lot of merchandise and munitions free of duty."[117]  The Mexican press reported considerable smuggling being carried on through Reinosa, then under the control of the Centralist authorities. "The civil authorities," it was reported by El Ancla, "happen to be the most deeply engaged in this illicit trade. The Texans are permitted to bring in goods without paying duty, and they afterwards openly sell, chiefly on account of the government officers."[118]  It was believed that the traitor Canales still held a secret influence over the people of that section of the country, who would not swear against smugglers when apprehended.

From the southwestern frontier it was reported that things were beginning to boom in the vicinity of Copano Bay, and many respectable persons visited in that section of the country "desirous of getting a foot holt there." "The encouragement the Govmt. of Texas had extended to the Federalist[s] has given a new impulse to every thing here," wrote Plummer to Lamar from Victoria.[119]  "The Federalist[s]," he said, "will be able to raise enough men, not only to whip the Centralist[s] but the whole Country across the Río Grande if they desire it. . . . The Feds that I have seen are so well pleased with you, I would not be surprised you were invited over there to take a term as President after your term of service here. The administration now is as popular as it can be."

The Constitution, bearing Canales, sailed from Galveston on May 30,[120]  for Linn's Landing, without the Federalist leader having had a further interview with Lamar as he had desired; but he wrote that he would return shortly, and begged that, in the meantime, his cause be not forgotten. Other vessels in the Federal service were two schooners, the Cornelia and the Abispa (Wasp) and the steamship Pontchartrain, still too disabled for further use.[121]  The Constitution on its return to Galveston without cargo was wrecked on the beach within fifteen miles of Pass Caballo and lost. The Cornelia and Abispa were used in con-