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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
The author is General l\Iirabeau B. Lamar. Those who are ac- quainted with him know that reason and impartiality have always dic- tated his literary works; and that, although born in a foreign country he writes our language properly and correctly. Again, his reputation as a distinguished writer would be sufficient to present him to our readers in an advantageous light, did his name not already belong to the future by occupying a page in the political history of the Amer- ican union, not only as an able statesman and an orator of genius and enthusia!lm, but also as a valiant champion of the rights and inde- pendence of Texas. .From its beginning the work was intended for the people of Mexico and was carried on in moments in which this country was fighting against tyranny, without any other object than that of aiding its sacred cause [by J revealing to the nation the true character of its despotic oppressor. \Yith this purpose in view, the work not only was written in Spanish, but it was written, as you will see, in a simple style, adapted to the majority of readers, and without any literary pre- tension. The protagonist of the work having been later expelled from the country, the author ceased his work, and his friends could not per- suade him to resume it. It is to be lamented that he did not continue it, for the reason that no one could better trace that part of our hero's career which relates to the invasion of Texas than General Lamar. Under these circumstances, after procuring the manuscript for the pur- pose of reading it, and with the conviction that its publication, even in its incomplete state, could serve the cause of truth, we have suc- ceeded in obtaining the permission of the author to giYe it to the public on our own responsibility. Lovers of the country in which Cortes raised the standard of civili- zation at the sound of thundering artillery, having sympathy for the people .who have for three centuries dragged the heavy chains of an unjust monarchy, and being desirous of sending up the cry of hope and courage to those who aspire to destroy the power which the sword of the soldier and the precept of the priest still have in :Mexico, as a lamentable consequence of its past condition, we do not doubt for a moment that the present book with its philosophic tendency and his- torical exactness will be of importance and general usefulness in a nation where the press, in scorn of republican institutions, is sub- jected in ·permanent slavery to the imperial will of an ignorant and egotistical clergy, and to the mercenary caprice of mandarins. ' The work is divided into two parts. The first opens philosophically and logically with the beginning of the revolution in ~Iexico, and closes patriotically and gloriously-with its independence of Spanish despotism. The second part contains a detailed narration of the life and deeds of General Santa Anna from his early years to the beginning of the invasion of Texas, and is enlivened by numerous anecdotes which often bring a smile to the lips. The author does not pretend to con- ceal the hatred with which his hero inspires him; but one cannot doubt the truth and exactness of every particular in the book in view of the fact that they have all been culled from the most authentic documents and most creditable sources. As a timely appendix to the work we have thought proper to co~- clude by copying the letter which General Lamar wrote to the Pres1-
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