Southport Telegraph

THE GREAT SHOT AT MR. PAINE'S EXPLANATION.

The New York Globe contains a letter from Mr. Henry M. Paine, of North Oxford, Mass, giving his explanation of the causes of the several attempts to assassinate him the past year. Mr. Paine says:

"Some months previous to the late Mexican minister's (Almonte) leaving this country, a negotiation or correspondence had been entered into with him, by certain agents of two foreign powers relative to Mexican affairs; but in the intercourse he (Almonte) was only the second person, being the medium through whom arrangements were made to Santa Anna at Havana and Paredes and others in Mexico. It was deemed more safe to communicate with Santa Anna than the parties in Mexico, and a special messenger was accordingly sent in charge of despatches for Havana.

The special messenger I became acquainted with while doing business with one of the Departments at Washington, and he communicated to me one evening the fact of his mission; adding that he had lost the whole of his outfit at a billiard table the evening before, and that his object in communicating his position, was to get me to assist him to the necessary funds to perform his mission, promising to pay me when he received the balance of his payment. I loaned him the amount required, but I have reason to suppose that it was lost immediately at the gaming table, for the next day he proposed that I should carry the despatches myself and that he would pay me on my return out of the balance coming to him. To this I consented, and the papers were placed in my possession with the strongest injunctions of secrecy to my mission."

Mr. Paine said he had opened these papers; having demanded of their authors what they considered too large a sum for their return they have instigated the attempts to take his life. He has since informed the parties that he has deposited the papers with Clinton DeWitt, Esq., with directions to open them the moment he is dead or missing, and they have finally concluded to redeem the papers at a certain period for a named sum. Mr. Paine adds:

"The time approaches when the money is to be paid—if they meet their engagements I shall mine; if they do not, their high positions and influence will not deter me from attempting to redress myself.

With reference to the contents of the papers, I will take the liberty to remark that they were of nature to enable me to predict, more than six months ago, to the Hon. David Henshaw, Messrs. Clinton DeWitt of New York, and Granville Parker of Worcester, my counsellors, and many others, the present state of affairs in Mexico, and I now confidently state, that within twelve months from this date Santa Anna will be viceroy of Mexico. And further, let the Spanish Government look to it, or Cuba will change masters. With reference to my predictions as to Santa Anna's position within twelve months, I wish to insert this clause: Providing he does not sell, or has not sold his knowledge of British intrigue to the Spanish Government."