49 , [ 26 ] 
Several days back I had told my servant to clean my guns and Pistols, 
which still remained loaded, and I had advised him to do it on 
sunny day. When I asked ‘the jandlord, an old resident of Chihuatiua, 
fora eet. place to discharge ‘them, he showed me to a corner of his 
were atoon ‘daily in the habit of ik ge My servant accordingly dis- 
charged the guns this morning, and he selected thi day for no: other 
reason than because it was the first clear and sunny Morning. ‘ Unfortu- 
telligence that the American troops under General Kearny had taken ‘pos- 
n of Santa Fe. The citizens of Chihuahua, not expecting any es 
either malicious or capil Mexicans seeing in. cane Martindeter probably a 
courage meter, and in my sextant a paixhan, had several days ago spread 
a report over town that my scientific observations aimed at a military plan 
of the open and unfortified city, and that I was sent ahead of the Ameri- 
can army asaspy. The discharging of my gun s afforded a new oppor- 
tunity for het jying propensities. ‘hough the duns had been fired off 
_ ia remote corner, without any knowledge of the recent news, without 
3 ctators sae some Mexicans who passed through the yard, sr 
without the least demonstration of any kind to warrant such an opinion, 
the same Mexicans reported. that a salute had been fired in honor of the 
victory in Santa Fe; whereupon fifty brave Mexicans applied to the gov- 
ernor for bea to break into my appartments a and take away my arms 
already for to-night. But the governor, whatever blunders _ he ere 
ble, refused theit request and pieferr rred oe | part way. ce warrant was 
then issued by a judge for the man (ate ad: fired off the guns, As my 
“servant had done it in accordance with my aren took the eee: 
ity of course upon myself, and nea befobe et court. sone exam- 
temiding this, the tose talked 0 sind against t the Americans came off 
that same night. I have’ been somewhat minute in relating these trifling 
matters—-more, perhaps, than will interest the put ic—for the reason that a 
young Elnglishman, from Missouri, who arrived some weeks after me in 
: Chihuahua, and was protected there by his Emglish passport, 
exaggerated, and * Pere: particulars untrue account of it to ’St. Louis, 
Missouri, where i as published, and foond its. way into several | news- 
s. 
r 
But, let us return to our mob. ‘A Mex xican laud is not that short, ol 
hand, killing affair that it isin the “far west” of. aeetiented Seat) it ignather 
an uproarous meeting, @ somewhat irregular process : a 
certain decency, and executed more from. bab of plunder than “thist of 
ood. aio ics soo dark, a large crowd assemt thetpaae; * 
