SEPT. 2 2 , 1 8 5 5 . ] T H E B A N K E R S ' C I R C U L A R . 1 8 7

T H E C O N D I T I O N O F M E X I C O -" A N N A .

- F L I G H T O F S A N T A

RECENT intelligence from the West announces the flight of this great political intriguer from the City where he has so long practised the various schemes that are already before the world. There is no man who has played so prominent a part in the history of the South American States as this man; and though he has failed to preside over the Government of Mexico, it is probably what others will do who succeed hini. It appears that this military dictator left Mexico on the 9th of August , accompanied by 1,400 men, under the pretence of putting down a revolution at Vera Cruz, while in reality it was his intention to abdicate. The storm which was gathering around him at Mexico was too evident to escape the notice of one who had witnessed so many changes in, that City, and whose life had been spent amidst revolutions in the Spanish settlements. It was not, however, till he reached the fortress of Perote that he made known his real designs, by issuing a proclamation that be had resigned the Government into the hands of three persons named Pavori, Vega, and Salas ; after which he made a rapid march to Vera Cruz, where he arrived on the loth, and on the 17th he embarked with his family on board the steamer Iturbide. It is a somewhat curious incident that he should have departed from the shores of Mexico in a vessel that bore the name of the sovereign whom he successfully overthrew, and through whose death he first became invested with the Presidentship of the country. The different phases which his

.life and character exhibit to the world, clearly shew what extra­ordinary combinations and contradictions may be found in the same individual.

Soon after his departure, the people met in great numbers in the Almeda, and confirmed a plan of Government proposed by Ayretla, and to organize a National guard. From thence they proceeded to the residence of Santa Anna in the Palace-square, and such was their rage, that they were desirous of entering the palace, and of destroying the furniture and everything that appertained to the Ex-President. In the midst of their furious rage, they proceeded to the office of the Universal newspaper, destroying most of the materials in use. But the evil did not terminate here, Mr. Lizardi, the banker, whose name is so well known in this country, suffered the most severe losses; his furniture, books, and papers, including a number of bonds, were all consumed by fire. The house of Escaudon, the banker, was also entered, but the military came up in time to rescue a portion of the property from destruction. The house of the late Finance Minister, Senor Bouilla, sustained losses to the amount of $40,000, and the whole of a most valuable library was destroyed. Senor Lizardi has put in a claim for $2,000,000 on the value of his property destroyed. vSuch is the result of another of the revolutionary episodes in the history of Mexico, and seems to shadow forth the great probability that it will one day form a portion of territory under the dominion of the decendants of the British race.

But while Santa Anna has failed in his Government over the Mexicans, there are several events in his career that prove him to have been a most remarkable m a n ; yet he appears to have been much better adapted for the field of battle than for the Senate-The genius that can command in both these departments is of a very rare description, and falls only to the lot of a few; but the case of Santa Anna is a striking illustration of what a bold and daring military chieftain may accomplish. He inherits by birth the Spanish name of Lopez, and was born at Vera Cruz in 1790, and entered the Spanish army in 1812. He first distinguished himself at the battle of Cordova in 1821, where he joined himself to General Iturbide; he afterwards took Vera Cruz, where he was appointed military Governor. Iturbide shortly afterwards assumed the title of Emperor ; but this afforded Santa Anna an opportunity of appearing under a new form ; and in the revolution of 1822, he joined the republicans, and overthrew the Emperor.

It was not till 1833 that he secured to himself the Presidency; but during the interval he committed one of the greatest errors in

his life by driving out the Spaniards who had settled in Mexico. His next step was to destroy the principle of' federal government and adopt a system such as a military dictator only would propose; but the fruit of'this was shown in the independence of the Texas, who refused to submit to his authority.

In 1834 he was compelled to support his newly acquired position by taking up arms to defend himself against Arista; and having subdued the revolutionary party in 1835, he was proclaimed Dictator. In 1838 when Vera Cruz was bombarded by the French naval power commanded by Prince Joinville, he lost one of his legs by a grape shot.

The next event in his history was the war in 1846 against the United States ; being then an exile in Cuba, under the pretence of being able to make peace, he was allowed to land at Vera C r u z ; but no sooner was this effected, than he was joined, like another Napoleon from St. Helena, by a powerful warlike party, by which he maintained the field until his army was beaten by the Americans, under General Scott.

Worn out at last with fighting to maintain the independence of Mexico, his thoughts were turned to selling a portion of it quietly, probably thinking that his power either to lease or to sell would soon be at an end, and he was determined to "give the Yankees a slice of territory for the sum of $10,000,000. The event has proved that Santa Anna was wise in his generation.

The career of this remarkable man is, however, not unlike that of many statesmen born under more favourable circumstances; possessed of great and varied talents, and an untiring energy, he defied all difficulties; but while in the plenitude of his power he sacrificed every principle of honour to maintain it, until he gathered round him a storm that has swept him and his family from the throne of the Montezumas.

T H E Y O R K R A C E P L A T E .

A work of art of considerable merit is now on view at the magni­ficent show rooms of Messrs. Hunt and Roskell, in New Bond Street, and is intended as a prize for the winner at York races. The subject which has been most beautifully and elaborately designed in solid silver, is the gift of the Earl of Derby, who offered £300 for the best illustration that could be given of the following passage from Shakspeare's illustration of, Percy after the battle of Holmedon, in the play of Henry I V . : —

HOTSPTJE : — " My Liege, I did deny no prisoners. But I remember, when the fight was done, When I was dry with rage and extreme toil, Breathless and faint, leaning upon my sword, Came there a certain lord, neat, trimly dress'd Fresh as a bridegroom ; and his chin new reap'd, Show'd like a stubble land at harvest home. He was perfumed like a milliner ; And, 'twixt his fingers and his thumb, he held A pouncet-box, which ever and anon, He gave his nose, and took't away again;— Who, therewith angry, when it next eame there, Took it in snuff:—and still he smil'd and talk'd ; And, as the soldiers bore dead bodies by, He call'd them—untaught knaves, unmannerly, To bring a slovenly, unhandsome corse, Betwixt the wind and his nobility."

Amongst the several desigus submitted by artists, the one selected was by Mr. Alfred Brown, who is a young man possessed of great ability in this particular branch; and if we may judge, from this specimen of his skill, the merit bestowed upon him has been justly earned. Nothing can exceed the taste of the artist as shown in the attitude of Hotspur, " dry with rage and extreme toil." The figures comprise the warrior clad in armour, who gazes with profound gcontempt on the fantastic lord before h im; a standard bearer, and a youth in a stooping posture unbuckling the armour of the chief; on the left are two soldiers bearing away the dead body of one who had been slain in the battle. The costume of each of the figures is preserved in most excellent taste, and the poet's idea is adhered to with great exactitude.

The above firm have also in their collection a handsome silver candelabrum made by them for presentation as a Testimonial to James Gibbs, Esq., who has for several years been President of the Quebec Bank, from the Stockholders of that Institution, as a token of his valuable services. This piece of plate is constructed so as to bear six lights, and has a basket in the centre for the purpose of flowers. On the base are three figures, which are intended to represent Commerce, Industry, and Prudence. The first is a figure encircled wiih a mural crown, and holding in her right hand the horn of plenty. The second is a Negro, bearing in his hand a spade, which is employed in cultivating the plantations in America. And the third holds a spear in one hand and a mirror in the other. The branches are adorned with wheat ears, and the leaves of the sugar maple. The entire work is exceedingly tasteful and chaste in its design, and finished in the style of Louis X V .