that lost her chance of evading the blockade, by the appearance of the fleet at the moment of her apparent success, off the mouth of the Alvarado river. A small schooner, also sent in by the fleet, not long after, gave us further intelligence of its advance.

After knocking about in some heavy weather for a few days on their way to the mouth of the Tabasco, the fleet crossed the bar on the evening of the 23d, and found two steamers just firing up to get out of the way of the American forces. But not being quick enough in their movements, a gun fired over them caused their surrender, and secured the services of the largest one, to assist in taking the schooners up the river, in the place of the steamer McLean, now on the bar of the Tabasco in her attempt to cross it, as she was before, at the Alvarado; and now, there were some who almost hoped, that "the beast" which she had proved herself to be, might leave her bones there, and trouble and disconcert the plans of the fleet, as she did at Alvarado, no more.

Frontera is a small place at the mouth of the Tabasco river, which was laid under contribution for fresh provisions, after the Alcalde had given up the keys, though they were paid for whatever they brought to the vessels; and the force, the next day, at about 2 o'clock, commenced moving up the river-the armed schooners being taken in tow by the prize steamer (Petrita) and the Vixen. They reached. the town of Tabasco, called Villa Hermosa, on the maps, which is some seventy miles up the river in its winding course, at about 2 o'clock the next day, being the 25th, and the fleet anchored off the town. The boats were immediately manned and dispatched, to overhaul and capture the vessels which had got under way and were already out of sight, as they stood up the river when the fleet appeared off the town. These vessels, consisting of several schoon

ers and brigs, were soon taken, and dropped down and joined the fleet.

Commodore Perry, under a flag of truce, now sent a deputation ashore, consisting of Captain French Forrest, ac-. companied by Captain Sands and Acting-Master Perry, to demand the surrender of the town. A short time was allowed for the decision of the authorities. I avoid a criticism on the diplomacy at this first interview, simply remarking, that the Governor, to the demand of an unconditional surrender" of the town, replied, with becoming spirit, "Nunca! Nunca!"-never! never! "Then, sir, our interview is closed," returned Captain F., and the party returned to the dock, and were soon aboard the Vixen again. The Vixen, now Commodore Perry's Flag Ship-as the Mississippi had been left outside the river-opened her guns upon the town. A detachment of men under different officers, and the marines under Captain Edson, were soon landed by the boats, and were directed to hold their position, being on the street fronting the river, until further orders. The force was generally sheltered while it thus occupied the narrow street and beneath the houses facing the river, though straggling shot from muskets came down. the streets running perpendicular to the river, and from the roofs and windows of different houses.

Lieutenant Winslow, occupying the wing of the force furthest up the river, perceiving a number of Mexicans, from the roofs of some houses, firing upon Lieutenant Contee, whose prize vessel had drifted near in to the shore, gained permission to dislodge them from the roofs of the houses. This was done, with a few men; and once adrift from the main force, Lieutenant W. manifested no disposition to return, but commenced skirmishing farther up the street with some musketeers, who had opened on him, farther in advance, until, following up with his men, who were now im

bibing the spirit of their leader, he finally reached one of the corners of a square, from which he had been fired upon, over a vacant space, as he made his approach. On reaching the entrance to the square, the Mexican musketeers were seen, in numbers, to occupy a building on the opposite diagonal, presenting the appearance of barracks. Lieutenant Winslow, leaving his men to hold their position, returned to the main body of the force, and begged to be allowed to cross the plaza, "and drive the rascals," as he said, shaking his fist in excitement, "from the barracks." But he could

get no order, while his rashness awakened a playful smile on the part of the Captain of the Marines, a meritorious officer, who could only reply, that the force was ordered not to move from the point it then occupied, until further orders. Disappointed, and affirming that he could and that he would carry the barracks, if permitted, with the handful of men that supported him, he returned to his men and continued his firing upon the Mexicans, and they at him, from the opposite diagonals of the square. This firing was heard on board the vessels in the stream, as if in the midst of the town, and was continued by Lieutenant W. until he was peremptorily ordered to withdraw to the main body of the force, which was now held at the point of their landing, by the chains of an order which they could not break. And when he had reached the river, the force was already re-embarking for the ships, while the marines retained their position, until all the men had refilled the boats. Then, placing themselves in the last boat, the whole force returned to the vessels of the fleet, in obedience to an order, that required their immediate disembarcation from the shore, without having advanced into the town. The motive for this unexpected order seems to have been, to save the men from the exposure to the fire from the houses, which, it was presumed, would increase upon them; and

because the town would be at the mercy of the large guns of the vessels, in the morning, if the authorities did not surrender to the force, now lying, with its threatening line, opposite and within musket-shot distance of almost every part of the place.

Not

The authorities were now informed, that the remainder of the afternoon and night would be allowed them to remove their women and children; and unless the town was surrendered in the mean time, the fleet would again open upon the place, and demolish their houses about their ears. many cannon had been fired by the Vixen into the town on the evening of the 25th; and whether the apprehension as to the power of the fleet was diminished or not cared for, the Mexicans opened a fire of musketry upon the different vessels, at about 6 o'clock on the morning of the 26th. The Commodore returned the fire with small arms, and from the batteries of the different vessels. The Nonata, commanded by Lieutenant Hazzard, an accomplished officer in his profession and daring as the bravest can be in combat, opened her 42 pound carronades upon the town, and carried destruction into its very centre, riddling the houses or demolishing them, in part, as the heavy shot went on their mission of devastation, misery, and death. The Forward, Captain Nonis, let play her battery with great effect; and the small arms from all the vessels directed their shots wherever the Mexicans were seen shooting from the streets, or from the windows, or the tops of the houses; while the Vixen and the Bonito added to the work of destruction and blood which was going on between two nations, who seemed bent on the wicked purpose of destroying as much life and creating as much sorrow as was in the power of their different forces to accomplish. After an hour's bombardment of the town, and returning the Mexican musketry, a flag of truce was sent down to the shore by the foreign Consuls, and representations made,

that all the property of the town of Tabasco, or nearly all, was possessed by the foreign residents; and that the military had no interest there; and, by consequence, nothing to lose. Great destruction, it was affirmed, had been done to the town, and much suffering created by the balls from the fleet, killing and wounding the people in town-women and children—and it was hoped by the Consuls and citizens, that the firing of the fleet would cease, although the military force of the town would not surrender it. While the officers were on the dock to meet the flag of truce, a resident presented himself, covered with blood, and imploringly entreated that a stop might be put to the horrid scene which was being enacted, against which the blood of his wife and child was now crying. It was said, that while his wife was clinging to her husband, a cannon ball had killed her in his arms. And she was an American born woman, though of Italian parents. And on this morning, before the commencement of the firing, one of the officers saw a man with a child in his arms, followed by a woman with another child, while a little thing of four or five years old was seen running after them, with some small articles of clothing in its arms. It made his heart sick, as did other scenes touch the feelings of others while they yet stood there ready to do the bidding of their nation as its commands should reach them through their superiors, even to the exposure, in this bloody affray, of their own lives, on the continuance of which young mothers and sweet children dearer than life to them, were dependent. The representation made by this deputation of citizens is said to have determined Commodore Perry, in pity and in mercy, and from the exercise of a commendable humanity, to retire from before the place; and he declared to the deputation that such would be his course, unless the attack should be renewed upon his vessels.

The Commodore, accordingly, was making his prepara