IN THE PACIFIC. 135 



by special messenger from Mr. Heaven, who had 

 returned to Tepic. The bearer of this despatch 

 had contrived to evade the sentries during the 

 night, and, running all the way, had reached the 

 coast by a circuitous route. This letter informed 

 me that Lozada had declared war against the 

 Government (a number of bombastic proclama- 

 tions, as usual in like cases, announced this 

 event), and that he had despatched 5000 men to 

 attack Mazatlan; while Lozada himself, at the 

 head of another 5000, had inarched on Guadal- 

 jara, a large city in the interior. Mr. Heaven 

 added that all was quiet in Tepic, and they con- 

 sidered themselves safe for the present. 



Under these circumstances it seemed to me 

 that the ship would be of more service at 

 Mazatlan than at San Bias. I therefore re- 

 turned an answer, informing the residents of 

 my intention of proceeding forthwith to 

 Mazatlan. 



When on the point of sailing I received 

 another letter, signed by the leading merchants 

 in Tepic, to say that affairs had ^assumed a very 



