General Mexier was strongly devoted to the liberty of his country, and, being one of the firmest adherents to the free Constitution of 1824, was banished the country by Santa Anna, and sought an asylum in the United States, where he remained several months. In the year 1835 he raised an expedition in New-Orleans, and made a descent upon Tampico, where he was defeated, losing a considerable portion of his force in killed and prisoners. Twenty-seven of these unfortunate prisoners were afterward shot by order of Santa Anna. General Mexier escaped the misfortunes of the day, and again reached New-Orleans. Subsequently he sailed with more success against Tampico, that place declaring for the Constitution of 1824. At this time the Governor of Puebla invited him to join forces and move against the capital. This treachery was concocted between Santa Anna and the latter; and when Mexier reached the mountain pass, a short distance from this spot, he found Santa Anna and his legions to oppose him. He made a determined resistance, but at length had to yield to superior numbers. Santa Anna offered him his life, provided he would swear allegiance to his central despotism. His answer was worthy of Leonidas himself: "No, sir," said he; "I will oppose you as long as I have an arm to strike for liberty." Thus fell this brave man, whose history I learned from an intelligent [233] United States citizen who had travelled subsequently in Mexico.

We were hungry and tired, and sent out to a meson to purchase supper, which was contracted for at twenty-five cents each for sixteen. After much delay it was brought into our prison, about enough for three hungry men, and from the whispering consultations between our red-eyed officer, it was clear that he divided our four dollars with the sutler.

Upon the walls of our prison-room we found inscribed many names of our countrymen, who had preceded us in the Santa Fé Expedition.7 In this, as well as in many other prisons upon our long march, we amused ourselves at our countrymen's genius for drawing. The "magnanimous nation" suffered whenever they could procure a piece of charcoal and a white wall. In all the caricatures the tyrant Santa Anna had a conspicuous place. At one time they had him crouched in a Texas prairie, hiding from the sons of freedom; at another they had him upon his knees, yielding up his sword with a most penitential phiz; and again they had him stalking forth upon his wooden leg, under a chapeau extremely ludicrous from its immense size, with a huge sword, dictating laws to his enslaved countrymen.

March 23d. This morning our assassin-looking officer had us badly swindled in the hire of some poverty-stricken burras, she asses. Our friend, Dr. Shepherd, happened to get the most fiery of these animals, which seemed to be known to our guards; [234] and when he was mounted upon the aparejo, without stirrups or bridle, and not suspecting any trick, one of the fellows speared the animal behind, which, with a sudden flirt, landed the doctor in the dust, much to the