Vermont Phœnix

Mexican Items.

The Cathedral of Mexico, in addition to over two hundred thousand dollars previously contributed, was compelled to give up one of its images, in order to enable Santa Anna to fortify the city. This was taken and disposed of to the English bankers, Manning & McIntosh, for 500,000 dollars.

The convent of St. Domingo, one of the most extensive, and heretofore wealthy, institutions of the kind, has been greatly impoverished by the exorbitant contributions extorted from them for the support and maintenance of the war and the government together. The principal padre or priest in the institution told me a few days ago, that this convent alone had been compelled to advance over 400,000: and to accomplish it, they had been forced, in addition to giving up all their ready money, to dispose of some of the most valuable real estate in the city.

Of the social intercourse between the Mexicans and the Americans at the capital, the American Star of the 5th inst. says:-

"We have taken repeated occasion to express our gratification at the evidences, which every day presents, that the Mexican people are fast learning to entertain a more just appreciation of the American character. They evince a disposition to do justice to those who have been calumniated, and to extend to them the courtesies of life. We are speaking rather of the intelligent and cultivated portion of the citizens, than of those who give no tone to society, and exert no influence upon it. Intercourse between the former and educated Americans is fast increasing.

Whether at the theatre or in the streets, it is getting to be no uncommon thing to see an American gentleman by the side of a Mexican or Spanish lady, showing her that attention and courtesy which are the characteristics of the intercourse between ladies and gentlemen in every part of the United States. We say we rejoice at those evidences of kindly and friendly feelings on the part of the intelligent people of the city."

The Mexican places distinguished by the recent victories of the American arms, are pronounced Con-tray-ros, Choo-roo-boos-ko, San Antonio, Mo-leen-yo dal Ray, Cha-pool-te-pec, Poo-a-bla, Wab-ash-la, At-leeth-ko.

The people here (San Angel) are more like home folks than any I have seen; the ladies dress like our own, save that they wear the rebozo in place of a bonnet; they are pretty, modest, and intelligent in their appearance, and retiring in their manners,—not disposed to smile upon the "Americanos del Norte." I think, however, we are gaining their good will. The ladies of this country, so far as my experience goes, are the kindest beings in the world. Frequently I have asked a little favor of the gentlemen, and have often been refused; if there was a lady near, however, she always managed to slip in a word, which was ever a word of kindness, and if she refused them. I knew compliance was impossible. Let me give you one little instance of kindness; it is only a little thing, but it proves the kind feelings which dictated it:-

On our arrival at this place we were much fatigued. I fought through both the battles, and had been without food or sleep for almost forty-eight hours; we found it impossible to get wood to cook; I went to a gentleman near our quarters and begged as a favor that he would sell us enough to cook a single meal, offering him any price for it he might choose to ask. He refused, saying he had none. I was about turning away disappointed, when an old lady, whose very countenance beamed with kindness, whispered in my ear "to wait at the yard door:" I did so, and in a few moments the old lady made her appearance with a servant bearing a large log of dry wood, which served us well until we had an opportunity of purchasing more. I offered her pay, but she refused, appearing to be perfectly happy that she had conferred a favor. There is now a man in the army who was taken prisoner by the Mexicans at Jalapa, and treated by them very roughly in the village where he was confined; he by accident made the acquaintance of an old lady and her daughter; they offered to feed him, and as an especial favor, he was permitted to take his meals at her house, guarded only by a sergeant. The old lady soon planned his escape. She procured horses on a certain evening, and whilst the prisoner was at his meal, the daughter retired to the parlor, and played most beautifully on the harp, and thus beguiled the sergeant from his post, and held him entranced till the prisoner made his escape.

The city of Mexico is to the Mexican people what Paris is to the French; it is "the great city." I was struck with the degree of deep feeling manifested by all classes when it was thought that our victorious army was advancing to attack the garita. I saw an old lady wringing her hands, seeming to be in an agony of distress; I naturally supposed she had lost a son or a husband on the field of Contreras or Churubusco. This was not so-she did not seem to think of, or care for the hundreds of her countrymen who had fallen, and the hundred more who would fall if we attacked the city. No. When asked what was the matter, she pointed to the city with its lovely steeples and domes, and exclaimed, "My beautiful Mexico-must it be laid in ruins?"

Many people in State street, Boston, will remember a lad, named Charles M. Bugbee who, about seven years ago, acquired celebrity, by his enterprise and success in boarding the English steamers, and obtaining the latest papers, which he sold at a handsome advance before the extras could be issued. He is now in the city of Mexico, and acting as the authorized agent of the American Star newspaper. He does not belong to the army, yet has taken part in several engagements. In the last battle before the walls of Mexico, he attracted the notice of Gen. Worth, who, after complimenting his good shots, asked him what regiment he belonged to. "None, sir," replied Charley, "I belong to the press."

Gen. Worth invited him to call at his quarters the next day. Charley did so, and received from the General a present as a testimonial of his approbation of his gallantry in the battle the day before. It was not a bad idea of Charley, to use his "free pass," as a representative of the press, for such a patriotic purpose.

The whole line of march of the force recently under Santa Anna, has been one of robbery and rapine. The soldiers have literally stolen every thing they coveted in the smaller towns and haciendas, the unfortunate inhabitants dreading their approach as much as they would the advance of a division of the very Yankees they have decried so much. One great reason why the Mexican army is kept together at all, is the fact, that singly the soldiers know they must starve, whilst in a body they can rob their own countrymen of at least enough to satisfy the cravings of hunger. Never was there a nation so utterly bankrupt, in money, means and credit, as is this miserable Mexico, and still many of her citizens vapor and fume as though they were of a country as rich in all resources as the fabled lands of antiquity; yet, it is doubtful, at this very time, whether there is money enough in the treasury at Queretaro, to pay the door-keeper his last week's salary. Gen. Quitman had hardly taken possession of the National Palace here before he was beset by crowds of upholsterers, furniture dealers, and other artizans, with requests for permission to remove the different articles with which the apartments were furnished. They proved, incontestibly, that they had received no pay for them. It seems that Santa Anna and his officers, so certain were they of defending the city and defeating the Americans, set to work refurnishing the palace in most gorgeous style, in the early part of July, anticipating the pleasure of celebrating their new victories, and also, their national independence, all on the same day-the 10th of September, their Fourth of July. On that day our own people were in full possession, as conquerors of the Halls of the Montezumas.