American Watchman And Delaware Advertiser

YTURBIDE, EMPEROR OF MEXICO. As the appointment of Augustin Yturbide to the supreme executive authority in Mexico, places him in a station to which all eyes will be directed, curiosity may be perhaps gratified even with some imperfect sketches of his biography; and it may probably afford some pleasure in its sequel.

Augustin Yturbide was born at Valladolid in Mexico, about the year 1790; for we find him in 1810, a lieutenant in the army. His father, who still lives in his 84th year, at Valladolid, was Joseph Joachim Yturbide, a native of Biscay in Spain, who passed from Europe in 1763, at the age of twenty three years, to Mexico; and married a Creole lady of considerable fortune in that city, of whom Augustin is the offspring, and who was educated at the collegiate seminary of his native city. He attended with his father, to the employments of an agricultural life—by which his constitution was trained to hardiness; and his habits were formed to military exercises in the militia of his province, composed principally of cavalry: from a pen with which the American people are familiar, we have obtained some of the chief traits of the character of the generalissimo of Mexico.

Young Yturbide was distinguished among his contemporaries of the same age, as the leader in all youthful enterprizes; excelling in athletic exercises and equally distinguished in taming the wild horse, as in extending his mind to the promotion and improvement of agriculture, which formed the occupation of his father.

He was a lieutenant in 1810; but there was so much disorder and such want of system in the revolutionary corps, that he deemed it useless to commit himself under such a state of disorganization.—He left his native province for the capital of Mexico; but his history in the interval, between this period and when we find him at the head of a division and attacked by Morelos, at the village of Marabario, we have not means to ascertain. The defence which he made on that occasion with a handful of troops, very much distinguished him,—made him known to the government—led him to the rank of colonel, and he was thenceforward usually in the command of a brigade, from the opinion that had been conceived of his intrepidity and enterprise.

The talents which he had displayed, and the confidence he had obtained, excited jealousies and subjected him to the influence of base intriguers of inferior qualifications, such as are found in all armies, in all countries: for everywhere, the man who possesses more than ordinary faculties or virtues, must always calculate upon being feared and hated; he was deprived of the command of Bahia—the injustice was endured without complaint; he repaired to the neighborhood of the capital, and occupied himself on a handsome plantation: where his character was too much distinguished to be long obscure.—From his farm he was invited to take command of an army destined for the South; by which we understand, that force which he marched to Acapulco in 1819-20. The minute circumstances of his understanding with the then viceroy Apodaca, are not so well ascertained as to authorise any specification—but on this march it appears that he matured those plans which he had long conceived for the total emancipation and independence of Mexico;—which produced the memorable plan of Iguala, of which equality of rights for all persons,—Indians, Mulattos and Negroes, as well as whites,—is the main characteristical feature; and upon this comprehensive plan, which united all interests and promised protection to all—to the soldiery promotion to the priests their authority over souls, to the titled their titles, to the merchants bounties, to the planters commerce, and to the various classes of laborers liberty; all were consulted, named and respected;—and all interests were reconciled.

Augustin Yturbide is full five feet ten inches high erect, well proportioned and full formed, rather athletic than light; combining the muscular force of Hercules with the elegant contour of Apollo; his motion is manly and graceful—easy and unaffected; his complexion a light brunette, and his visage a fine turned oval, animated by a playful, speaking, hazel eye, indicative of quickness and a warm heart: in his manner more persuasive than imperative,—neither presuming nor assuming too much, he insensibly brings those up to his level with whom he converses, and never fails to excite great attachment. His military operations are characterised by vigilance, patience and perseverance; and when he strikes it is with the decision of thunder: in the most critical and hazardous situations, he is composed, collected and smiling at danger—the fears and jealousies, natural to a people emerging from despotism to independence, have ascribed to him a sinister ambition, incompatible with free government. Yet he has very recently, as above noticed, publicly renounced his determination to terminate his political career by following the example of our great exemplar Washington.

These are the principal features of character, which we have been able to collect;—they are, no doubt, imperfect: but they are, beyond doubt, correct.—Aurora.