Page:Life in Mexico vol 2.djvu/246

226 against Valencia. Paredes, Cortazar, and Juvera are now united, and their forces amount to two thousand two hundred men.

Meanwhile General Valencia, pressed to declare his plan, has replied, that he awaits the announcement of the intentions of Generals Paredes and Santa Anna; and, for his own part, only desires the dismissal of General Bustamante.

This, then, is the position of the three principal pronounced chiefs, on this second day of September of the year of our Lord 1841. Santa Anna in Perote, hesitating whether to advance or retreat, and in fact prevented from doing either, by the vicinity of General Torrejon. Paredes in Queretaro, with the other revolted generals. Valencia in the citadel of Mexico, with his pronunciados; while Bustamante, with Generals Almonte and Canalizo, the mark against which all these hostile operations are directed, is determined, it is said, to fight to the last.

Mexico looks as if it had got a general holiday. Shops are shut up, and all business is at a stand. The people, with the utmost apathy, are collected in groups, talking quietly; officers are galloping about; generals, in a somewhat party-colored dress, with large gray hats, striped pantaloons, old coats, and generals' belts, fine horses and crimson velvet saddles. The shopkeepers in the square have been removing their goods and money. An occasional shot is heard, and sometimes a volley, succeeded by a dead silence. The Archbishop shows his reverend face now and then upon the opposite balcony of his palace, looks out a little while, and then retires.