The New York Herald

The Confirmation of the Capture of Maracalbo.

PUERTO CABELLO, Dec. 2, 1848.

We have received official information of the capitulation of the important city of Maracaibo to the forces of General Paez, commanded by Colonel Andrade. The surrender of this city took place on the 24th of November last, when Colonel Andrade entered the town, at the head of 1,500 men of the constitutional army. The place was taken without striking a blow, and the cause of its having held out so long, was the determination of Colonel Andrade to take the city without bloodshed. Colonel Castelli, the commander of the forces of Monagas, is a prisoner of war in the hands of the constitutionalists, who have also captured a considerable quantity of arms, &c.

The forces of General Paez are thus in possession of the city of Maracaibo and the strong fort of San Carlos, at the entrance of the lake. The Monagas fleet is in what is called the Saco, or outer bay, where they suffer much from the exposed nature of the place, and the want of supplies. The fleet of General Paez is at anchor inside of the lake. Ere long, the fleet of Monagas must attack the fort of San Carlos, or abandon their present position.

General Paez is still at Curaçao, and will leave for this coast, as we are informed, in the latter part of this month, with two steamers and a sloop of war, to join his fleet, and put himself at the head of the army, which is to restore the constitution and order to this oppressed country.

The inhabitants of the Llanos (the Plains) are up in arms against Monagas and in favor of Paez. In Merida, Trujillo, and Barinas, important movements have taken place against the government of Monagas. The eastern part of Venezuela is also much agitated, but we have as yet nothing positive from that quarter.

The government of Monagas has published a new decree, repealing in part the former one, relative to the issue of treasury bonds. By the first decree, these bonds were receivable at par in the custom houses, and by the last decree they are to be received for only 50 per cent, and the balance is to be paid by the government. These bonds were purchased by merchants, chiefly foreigners, to pay duties, on the faith of the decree of Monagas; but as the effect of the measure has been to deprive the Monagas government of the income derived from custom houses, the government have made a new decree, by which purchasers are deprived of the benefits they expected to secure, and are compelled to become creditors of the administration, to a large amount, against their will. This will give you an idea of the financial state of the present government.