Virginia Argus

PHILADELPHIA, March 27.

Extract of a letter from a gentleman high in office in Mexico, to his friend in this city, dated 28th December, 1809, received by the way of Havana.

"The moment his excellency the Viceroy received the despatch from Don Luis de Onis announcing that the government of the United States had refused to acknowledge him as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of our Catholic monarch Ferdinand the 7th, he adopted every measure which prudence dictated on the occasion ordering at the same time the greatest vigilance on our frontiers & all along our extensive coasts. This unexpected event caused much indignation among the loyal Mexicans, who hitherto had flattered themselves that the United States would sympathize with the Spaniards in their present calamity and reciprocate that friendship and assistance they so liberally afforded the Americans during their struggle for liberty and independence; but in this hope they now find themselves disappointed, and the effect thereby produced in the public mind, is by no means favourable towards the U. S.

On the receipt of Don Luis de Onis's letter the Viceroy convened the council together with the three fiscals (or attorney generals) and laid before them said despatch, requesting their opinion on the subject of its contents, which they delivered unanimously in the following words, on the 22d inst.

*The members assembled in the extraordinary council convened this day, having taken into consideration the copy of the letter addressed to your excellency by Don Luis de Onis, which your excellency has laid before them, are of unanimous opinion and beg leave to inform your excellency that in the first place he ought to recognize Don Luis de Onis, a minister plenipotentiary and envoy extraordinary, of our lord the king Don Ferdinand the seventh, and in his name of the Supreme Central Junta, near the United States of America, 2dly. That should the United States, contrary to every expectation and wish, admit a plenipotentiary or envoy from the intruder Joseph Napoleon, as king of Spain, this conduct may be truly considered hostile, and in that case your excellency ought to adopt, with respect to these dominions, a corresponding conduct in regard to the United States. 3dly. In order that your excellency may regulate your conduct on this delicate subject, we presume to observe that it is necessary to request Don Luis de Onis to be pleased to communicate to your excellency all such instructions, & give you such information as he may have or shall hereafter receive from the Supreme Central Junta, together with such other information as he may acquire respecting the United States, their armaments, and other measures they may now or hereafter adopt in regard to Spain. Your excellency may accordingly communicate this resolution to Don Luis de Onis, that he may make the necessary use thereof whenever he thinks proper; and also to the commandant of the frontier provinces, that he may be guided thereby, in the several districts under his command."

"The Viceroy has also given orders to the treasury to accept and pay all bills drawn by Don Luis de Onis for objects connected with his mission."

[Freeman's Journal.]