to take place on that part of the town which fronted the American camp, and had there prepared for it. To take advantage of this opinion, General Price determined on changing his original plan, and by moving rapidly to some weaker point, assault and carry it before the garrison could recover themselves.

Accordingly, at seven o'clock, A. M., he broke up his camp, and with his whole force, except Beall's dragoons, and a company of Missouri horse, marched to the western side of the town. Here Lieutenant-Colonel Lane, with two companies of the Missouri regiment, was ordered to support Love's battery, which had taken position within five hundred yards of the town, on the road leading to Chihuahua, and commanding the principal plaza and church, around and in which the enemy were strongly posted. Walker's battalion was placed towards the south; while between these two commands were four companies of Rall's troops, conducted by the general in person.

At half past ten, the American batteries opened. For nearly an hour a heavy fire was poured into the town, destroying houses, and other buildings, and gradually driving the enemy from their positions. It was answered by heavy guns and wall pieces, which produced, however, little or no effect upon the assailants. Shortly after sundown, the garrison surrendered. General Trias and forty-two of his principal officers were made prisoners; while eleven pieces of artillery, nine wall pieces, and five hundred and seventy-seven stand of arms fell into the hands of the Americans. The loss of the assailants was one lieutenant, two corporals, and one private killed; and nineteen men wounded; that of the enemy is stated by General Price to have been several hundred. On the 21st, General Armijo, ex-governor of New Mexico, surrendered himself to the victors.

This battle closed the military events of the war in California and New Mexico.

T

HE remaining military operations of the war may be summed up in a few words. General Lane left the capital on the 17th of February, 1848, and after an unsuccessful attempt to capture General Paredes, at a hacienda called San Christoval, he subsequently encountered and defeated a party commanded by Padre Jarauta, and returned to the capital on the 1st of March.

The abortive attempts of Mr. Trist to establish peace, immediately after the battles of Contreras and Churubusco, did not terminate his mission as a negotiator with the Mexican republic. Efforts were made both by himself and General Scott, from time to time, for the purpose of bringing about so desirable a result. These were at length crowned with success. In January, the general-in-chief laid before. the Mexican authorities the basis of a treaty, similar in its general features to the one formerly rejected. They appointed Luis G. Cuevas, Bernardo Conto, and Miguel Atristain as commissioners.

Mr. Trist acted as the representative of the United States. The negotiators met at Guadalupe Hidalgo, and after a reciprocal communication of their respective powers, arranged and signed a "treaty of peace, friendship, limits and settlement between the United States of America and the Mexican Republic."

In February, this instrument arrived in Washington, and was transmitted by President Polk to the American Senate. After a secret session of several days, that body, on the 10th of March, at a quarter past nine o'clock, P. M., agreed to it, after a few alterations, by a vote of thirty-seven to fifteen, four senators being absent. On the 14th, Mr. Sevier was appointed envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, to present the treaty as amended to the Mexican congress for their final action. He was accompanied by Mr. Clifford. On arriving in Mexico, these gentlemen immediately submitted the treaty to the national congress, then assembled at Queretaro. After a long and animated discussion, it passed the House of Deputies by a large majority, and on the 25th of May was ratified in the Senate by a vote of thirty-three to five. Although strenuous efforts had been made to prevent the consummation of this act by several partisan leaders and members of the public press, yet there can be little doubt that the great body of the Mexican nation rejoiced at the prospect of peace. Information of the ratification was received in Mexico with the ringing of bells, discharging of fireworks, and other manifestations of satisfaction.

G

REAT preparations were made for the immediate withdrawal of the American troops from Mexico, in accordance with the spirit of the treaty. The duty of , superintending the necessary arrangements devolved on General Butler, who, in consequence of the suspension of General Scott, had been appointed by the president to the chief command. The general-in-chief had left the city of Mexico on the 22d of April, reached Vera Cruz on the 30th, and immediately

embarked for the United States. Mr. Sevier left the capital on the 12th of June, and arrived at Vera Cruz about the 20th, superintending in his route, the marching of the troops towards that city. The army left Vera Cruz by detachments, the greater part arriving in New Orleans before the middle of June.

*See Appendix, page 699.

HE first portion of this work, which treats of the history and description of Mexico, closes with the history of the war between that country and the United States. But the recently revived interest in Mexico has been so general and widespread, that the publisher has thought it imperative to add to the volume a Second Part, giving sketches of the country as seen through American eyes, with a condensed historical sketch, also, of some of the most striking historical events which have occurred. since the close of the conflict with the United States, a period to which the volume was brought down by its author, Dr. Frost.

During the time which elapsed between the close of the war with

the United States and the accession of Benito Juarez to the presidency of Mexico, the internal polity of the country was not materially changed from its former condition; with that event, however, a new order of things was inaugurated in Mexico, which, at its commencement, led to most serious complication in the internal affairs of the country itself, as well as with other nationalities, which last will be more fully sketched hereafter.

The first great step inaugurated by President Juarez towards the political and social improvement of his country was the suppression of State religion, the confiscation of the vast estates which had accumulated in the hands of the clergy, the universal toleration of all religious beliefs, the encouragement of education, and the establishment of railroads intersecting all the great divisions of the republic.

It is unfortunate that most travellers who undertake to give descriptions of the countries they visit, seem to see them through peculiarly-colored glass, which permits them to see very little beyond the comparatively few people they meet, the hotels they stop at, and the banquets which are set before them.

Of the topography of the country, of the character and productiveness of the soil, of the particular articles which are or might be produced, of the quantity of arable lands, as well as the intellectual and social condition of the cultivators, they in most cases leave their readers in profound ignorance, seeming to think all who may have any curiosity on those subjects need but look into statistical tables to obtain any desired information.

A reference to the accompanying map will give a particular outline of the political divisions of the country, while the railroad system of Mexico will at once be seen and understood. Of the general topography of a country, mere maps made in the ordinary way are incapable of conveying much information to the mind, except that of the merest outline. This information can, therefore, be only sought for by consulting books, or from personal observation, which latter mode of gaining knowledge of a country as large as Mexico is too inconvenient, as well as expensive, to be indulged in by but comparatively few persons.

A reliance upon books descriptive of Mexico at the time of its conquest, emanating from Spanish sources, are not to be much relied on, they being too fabulous and untrustworthy, as has been well established by Judge Wilson, of California, in his book of travels in that country.

Nothing upon the subject, that the writer is aware of, has been published of late years, either in the United States or Europe, which