Humboldt, Bullock and other European travellers have furnished ex cellent descriptions of numerous ancient monuments, which show that the native Mexicans, before the loss of their independence, had been in some respects a comparatively civilized and ingenious people. Among the most extraordinary are pyramids somewhat similar in exterior form to those of Egypt, and in some instances even of larger dimensions. The base of the Pyramid of Cholula is a square of 1,423 feet on each side, and its height is estimated at 177 feet. A far more elegant building of similar shape is situated in the north part of the State of Vera Cruz; it is formed of large blocks of porphyry highly polished and arranged in six stages, diminishing in size with the elevation, and having all its materials most nicely adjusted. The base is a square of 82 feet on the sides and 65 feet high, and the ascent to the top is by a flight of 57 stairs; the front is richly adorned with hieroglyphics and curious sculpture. The mountains of Tezcuco are nearly covered with the remains of ancient buildings and cities. The ruins of Palenque in Chiapas, near the Rio Chacamas, a branch of the Usumasinta, extend upwards of 20 miles along the ridge of a mountain; and their architecture resembles more that of Europe than Mexico. The remains of the Aztec city, called by the Spaniards "La Casa Grande," are to be seen about a league to the south of the Rio Gila in the State of Sonora. They are spread over a space of more than a square league. In the centre is the Teocalli, laid down according to the cardinal points, its sides being 445 feet by 276 feet. It has three stories and a terrace, but no stairs. Within are five apartments, each 27 feet long, 11 feet broad, and 11 feet high. A wall with towers surrounds the main building. The traces of an artificial canal to the river are visible. neighboring plain is strewed with red, blue and white earthenware, and pieces of obsidian, which prove that the Aztecs had passed through a country abounding in this volcanic substance before they dwelt on this spot, previous to their final settlement in Mexico. In the western part of the state of Chihuahua are similar ruins of great extent, which are also considered to have been the site of one of the temporary stations of the Aztecs in their migration southward. Besides sculptures, vases of different forms, sometimes even elegant, have been found similar to those of Etruria and Egypt. Roads formed of large hewn blocks of stone may be traced, not only in the neighborhood of those ruined cities, but at great distances from them. The Near San Domingo de Palenque, a village in Las Chiapas, are the imposing ruins of an ancient city named Culhuacan, which, after having been buried for ages in the thick forest, were first discovered in 1787. The ruins present the most curious and most remarkable monuments of the new world, consisting of temples, fortifications, tombs, pyramids, bridges, aqueducts, houses, vases, idols, medals, musical instruments, colossal statues, and well-executed figures in low reliefs, (basso relievo,) adorned with characters which appear to be real hieroglyphics. Everything announces that the city was formerly the residence of a people far advanced in architectural skill, in sculpture and painting, a people whose tall and elegant figures and fine proportions, bear no resemblance to anything Asiatic, African or Malay. The ruins, as previously remarked, extend for more than 20 miles along the summit of a mountain ridge, which separates the country of the Mayas from the state of Chiapas, and must, anciently, have included a city and the suburbs.-(See Stephens' Central America.) The earliest traditions preserved respecting Mexico, inform us that in the year 648 it was settled by the Toltecans, a tribe of Indians from the Rocky Mountains, who fixed themselves, after several migrations, near the present city of Mexico. They named the country the Anahuac, and, after flourishing here for near 400 years, they were either exterminated or abandoned the country, not, however, before having imparted some degree of civilization to the barbarous Chichemecas, who arrived about 1170, and who were the next possessors of the soil. These were again displaced by the Acochuans, who appeared about the year 1200, and drove out the last occupants. The Aztecs arrived in California in 1196, and gradually found their way southward, and in 1325 founded their chief city, on the Island of Tenochtitlan, and called it Mexico, in honor of Mexitli, their god of battles. This antion ripidly increased in power, and if the remains of monuments and large cities were a just test of civilization, the Aztecs might claim to tina ben among the nations of antiquity. But they had invented no apeiset, and had nothing better than a rude species of picture writing to recort events, and were ignorant even of the use of metals. Their barbarism wis consoleious in their sacrifices of the human species; no grand event of you or grief could be complete without the flowing of human blood and roasting the dead carcase on the fires of the teocallis. Montezuma I., one of their greatest kings, extended his empire from the Gulf to the Pacific; but it must be stated, at the same time, that many of the conquered nations recictum voceved his sway, and were ever ready to revolt. Such, briefly, was the suite of the country on the first arrival of the Europeans. The congrest of this mighty empire was completed by Fernandez Cortez, who arrived at Vera Cruz in 1521, with a small, but resolute force. Here he was met by a messenger from the great monarch, who had been despatched to ascertain his motives, and to command him to withdraw. But Cortes refused to return until he had communicated with Montezuma himseil, and at once set out for the capital. His next step was to form a junction with the Tlascalans, who were at war with Mexico. This effected, he continued his journey, and having got the king into his possession, used hon as a means to subjugate the empire. Outraged at the conduct of the Spaniards, the Mexicans flew to arms, and succeeded in driving the invader from the Aztec territory, but in the melee the emperor himself was killed. Cortez retreated to Tlascala to recruit his forces. Returning with a large body of Indians, and brigantines to navigate Lake Tezcuco, he recommenced the siege, and after a desperate resistance of seventy-five days, succeeded in capturing the city, and on the fall of the city the empire was at an end. Province after province submitted, and the Spanish power, in an incredible short time, was established from Vera Cruz to the Pacific. Cortez, on his return to Spain, was received with the highest honors, but he was ultimately neglected by the emperor; and, alas! for the gratitude of princes! the great conqueror of Mexico died at Seville in obscurity and want, while his enemies were reaping the benefit of those gallant deeds, which have rendered the name of Cortez famous in American history. Under the Spanish arrangements, Mexico was, as a subordinate kingdom, governed by a viceroy, with powers nearly equal to those of the sovereign, Checked only by the residentia, or court of investigation, before which he was able to be called to account for his administration on his return home, and by the audiencia, or court of final appeal, in Mexico. By these ngements, also, the natives were to be considered as freemen and vassals the crown; and the Spanish discoverers, settlers, and their posterity, were to have a preference in all civil and ecclesiastical appointments. The natives were thus, in fact, excluded from holding all offices of trust or profit. The great object of the Spanish government was to keep the country in the hands of the European or white population; and the means adopted to effect this purpose, were, 1st. To discourage native manufactures, for the benefit of those belonging to the mother-country. 2dly. To make all the ecclesiastical establishments wholly dependent on the king, without any interference of the Pope. The growth of hemp, flax, and saffron, was prohibited, under severe penalties; that of tobacco was made a government monopoly. The cultivation of the vine and olive was likewise prohibited; that of coffee, cocoa and indigo, tolerated only under certain restrictions, and in such quantities as might suffice for the demands of the mother country. This system was retained nearly three centuries; during which Mexico continued to be a blank in the history of nations, and known only by the issue of the precious metals. The entrance of the French into Spain, and the abdication of Charles VI., gave the death-blow to the Spanish authority in America. The natives and colored population saw in this that the time was at hand for them to assert their rights to be freemen, which was opposed by the audiencia, by whom also the viceroy was arrested, sent to Spain, and confined in prison until the general amnesty. An open insurrection against the European authority broke out in 1810, at the head of which were Hidalgo and Morelos, two priests of New Spain; and under the auspices of the latter, the first national Congress assembled at Chilpanzingo, in 1813. One of its earliest acts was to declare the independence of Mexico. For several years the history of the Mexican Revolution is only a record of sanguinary struggles leading to no decisive result. At length in 1821, Augustin Iturbide, who had previously been a royalist, declared suddenly in favor of the liberals, and published his famous PLAN OF IGUALA, in favor of a constitutional monarchy. His cause met with a favorable reception, and he succeeded, not only in installing a National Congress, but also prevailed on that body to raise him to the throne, under the title of Augustin I. His arbitrary acts, after his elevation, however, soon caused a revulsion in the minds of the people, which, finding it impossible to repress, he abdicated. He was not only allowed to withdraw from the country, but rewarded for his past services by an annual allowance of £5,000, accompanied, however, with an edict of outlawry in case of return. In spite, however, of this prohibition, he returned clandestinely, and was soon discovered, apprehended, and shot. On the downfall of Iturbide the Congress re-assembled, and appointed a provisional executive of three persons: Victoria, Bravo, and Negrete, all men of approved patriotism. The government was remodelled, and a constitution formed on principles much similar to those of the constitution of the United States. This was completed and published 2d Feb., 1824, and Mexico commenced anew a promising career. The internal history of Mexico, from this period, presents one continued theme of revolution, rapine and bloodshed. War has been the every-day employment of the several political parties, whose sole object has been. to gain the victory for the sake of the spoils, not for the benefit of the country; and such has been the arbitrary acts of the mushroom governments that have sprung from the revolutions of the day, and such has been the general disgust, that state after state seceded from the confederacy California, Yucatan and Texas, led the way-others followed, and eternal war was the result, now one party and then the other, being successively victorious. Finally, Texas not only asserted her independence, but maintained it, and in 1846 was annexed to the United States. Mexico madly proclaimed war with that nation also, and was well-chastised for its presumption, by the invasion of her territory and the conquest of the whole country. Peace, however, has returned; but, as an indemnity, the American Union has seized on California and New Mexico, and have effected a treaty of cession by the payment of a small amount of money. Such is the sad history of this pseudo republic. Can any one wonder at the debasing picture presented of her condition and resources-the laxity of the people's morals-the bankruptcy of her treasury-and all the evils by which she is beset? The only wonder is that, as a state, she yet encumbers the map of nations. The following complete list of the chief executives, since the revolution, will tend to exhibit, in the rapid succession of rulers, the disturbances which must have occurred to produce such a result : 1821, August..... Augustin Iturbide, 1823 President of Regency Provisional Executive. 1825, April....... Fernandez Guadalupe Victoria, President of Mexico. 1829, December. 1832, March.. Vicente Guerrero," Anastasio Bustamente, (acting,) .....Gomez Pedraza, 1833, May... . Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, 1836, Barragan, (acting,) Anastasio Bustamente, Valentin Gomez Farias, Anastasio Bustamente, 1840, 1841, May. 1843, . Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, 1845, January.. 64 Jose Joaquin de Herrera, (ad interim,) June 12th. 1846, January.... Nicolas Bravo, (ad interim,) -- June 12th.. Marino Paredes y Arrillaga, Dec. 24th..... Val. Gomez Farias, (V. P. & acting,) 1847, March 23d.. Ant. Lop. de Santa Anna, (provisional,) The several states composing the Mexican confederacy will now claim a short notice. • Gomez Pedraza had been elected, but Guerrero, who headed a revolution, overthrew the election, and caused himself to be proclaimed. Pedraza was restored by Santa Anna. in 1832. THE STATE OF TAMAULIPAS. THIS state stretches along the Gulf of Mexico from the Rio Grande del Norte to the Rio Tampico, and from the coast from 100 to 150 miles inland, within which limits is a superficial area of 35,100 square miles and a population of more than 100,000 persons. Previous to the late war with America, the northern boundary of Tamaulipas was the Rio Nueces, but by the treaty of 1848, the Rio Grande was made the dividing line between this and the State of Texas, now one of the United States. The surface of the country is generally level, and with the exception of the hill near the mouth of the Santander, on its southern bank, no considerable elevation occurs. Tamaulipas is well adapted for commerce and agriculture it has an extensive sea-board, and were it not for the bars at the entrances of the rivers, ships of considerable burden might enter its streams. In the western parts of the state, the chief occupation of the inhabitants is farming and cattle feeding: the soil and climate are well adapted for the production of both tropical fruits and the cereals of more temperate regions. Besides the cattle on the ranchos, vast herds roam over the common lands, and are hunted by the half-Indians for the spoils of skin and tallow. The principal ports of Tamaulipas are Matamoras, on the Rio Grande, and Soto la Marina and Tampico, on the gulf, but they are all difficult of access, from their bars as well as the continual surf and the northers' which prevail during the winter season. The PORT OF MATAMORAS, perhaps the best in the state, is about 70 miles up the Rio Grande, on its west bank, and was, during the late war, in the occupation of the Americans from its capture, in 1846, to the conclusion of peace, in 1848. The capacities of this port have been highly spoken of, and were it not for the obstructions at the mouth of the river, it might become the centre of great trade. The town is handsome and well built, and at a distance, appears as a succession of fortified castles. It contains numerous churches and convents. Many of the peculiarities of the Americans have been adopted by the people: they have established schools for the education of all, and much improved on the old method of police and cleansing the streets. Population, 20,000. TAMPICO DE TAMAULIPAS, on the river of the same name, and near its mouth, is a town of recent date, but the commercial advantages of its position have caused its rapid rise and prosperity. Several English and Amercan houses are established at this port, and a trade of some extent is carried on both with Great Britain and the United States. The town as yet is of small dimensions, and contains a limited population, but when its capacities. are better understood, its progress will be greatly accelerated. The River Panuco is navigable for 70 or 80 miles above Tampico. SOTO LA MARINA is a port on the Santander River, and is chiefly the resort of coasters. The trade here carried on is of little consideration. VICTORIA, OF NEW-SANTANDER, the capital, is situated about 30 miles up the Santander, and has a population of about 4,000. Its commercial capacities are very limited. |