mountainstreams are full of fish and lobsters — the woods abound in medicinal plants, and jm the harems there is an abundance of Peruvian bark. On one stream, called by the natives Longa, there are a great many caout-chouc, or Indian-rubber trees, and an immense number of palm-trees, furnishing both oil and wine, and the foil is very fertile. The oil of the palm-tree is very excellent for fuel, and is very palatable to use as food. " ' Though the soil is so fruitful in vegetable productions, I found a large quantity of grindstones, although I have not yet discovered a quarry. I have, however, found a quarry of granite, and some persons have intimated that there was stone-coal in this region ; so I have travelled, searching industriously for it, some fifteen days, but have not found any as yet. " ' Gold has shown itselt in every river and stream that I have prospected. I have also seen great quantities of cinnabar ; balsam of copaiva trees are very numerous, and it is really surprising to see the quantity of oil orie of these trees will give — I think at least five gallons, if properly tapped. " If a few industrious, sober families were to settle down on any of these streams, and not lose their habits of industry and sobriety, by cultivating a little farm, planting corn, raising chkkens, and extracting Peruvian bark, palm oil, balsam of capaiva, trastie, or palo morals, and other dye- | stuffs, hewing timber, and, once in a while, when

the weather would permit, washing goM-dust, they would become wealthy in a very short time. " ' I have hit upon an old Spanish mine, and have made a proposition to the ' powers that be ' here, to work it. In all probability, they will accept my proposition. Then hurrah for Panama ! The natives say the mine I spsak of was very rich, and was worked by two hundred slaves, but that it was improperly worked and undermined, and has never been again opened." Stabbing seems still to be a common offence in the states. One paper mentions several cases ; in one or two instances with fatal effect. A frightful catastrophe had occurred in New York, by tbe fall of a now building, involving the loss of several lives. The inquest had returned a verdict of manslaughter against the contractors, who were taken into custody, but were allowed bail. Bank forgery was very rife. A uotorious j counterfeit uamed Morrison, had been seized at Albany. On his person were found 1,256 dollars in counterfeit notes of seven banks, three counterfeit half-dollars, eight quarter-envies, and 114 dollars in good money. The New Yoi'k Herald says :—": — " It is supposed that Morrison is connected with a completely organised gang, and it is well ascertained that from 50,000 to 75,000 dollars counterfeit money, have passed through his hands since January last, besides large amounts in the possession of accomplices. There is no doubt that from him and bis confederates a great portion of the spurious money now in circulation has emanated, and the arrest is considered one of the most important made in a long time. Some thieves at Boston had made an unsuccessful attempt on a bank. They cut out the lock, and forced the outer door of the safe, but got alarmed, and fled. Seven prisoners had escaped from Baltimore gaol. They effected their escape by unlocking their cell doors with a skeleton key made of bone, and scaling the wall by means of a rope-ladder made of materials furnished them by some one outside. James Karr was convicted in the criminal court yesterday, of manslaughter, for killing John Furtzch. The jury, when they came out of the court-house, were attacked by a number of friends of the prisoner, and one of them was severely beaten. It was proposed, and would probably be resolved by the Legislature that General Scott, lor his eminent services, and as Commander-in-Cbief, should receive tbe title of Lieutenant-General. This would be unprecedented in the American army. The City Council of New York had resolved i upon constructing Railways in Broadway and Third Avenue.

1848. 1849. 1850. 1851. 1852. dols. dols. dols. dols. dols. January.. 21,331 27,730 31,541 41,501 45,601 February 19,012 28,816 29.386 37,101 46,286 March . 20 172 30,105 32,666 42.615 64,254 April. 23 436 33,023 39,375 49,610 61,046 M.v ' 28,479 36,575 44,446 58,045 68,846 Tune"*" 29,598 36.456 45,855 54,992 66,60.1 July!.". 32,413 37,330 49,025 60 577 70,888 August.. 33,284 38,000 49,074 61,290 77,282 September 31,441 37,700 46,250 59,005 69,389 October 29,601 40,500 45,641 57,228 70,463 November 24,849 36,950 40,776 50,727 62,193 Total 293,614 383,198 454,035 572,691 702,951