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For months past, he has been residing at Havana, in Cuba, amusing himself in his exile, as report says, in cockfighting, and indulging a careless ease, which seemed to preclude the idea of ulterior political aspirations. And yet those who think they understand the character of the Mexican General, and the present state of Mexican affairs, believe that Santa Anna is less indifferent to the political state of things in Mexico, than by others he has been supposed to be; and that he has had his friends continually watching the opportunity to further his political interests in Mexico, and finally, to secure his recall and accession again to political power. Already, some of the provinces of Mexico have declared in his favor; and the Pronunciamento, which forms the model of the new revolution against President Paredes of the present government, is said to have been drawn up by Santa Anna himself; and private letters develop his purpose to return to Mexico, if the Castle of San Juan de Ullua and the city of Vera Cruz pronounce in his favor. This has already been done; and the last British mail steamer, from Vera Cruz to Havana, conveyed to Santa Anna the intelligence of these incipient revolutions in his favor. These rumors, the proceedings at Vera Cruz, and at different parts in the interior, have created the general expectation that General Santa Anna, ere long, will make his appearance off the harbor of Vera Cruz, for the purpose of entering the Castle of San Juan, and thence, as political movements in the country may encourage, advance to the Capital, and assume the chief power of the republic.

In accordance with the general expectation, as to Santa Anna's intended movements, the British steamer, which was to arrive here on the 15th of August, was looked for with some interest. It was believed, further, that Commodore Conner would not allow the steamer, under these circumstances, to pass the blockade, as usual, until the fact should be ascer

tained whether General Santa Anna was a passenger. There might be reasons why he should be in the power of the American government at this stage of the political movements in his favor, throughout the Mexican provinces. It is also rumored that such being the determination of Commodore Conner, his proposition to the commander of the British force, has been, or the mutual understanding between the Commanders of the two squadrons is, that the British Commander shall stop the steamer, and if Santa Anna is found to be on board, the steamer shall be ordered to our fleet, and an interview be had between Commodore C. and Santa Anna, before the steamer shall be allowed to go into Vera Cruz. Such were the expectations generally prevailing in the squadron, the day preceding the arrival of the British steamer of the 15th of August; and the more so, as the English ships had moved from their anchorage off Anton Lizardo, where they had been lying for a few days, to their older anchorage ground, under the island of Sacrificios, more nearly commanding the entrance to the Castle and the town of Vera Cruz.

The day for the arrival of the British mail steamer, running between Vera Cruz and Havana, came. It was believed the Mexican General would be in her. A smoke, in its long, low line, just above the horizon, and out at sea, at about the hour expected, was seen. To the experienced eye of the quarter-master, as well as to the novice of but little experience in reading objects far off at sea, it left the fact no longer as doubtful, that a steamer was standing in, from sea, and making for the port of Vera Cruz. Still there was no movement of the British ships. Nor did the Princeton, which ship was now lying at Sacrificios, with the British and French squadron, give any evidence of her moving, though her steam seemed to be up and herself ready to start at any moment. The steamer from the sea still came in, as

the long line of smoke rose still higher up on the sky; and ere long the hull and the whole proportions of the wellknown mailer were in view. Not long after, she entered the port of Vera Cruz, and as usual, anchored under the battlements of San Juan de Ullua. The fort slept quietly, as usual. No demonstration of rejoicing-no salutes from the town. The Princeton, alone, was now seen moving, and came down to us, after a while; and soon it was known, that Santa Anna had not come in the British steamer.

But the report was, that another steamer was to leave Havana two days later than the British mailer, and it was affirmed that Santa Anna would come in that vessel.

The time passed by, and the steamer, as expected, made her appearance in the offing. Would she be stopped, was the general inquiry of those on board, who had not the secrets of the commander-in-chief. Will the British stop her? Will the Princeton overhaul her? The Saint Mary's is in the offing-will she speak her, and detain her, and bring Santa Anna, the lion of the day, down to us, to give us a view of the former President and Dictator of Mexico, and the late exile from his country's shores, but now the recalled General, and the probably to be chief actor in a coming and general revolution against the present government of Paredes, and will be the successor of that chief, to renewed and confirmed power? The steamer, unheeding these inquiries and many conjectures, came still in, on her course, and without molestation or interruption, directed her way to the port. Like her sister-craft, she moored herself under the walls of the castle of San Juan de Ullua. Ere long, the cannon of that fortification opened their loud-mouthed pieces, and the clouds of light colored smoke rose above its battlements. These guns were replied to by the smaller redoubts, flanking the city of Vera Cruz, and together they declared to our satisfaction, that General Santa Anna, for weal or for woe to

himself and to his country, had again put his foot upon the Mexican shores, and was now held within the castle of San Juan de Ullua.

But our squadron-the American squadron-that pink of all that is chivalric, and resistless for its prowess-a fleet of a dozen sail of frigates, steamers, sloops, brigs, and schooners, off this port, at this moment-say ye no more of this gallant force, for the blockade of the Mexican ports; and worst of all, for the strict blockade of the harbor of Vera Cruz, if a steamer with a Mexican General on board, with hostile intentions against the American government can be allowed thus to pass through the blockade uninterrupted and unquestioned. So felt and reasoned the many, doubtless, of the officers aboard our ships, at the moment, when a further consideration rendered it probable, even if the Commodore had not received orders from Washington so to act, that the allowing of the steamer to pass as she did was a politic act, contemplating undeveloped results, which the future may or may not perfect and disclose. Santa Anna, if we possessed him, would be but a private citizen; and no promises that he might make could be deemed binding, when given while he was held in our power, and it may be, it would awaken suspicions and jealousies among his friends, which would defeat any favorable intention he may cherish towards the United States government, should he finally succeed to power. Be this as it may, the Commodore had ample means to cut off the steamer-to have secured the person of Santa Anna, and held it, if it had been meditated and designed. And it is since known, the St. Mary's did speak the steamer while in the offing, and did learn that General Santa Anna was on board of her, and yet allowed her, notwithstanding this knowledge, to pass on her way-an evidence sufficiently strong to assure the uninitiated that it was not contrary to the wishes, but in accordance with the consent of

the American government, that Santa made his entrance into the Castle of San Juan de Ullua and the city of Vera Cruz. Santa Anna then is again on the Mexican soil; and whether it shall be for good or for ill, future developments must disclose.

WAR STILL CARRIED ON BETWEEN THE SQUADRON AND THE CORAL REEFS. THE BRIG TRUXTON ANNIHILATED."

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This morning, August 19th, at five bells, a ship was seen standing down to our fleet, under full sail, with a fair but light breeze. Ere long, her fore-royal was dropped, and a signal run up.

"It is the Saint Mary's," was the murmur on the poopdeck," and she is making signals."

The glasses were directed yet more minutely towards the advancing cruiser, still a long way in the distance, but yet sufficiently near for the quarter-masters and others, to read the numbers made by the flags, which she run up to her foremast-royal head.

"Number" blank (I may not tell the numbers, here, as that would be contrary to orders, and might be giving the enemy a familiarity with the signal-book.).

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"Number" cried the quarter-master, which being satisfactory to the officer as to the accuracy of the reading, he directed the "answering pennant to be run up, to say to the distant ship, that we had made out her signal, and were ready for her to procceed with others.

By reference to the signal-book, opposite the number which had been made, it gave the letter T.

The next signal-number emblemed forth the letter R.

Again, the answering pennant was run up, and again the signal was hauled down on board the St. Mary's, and another was set. The number was made out, and it gave the letter U.

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