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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/33322-8.txt b/33322-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..39fec96 --- /dev/null +++ b/33322-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2271 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Observations on the Present State of the +Affairs of the River Plate, by Thomas Baines + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Observations on the Present State of the Affairs of the River Plate + +Author: Thomas Baines + +Release Date: August 2, 2010 [EBook #33322] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OBSERVATIONS ON THE PRESENT *** + + + + +Produced by Adrian Mastronardi and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + OBSERVATIONS + ON THE PRESENT STATE + OF THE + AFFAIRS + OF + THE RIVER PLATE. + + BY + THOMAS BAINES. + + + "Malheur au siècle, témoin passif d'une lutte héroïque, qui + croirait qu'on peut sans péril, comme sans pénétration de + l'avenir, laisser immoler une nation." + CHATEAUBRIAND. + + + LIVERPOOL: + PRINTED AND PUBLISHED AT THE LIVERPOOL TIMES OFFICE, + CASTLE STREET. + + 1845. + + + + + OBSERVATIONS + ON + THE PRESENT STATE OF + THE AFFAIRS OF THE RIVER PLATE. + + +The destructive war which has now been waged for so many years, by the +Chief of the Province of Buenos Ayres against the Republic of Uruguay, +involves questions of so much importance to the commercial interests, +and to the national honour of England, that nothing can account for the +very slight attention which it has received from Parliament and the +press, except the fact that many of the principal considerations +connected with it have never yet been fully brought before the British +public. In order to supply this deficiency, and to show how much it +concerns the character of this country that this war should at once be +brought to a close in the only manner in which it can be ended; that is, +by the prompt and decided interference of the Governments of France and +England, I have thought that it might be useful to lay before the public +the following observations and documents, explanatory of the principles +involved in the war; of the conduct pursued by Mr. Mandeville, the +British Minister to the Argentine Confederation, at the most critical +period of its progress; and of the strong and rapidly-increasing +interest which this country, and more especially the port of Liverpool, +has in the preservation of the threatened independence of the Republic +of Uruguay. + +Most of the readers of these remarks are no doubt aware that the +Province of the Banda Oriental, or eastern bank of the River Plate, was +first constituted an independent state, under the title of the Republic +of Uruguay, at the close of the war between the Argentine Confederation +and the Empire of Brazil, in the year 1828. This arrangement was in a +great measure brought about by the good offices of Lord Ponsonby, the +Ambassador of the British Government to the Court of Rio, and the result +of his negociations was so agreeable to the English Government, that +the peace thus concluded was made a subject of congratulation in the +speech from the throne in the year 1829. The principal object in forming +this new Republic was, to put an end to the destructive war between +Buenos Ayres and Brazil, originating in the claims put forward by both +these countries to the possession of the Province of the Banda Oriental. +The Brazilians, who had had possession of it for several years, were +naturally unwilling to have so warlike and powerful a state as the +Argentine Republic on their most vulnerable frontier, and the Argentines +were not less unwilling to have the Brazilian frontier pushed more than +a hundred leagues up the River Plate, and within the limits of the +ancient Viceroyalty of Paraguay, which had for ages been occupied by the +Spanish race. As the only effectual solution of these difficulties, the +English Government proposed that the Banda Oriental should be rendered +independent of both countries, and this, after some negociation, was +agreed to by all the parties concerned. + +The primary object of the mediation of the English Government was the +re-establishment and preservation of peace and amity between two +nations, with both of which England had valuable commercial relations; +and this object has been completely gained by the arrangement then +effected. During the sixteen years which have elapsed since the treaty +was concluded, no serious difference has occurred between Brazil and the +Argentine Confederation, nor is any likely to occur so long as the +barrier of an independent state is interposed between them. It is only +during the last two years that serious discussions have arisen between +them, and these have originated in the fears of Brazil, lest the +successes of the Buenos Ayrean army, now before Monte Video, should be +such as to break down the barrier established by the Ponsonby treaty, +and again to bring the Buenos Ayreans on the frontiers of Rio Grande. +From apprehension of this event, the Brazilian Government has allowed +General Paz, with his military staff, to pass through its territory to +place himself at the head of the Correntino insurgents, who have risen +against Rosas, and made common cause with Monte Video; it has also +recalled Admiral Grenfell, its commander in the River Plate, as well as +its diplomatic agent at Monte Video, for engaging in an ill-timed +quarrel with the Monte Videan Government; and if the Buenos Ayrean army +should succeed in gaining possession of the city of Monte Video, it will +in all probability, whether backed or not by England and France, decide +to take part in the war, rather than allow General Rosas to succeed in +the designs which he now avows on the Republics of Uruguay and Paraguay, +the two bulwarks of the western provinces of the Brazilian empire. +Notwithstanding the recent victories of the Brazilian General, Baron +Caxias, over the rebels of Rio Grande dó Sul, that province is still in +a very unsettled state--far too much so to be safely exposed to the +machinations of such dangerous neighbours as Generals Rosas and Oribe. +It may, therefore, be confidently expected, that if the great naval +powers do not interpose, the progress of events will again bring on a +war between Brazil, strengthened by the army of Uruguay, under General +Rivera, that of Corrientes under General Paz, and the forces of Paraguay +on one side; and Buenos Ayres on the other, backed by those other +provinces of the Argentine Confederation, which still follow the +fortunes of General Rosas. + +What the result of such a war would be no one can predict, but its first +consequence would be another blockade of Buenos Ayres, by the Brazilian +fleet, its next the reinforcement of the garrison of Monte Video by a +detachment of Brazilian troops, and its probable final result, after the +whole of the countries engaged in it had been thoroughly ruined, the +establishment of the ascendancy either of the government of Buenos +Ayres, or of that of Brazil at Monte Video. This would be alike opposed +to the wishes and the interests of the Monte Videans themselves, to the +interests of a large portion of South America, and to those of the +nations trading with it. A small Independent State, like the Republic of +Uruguay, governed as it has ever been since the date of its independence +on the most liberal commercial principles, is the best of all checks on +the commercial illiberality of the neighbouring countries, and is much +too valuable to be sacrificed by the Government of any commercial nation +which has at heart the prosperity of its subjects. + +If it should be said that neutral nations have no right to interpose +between belligerents, even for the purpose of preserving the national +independence of the weaker, I answer, that no longer since than last +year, the Government of this country was prepared to have interposed, if +it had been necessary, in order to preserve the independence of the +Empire of Morocco; and that the Government of France fully admitted the +right of England to do so in such a case, by giving a promise beforehand +that it would not use its victory either to conquer the territory or to +destroy the independence of the offending state. The reason why England +was prepared to resist the conquest of Morocco was, that such a conquest +would have seriously endangered her interests and influence in the +Mediterranean; and one principal reason why she should interfere to +prevent the conquest of Monte Video by the army and squadron of Buenos +Ayres is, that such a conquest would jeopardise her valuable commerce +and her influence in the River Plate, the only outlet of regions larger +than all the great Kingdoms of Western Europe united. Brazil has the +same right to interpose that Austria would have to resist the conquest +of Sardinia, or Prussia the conquest of Belgium, by France. + +Many advantages have resulted both to the commerce of foreign nations, +and to the prosperity of the people of Uruguay, from the recognition of +its independence both of Buenos Ayres and Brazil, which were not +anticipated at the time when it was established, the whole of which, as +we shall show, will be lost if it is allowed to be absorbed by or placed +in dependence on Buenos Ayres. Amongst these advantages are the +following:-- + +The creation of an Independent State on the eastern bank of the River +Plate has given the commercial nations of Europe trading with those vast +countries of South America, whose only means of intercourse with the +rest of the world is through that River, a greatly increased security +against being again cut off from communication with them, as they were +during the Brazilian blockade, in the years 1825, 6, and 7. At that +time, both banks of the river were involved in the war, the city of +Monte Video being in the hands of the Brazilians, and the Province which +now forms the Republic of Uruguay being in arms against them. The +consequence of this state of things was, that the whole of the countries +watered by the great rivers Parana, Paraguay, Uruguay, and their +innumerable tributary streams, as well as the provinces of Buenos Ayres +and Monte Video, were cut off from all communication with Europe for +nearly three years, and that the great commerce which even then was +carried on by England and other nations with those countries, was for +the time destroyed. Some notion may be formed of the inconvenience which +this country alone sustained from the blockade of the river, from the +following facts. In the years 1822, 3, 4, and 5, the four years +preceding it, the average annual value of the exports from England to +the River Plate, was £909,330, whilst in 1826, 7, and 8, during the +blockade, it fell to £279,463, and in 1827, to £150,000, and even that +small remnant of trade was carried on by vessels which broke the +blockade. At a subsequent period, namely, in the years 1838-9, and 40, +there was again a blockade in the River Plate, established by France, a +power much more capable of making a blockade respected than Brazil, but +as the east bank of the river was no longer under the control of Buenos +Ayres, which was the power against whom the blockade was directed, the +evils resulting from it were comparatively small. Foreign ships were +still able to proceed to Monte Video, (thanks to the independence of +Uruguay), and thus, although one line of intercourse with the interior +was cut off by the blockade of the port of Buenos Ayres, the other up +the river Uruguay was kept open. In consequence of this, the evils of +the blockade were, in a great measure, confined to the city of Buenos +Ayres and its immediate neighbourhood, for the eastern bank of the river +flourished more than ever, the communication with the interior was never +closed, and the commerce of the nations trading with those countries +continued to increase. When it is considered (and it ought never to be +lost sight of,) that the commerce of foreign nations with the whole of +the central regions of South America depends entirely on the keeping +open one or other of these lines of communication, it will be seen that +it is a matter, not merely of national but of universal importance, +though in an especial manner to England, to maintain the entire +independence of Monte Video of Buenos Ayres, so as to diminish as much +as possible the danger of both being closed at the same time and by the +same political events. We say the entire independence of Monte Video, +for though the nominal independence of the country might be preserved, +even if the Buenos Ayrean army, under General Oribe, should get +possession of the city of Monte Video, that officer would be compelled +to lean on General Rosas for support to protect him against the majority +of his fellow countrymen, who are now in arms against him quite as much +as the chiefs of the Banda Oriental were in 1826, 7, and 8, compelled to +lean on Buenos Ayres for protection against the arms of Brazil; and to +follow the fortunes of Buenos Ayres in any war in which General Rosas +might involve himself, either with Brazil or any of the nations of +Europe. This would again be fatal to the trade of the River Plate. + +It is not generally known, although it is very important that it should +be, that this trade amounted in 1842, including both imports and +exports, to upwards of Three Millions sterling, at the port of Monte +Video alone. It is still, however, in its infancy, and requires nothing +but a few years of peace, with the introduction of steam navigation on +the Parana, the Uruguay, and their tributaries,[A] to give it an +extension which will render it of vital importance to the merchants and +manufacturers of England. The Parana and the Paraguay, together, are +known to be navigable to Assumption, which is fifteen hundred miles +above Buenos Ayres, to vessels drawing nine feet water, and there is +every reason to believe that both those rivers might be navigated a +thousand miles higher by iron steamers, such as those recently built at +Birkenhead, by order of the East India Company, for the navigation of +the Indus and the Sutlej, the former of which, when carrying guns and +troops, draw only four feet water, the latter of which, when loaded in +the same manner, not more than two and a half. The Uruguay is equally +navigable for several hundred miles to the Salto Chico, (the little +leap), and if a short canal was cut, to turn that rapid and the much +more formidable one of the Salto Grande,[B] it would be navigable for +many hundred miles above the Falls. Several of the tributaries of these +gigantic streams are larger than the Rhine, the Elbe, or the Tagus, and +great numbers of them than the Thames or the Mersey, and the whole of +this vast net-work of waters is connected with the still more stupendous +river of the Amazons, by a short portage to the Madeira, one of the +principal tributaries of that king of rivers. The natural products which +these unrivalled lines of river communication might be made the means of +bringing to the ports on the Rivers Plate and Amazons are varied and +inexhaustible. In addition to the large supplies of hides, wool, tallow, +and provisions, which these countries now furnish, Paraguay and +Corrientes are capable of supplying the finest timber for ship-building +purposes, sugar the growth of free labour, the best kinds of tobacco, +cotton-wool, dyewoods, drugs, the tea of Paraguay, and the precious +metals from Bolivia and the back provinces of Brazil. It is now only +twenty or thirty years since steam navigation was introduced on the +Mississippi, and the consequence of its introduction has been an +extension of cultivation and population such as the world never before +saw. The natural resources of the great valleys of the Parana, Paraguay, +and Uruguay, merely require to be developed by the same means to make +Monte Video and Buenos Ayres as flourishing as New Orleans, and to make +the commerce of the River Plate rival that of the Mississippi. It is +perhaps vain to hope that anything will induce the present Governor of +Buenos Ayres to abandon the suicidal policy which is at once impeding +the intercourse with the interior, and depriving that city of the +principal benefits of its unrivalled position, but this only renders it +the more necessary to keep open the only other course, namely, that +through the Uruguay, by which the resources of these vast countries can +be brought into activity. + +For another of the great advantages which has resulted from the +independence of Monte Video, has been the opening of a new channel for +the commercial intercourse between Europe and the central states of +South America, in peace as well as in war; and this channel the Monte +Videan Government has laboured to improve and keep open, as zealously +and as successfully as the Buenos Ayrean Government has laboured to +narrow and impede the old ones. The Buenos Ayrean Government has been +warned repeatedly by its warmest friends of the consequences which would +result from its illiberal commercial policy; but they might just as well +have reasoned with the winds; for, the only effect of the contrast +between the rapidly increasing prosperity of Monte Video and the +declining state of Buenos Ayres, has been to excite the most deadly +hatred and jealousy towards Monte Video on the part of the Buenos Ayrean +Government, and a settled determination to drag down that rapidly +improving city to its own level. The following sketch of the commercial +policy of the two countries will show what have been the principal +causes of the prosperity of Monte Video, and what of the decline of +Buenos Ayres; and also how strong a claim the policy of the former gives +it on the sympathy and support of this country. + +A large portion of the revenue, both of Monte Video and of Province of +Buenos Ayres, is raised by taxes on the importation of foreign goods, +and the rate of duties is not excessive in either case. It is not on +this account that any one complains of the Buenos Ayrean Government, but +because it confines foreign commerce to the single port of Buenos Ayres, +and excludes both foreigners and foreign vessels from the other ports of +the Confederation, as strictly as the Chinese formerly excluded them +from every port except Canton. This it is able to effect by its command +over the entrance to the river Parana, the direct route to Entre Rios, +Corrientes, and the other provinces of the Confederation. Whilst the +provincial Government of Buenos Ayres thus excludes all foreign vessels +from the Parana, and as far as its control extends from the Uruguay, it +claims the right to expend the whole of the customs' revenue raised at +Buenos Ayres. The upper provinces very naturally consider this unjust, +and insist on having either a share of the revenue collected at Buenos +Ayres (somewhat on the principle adopted amongst the states of the +German Zollverein), or on having a general Congress of all the provinces +of the Confederation to decide how the money shall be distributed. This +General Rosas and his adherents refuse, and this refusal, coupled with +the equally positive refusal of the same parties to allow foreign +vessels to ascend the river, is one principal cause of the frequent wars +between the states of the Argentine Confederation on the banks of the +river and the Government of Buenos Ayres, one of which is now raging +between it and Corrientes. In this way the commerce with the interior is +continually interrupted. The policy of the Monte Videan Government is in +every respect the reverse of this, for it not only throws open the ports +of Monte Video, Maldonado, and Colonia, on the River Plate, but those of +Soriano and Paysandú, on the Uruguay, the Yaguaron, on the Laguna Merin, +and the dry port of Taquarembó on the Brazilian frontier to all the +world, and thus gives every part of the republic all the advantages of +foreign commerce. + +There is a still greater difference, if it is possible, in the policy +adopted by the two governments with regard to the transit trade. At +Monte Video goods may be landed without the payment of any duty, may be +there deposited in the Custom-house stores for any length of time, on +the payment of a smaller warehouse rent than is usually paid in +Liverpool, and may be sent to any of the independent countries in the +interior, or re-shipped to foreign parts, without the payment of a +dollar. The Government goes even further than this, for it allows goods +in transit to be conveyed through the whole territory of the Republic, +with a guia or Custom-house Permit to all parts of the frontier, and to +be forwarded into the Argentine provinces of Entre Rios and Corrientes, +into the Republic of Paraguay, and into the back provinces of the empire +of Brazil, perfectly free from duty. Hence goods are constantly +forwarded up the Uruguay, instead of going to Buenos Ayres to pay duty +to General Rosas. The natural consequence of this is, that the people of +all the adjoining states have a friendly feeling towards Monte Video. +Corrientes has several times risen against the connection with General +Rosas, in support of Monte Video, and Brazil is prepared, if necessary, +to interfere to save it from his grasp. In fact, it is quite evident +that nothing but an entire change of policy on the part of Buenos Ayres +can prevent a general war against its usurpations. The policy of Rosas +with regard to goods in transit to the Independent States of the +interior is altogether different from that of Monte Video, for, when +landed at Buenos Ayres, they pay the same duties as if they were +intended for consumption there, and not a sixpence, or what is less than +a sixpence, a Buenos Ayrean paper dollar, is ever returned. When goods +are intended for re-exportation by sea, the difference is in appearance +less, but much the same in reality, for whilst they can be landed at +Monte Video without paying any duty, can remain there as long as the +owners like, and can then be re-exported duty free, at Buenos Ayres they +cannot be landed without paying the full duties, their owners lose all +claim to have any part of those duties returned, if they are not +re-exported within six months, and it is only with the greatest +difficulty and after waiting many months that they obtain any return at +all, even if they are exported within that time. + +A similar contrast is also seen in the spirit in which the Governments +of Buenos Ayres and Monte Video treat the diplomatic agents of foreign +nations. Soon after the death of the Dictator Francia, the English +Government determined to send a diplomatic agent to the Republic of +Paraguay. This gentleman, Mr. Gordon, first landed at Buenos Ayres, +hoping to be allowed to proceed up the Parana to Assumption, the +capital, but he soon found that it was no part of General Rosas's policy +to allow any such communication. The consequence was, that after +remaining at Buenos Ayres for some time combatting the pretences under +which permission was refused, he found that there was no hope of his +being allowed to proceed to the seat of his mission, through the +countries subject to the dominion of General Rosas, and crossed over to +Monte Video. There he was received with every attention, and furnished +by General Rivera with a guard of honour, under whose escort he +travelled to the frontiers of Paraguay. Mr. Gordon's letter of +acknowledgement to General Rivera will be found in the Appendix, and it +would be difficult to find a stronger illustration of the opposite +spirit of the two Governments than is presented by this transaction. Not +Francia himself was ever more determined to cut off Paraguay from +communication with the rest of the world than is General Rosas, and the +key to his conduct is, that he is determined, if possible, to reduce the +people of that Republic to subjection to his authority. No longer since +than the 15th of January last, a long article appeared in the official +_Gazette_ of Buenos Ayres, censuring the Governments of Brazil and +Bolivia for recognizing the independence of Paraguay. + +In addition to all these advantages arising out of the independence of +the Republic of Uruguay, it ought to be mentioned that the Government of +Monte Video has preserved an undepreciated silver currency through all +its difficulties, whilst the Buenos Ayrean Government has issued such +masses of paper without ever redeeming it, that the Buenos Ayrean paper +dollar is not worth more than 4-1/4d. at the present time. The other +states of the Argentine Confederation positively refuse to take the +Buenos Ayrean paper money, but foreign merchants are compelled to take +it, or to dispose of their goods by barter, which is seldom possible. + +The consequence of the liberal commercial system adopted by Monte Video, +aided by the excellence of its situation has been to raise that city, in +fourteen years, to the position of one of the first commercial places in +America, as will be seen from the following summary of the export and +import trade in 1842, the year before the commencement of the siege:-- + + EXPORTS. + + 638,424 Hides, salted $2,553,696 + 780,097 Hides, dry 2,340,291 + 60,904 Hides 91,356 + 100,583 Skins of Sheep 201,706 + 111,801 (arrobas) Tallow 223,602 + 4,444 (tons) Bones 31,108 + 2,690 (arrobas) Mares Oil 4,035 + 26,462 (arrobas) Hair 79,386 + 946,955 Horns 28,408.5 + 96,540 (arrobas) Wool 144,810 + 3,341 (dozens) Skins of Sheep 6,682 + 8,019 (quintals) Garras 8,019 + 1,109 (tons) Ashes 8,872 + 18,198 (arrobas) Fat 36,396 + 424 (dozens) Skins of Nonatos 848 + 938 Ditto Nutria 2,345 + 513,641 (quintals) Meat 1,540,923 + 121 (barrels) Tripe, salted 726 + 150 (barrels) Meat 1,200 + 2,065 (boxes) Candles 6,195 + 170 (dozens) Tongues 170 + 470 Mules 9,400 + 2,380 (lbs.) Ostrich Feathers 892.4 + ------------ + Value of Exports $7,321,066.1 + Value of Imports on which duty was paid $9,237,696 + ------------- + +How much this extensive trade has increased since the establishment +of the independence of Monte Video, will be seen from the following +statement of the increase of British shipping from 1830 to 1842:-- + + BRITISH SHIPPING. + + Years. Ships. Tonnage. Men. + 1830 41 7480 425 + 1831 36 6418 387 + 1832 30 5577 324 + 1833 51 9377 541 + 1834 65 12339 664 + 1835 54 10571 573 + 1836 58 11121 628 + 1837 63 12874 708 + 1838 100 20800 1143 + 1839 103 21257 1147 + 1840 132 23821 1447 + 1841 159 34537 1788 + +Up to the 6th of September, 1842, 128 British vessels had arrived at +Monte Video during that year. + + + COMPARISON OF THE COMMERCE OF MONTE VIDEO AND BUENOS AYRES. + +Number of merchant vessels arrived at the Ports of Monte Video and +Buenos Ayres during the half-year ending June 30th, 1842:-- + + Monte Video. Buenos Ayres. + National 16 0 + Brazilian 54 17 + American 48 31 + Chilian 1 1 + British 115 47 + French 52 20 + Spanish 44 17 + Sardinian 76 14 + Portuguese 4 2 + Hamburgh 14 8 + Danish 17 12 + Austrian 6 0 + Swedish 9 8 + Belgian 3 1 + Bremen 3 3 + Prussian 6 0 + Russian 1 1 + Hanoverian 1 1 + Lubeck 2 0 + Norwegian 3 2 + Tuscan 1 1 + --- --- + 475 186 + --- --- + +Great as this trade is, there is no reason why its future increase +should not be as rapid as its past. There are at present several +millions of cattle roving over the boundless pastures watered by the +Uruguay, the Rio Negro, the St. Lucia, and the two hundred arroyos or +rivulets which flow into them, and with a few years of peace, this +number would be doubled, or if it was found more profitable, flocks of +sheep might be introduced instead. The repeal of the duty on foreign +wool, by the Act of 1844, gives additional encouragement to the raising +of this kind of stock, and the reduction in the duty on foreign +provisions made by the tariff of 1842, would, if this country was at +peace, throw a considerable portion of the provision trade created by +that reduction of duty, and at present monopolized by the United States, +into Monte Video. Enormous quantities of meat are now wasted, which it +might be worth while to prepare for this market, in a way suited for the +English taste. + +Pastoral countries, such as the territory of Uruguay, New South Wales, +Van Dieman's Land, and South Africa, have this great advantage over +arable countries that their resources can be developed much more +rapidly, with a much smaller amount of labour, and with much less +capital. This is one of the causes of the sudden rise of the trade with +Australia, and it is also a considerable cause of the rapid development +of the prosperity of Monte Video. Its power of producing hides, wool, +tallow, and provisions is unlimited, by any thing except the deficient +numbers of its population; and whilst on this subject, I may mention +that Monte Video is the only one of all the Republics formed out of the +ancient possessions of Spain which has been sufficiently well governed +to attract to its shores any considerable number of emigrants from +Europe. It will be seen from the following table extracted from the +books of the Custom House at Monte Video, that not less than 33,607 +emigrants arrived in that port between November, 1835, and December, +1842:-- + + _Table made from the books at the Sala de Comercio of the + number of passengers who arrived at Monte Video from Nov. + 1835 inclusive, to the end of 1842._ + + KEY: + A: Basques, from both sides of the Pyrenees. + B: Frenchmen. + C: Gallicians. + D: Catalanes. + E: Spaniards from Cadiz, &c. + F: Genoese. + G: Canarios. + H: Portuguese and Brazilians. + I: Miscellaneous. + J: Total. + + ----+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+-----+-----+----- + | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J + ----+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+-----+-----+----- + 1836| 1116 | 56 | ... | 94 | 112 | 365 | 744 | 782 | 331 | 3600 + ----+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+-----+-----+----- + 1837| 348 | 72 | 101 | 485 | 310 | 175 | 949 | 454 | 223 | 3117 + ----+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+-----+-----+----- + 1838| 1939 | 71 | 85 | 264 | 284 | 645 | 2320 | 294 | 177 | 6079 + ----+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+-----+-----+----- + 1839| 233 | 69 | 141 | 64 | 53 | 202 | ... | 160 | 111 | 1033 + ----+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+-----+-----+----- + 1840| 1107 | 80 | 106 | 107 | 58 | 727 | ... | 316 | 122 | 2623 + ----+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+-----+-----+----- + 1841| 3965 | 121 | 408 | 104 | 92 | 2552 | 365 | 101 | 111 | 7819 + ----+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+-----+-----+----- + 1842| 4968 | 227 | 502 | 143 | 293 | 2123 | 774 | 140 | 166 | 9336 + ====+=======+=====+=====+=====+=====+======+======+=====+=====+===== + | 13676 | 696 |1343 |1261 |1202 | 6789 | 5152 |2247 |1241 |33607 + ----+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+-----+-----+----- + +Of this large number of emigrants, 13,676, it will be seen, were from +the Basque provinces; 696 from France; 3806 from Spain; 6789 from Genoa; +5152 from the Canary Islands; 2247 from Portugal and Brazil, and 1241 +from other parts of the world. If, as has been said by one of our +greatest writers, there is no worse sign of the condition of a country +than the fact of large masses of its subjects leaving it, surely it must +be considered an equally strong proof of the goodness of a Government +and the resources of a country when great masses of foreign emigrants +are pouring into it. In this respect, Monte Video stands pre-eminent +above all the States of America, except those founded by the British +race, and considering the limited extent of its territory, and the short +period of its independent existence, it can scarcely be said to yield to +them. + +Having thus shown the grounds on which the Government and people of +Monte Video are entitled to the sympathies and support of England, I +shall now proceed to say a few words on the present disastrous position +of the affairs of that Republic. + +For the last two years, the city of Monte Video has been besieged by an +army composed almost entirely of Buenos Ayrean troops, commanded by +General Manuel Oribe, the expatriated President of Uruguay, who claims +to be the legal President of the Republic, and whose avowed object is to +overturn the present Government, and to seize on supreme power for +himself, and blockaded by sea by a Buenos Ayrean squadron, commanded by +William Brown, a British subject in the pay of General Rosas. If the +army of General Oribe was composed of Monte Videans, England could have +nothing to say in this matter, as his success would be merely the +substitution of the chief of one native party for another; but this is +not the case. Oribe has neither army, fleet, nor treasures of his own, +and owes every thing to General Rosas as absolutely as if he was a +Buenos Ayrean citizen. To allow him, therefore, to get and to retain +possession of Monte Video, would be to establish the authority of Buenos +Ayres on the east bank of the river as effectually as on the west, and +this I have already shown would be most injurious to the interests of +England, of Brazil, and the other adjoining States, as well as to Monte +Video itself, and to the upper States of the Argentine confederation. + +Whatever might be the wishes of General Oribe, it is evident that he +would have no chance of retaining power any longer than he made himself +agreeable to General Rosas. In the city he has a considerable number of +supporters amongst the shopkeepers and a few amongst the merchants, but +in the country, the landed proprietors and gauchos or peasantry are all +opposed to him, and are enrolled in the armies of General Rivera, or his +lieutenants. When President, he was besieged and deposed by this class, +against which the mere townsmen can effect nothing. If he got possession +of the city, he would not be able to raise such a native force as would +sustain him. He must, therefore, retain the Buenos Ayrean army in his +pay, or he could not stir a mile from the walls without being attacked +by the army of Rivera. Hence he would continue in a state of dependence +on General Rosas for many years, if indeed he ever became entirely +independent of him. Thus, it will be seen, that this is not a struggle +to decide whether Oribe or Rivera shall be chief of the Republic, but +whether the Republic shall remain independent or become subservient to +the will of its bitterest enemy. + +If the will of General Rosas should thus be allowed to become the law of +Monte Video, the prosperity of that country is at an end. A very large +revenue would be required for the support of the Buenos Ayrean +mercenaries, and it is not at all unlikely that Rosas, who confiscated +the property of the whole of the Unitarian or Centralist Party to pay +the expense of a former civil war, would insist on the repayment of the +whole, or at least of a part of the expenses of the present war, in +carrying on which the finances of Buenos Ayres have been brought to the +verge of ruin. To raise the money required for these purposes, there are +only two ways; the first, the confiscation of the property of Oribe's +opponents; the second, a great increase of the taxes on foreign imports. +The first of these measures would destroy all the best connections of +the English merchants, and ruin all the most respectable men in the +Republic, whilst the second would quite as effectually destroy its +foreign commerce. + +It is by no means certain, however, that even the name of independence +would long be left to Monte Video, if General Oribe should succeed. +General Rosas would, in all probability, soon grow tired of supplying +troops and money to support another man's authority, whilst General +Oribe's necessities would compel him to submit to anything which his +patron might propose, even if he went the length of proposing the +annexation of Monte Video to Buenos Ayres, in humble imitation of the +annexation of Texas to the United States. The last letters from Monte +Video state, that Oribe has been getting together, at the Buceo, all the +members of his former Legislative Assembly, who had followed him to +Buenos Ayres or joined him there, and with their aid he will soon form +an assembly quite capable of performing any act which it may suit his +convenience to have performed. With such materials we shall scarcely +fail to have a repetition of the annexation of Texas on the banks of the +River Plate, whenever it may suit the plans of General Rosas and the +necessities of General Oribe to effect it. + +It is not, however, merely on grounds of policy and humanity that +England is called upon to interfere in this contest, but it is bound to +do so by the distinct pledges of assistance given by Mr. Mandeville, the +English Minister at Buenos Ayres, to the Government of Monte Video, in +the name of his own Government. In December, 1842, at the most critical +period of the war, that gentleman formally announced, both to the +Governments of Monte Video and Buenos Ayres, that England and France had +determined to put an end to the war, and demanded that they should both +cease from hostilities.[C] Not content with this, he addressed an +official letter to Senor Vidal, the Secretary of State to the Republic +of Uruguay, urging him and his Government not to relax, but rather to +redouble their efforts to resist the Buenos Ayreans, until the arrival +of the assistance which, he stated, might be expected daily from +Europe.[D] The letters of Mr. Mandeville will be found in the appendix +to this pamphlet, and it will be for the public to decide whether +promises so distinct and emphatic, accompanied by exhortations so +strong, do not justify the Government of Monte Video, and the merchants +trading with that country, in calling on the British Government to +fulfil the engagements of its representative. Indeed it is impossible +that the Government of England can allow Monte Video to be taken and +plundered, the leading men of the Republic to be murdered or driven into +exile, and the Republic itself to be annihilated, without destroying the +high reputation which England has so long possessed in all those +countries for honour and uprightness. + +That these consequences will be justly chargeable either on the +Representative or the Government of this country, if Monte Video +should be taken, is evident from a consideration of the circumstances +under which Mr. Mandeville gave his promises and his urgent +recommendation quoted above. The letters containing them were written +in the period which intervened between the total defeat of the Monte +Videan army at Arroyo Grande, and the advance of General Oribe and the +Buenos Ayrean forces on that city. When they were given, the Monte +Videan Government was in a state of the utmost uncertainty as to +whether further resistance would not be a useless waste of human life, +and whether it could have any other effect than to render its own +position more desperate. The infantry of Rivera, the only force up to +that time available for the defence of the city was destroyed, and the +cavalry was broken, and discouraged, besides being totally useless for +the purpose of resisting a siege. Within the city were a considerable +number of Oribe's supporters, and many neutrals, including nine-tenths +of the foreign population. At this critical moment the letters of Mr. +Mandeville, given above, were written, and it is the opinion of those +who were at Monte Video at the time, that it was those letters which +induced the Government to forego all attempts at negotiation, and to +call upon the whole population to rise and resist to the last. With +this view, besides calling on those classes of the people which had +previously taken part in the struggle, to rally round the Government, +it declared all the negro slaves in the Republic free, and formed them +into regiments of infantry for the defence of the capital, and it also +gave every encouragement to the foreign population which had emigrated +for the purpose of following the pursuits of peaceful industry, to +take up arms. By these means, an army of some thousand men was formed +within the city, chiefly from classes not before compromised, whilst +in the open country, the landed proprietors and peasantry, were +encouraged to take arms again under the command of their favourite +chief Rivera. Thus the war was renewed, and the whole population of +the Republic was again engaged in a struggle which, from the great +disproportion of the forces, nothing but the promised intervention of +England and France can bring to a close which will not be fatal to +them. + +My object in referring to these facts is not to excite odium against +Mr. Mandeville, who could have had no object in making the promises +contained in his letters of the 28th December and 12th of January, +except that of preserving the independence of Monte Video, until the +forces which he expected from Europe had arrived. In a previous +letter, quoted in the Appendix, he positively refused to give any such +promises without the permission of his own Government; and in his +letter of the 12th of January he bases his promises of aid to the +Monte Videan Government on this assertion:--"THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE +BRITISH AMBASSADOR (at Paris) AND GUIZOT TOOK PLACE ON THE 9TH +SEPTEMBER, WHEN HE AGREED TO ALL THAT LORD COWLEY PROPOSED OF UNITING +THEIR FORCES TO PUT AN END TO THE WAR." I will not suppose, even for +the sake of argument, that an English Minister made such a statement +as the above without believing it to be true, still less that he made +it for the sake of exciting fallacious and unfounded hopes in the +minds of men struggling for existence. He must have believed his own +assertions, and he must have had some strong, if not conclusive +reasons for believing them. + +It is just as little my wish to cast odium on the English Government +as on Mr. Mandeville. Its foreign policy in other parts of the world +has been wise, dignified, and honest, and all that is asked is that it +will act on the same principles in this transaction. No one can doubt +that it is sincerely desirous of restoring peace in the River Plate. +The reason which Sir Robert Peel gives for the non-fulfilment of Mr. +Mandeville's promises is that he had exceeded his orders in giving +them. That there was a mistake somewhere or other cannot be doubted, +though whether it arose from want of explicitness in the directions +given to Mr. Mandeville or from want of comprehension on his part no +one is in a position to decide, except those who have seen them. What, +however, is perfectly clear is this, that the promises given by him to +the Monte Videan Government and the assurances given by him to his own +countrymen have had a most important influence on their conduct, and +have so far compromised the British Government as to add greatly to +the other many and strong reasons for interposing. It is no longer a +question of whether an independent Government, formed under the +mediation of England shall be sacrificed, and along with it the peace +which it has so long been the means of preserving between two of the +most important states of South America, neither is it a mere question +of whether the commercial intercourse with the finest regions of that +great continent shall be carried on without impediment; it is not now +even a question of whether a friendly Government shall be destroyed +and all connected with it ruined; these considerations, great as they +are, yield to the consideration that the honour of this country has +been pledged by its authorized representative, and that promises have +been given which cannot be violated without deep disgrace to the +hitherto unsullied honour of the English name. + + * * * * * + +POSTSCRIPT.--Since the above observations were written, explanations +have been given by the Prime Minister in Parliament which encourage us +to hope that her Majesty's Ministers have at last decided to fulfil +the promises made by their late representative Mr. Mandeville, by +taking effectual steps to terminate the war, and to secure the +independence of the Republic of Uruguay. They have only to speak the +word, and to make such a display of force as will show that they are +in earnest, and Monte Video is saved. Admiral Brown, or as Commodore +Purvis calls him, "Mr. Brown, the British subject, commanding the +Buenos Ayrean squadron before Monte Video," will never run the double +risk of being sunk by an English broadside, or of being hung as a +traitor by resisting the orders of his own Government, if he is +convinced that his Government means to be obeyed, and the moment that +he strikes his flag, Oribe will have nothing left but to make the best +terms for himself and his army. He draws all his provisions from the +fleet, and must retire when his supplies are cut off. + +Within the last few days information has been received from Buenos +Ayres strongly confirmatory of some of the views stated above. +According to letters from that city of the 7th February, the +Governments of Brazil and Paraguay have formed a treaty offensive and +defensive, in which they stipulate for the freedom of the rivers +flowing through the territories of both. This is a movement of the +greatest commercial as well as political importance, and if the +independence of Monte Video is preserved, there can be no doubt that +it will join this league, and that the line of communication with the +interior of South America up the River Uruguay will be kept open, even +if General Rosas should persist in his illegal anti-social policy of +closing the Parana against foreign nations. + + + FOOTNOTES + + [A] The Monte Videan Government has granted a patent for + introducing steamers on all its rivers to an Englishman, Mr. + Bugglen.--(_See Appendix._) + + [B] Plans for forming such a canal were under consideration by + the Commissioners appointed under the treaty of San Ildefonso, + in 1778, to fix the boundaries of the Spanish and Portuguese + possessions. + + [C] MR. MANDEVILLE'S SUMMONS. + + _Buenos Ayres, December 16th, 1842._ + + The Governments of England and France having determined to + adopt such measures as they may consider necessary to put an + end to the hostilities between the Republics of Buenos Ayres + and Monte Video, the undersigned Minister Plenipotentiary of + her Britannic Majesty to the Argentine Confederation, has the + honour, conformably to the instructions received from his + Government, to inform H. E. M. Arana, Minister for Foreign + Affairs of the Government of Buenos Ayres, that the sanguinary + war at present carried on between the Government of Buenos + Ayres and that of Monte Video, must cease, for the interests + of humanity and of the British and French subjects, and other + Foreigners who are residing in the country which is now the + seat of war; and therefore requires of the Government of + Buenos Ayres:--1. The immediate cessation of hostilities + between the troops of the Argentine Confederation and those + of the Republic of Uruguay. 2. That the troops of the + Argentine Confederation (it being understood that those of the + Republic of the Uruguay will adopt a similar course) remain + within their respective territories, or return to them in case + they should have passed their frontier.--The undersigned + requests H. E. to reply as soon as he conveniently can, + whether it is the intention of the Government of Buenos Ayres + to accede to these demands, and has the honour to be, &c. + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To H. E. Don Felipe Arana._ + + [D] _Buenos Ayres, December 28th, 1842._ + + MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--I received this morning your private + letter of the 20th; after thanking you for it I have little to + add, except that Count de Lurde and I have received an answer + to our note demanding an armistice, stating that a demand of + this nature, menacing as it does the Argentine Confederation, + requires time for deliberation before a reply can be given. In + the mean time, I trust that the step which I and the French + Minister have taken will in no manner weaken, but, on the + contrary, hasten and encourage the zealous efforts of your + Government to resist invasion, because, where winds and waves + are concerned, no man can say, when he leaves Europe, in what + week or in what month he will arrive at Monte Video. I know + nothing of the operations of the armies on either side of the + Uruguay; I thank you for the information which you send me + about them; I know nothing from any other source. + + Believe me ever, my dear M. de Vidal, ever your sincere + friend, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency M. de Vidal, &c. &c. &c._ + + _Buenos Ayres, January 12th, 1843._ + + MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--When I received M. Gelly's official + letter upon the entry of Oribe's troops into the Banda + Oriental, I was myself too unwell to thank you for your letter + of the 28th ult. on the subject of your resignation, and too + sad and discouraged by it at the idea of your retirement from + office at the present moment. But now when I see, by the + _Nacional_ of the 3d, that you have nobly decided upon still + retaining the foreign and home departments, I am as anxious to + congratulate you and your country upon this resolution, as I + was averse, on the day I wrote to M. Gelly, to take up my pen + for any body or any thing, but for this letter of yours above + mentioned. The two official communications, which I send you + with this opportunity, would have gone with my letter to M. + Gelly, luckily, it's of little consequence whether you receive + them now or this day month. What has prevented the British and + French naval forces from coming long before this to the River + Plate, I can have no conception. The interview between the + British Ambassador and Guizot took place on the 9th September, + when he agreed to all that Lord Cowley proposed, of uniting + their forces to put an end to the war. Before the end of + December I would have sworn that they would have been here. I + cannot conclude my letter without expressing to you my truest + thanks for the expression of your friendship towards me, and + my confidence that, happen what may, you will always duly + appreciate my public and private conduct to you. Believe me, + my dear M. de Vidal, that my sentiments and my utmost efforts + will always be in unison to draw closer the ties of + friendship, which have been so happily established, through + you in great part, between the two countries where we first + drew our breath, and my labour will be unceasing to preserve + them unchanged. + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency Don Jose Antonino Vidal._ + + + + + APPENDIX. + + CORRESPONDENCE OF H. J. MANDEVILLE, ESQ., + _British Minister to the Argentine Confederation_, + + WITH + + SENHOR VIDAL, + _Secretary of State of the Republic of Uruguay_. + + + _Buenos Ayres, May 26th, 1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--I have received your official letter of the 20th +May, with the enclosure which you have had the goodness and frankness +to communicate to me,--and also the two private letters of the same +date, which you have done me the honour to write to me. + +I beg you to believe that I share with you all the disagreeableness +of the suspense which the silence of the British Government to my +despatches of the 4th December last causes to us both. To me it is +only a matter of a little personal inconvenience that I ought not, +nor do I, regard; to you it is very different--and all that I can say +to you on the subject is, that the moment that I hear from England +respecting it, I will not lose a moment in communicating it to you--of +this be assured, as of the sincere esteem and consideration with which +I remain, + + My dear M. de Vidal, always truly yours, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + * * * * * + + + (PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.) + + _Buenos Ayres, June 8th,1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--Although I have not received any official answer +to the proposals which I transmitted by your Excellency's desire to +her Majesty's Government, on the 6th of December last, as a basis for +the conclusion of a Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the Republic of +the Uruguay, I am led to believe and know that they will not be +accepted, for the reasons which I stated to your Excellency at the +time these proposals were made to me--namely, that the acceptance of +this offer would be at variance with the policy and practice of her +Majesty's Government, whose wish, in matters of commerce, is to stand +on the same footing as other nations, and to enjoy no advantages but +such as would, upon similar terms, be conceded to any other friendly +power, and that accordingly her Majesty's Government have no intention +of availing themselves of this proposal. + +I therefore again most pressingly renew, to your Excellency, the +proposals I made when I first had the honour to see your Excellency, +to negociate with me a Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, upon +the basis which was presented to the Monte Videan Government by Mr. +Hamilton, in the year 1835, and brought forward by me at a later +period. + +I am enabled to assure your Excellency that Her Majesty's Government +is not indifferent to the welfare and prosperity of the Republic of +the Uruguay, as your Excellency will shortly see by the measures which +will be taken for its preservation, and to which I am sure you will be +a willing party, and I beg your Excellency to believe that nothing +will strengthen these good intentions on the part of Her Majesty's +Government so much as a frank and cordial acceptance of the terms of +the above mentioned Treaty. + +I have the honour to be with the highest consideration, Sir, + + Your Excellency's obedient humble servant, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency, Don Jose Antonino Vidal, &c. &c. &c._ + + * * * * * + + + (MOST CONFIDENTIAL.) + + _Buenos Ayres, June 10th, 1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--My Government has seen with regret that the +results of my visits to Monte Video, in December and January last, +was not concession of a Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation +between Great Britain and the Republic of Uruguay upon the footing +proposed by my predecessor Mr. Hamilton, and subsequently by me, and I +have been represented as not having been sufficiently urgent with your +Excellency to conclude this treaty with me, and I have been blamed in +consequence. + +I therefore appeal to your Excellency if I did not do my utmost to +induce you to negociate it with me, observing, that once concluded, it +would not prejudice the acceptance of any other additional proposal on +your part which might be added to it afterwards and form additional +articles--and that I only desisted from urging it upon you, when I saw +that my solicitations were of no avail, and you were resolved to await +the answer to the proposition which I transmitted to London by your +Excellency's desire. + +I am anxious that this circumstance should be put in its true light, +and that I may be exonerated from an undeserved censure--and still +more that your Excellency should commence the negociations of the +treaty with me, which would be the best answer to the reports of the +lukewarmness of my wishes in this business. + +Believe me to be, my dear M. de Vidal, with great truth and regard, +most sincerely and faithfully yours, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency Don Antonino Vidal._ + + * * * * * + + + (SECRET AND CONFIDENTIAL) + + _Buenos Ayres, June 18th, 1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--The measures which I alluded to in my private +letter to your Excellency of the 10th instant--that her Majesty's +Government will take for the effectual protection of the Republic of +Uruguay are a joint mediation of Great Britain and France, which I am +formally to tender to the Buenos Ayrean Government, upon the arrival +of the French Minister here, Baron de Lurde, to adjust the difference +between Monte Video and Buenos Ayres. + +I did not acquaint you of this important intelligence in my last +letters, on account of the possibility of their falling into other +hands; and as I am not to make the formal offer of joint mediation of +Great Britain and France, until the arrival of the French Minister at +Buenos Ayres, I think, for many reasons, which I am sure you will +share with me, that it should not be made known; but I have taken the +first safe opportunity of communicating it to you, for your own +satisfaction and for that of your colleagues. + +Believe me always, my dear M. de Vidal, with great regard and esteem, +most faithfully yours, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency M. de Vidal, &c. &c. &c._ + + * * * * * + + + _Buenos Ayres, June 23d,1842._ + +SIR,--I have had the honour to receive your Excellency's dispatch, +marked confidential, of the 18th instant, in answer to mine of the +8th, which was delivered to me this morning, the contents of which +will cause great satisfaction to her Majesty's Government, as to me +they have procured the highest gratification. Her Majesty's Ministers +will see, in the determination of the Monte Videan Government to +conclude a Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, with Great +Britain, on the terms proposed by Mr. Hamilton and by me, the most +unequivocal proof of the loyalty of its intentions towards the British +Empire, and of its friendly sentiments towards her Majesty's +Government. + +I shall, in consequence, avail myself of the friendly dispositions of +the Monte Videan Government for the adjustment and conclusion of the +treaty which your Excellency has done me the honour to communicate to +me, and I propose, in a few days, to embark for Monte Video, for the +termination of so honourable and desirable an event. + +I have the honour to be, with the highest consideration, Sir, + + Your Excellency's obedient humble servant, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency D. Jose Antonino Vidal, &c. &c. &c._ + + * * * * * + + + (PRIVATE.) + + _Buenos Ayres, June 24th, 1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--I have received your two most amiable and +friendly letters of the 18th and 20th instant; it is needless for me +to tell you the delight and gratification which they have procured to +me. + +I have little more to add to my acknowledgement of the receipt of +these letters, as I shall so very soon have, God willing, the +satisfaction of seeing you, except to renew to my heartfelt thanks for +their contents, which only serve to increase the sentiments of +friendship and esteem which your conduct to me has inspired me with, +since the first day of our personal acquaintance. + +I reserve all communications upon any other subject until we meet, +which will be about the middle of next week, but rely upon it, and it +is with pride I tell you, _you and your Government will be satisfied_. + +Believe me ever, my dear M. de Vidal, with the highest regard and +consideration, + + Most faithfully yours, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + * * * * * + + + (CONFIDENTIAL.) + + _Buenos Ayres, June 25th, 1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--Would you have any objections to have the treaty +copied immediately? + +I have motives so strong not for coming back to Buenos Ayres, but for +being able to return at the moment when it becomes necessary, that I +should impart them to you, which I cannot well by this conveyance. + +I will answer for your concurrence with me in this desire to be ready, +at a moment's notice, to come back here. + +Another motive, which is a very secondary one, and that is, having no +steward at this moment, the one who was with me for six years having +left me to set up a coffee-house. I cannot bring my establishment with +me, even if I had a house to go to at Monte Video, and therefore I am +obliged to live at the Consul's, which is a great inconvenience to +him, and consequently very disagreeable to me; but, as I have said, +this is a trifling consideration, which may be got over very easily. +Again, Mr. Hood may come by the next packet--where shall I go then? + +All these considerations, put together, make me very anxious, not so +much to get through the treaty, for the sake of concluding it, as to +be ready, when circumstances require my departure, to come back here. + + Ever, my dear M. de Vidal, your faithful and sincere friend, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + * * * * * + + + (PRIVATE.) + + _Buenos Ayres, August 18th, 1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--I had the greatest pleasure in receiving your +friendly letter, without date, which was accompanied by an official +note brought to me by M. le Comte de Lurde, to which you require an +answer. + +If you will weigh the contents of this note, you will find that it is +impossible that I can answer it in any other way, than has done the +French Plenipotentiary by that of acknowledging the receipt of it. + +In the first place, no formal tender of mediation has as yet been made +by the French Plenipotentiary and me, and therefore, until it has been +positively refused, it would be as unusual as it would be impolitic to +have recourse to threats to enforce the acceptance of it. But other +and more powerful reasons forbid this line of conduct; you who are +accustomed to give directions to your foreign Ministers and agents, +know that they must act by their instructions, and by their +instructions alone. I cannot take upon myself to say what means are at +the disposal of the Comte de Lurde, but I know I have no more the +power of constraining General Rosas to pay respect to the wishes of +the mediatory powers, as far as physical force goes than you have. + +If I were to ask the British naval officer on this station to land his +men and garrison Monte Video, or prevent any power blockading the +port, (which in my opinion, you may rely upon it, will never be done +by General Rosas), he would laugh at me, unless I could show that I +had positive orders from my Government to require it of him. + +To make a declaration to this effect to General Rosas, without having +the means of carrying it into execution, would be only exposing myself +to ridicule, and my future communications to this Government as +unworthy of belief. + +And as it is unnecessary, unless you require it, that I should put +these reasons, for not acceding to what you demand, in an official +note, I have answered it word for word, as the Comte de Lurde has +informed me he has done, by simply acknowledging the receipt of it, +thus privately stating to you my reasons for so doing. + +Believe me, my dear M. de Vidal, always and faithfully, + + Your sincere Friend, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + * * * * * + + + (PRIVATE.) + + _Buenos Ayres, August 25th, 1842._ + +MY M. DE VIDAL,--I have to thank you for your letter of the 15th +instant, and for the information you gave me in it with regard to +Ellauri's proceedings in London, and to the assurances made to him by +Lord Aberdeen of his determination to put an end to the war. His, M. +Ellauri's project of a treaty rather surprises me, considering that he +was unauthorized by you to propose it, but I suppose Republican +Ministers take upon themselves a little more in their negotiations +than we Ministers of Monarchs, at all events I hope that they will +send me an outline of it from the Foreign Office, as I am very anxious +to see what M. Ellauri would have liked to have had. + +You may rely upon it, my dear M. de Vidal, that in spite of all your +opposers and enemies may say, your confidence in the mediation has not +been vain and groundless: Count de Lurde and I are determined to +uphold the respectability of the mediation, but we must wait until it +be rejected before other measures can be taken. + +Yesterday the mediation was formally proposed by M. de Lurde, and by +me to Don Felipe de Arana on the part of our respective Sovereigns, +and supported by arguments which seemed to make an impression on the +Minister. He, of course, could give neither answer nor opinion upon +the proposal, and I do not think it very likely that we shall obtain +one before the departure of the packet which is fixed for the day +after to-morrow. + +The picture you give me of the state of your armies in Entre Rios, +leaves you little to apprehend.--A private letter from a friend of +mine in the Foreign Office says, "By the accounts from Monte Video, we +expect to receive by the next packet a demand from the Buenos Ayrean +Government to defend it from the troops of General Rivera." + +Be assured, my dear M. de Vidal, that I will leave no opportunity +neglected to write to you whenever I have any thing to communicate +worth your knowing, and that I am always, + + Your sincere and faithful Friend, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency M. de Vidal, &c. &c. &c._ + + * * * * * + +_August 26th._--I received late last night your letter of the 24th. +I really have not time to do more than thank you for it by this +opportunity. + + J. H. M. + + * * * * * + + + (PRIVATE.) + + _Buenos Ayres, October 19th, 1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--I received by the last packet a letter from Mr. +Hood, a part of which I will communicate to you, as I think it right +that you should be literally and truly informed of what is going at +the Foreign Office, in London, between Lord Aberdeen and M. Ellauri, +on the subject of negociation, with respect to a treaty of commerce. + +Mr. Hood says "I am employed modifying the treaty and talking Ellauri +into acquiescence to our views. Yesterday, (August 2nd), we had an +interview with Lord Canning, and during it I heard that he said he +would not hesitate to sign the treaty as now prepared. If it should +come to a bargain, I think it may be very likely that the Foreign +Office may wish me to take it out to get ratified." + +Now, my dear friend, tell me, if you can, how is it possible for M. +Ellauri to sign and conclude a treaty, or even to say that he will, +unless he has full powers to do so? I am confident that he has neither +one nor the other, because you told me he has not, but still it is so +very extraordinary his whole conduct that I should like if possible to +have it explained. + +I had a discourse the other day with a gentleman on the right of the +Government of the Republic of Uruguay and this country, to expel any +foreigner from their territory, at their pleasure. I know that it is +never done but under very grave circumstances; but what I contended +for was, the power and the right they possess to do so. + +I suppose you have not written to me lately because I did not answer +your letter of the 20th ult., but if you have no other, it does not +resemble you. Always, my dear M. de Vidal, + + Sincerely yours, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + * * * * * + + + (PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.) + + _Buenos Ayres, October 20th, 1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--I have not before acknowledged the receipt of +your letter of the 20th of last month, for until now I have had +nothing to communicate to you that was worth the trouble of taking +your time to read. + +I am greatly pained by the sad termination of Count de Lurde's and my +most strenuous efforts, as far as argument and persuasion could go, to +induce the Buenos Ayrean Government to listen to the dictates of sound +policy as well as of humanity and accept the mediation of Great +Britain and France to put an end to the war. It will grievously +disappoint the great expectations of her Majesty's Government, but for +which disappointment from my previous dispatches they will be, in a +great measure, prepared. + +I have set Messrs. Ball and Diehl to work to copy the answer, that no +time may be lost in communicating it to you, and I shall send down the +Cockatrice with it the moment it is done. + +Believe me, my dear M. de Vidal, + + Always your sincere faithful Friend, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency D. Antonino de Vidal, &c. &c._ + + P.S.--Although I transmit this document to you officially, + as I feel it my duty to do, I would rather that it be not + published until we have the resolution of the Sala. In Europe, + these papers are never published until some time after they + have been delivered, which we consider as by far the best mode + of conduct. + + J. H. M. + + * * * * * + + + _Buenos Ayres, October 26th, 1842_ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--Neither you nor I were, nor could be surprised +at the wretchedness of our negociation, or rather of M. de Lurde's and +my attempt to make this Government accept the mediation of Great +Britain and France, to put an end to the war, and I am happy to think +that when I was last at Monte Video, I prepared her Majesty's +Government for this result. + +I feel the greatest pleasure to find that my unceasing efforts to +obtain the acceptance by the Buenos Ayrean Government of our joint +mediation have satisfied you. I can conscientiously say that I have +done every thing in my power to make it succeed. + +Of course I never meant but that the note should be immediately +communicated to the Government, all I requested, and in which I was +sure your own discernment and good feelings would make you concur in, +was, that it should not be published until it has come out here. + +I observe, in all your letters, you write _mediation_ for mediators, +as applicable to my expressions. + +"My words in one of my preceding letters were, that your reliance on +the mediators should not be vain or unfounded." This you have seen and +can rely upon. I never hoped or gave you reason to hope that the +mediation would be successful, but the results, according to my +opinion and belief, (I am no prophet to predict), will not be vain nor +illusory. The feelings of the British Government (and as you tell me +Lord Aberdeen has himself said) towards the Banda Oriental will be +very different since the conclusion of a treaty between it and great +Britain to what they were before. + +Believe me, my dear M. de Vidal, + + Always your sincere and faithful Friend, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency M. de Vidal, &c. &c. &c._ + + * * * * * + + + _Buenos Ayres, November 28th, 1842._ + +SIR,--I have the honour to transmit to your Excellency a copy of the +note from the Buenos Ayrean Minister for Foreign Affairs, transmitting +to me the resolution of the Chamber upon the correspondence between me +and the French Minister on one part, and M. Arana on the other, upon +the subject of the mediation which was transmitted to the Chamber for +its consideration, and a decree which it has issued. + +Thus, notwithstanding all my efforts, the Buenos Ayrean Government +still continues to refuse her Majesty's mediation, and _persist in a +war not justified by any national object_. + +I have the honour to be with the highest consideration, Sir, + + Your Excellency's most obedient humble Servant, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency Don Jose Antonino Vidal, &c. &c. &c._ + + * * * * * + + + (PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.) + + _Buenos Ayres, September 2nd, 1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--I had not time, before the departure of the +packet, to answer your private letter of the 24th ult., and now keep +my promise made to you in my letter of the 25th ult., of replying to +it. + +I must first begin by telling you that, some days before the packet +sailed, Count de Lurde and I made the formal tender of the mediation +in the manner presented to me by my instructions with which I made you +acquainted when I was last at Monte Video. + +I told M. de Arana that he was doubtless acquainted with the object of +our visit, to which he assented, of which he had been informed by +previous conversations which he had with me, and which was no longer a +secret, for it had formed articles in the Monte Video newspapers, and +the topic of conversation in the streets of that Town for weeks. But +public or private the object is the same, one of the greatest +importance to this country and of serious consideration to Great +Britain and to France,--that of urging General Rosas to accept the +mediation of France and Great Britain, of which the Count de Lurde and +I then made the formal offer to the Buenos Ayrean Government in order +to put an end to the deplorable conflict in which Buenos Ayres and +Monte Video have for such a length of time been engaged. _That Monte +Video to my knowledge is anxious and willing to make peace_ with +Buenos Ayres upon fair and reasonable terms, and I could produce +authority for what I advanced, if required, that the proposal which +General Rosas had formerly made, of accepting the mediation of Great +Britain upon the condition that General Oribe should be returned to +power, was inadmissible, and that it was obviously impossible that +either the British or French Governments could sanction, by their +mediation, the desire of General Rosas to place in the Presidency of +Monte Video _a particular individual_, who, however meritorious in +other respects, may not be acceptable to the majority of the +inhabitants of the Oriental State, and that those Governments can only +agree to offer to either of the belligerent powers such conditions as +one independent State can, consistently with its honour, accept from +another. + +I then acquainted his excellency that it was the confident expectation +of her Majesty's Government that the Argentine Government will accept +the offer of Great Britain and France to mediate between Buenos Ayres +and Monte Video, upon just and reasonable conditions, and that the +Buenos Ayrean Government will authorize us, the Count de Lurde and me, +to propose moderate and honourable terms of peace to the Government of +the Republic of the Uruguay. I stated to M. de Arana that this offer +is dictated by the feelings of humanity and of warm interest in the +prosperity of the two neighbouring Republics, and her Majesty's +Government earnestly hope, as M. de Lurde said does that of France, +that the Government of Buenos Ayres will maturely reflect before they +reject the friendly intervention which is now offered to them by two +such powerful states, and I concluded by conjuring his Excellency to +use his whole influence with General Rosas, as his friend and adviser, +to accept the offer of mediation in the manner just proposed to him. + +M. de Arana replied, that of course we could not expect from him any +other answer than that he would hasten to lay the object of the +communication we had just made to him before General Rosas, which he +would do on that evening, and addressing himself to M. de Lurde, he +said, you know the answer which was addressed to the British Minister +last year, a copy of it having been given to M. de Becourt. Neither +the French Minister nor myself were anxious to recur to that answer +nor to discuss it, but he joined with me in soliciting the good +offices of M. de Arana to obtain a happy issue to our joint offer. +M. de Lurde said, and with reason, that it would be of the greatest +importance to obtain the acquiescence of General Rosas to the +mediation as soon as possible, in which I joined him in pressing +terms. M. de Arana immediately replied that he would render an account +to the Governor of the earnest desire of the two Ministers with all +the interest that demands an affair as delicate as it is important. + +With this last observation of M. de Arana the conference ended, and we +took leave full in hope that General Rosas, with the soundness of his +judgment and the generosity of his disposition, aided by his +Excellency's influence and good offices will not hesitate to accept +the offer of Great Britain and France to terminate a war which, for +the sake of humanity and the prosperity of the two Republics, is so +earnestly desired by all Europe, as well as by the people and +Government of Monte Video, who ask only for peace, and the power the +most legitimate in the world, that of choosing its own rulers, and its +form of government themselves. + +Two days after the packet sailed we, the Count de Lurde and I, called +upon M. de Arana; he told us that in a question of such great +importance, as is the joint offer of mediation of Great Britain and +France, it should, he thought be communicated in writing, and he asked +us if we had any objection to make it in that manner, I said by no +means, and the French Minister and I sent in a note on the following +day, 30th August, beginning with "In consequence of your Excellency's +desire to have the communication we verbally made to you on the 24th +instant, committed to writing, we have the honour, &c., &c., and I +repeated in writing word for word what I had said to him verbally, and +the French Minister did the same. You have now, dear M. de Vidal, a +faithful and exact account of every thing that has taken place in this +important business. + +Now as to what you ask of me with respect to answering the official +note you sent to me by the French Minister, I agree with you +perfectly, that Her Majesty's Government would not make a second offer +of its mediation, without being resolved to support it, more +especially since you say that Lord Aberdeen has declared to M. +Ellauri, that he will put a stop to the war. + +But this assurance on the part of Lord Aberdeen does not give me the +power either to take measures for carrying this declaration into +effect, or to make such a declaration to General Rosas. I _must wait_ +for instructions from my Government _before_ I inform the Buenos +Ayrean Government what they will direct shall be done, as it is not +for me to say in what manner the war shall be put a stop to. + +M. de Lurde, when I spoke to him about the purport of the official +note to me from you, of which he was the bearer, told me that he had +simply acknowledged the receipt of it, because he could give no other +answer, and I feel that I am in exactly a similar position. + +You are now, as you have always been, in possession of my public and +private sentiments upon this most important question, the mediation, +and you may be most confident that my conduct upon it, whilst it is +pending, will be as satisfactory to your Government as to yourself. + +Believe me, my dear M. de Vidal, always your faithful and sincere +friend, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency Don Jose Antonino Vidal, &c. &c. &c._ + + * * * * * + + + (PRIVATE.) + + _Buenos Ayres, December 23rd, 1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--I received this morning your private letter +of the 20th,--after thanking you for it, I have little to add, +except that Count de Lurde and I have received an answer to our note, +demanding an armistice, stating that a demand of this nature, menacing +as it does the Argentine Confederation, requires time for +consideration before a reply can be given. + +In the meantime, I trust that the step which I and the French Minister +have taken will in no manner weaken, but, on the contrary, hasten and +encourage the zealous efforts of your Government to resist invasion, +because, where winds and waves are concerned, no man can say, when he +leaves Europe, in what week or in what month he will arrive at Monte +Video. + +I know nothing of the operations of the armies on either side of the +Uruguay; I thank you for the information which you send me about +them--I know nothing from any other source. + +Believe me ever, my dear M. de Vidal, + + Your faithful and sincere friend, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency M. de Vidal, &c., &c., &c._ + + * * * * * + + + (CONFIDENTIAL.) + + _Buenos Ayres, 24th December, 1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--I took the liberty, when I sent you a copy of +our note to this Government, demanding a cessation of hostilities, to +beg the favour of you not to make it public. Communications of this +nature are not intended at the time to be made public. + +If I had intended that Mr. Dale should have a copy of it, I would have +sent one to him; but copies have been given--for the commander of the +Fantome has written a letter to me of complaint, that I had not +communicated the circumstance to him, when some one had shown him a +copy which he had read. + +People sometimes think that by giving publicity to a document they +bind down more the persons who have signed it to their engagement; +this is a mistake. The only result which comes out of it is, that it +makes them much more cautious and reserved in future in communicating +them. + +Believe me ever, my dear M. de Vidal, + + Your sincere friend, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + * * * * * + + + (PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.) + + _Buenos Ayres, January 12th, 1843._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--My thanks for your letter of the 28th ult. in +answer to mine of the complaints of the captain of the Fantome. It was +perfectly satisfactory. + +I have received a despatch from Lord Aberdeen, acquainting me that the +Vidal and Ellauri treaties are under the consideration of her +Majesty's Government, and that he will not fail by next packet to +communicate to me the result of their deliberations. + +The under Secretary of State writes me that the latter is in some +measure preferred, and, therefore, it is right for me to mention this +circumstance to you, in order that you may not be unprepared, should +it be adopted. + +Believe me, my dear M. de Vidal, ever your sincere Friend, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + * * * * * + + + (PRIVATE.) + + _Buenos Ayres, January 12th, 1843._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--When I received M. Gelly's official letter, upon +the entry of Oribe's troops into the Banda Oriental, I was myself too +unwell to thank you for your letter of the 28th ult. on the subject of +your resignation, and too sad and discouraged by it at the idea of +your retirement from office at the present moment. But now I see by +the _Nacional_ of the 3rd that you have nobly decided upon still +retaining the Foreign and Home Departments, I am as anxious to +congratulate you and your country upon this resolution, as I was +averse on the day I wrote to M. Gelly to take up my pen for any body +or any thing, but for this letter of yours above mentioned. The two +official communications which I send you by this opportunity, would +have gone with my letter to M. Gelly, luckily, its of little +consequence whether you receive them now or this day month. + +What has prevented the British and French naval forces from coming +long before this to the River Plate, I can have no conception. The +interview between the British Ambassador and Guizot took place on the +9th September, when he agreed to all that Lord Cowley proposed of +uniting their forces to put an end to the war. Before the end of +December, I would have sworn that they would have been here. I cannot +conclude my letter without expressing to you my truest thanks for the +expression of your friendship towards me,--and my confidence that, +happen what may, you will always duly appreciate my public and private +conduct to you. + +Believe me, my dear M. de Vidal, that my sentiments and my utmost +efforts will always be in unison to draw closer the ties of friendship +which have been so happily established, through you in great part, +between the two countries where we first drew our breath, and my +labour will be unceasing to preserve them unchanged. + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency Don Jose Antonino Vidal._ + + * * * * * + + + MR. GORDON'S LETTER TO GENERAL RIVERA. + + _Ytapua, September 26th, 1842._ + +Having arrived safely at this town on the 20th instant, I forwarded, +on the same evening, a despatch to the Government of this Republic +with my passports soliciting the necessary license for myself and my +companions to continue our journey to Assumption. By the same +opportunity I forwarded to the Consuls of the Republic the despatch +with which I was charged by your Excellency. + +The answer from the Consuls reached me yesterday afternoon, and with +it I have received, for my own person, my two companions and servant, +permission to proceed to the capital, with the assurance that every +assistance and protection will be afforded me. I regret having to add +that this license is not extended to the Oriental escort, under whose +protection and with whose assistance I have been able so fortunately +to complete my journey to the Paraguay territory--for the reason (in +the words of the Consuls note) of the said escort _being no longer +necessary_. + +On this account the Government of this Republic has granted a +passport, which Don Blas Acevedo takes with him, ordering the Paraguay +authorities to render to this officer and to the men under his command +every necessary assistance on his return to the camp of your +Excellency, and has also forwarded the despatch which I have now the +honour to transmit in answer to that of your Excellency, with which I +accompanied my above-mentioned letters to the Consuls of Paraguay. + +It only remains for me to express to your Excellency my perfect +satisfaction in regard to the conduct of the escort, generally and +individually, during the whole time that we have journeyed together. I +am perfectly well aware, Excellent Sir, that such a declaration is +unnecessary on my part, being confident that soldiers chosen by your +Excellency for any service, would necessarily act as these have done, +but I should neither satisfy my grateful feeling nor my duty, did I +not state that in fulfilling their commission, both the escort and the +officer that accompanied me from Monte Video, have, in every occasion +and in all circumstances, been constantly active, obedient and ready +to exert themselves to the utmost, and that in no instance have they +given cause of complaint, either to myself or to the parties at whose +houses we have stayed, or through whose lands we have passed. + +I cannot conclude without calling the attention of your Excellency to +the case of the soldier José Arillu and to that of the coachman +Antonio, both of whom have been seriously hurt in the service just +completed: at present I can do no more than to recommend them to the +consideration of your Excellency, but I purpose communicating the +affair to my Government. + +Repeating my sincere thanks, and saluting your Excellency with the +expression of my highest esteem and most distinguished consideration, +I have the honour to subscribe myself, + + Your Excellency's most obedient humble servant, + + G. J. R. GORDON. + + _To His Excellency Don Fructuoso Rivera, President of the + Oriental Republic of the Uruguay, General in Chief of the + army, &c. &c._ + + * * * * * + + + REPUBLIC OF PARAGUAY. + + _Assumption, September 23d, 1842._ + +The undersigned supreme Government has received the estimable note of +his Excellency the President of the Oriental Republic of the Uruguay, +dated the 1st of August last, informing this Government of the visit +of George J. R. Gordon, Esq., and his companion recommended by his +Excellency to this Government, who therefore assure his Excellency +that nothing is more gratifying to them than to accept the +recommendation his Excellency has been pleased to direct, for the +purpose indicated; and will correspond, in acting upon it, to the +sentiments of friendship by which it is animated towards the +Government of the Oriental Republic. + +The Government has disposed that the escort given by his Excellency to +Mr. Gordon, shall be provided with the proper passport for his return, +as it is a duty incumbent on this Government to give due fulfilment to +the necessary attentions on Mr. Gordon's leaving the country. + +The request of his Excellency being satisfied in all respects this +Government repeats its expression of true friendship and esteem and +affectionately salutes his Excellency. + + CARLOS ANTONIO LOPEZ. + MARIANO ROQUE ALONSO. + + _To his Excellency the President of the Oriental + Republic of the Uruguay, Don Fructuoso Rivera._ + + * * * * * + + + STEAM NAVIGATION ON THE RIVERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF URUGUAY. + + (OFFICIAL.) + + _The Senate and Chamber of Representatives of the Oriental + Republic of the Uruguay, united in General Assembly, have + resolved on the following_ + + DECREE. + +Art. 1.--It is granted to Mr. John Halton Buggeln to hold the +exclusive privilege of navigating with ships propelled by steam or +other mechanical power, in the ports and on the rivers of the +Republic, during the period of twelve years from the time of the +arrival of those ships at the port of Monte Video, under the +conditions and restrictions to be expressed in the following articles; +reckoning the arrival of the first steam-vessel at twenty months after +the sanction of this project, save in case of unforeseen impediment, +and the contractor obliging himself to prove his inculpableness by +publishing the privilege in England and soliciting the advance of the +requisite capital; if in thirty months from the date mentioned in the +sanction of the project, he shall not have verified that +justification before the Executive, Mr. Halton Buggeln shall incur the +penalty of a fine of 10,000 dollars to the public treasury, the same +to be guaranteed by his person and goods. + +Art. 2.--Vessels of the said description of less than fifty tons +burthen, are not comprehended in the exclusion of this privilege. + +Art. 3.--The undertaking shall be commenced by two vessels of three +hundred or more tons, and one hundred horse power. The latest +discoveries that shall have been made both for the acceleration of +speed and for the prevention of accidents of explosion or others, are +to be applied to their construction and machinery. + +Art. 4.--The vessels of this undertaking shall convey, free of all +charge, the mails of the Republic to and from all the ports of their +transit; the captains or masters being responsible for their safety, +unless the Government shall appoint a person for this object. + +Art. 5.--Each vessel shall maintain on board two young Oriental +citizens as apprentices to instruct them as engineers and pilots. + +Art. 6.--The vessels of this undertaking shall navigate free of all +tonnage dues, under the British flag, having liberty to deposit on +shore or on board of hulks, such coals, machinery or other matters +intended for use and consumption on board, not including provisions, +the Executive to determine the measures necessary to prevent the abuse +of this liberty, and it being understood that the said deposits shall +not be entitled to any other guarantee than such as belong to foreign +property on shore. + +Art. 7--Whatever may be the state of the relations of this Republic +with Great Britain, this undertaking, its funds and property, and the +men employed in it, shall never under any pretext be an object of +sequestration, indemnification, nor guarantee of any kind of +reclamations or reprisals, which may occur between the two nations, +but rather during the whole term of the contract until its +dissolution, it shall be under the protection of the laws as if such +misunderstandings did not exist; but the navigation may be temporally +suspended and with it the term of the privilege, if the defence of the +Republic or other similar interests should so require. + +Art. 8.--If there should be national contractors or shareholders the +undertaking shall admit them to the number of one third of the shares. + +Act. 9--This privilege shall become of no effect by the voluntary +interruption of its exercise, by the contractor, during a period of +six months continuously. + +Art. 10.--Let it be communicated, &c. + +And in making this known to the Executive Power, the undersigned +President takes the opportunity of saluting the Executive with his +most distinguished consideration. + + Dr. PEDRO PABLO VIDAL, + _Juan Manuel de la Sota_, + Secretary. + + Monte Video, February 7th, 1844. + + _To H. E. the Vice-President of the Republic, Don Joaquin Suarez._ + + * * * * * + + _Monte Video, February 8th, 1844._ + +Be it fulfilled, the receipt thereof acknowledged, let be communicated +to whom it may concern, published and inserted in the National Register. + + SUAREZ. + _Santiago Vazquez._ + + + +Printed at the Liverpool Times Office, Castle-street. + + + + + TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES + + +1. Passages in italics are surrounded by _underscores_. + +2. Footnotes have been moved from the middle of the text to just before +appendix. + +3. The following misprints have been corrected: + "the the" corrected to "the" (page 6) + "it" corrected to "its" (page 13) + "on" corrected to "of" (page 28) + "notwithsanding" corrected to "notwithstanding" (page 32) + +4. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Observations on the Present State of the Affairs of the River Plate + +Author: Thomas Baines + +Release Date: August 2, 2010 [EBook #33322] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OBSERVATIONS ON THE PRESENT *** + + + + +Produced by Adrian Mastronardi and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<h2><big>OBSERVATIONS</big><br /> +ON THE PRESENT STATE<br /> +<small>OF THE</small><br /> +AFFAIRS<br /> +<small>OF</small><br /> +<big>THE RIVER PLATE.</big></h2> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>THOMAS BAINES.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"Malheur au siècle, témoin passif d'une lutte héroïque, qui +croirait qu'on peut sans péril, comme sans pénétration de +l'avenir, laisser immoler une nation."</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="smcap">Chateaubriand.</span></p> +</div> + +<h4><big>LIVERPOOL:</big><br /> +<small>PRINTED AND PUBLISHED AT THE LIVERPOOL TIMES OFFICE,<br /> +CASTLE STREET.</small></h4> + +<h4>1845.</h4> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> +<h3><big>OBSERVATIONS</big><br /> +<small>ON</small><br /> +THE PRESENT STATE OF<br /> +<big>THE AFFAIRS OF THE RIVER PLATE.</big></h3> + + +<p>The destructive war which has now been waged for so many years, by the +Chief of the Province of Buenos Ayres against the Republic of Uruguay, +involves questions of so much importance to the commercial interests, +and to the national honour of England, that nothing can account for +the very slight attention which it has received from Parliament and +the press, except the fact that many of the principal considerations +connected with it have never yet been fully brought before the British +public. In order to supply this deficiency, and to show how much it +concerns the character of this country that this war should at once be +brought to a close in the only manner in which it can be ended; that +is, by the prompt and decided interference of the Governments of +France and England, I have thought that it might be useful to lay +before the public the following observations and documents, +explanatory of the principles involved in the war; of the conduct +pursued by Mr. Mandeville, the British Minister to the Argentine +Confederation, at the most critical period of its progress; and of the +strong and rapidly-increasing interest which this country, and more +especially the port of Liverpool, has in the preservation of the +threatened independence of the Republic of Uruguay.</p> + +<p>Most of the readers of these remarks are no doubt aware that the +Province of the Banda Oriental, or eastern bank of the River Plate, +was first constituted an independent state, under the title of the +Republic of Uruguay, at the close of the war between the Argentine +Confederation and the Empire of Brazil, in the year 1828. This +arrangement was in a great measure brought about by the good offices +of Lord Ponsonby, the Ambassador of the British Government to the +Court of Rio, and the result of his negociations +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +was so agreeable to the English Government, that the peace thus concluded +was made a subject of congratulation in the speech from the throne in the +year 1829. The principal object in forming this new Republic was, to +put an end to the destructive war between Buenos Ayres and Brazil, +originating in the claims put forward by both these countries to the +possession of the Province of the Banda Oriental. The Brazilians, who +had had possession of it for several years, were naturally unwilling +to have so warlike and powerful a state as the Argentine Republic on +their most vulnerable frontier, and the Argentines were not less +unwilling to have the Brazilian frontier pushed more than a hundred +leagues up the River Plate, and within the limits of the ancient +Viceroyalty of Paraguay, which had for ages been occupied by the +Spanish race. As the only effectual solution of these difficulties, +the English Government proposed that the Banda Oriental should be +rendered independent of both countries, and this, after some +negociation, was agreed to by all the parties concerned.</p> + +<p>The primary object of the mediation of the English Government was the +re-establishment and preservation of peace and amity between two +nations, with both of which England had valuable commercial relations; +and this object has been completely gained by the arrangement then +effected. During the sixteen years which have elapsed since the treaty +was concluded, no serious difference has occurred between Brazil and +the Argentine Confederation, nor is any likely to occur so long as the +barrier of an independent state is interposed between them. It is only +during the last two years that serious discussions have arisen between +them, and these have originated in the fears of Brazil, lest the +successes of the Buenos Ayrean army, now before Monte Video, should be +such as to break down the barrier established by the Ponsonby treaty, +and again to bring the Buenos Ayreans on the frontiers of Rio Grande. +From apprehension of this event, the Brazilian Government has allowed +General Paz, with his military staff, to pass through its territory to +place himself at the head of the Correntino insurgents, who have risen +against Rosas, and made common cause with Monte Video; it has also recalled +Admiral Grenfell, its commander in the River Plate, as well as its diplomatic +agent at Monte Video, for engaging in an ill-timed quarrel with the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +Monte Videan Government; and if the Buenos Ayrean +army should succeed in gaining possession of the city of Monte Video, +it will in all probability, whether backed or not by England and +France, decide to take part in the war, rather than allow General +Rosas to succeed in the designs which he now avows on the Republics of +Uruguay and Paraguay, the two bulwarks of the western provinces of the +Brazilian empire. Notwithstanding the recent victories of the +Brazilian General, Baron Caxias, over the rebels of Rio Grande dó Sul, +that province is still in a very unsettled state—far too much so to +be safely exposed to the machinations of such dangerous neighbours as +Generals Rosas and Oribe. It may, therefore, be confidently expected, +that if the great naval powers do not interpose, the progress of +events will again bring on a war between Brazil, strengthened by the +army of Uruguay, under General Rivera, that of Corrientes under +General Paz, and the forces of Paraguay on one side; and Buenos Ayres +on the other, backed by those other provinces of the Argentine +Confederation, which still follow the fortunes of General Rosas.</p> + +<p>What the result of such a war would be no one can predict, but its +first consequence would be another blockade of Buenos Ayres, by the +Brazilian fleet, its next the reinforcement of the garrison of Monte +Video by a detachment of Brazilian troops, and its probable final +result, after the whole of the countries engaged in it had been +thoroughly ruined, the establishment of the ascendancy either of the +government of Buenos Ayres, or of that of Brazil at Monte Video. This +would be alike opposed to the wishes and the interests of the Monte +Videans themselves, to the interests of a large portion of South +America, and to those of the nations trading with it. A small +Independent State, like the Republic of Uruguay, governed as it has +ever been since the date of its independence on the most liberal +commercial principles, is the best of all checks on the commercial +illiberality of the neighbouring countries, and is much too valuable +to be sacrificed by the Government of any commercial nation which has +at heart the prosperity of its subjects.</p> + +<p>If it should be said that neutral nations have no right to interpose +between belligerents, even for the purpose of preserving the national +independence of the weaker, I answer, that no longer since +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +than last year, the Government of this country was prepared to have interposed, +if it had been necessary, in order to preserve the independence of the +Empire of Morocco; and that the Government of France fully admitted +the right of England to do so in such a case, by giving a promise +beforehand that it would not use its victory either to conquer the +territory or to destroy the independence of the offending state. The +reason why England was prepared to resist the conquest of Morocco was, +that such a conquest would have seriously endangered her interests and +influence in the Mediterranean; and one principal reason why she +should interfere to prevent the conquest of Monte Video by the army +and squadron of Buenos Ayres is, that such a conquest would jeopardise +her valuable commerce and her influence in the River Plate, the only +outlet of regions larger than all the great Kingdoms of Western Europe +united. Brazil has the same right to interpose that Austria would have +to resist the conquest of Sardinia, or Prussia the conquest of +Belgium, by France.</p> + +<p>Many advantages have resulted both to the commerce of foreign nations, +and to the prosperity of the people of Uruguay, from the recognition +of its independence both of Buenos Ayres and Brazil, which were not +anticipated at the time when it was established, the whole of which, +as we shall show, will be lost if it is allowed to be absorbed by or +placed in dependence on Buenos Ayres. Amongst these advantages are the +following:—</p> + +<p>The creation of an Independent State on the eastern bank of the River +Plate has given the commercial nations of Europe trading with those +vast countries of South America, whose only means of intercourse with +the rest of the world is through that River, a greatly increased +security against being again cut off from communication with them, as +they were during the Brazilian blockade, in the years 1825, 6, and 7. +At that time, both banks of the river were involved in the war, the +city of Monte Video being in the hands of the Brazilians, and the +Province which now forms the Republic of Uruguay being in arms against +them. The consequence of this state of things was, that the whole of +the countries watered by the great rivers Parana, Paraguay, Uruguay, +and their innumerable tributary streams, as well as the provinces of +Buenos Ayres and Monte Video, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +were cut off from all communication with Europe for nearly three years, +and that the great commerce which even then was carried on by England +and other nations with those countries, was for the time destroyed. Some +notion may be formed of the inconvenience which this country alone +sustained from the blockade of the river, from the following facts. In +the years 1822, 3, 4, and 5, the four years preceding it, the average +annual value of the exports from England to the River Plate, was +£909,330, whilst in 1826, 7, and 8, during the blockade, it fell +to £279,463, and in 1827, to £150,000, and even that small +remnant of trade was carried on by vessels which broke the blockade. At +a subsequent period, namely, in the years 1838-9, and 40, there was +again a blockade in the River Plate, established by France, a power much +more capable of making a blockade respected than Brazil, but as the east +bank of the river was no longer under the control of Buenos Ayres, which +was the power against whom the blockade was directed, the evils +resulting from it were comparatively small. Foreign ships were still +able to proceed to Monte Video, (thanks to the independence of Uruguay), +and thus, although one line of intercourse with the interior was cut off +by the blockade of the port of Buenos Ayres, the other up the river +Uruguay was kept open. In consequence of this, the evils of the blockade +were, in a great measure, confined to the city of Buenos Ayres and its +immediate neighbourhood, for the eastern bank of the river flourished +more than ever, the communication with the interior was never closed, +and the commerce of the nations trading with those countries continued +to increase. When it is considered (and it ought never to be lost sight +of,) that the commerce of foreign nations with the whole of the central +regions of South America depends entirely on the keeping open one or +other of these lines of communication, it will be seen that it is a +matter, not merely of national but of universal importance, though in an +especial manner to England, to maintain the entire independence of Monte +Video of Buenos Ayres, so as to diminish as much as possible the danger +of both being closed at the same time and by the same political events. +We say the entire independence of Monte Video, for though the nominal +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +independence of the country might be preserved, even if the Buenos +Ayrean army, under General Oribe, should get possession of the city of +Monte Video, that officer would be compelled to lean on General Rosas +for support to protect him against the majority of his fellow +countrymen, who are now in arms against him quite as much as the chiefs +of the Banda Oriental were in 1826, 7, and 8, compelled to lean on +Buenos Ayres for protection against the arms of Brazil; and to follow +the fortunes of Buenos Ayres in any war in which General Rosas might +involve himself, either with Brazil or any of the nations of Europe. +This would again be fatal to the trade of the River Plate.</p> + +<p>It is not generally known, although it is very important that it +should be, that this trade amounted in 1842, including both imports +and exports, to upwards of Three Millions sterling, at the port of +Monte Video alone. It is still, however, in its infancy, and requires +nothing but a few years of peace, with the introduction of steam +navigation on the Parana, the Uruguay, and their +tributaries,<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> to +give it an extension which will render it of vital importance to the +merchants and manufacturers of England. The Parana and the Paraguay, +together, are known to be navigable to Assumption, which is fifteen +hundred miles above Buenos Ayres, to vessels drawing nine feet water, +and there is every reason to believe that both those rivers might be +navigated a thousand miles higher by iron steamers, such as those +recently built at Birkenhead, by order of the East India Company, for +the navigation of the Indus and the Sutlej, the former of which, when +carrying guns and troops, draw only four feet water, the latter of +which, when loaded in the same manner, not more than two and a half. +The Uruguay is equally navigable for several hundred miles to the +Salto Chico, (the little leap), and if a short canal was cut, to turn +that rapid and the much more formidable one of the Salto +Grande,<a name="FNanchor_B_2" id="FNanchor_B_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_B_2" class="fnanchor">[B]</a> it +would be navigable for many hundred miles above the Falls. Several +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +of the tributaries of these gigantic streams are larger than the Rhine, +the Elbe, or the Tagus, and great numbers of them than the Thames or +the Mersey, and the whole of this vast net-work of waters is connected +with the still more stupendous river of the Amazons, by a short +portage to the Madeira, one of the principal tributaries of that king +of rivers. The natural products which these unrivalled lines of river +communication might be made the means of bringing to the ports on the +Rivers Plate and Amazons are varied and inexhaustible. In addition to +the large supplies of hides, wool, tallow, and provisions, which these +countries now furnish, Paraguay and Corrientes are capable of +supplying the finest timber for ship-building purposes, sugar the +growth of free labour, the best kinds of tobacco, cotton-wool, +dyewoods, drugs, the tea of Paraguay, and the precious metals from +Bolivia and the back provinces of Brazil. It is now only twenty or +thirty years since steam navigation was introduced on the Mississippi, +and the consequence of its introduction has been an extension of +cultivation and population such as the world never before saw. The +natural resources of the great valleys of the Parana, Paraguay, and +Uruguay, merely require to be developed by the same means to make +Monte Video and Buenos Ayres as flourishing as New Orleans, and to +make the commerce of the River Plate rival that of the Mississippi. It +is perhaps vain to hope that anything will induce the present Governor +of Buenos Ayres to abandon the suicidal policy which is at once +impeding the intercourse with the interior, and depriving that city of +the principal benefits of its unrivalled position, but this only +renders it the more necessary to keep open the only other course, +namely, that through the Uruguay, by which the resources of these vast +countries can be brought into activity.</p> + +<p>For another of the great advantages which has resulted from the +independence of Monte Video, has been the opening of a new channel for the +commercial intercourse between Europe and the central states of South America, +in peace as well as in war; and this channel the Monte Videan Government has +laboured to improve and keep open, as zealously and as successfully as the +Buenos Ayrean Government has laboured to narrow and impede +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +the old ones. The Buenos Ayrean Government has been +warned repeatedly by its warmest friends of the consequences which +would result from its illiberal commercial policy; but they might just +as well have reasoned with the winds; for, the only effect of the +contrast between the rapidly increasing prosperity of Monte Video and +the declining state of Buenos Ayres, has been to excite the most +deadly hatred and jealousy towards Monte Video on the part of the +Buenos Ayrean Government, and a settled determination to drag down +that rapidly improving city to its own level. The following sketch of +the commercial policy of the two countries will show what have been +the principal causes of the prosperity of Monte Video, and what of the +decline of Buenos Ayres; and also how strong a claim the policy of the +former gives it on the sympathy and support of this country.</p> + +<p>A large portion of the revenue, both of Monte Video and of Province of +Buenos Ayres, is raised by taxes on the importation of foreign goods, +and the rate of duties is not excessive in either case. It is not on +this account that any one complains of the Buenos Ayrean Government, +but because it confines foreign commerce to the single port of Buenos +Ayres, and excludes both foreigners and foreign vessels from the other +ports of the Confederation, as strictly as the Chinese formerly +excluded them from every port except Canton. This it is able to effect +by its command over the entrance to the river Parana, the direct route +to Entre Rios, Corrientes, and the other provinces of the +Confederation. Whilst the provincial Government of Buenos Ayres thus +excludes all foreign vessels from the Parana, and as far as its +control extends from the Uruguay, it claims the right to expend the +whole of the customs' revenue raised at Buenos Ayres. The upper +provinces very naturally consider this unjust, and insist on having +either a share of the revenue collected at Buenos Ayres (somewhat on +the principle adopted amongst the states of the German Zollverein), or +on having a general Congress of all the provinces of the Confederation +to decide how the money shall be distributed. This General Rosas and +his adherents refuse, and this refusal, coupled with the equally positive +refusal of the same parties to allow foreign vessels to ascend the river, +is one principal cause of the frequent wars between the states of the +Argentine Confederation on the banks of the river and the Government of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +Buenos Ayres, one of which is now raging between it and Corrientes. In +this way the commerce with the interior is continually interrupted. The +policy of the Monte Videan Government is in every respect the reverse of +this, for it not only throws open the ports of Monte Video, Maldonado, +and Colonia, on the River Plate, but those of Soriano and +Paysandú, on the Uruguay, the Yaguaron, on the Laguna Merin, and +the dry port of Taquarembó on the Brazilian frontier to all the +world, and thus gives every part of the republic all the advantages of +foreign commerce.</p> + +<p>There is a still greater difference, if it is possible, in the policy +adopted by the two governments with regard to the transit trade. At +Monte Video goods may be landed without the payment of any duty, may +be there deposited in the Custom-house stores for any length of time, +on the payment of a smaller warehouse rent than is usually paid in +Liverpool, and may be sent to any of the independent countries in the +interior, or re-shipped to foreign parts, without the payment of a +dollar. The Government goes even further than this, for it allows +goods in transit to be conveyed through the whole territory of the +Republic, with a guia or Custom-house Permit to all parts of the +frontier, and to be forwarded into the Argentine provinces of Entre +Rios and Corrientes, into the Republic of Paraguay, and into the back +provinces of the empire of Brazil, perfectly free from duty. Hence +goods are constantly forwarded up the Uruguay, instead of going to +Buenos Ayres to pay duty to General Rosas. The natural consequence of +this is, that the people of all the adjoining states have a friendly +feeling towards Monte Video. Corrientes has several times risen +against the connection with General Rosas, in support of Monte Video, +and Brazil is prepared, if necessary, to interfere to save it from his +grasp. In fact, it is quite evident that nothing but an entire change +of policy on the part of Buenos Ayres can prevent a general war +against its usurpations. The policy of Rosas with regard to goods in +transit to the Independent States of the interior is altogether +different from that of Monte Video, for, when landed at Buenos Ayres, +they pay the same duties as if they were intended for consumption +there, and not a sixpence, or what is less than a sixpence, a Buenos Ayrean +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +paper dollar, is ever returned. When goods are intended for +re-exportation by sea, the difference is in appearance less, but much +the same in reality, for whilst they can be landed at Monte Video +without paying any duty, can remain there as long as the owners like, +and can then be re-exported duty free, at Buenos Ayres they cannot be +landed without paying the full duties, their owners lose all claim to +have any part of those duties returned, if they are not re-exported +within six months, and it is only with the greatest difficulty and +after waiting many months that they obtain any return at all, even if +they are exported within that time.</p> + +<p>A similar contrast is also seen in the spirit in which the Governments +of Buenos Ayres and Monte Video treat the diplomatic agents of foreign +nations. Soon after the death of the Dictator Francia, the English +Government determined to send a diplomatic agent to the Republic of +Paraguay. This gentleman, Mr. Gordon, first landed at Buenos Ayres, +hoping to be allowed to proceed up the Parana to Assumption, the +capital, but he soon found that it was no part of General Rosas's +policy to allow any such communication. The consequence was, that +after remaining at Buenos Ayres for some time combatting the pretences +under which permission was refused, he found that there was no hope of +his being allowed to proceed to the seat of his mission, through the +countries subject to the dominion of General Rosas, and crossed over +to Monte Video. There he was received with every attention, and +furnished by General Rivera with a guard of honour, under whose escort +he travelled to the frontiers of Paraguay. Mr. Gordon's letter of +acknowledgement to General Rivera will be found in the Appendix, and +it would be difficult to find a stronger illustration of the opposite +spirit of the two Governments than is presented by this transaction. +Not Francia himself was ever more determined to cut off Paraguay from +communication with the rest of the world than is General Rosas, and +the key to his conduct is, that he is determined, if possible, to +reduce the people of that Republic to subjection to his authority. No +longer since than the 15th of January last, a long article appeared in +the official <i>Gazette</i> of Buenos Ayres, censuring the Governments of +Brazil and Bolivia for recognizing the independence of +Paraguay.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> + +<p>In addition to all these advantages arising out of the independence of +the Republic of Uruguay, it ought to be mentioned that the Government +of Monte Video has preserved an undepreciated silver currency through +all its difficulties, whilst the Buenos Ayrean Government has issued +such masses of paper without ever redeeming it, that the Buenos Ayrean +paper dollar is not worth more than 4-1/4d. at the present time. The +other states of the Argentine Confederation positively refuse to take +the Buenos Ayrean paper money, but foreign merchants are compelled to +take it, or to dispose of their goods by barter, which is seldom +possible.</p> + +<p>The consequence of the liberal commercial system adopted by Monte +Video, aided by the excellence of its situation has been to raise that +city, in fourteen years, to the position of one of the first +commercial places in America, as will be seen from the following +summary of the export and import trade in 1842, the year before the +commencement of the siege:—</p> + + +<h4>EXPORTS.</h4> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="EXPORTS"> +<tr> + <td align="right">638,424</td> + <td>Hides, salted</td> + <td align="right">$2,553,696</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right">780,097</td> + <td>Hides, dry</td> + <td align="right">2,340,291</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right">60,904</td> + <td>Hides</td> + <td align="right">91,356</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right">100,583</td> + <td>Skins of Sheep</td> + <td align="right">201,706</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right">111,801</td> + <td>(arrobas) Tallow</td> + <td align="right">223,602</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right">4,444</td> + <td>(tons) Bones</td> + <td align="right">31,108</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right">2,690</td> + <td>(arrobas) Mares Oil</td> + <td align="right">4,035</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right">26,462</td> + <td>(arrobas) Hair</td> + <td align="right">79,386</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right">946,955</td> + <td>Horns</td> + <td align="right">28,408.5</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right">96,540</td> + <td>(arrobas) Wool</td> + <td align="right">144,810</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right">3,341</td> + <td>(dozens) Skins of Sheep</td> + <td align="right">6,682</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right">8,019</td> + <td>(quintals) Garras</td> + <td align="right">8,019</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right">1,109</td> + <td>(tons) Ashes</td> + <td align="right">8,872</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right">18,198</td> + <td>(arrobas) Fat</td> + <td align="right">36,396</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right">424</td> + <td>(dozens) Skins of Nonatos</td> + <td align="right">848</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right">938</td> + <td>Ditto Nutria</td> + <td align="right">2,345</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right">513,641</td> + <td>(quintals) Meat</td> + <td align="right">1,540,923</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right">121</td> + <td>(barrels) Tripe, salted</td> + <td align="right">726</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right">150</td> + <td>(barrels) Meat</td> + <td align="right">1,200</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right">2,065</td> + <td>(boxes) Candles</td> + <td align="right">6,195</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right">170</td> + <td>(dozens) Tongues</td> + <td align="right">170</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right">470</td> + <td>Mules</td> + <td align="right">9,400</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right">2,380</td> + <td>(lbs.) Ostrich Feathers</td> + <td align="right">892.4</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2"> </td> + <td align="right">————————</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"> </td> + <td>Value of Exports</td> + <td align="right">$7,321,066.1</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"> </td> + <td>Value of Imports on which duty was paid</td> + <td align="right">$9,237,696</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2"> </td> + <td align="right">————————</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<p>How much this extensive trade has increased since the establishment of +the independence of Monte Video, will be seen from the following +statement of the increase of British shipping from 1830 to 1842:—</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> + +<h4>BRITISH SHIPPING.</h4> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="BRITISH SHIPPING"> +<tr> + <th>Years.</th> + <th>Ships.</th> + <th>Tonnage.</th> + <th>Men.</th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>1830</td> + <td align="right">41</td> + <td align="right">7480</td> + <td align="right">425</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>1831</td> + <td align="right">36</td> + <td align="right">6418</td> + <td align="right">387</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>1832</td> + <td align="right">30</td> + <td align="right">5577</td> + <td align="right">324</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>1833</td> + <td align="right">51</td> + <td align="right">9377</td> + <td align="right">541</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>1834</td> + <td align="right">65</td> + <td align="right">12339</td> + <td align="right">664</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>1835</td> + <td align="right">54</td> + <td align="right">10571</td> + <td align="right">573</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>1836</td> + <td align="right">58</td> + <td align="right">11121</td> + <td align="right">628</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>1837</td> + <td align="right">63</td> + <td align="right">12874</td> + <td align="right">708</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>1838</td> + <td align="right">100</td> + <td align="right">20800</td> + <td align="right">1143</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>1839</td> + <td align="right">103</td> + <td align="right">21257</td> + <td align="right">1147</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>1840</td> + <td align="right">132</td> + <td align="right">23821</td> + <td align="right">1447</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>1841</td> + <td align="right">159</td> + <td align="right">34537</td> + <td align="right">1788</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<p>Up to the 6th of September, 1842, 128 British vessels had arrived at Monte +Video during that year.</p> + + +<h4>COMPARISON OF THE COMMERCE OF MONTE VIDEO AND BUENOS AYRES.</h4> + + +<p>Number of merchant vessels arrived at the Ports of Monte Video and +Buenos Ayres during the half-year ending June 30th, 1842:—</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="COMPARISON OF THE COMMERCE"> +<tr> + <th> </th> + <th>Monte Video.</th> + <th>Buenos Ayres.</th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>National</td> + <td align="right">16</td> + <td align="right">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>Brazilian</td> + <td align="right">54</td> + <td align="right">17</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>American</td> + <td align="right">48</td> + <td align="right">31</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>Chilian</td> + <td align="right">1</td> + <td align="right">1</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>British</td> + <td align="right">115</td> + <td align="right">47</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>French</td> + <td align="right">52</td> + <td align="right">20</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>Spanish</td> + <td align="right">44</td> + <td align="right">17</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>Sardinian</td> + <td align="right">76</td> + <td align="right">14</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>Portuguese</td> + <td align="right">4</td> + <td align="right">2</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>Hamburgh</td> + <td align="right">14</td> + <td align="right">8</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>Danish</td> + <td align="right">17</td> + <td align="right">12</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>Austrian</td> + <td align="right">6</td> + <td align="right">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>Swedish</td> + <td align="right">9</td> + <td align="right">8</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>Belgian</td> + <td align="right">3</td> + <td align="right">1</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>Bremen</td> + <td align="right">3</td> + <td align="right">3</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>Prussian</td> + <td align="right">6</td> + <td align="right">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>Russian</td> + <td align="right">1</td> + <td align="right">1</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>Hanoverian</td> + <td align="right">1</td> + <td align="right">1</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>Lubeck</td> + <td align="right">2</td> + <td align="right">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>Norwegian</td> + <td align="right">3</td> + <td align="right">2</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>Tuscan</td> + <td align="right">1</td> + <td align="right">1</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">———</td> + <td align="right">———</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">475</td> + <td align="right">186</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">———</td> + <td align="right">———</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<p>Great as this trade is, there is no reason why its future increase +should not be as rapid as its past. There are at present several millions +of cattle roving over the boundless pastures watered by the +Uruguay, the Rio Negro, the St. Lucia, and the two hundred arroyos +or rivulets which flow into them, and with a few years of peace, +this number would be doubled, or if it was found more profitable, +flocks of sheep might be introduced instead. The repeal of the +duty on foreign wool, by the Act of 1844, gives additional +encouragement to the raising of this kind of stock, and the +reduction in the duty on foreign provisions made by the tariff of +1842, would, if this country was at peace, throw a considerable +portion of the provision trade created by that reduction of duty, +and at present monopolized by the United States, into Monte +Video. Enormous quantities of meat are now wasted, which it +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +might be worth while to prepare for this market, in a way suited +for the English taste.</p> + +<p>Pastoral countries, such as the territory of Uruguay, New +South Wales, Van Dieman's Land, and South Africa, have this +great advantage over arable countries that their resources can be +developed much more rapidly, with a much smaller amount of +labour, and with much less capital. This is one of the +causes of the sudden rise of the trade with Australia, and +it is also a considerable cause of the rapid development of the +prosperity of Monte Video. Its power of producing hides, +wool, tallow, and provisions is unlimited, by any thing except the +deficient numbers of its population; and whilst on this subject, I +may mention that Monte Video is the only one of all the Republics +formed out of the ancient possessions of Spain which has been +sufficiently well governed to attract to its shores any considerable +number of emigrants from Europe. It will be seen from the +following table extracted from the books of the Custom House at +Monte Video, that not less than 33,607 emigrants arrived in that +port between November, 1835, and December, 1842:—</p> + +<h4><i>Table made from the books at the Sala de Comercio of the number of +passengers who arrived at Monte Video from Nov. 1835 inclusive, to the +end of 1842.</i></h4> + +<table border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="BRITISH SHIPPING"> +<colgroup><col width="10%" /> +<col width="9%" /><col width="9%" /><col width="9%" /><col width="9%" /><col width="9%" /> +<col width="9%" /><col width="9%" /><col width="9%" /><col width="9%" /><col width="9%" /></colgroup> +<tr> + <th> </th> + <th>Basques, from both sides of the Pyrenees.</th> + <th>Frenchmen.</th> + <th>Gallicians.</th> + <th>Catalanes.</th> + <th>Spaniards from Cadiz, &c.</th> + <th>Genoese.</th> + <th>Canarios.</th> + <th>Portuguese and Brazilians.</th> + <th>Miscellaneous.</th> + <th>Total.</th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>1836</td> + <td align="right">1116</td> + <td align="right">56</td> + <td align="right">...</td> + <td align="right">94</td> + <td align="right">112</td> + <td align="right">365</td> + <td align="right">744</td> + <td align="right">782</td> + <td align="right">331</td> + <td align="right">3600</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>1837</td> + <td align="right">348</td> + <td align="right">72</td> + <td align="right">101</td> + <td align="right">485</td> + <td align="right">310</td> + <td align="right">175</td> + <td align="right">949</td> + <td align="right">454</td> + <td align="right">223</td> + <td align="right">3117</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>1838</td> + <td align="right">1939</td> + <td align="right">71</td> + <td align="right">85</td> + <td align="right">264</td> + <td align="right">284</td> + <td align="right">645</td> + <td align="right">2320</td> + <td align="right">294</td> + <td align="right">177</td> + <td align="right">6079</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>1839</td> + <td align="right">233</td> + <td align="right">69</td> + <td align="right">141</td> + <td align="right">64</td> + <td align="right">53</td> + <td align="right">202</td> + <td align="right">...</td> + <td align="right">160</td> + <td align="right">111</td> + <td align="right">1033</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>1840</td> + <td align="right">1107</td> + <td align="right">80</td> + <td align="right">106</td> + <td align="right">107</td> + <td align="right">58</td> + <td align="right">727</td> + <td align="right">...</td> + <td align="right">316</td> + <td align="right">122</td> + <td align="right">2623</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>1841</td> + <td align="right">3965</td> + <td align="right">121</td> + <td align="right">408</td> + <td align="right">104</td> + <td align="right">92</td> + <td align="right">2552</td> + <td align="right">365</td> + <td align="right">101</td> + <td align="right">111</td> + <td align="right">7819</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>1842</td> + <td align="right">4968</td> + <td align="right">227</td> + <td align="right">502</td> + <td align="right">143</td> + <td align="right">293</td> + <td align="right">2123</td> + <td align="right">774</td> + <td align="right">140</td> + <td align="right">166</td> + <td align="right">9336</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right"><b>13676</b></td> + <td align="right"><b>696</b></td> + <td align="right"><b>1343</b></td> + <td align="right"><b>1261</b></td> + <td align="right"><b>1202</b></td> + <td align="right"><b>6789</b></td> + <td align="right"><b>5152</b></td> + <td align="right"><b>2247</b></td> + <td align="right"><b>1241</b></td> + <td align="right"><b>33607</b></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> + +<p>Of this large number of emigrants, 13,676, it will be seen, +were from the Basque provinces; 696 from France; 3806 from +Spain; 6789 from Genoa; 5152 from the Canary Islands; 2247 +from Portugal and Brazil, and 1241 from other parts of the +world. If, as has been said by one of our greatest writers, +there is no worse sign of the condition of a country than the fact +of large masses of its subjects leaving it, surely it must be +considered an equally strong proof of the goodness of a Government +and the resources of a country when great masses of foreign +emigrants are pouring into it. In this respect, Monte Video +stands pre-eminent above all the States of America, except +those founded by the British race, and considering the limited +extent of its territory, and the short period of its independent +existence, it can scarcely be said to yield to them.</p> + +<p>Having thus shown the grounds on which the Government and +people of Monte Video are entitled to the sympathies and support +of England, I shall now proceed to say a few words on the present +disastrous position of the affairs of that Republic.</p> + +<p>For the last two years, the city of Monte Video has been besieged by +an army composed almost entirely of Buenos Ayrean troops, commanded by +General Manuel Oribe, the expatriated President of Uruguay, who claims +to be the legal President of the Republic, and whose avowed object is +to overturn the present Government, and to seize on supreme power for +himself, and blockaded by sea by a Buenos Ayrean squadron, commanded +by William Brown, a British subject in the pay of General Rosas. If +the army of General Oribe was composed of Monte Videans, England could +have nothing to say in this matter, as his success would be merely the +substitution of the chief of one native party for another; but this is +not the case. Oribe has neither army, fleet, nor treasures of his own, +and owes every thing to General Rosas as absolutely as if he was a +Buenos Ayrean citizen. To allow him, therefore, to get and to retain +possession of Monte Video, would be to establish the authority of +Buenos Ayres on the east bank of the river as effectually as on the +west, and this I have already shown would be most injurious to the +interests of England, of Brazil, and the other adjoining +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +States, as well as to Monte Video itself, and to the upper States +of the Argentine confederation.</p> + +<p>Whatever might be the wishes of General Oribe, it is evident +that he would have no chance of retaining power any longer than +he made himself agreeable to General Rosas. In the city he has +a considerable number of supporters amongst the shopkeepers and +a few amongst the merchants, but in the country, the landed +proprietors and gauchos or peasantry are all opposed to him, and +are enrolled in the armies of General Rivera, or his lieutenants. +When President, he was besieged and deposed by this class, +against which the mere townsmen can effect nothing. If he got +possession of the city, he would not be able to raise such a native +force as would sustain him. He must, therefore, retain the +Buenos Ayrean army in his pay, or he could not stir a mile from +the walls without being attacked by the army of Rivera. Hence +he would continue in a state of dependence on General Rosas for +many years, if indeed he ever became entirely independent of +him. Thus, it will be seen, that this is not a struggle to decide +whether Oribe or Rivera shall be chief of the Republic, but +whether the Republic shall remain independent or become subservient +to the will of its bitterest enemy.</p> + +<p>If the will of General Rosas should thus be allowed to become +the law of Monte Video, the prosperity of that country is at an +end. A very large revenue would be required for the support of +the Buenos Ayrean mercenaries, and it is not at all unlikely that +Rosas, who confiscated the property of the whole of the Unitarian +or Centralist Party to pay the expense of a former civil war, would +insist on the repayment of the whole, or at least of a part of the +expenses of the present war, in carrying on which the finances of +Buenos Ayres have been brought to the verge of ruin. To raise +the money required for these purposes, there are only two ways; +the first, the confiscation of the property of Oribe's opponents; +the second, a great increase of the taxes on foreign imports. The +first of these measures would destroy all the best connections of +the English merchants, and ruin all the most respectable men in +the Republic, whilst the second would quite as effectually destroy +its foreign commerce.</p> + +<p>It is by no means certain, however, that even the name of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +independence would long be left to Monte Video, if General Oribe +should succeed. General Rosas would, in all probability, soon +grow tired of supplying troops and money to support another +man's authority, whilst General Oribe's necessities would compel +him to submit to anything which his patron might propose, even +if he went the length of proposing the annexation of Monte Video +to Buenos Ayres, in humble imitation of the annexation of Texas +to the United States. The last letters from Monte Video state, +that Oribe has been getting together, at the Buceo, all the members +of his former Legislative Assembly, who had followed him +to Buenos Ayres or joined him there, and with their aid he +will soon form an assembly quite capable of performing any act +which it may suit his convenience to have performed. With such +materials we shall scarcely fail to have a repetition of the annexation +of Texas on the banks of the River Plate, whenever it may +suit the plans of General Rosas and the necessities of General +Oribe to effect it.</p> + +<p>It is not, however, merely on grounds of policy and humanity +that England is called upon to interfere in this contest, but it is +bound to do so by the distinct pledges of assistance given by Mr. +Mandeville, the English Minister at Buenos Ayres, to the +Government of Monte Video, in the name of his own Government. +In December, 1842, at the most critical period of the war, that +gentleman formally announced, both to the Governments of Monte +Video and Buenos Ayres, that England and France had determined +to put an end to the war, and demanded that they should +both cease from hostilities.<a name="FNanchor_C_3" id="FNanchor_C_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_C_3" class="fnanchor">[C]</a> Not content with this, he addressed +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +an official letter to Senor Vidal, the Secretary of State to the +Republic of Uruguay, urging him and his Government not to relax, but +rather to redouble their efforts to resist the Buenos Ayreans, until the +arrival of the assistance which, he stated, might be expected daily from +Europe.<a name="FNanchor_D_4" id="FNanchor_D_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_D_4" class="fnanchor">[D]</a> The letters of Mr. Mandeville +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +will be found in the appendix to this pamphlet, and it will be for the +public to decide whether promises so distinct and emphatic, accompanied +by exhortations so strong, do not justify the Government of Monte Video, +and the merchants trading with that country, in calling on the British +Government to fulfil the engagements of its representative. Indeed it is +impossible that the Government of England can allow Monte Video to be +taken and plundered, the leading men of the Republic to be murdered or +driven into exile, and the Republic itself to be annihilated, without +destroying the high reputation which England has so long possessed in +all those countries for honour and uprightness.</p> + +<p>That these consequences will be justly chargeable either on the +Representative or the Government of this country, if Monte Video +should be taken, is evident from a consideration of the circumstances +under which Mr. Mandeville gave his promises and his urgent +recommendation quoted above. The letters containing them were written +in the period which intervened between the total defeat of the Monte +Videan army at Arroyo Grande, and the advance of General Oribe and the +Buenos Ayrean forces on that city. When they were given, the Monte +Videan Government was in a state of the utmost uncertainty as to +whether further resistance would not be a useless waste of human life, +and whether it could have any other effect than to render its own +position more desperate. The infantry of Rivera, the only force up to +that time available for the defence of the city was destroyed, and the +cavalry was broken, and discouraged, besides being totally useless for +the purpose of resisting a siege. Within the city were a considerable +number of Oribe's supporters, and many neutrals, including nine-tenths +of the foreign population. At this critical moment the letters of Mr. +Mandeville, given above, were written, and it is the opinion of those +who were at Monte Video at the time, that it was those letters which induced +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +the Government to forego all attempts at negotiation, and to +call upon the whole population to rise and resist to the last. With +this view, besides calling on those classes of the people which had +previously taken part in the struggle, to rally round the Government, +it declared all the negro slaves in the Republic free, and formed them +into regiments of infantry for the defence of the capital, and it also +gave every encouragement to the foreign population which had emigrated +for the purpose of following the pursuits of peaceful industry, to +take up arms. By these means, an army of some thousand men was formed +within the city, chiefly from classes not before compromised, whilst +in the open country, the landed proprietors and peasantry, were +encouraged to take arms again under the command of their favourite +chief Rivera. Thus the war was renewed, and the whole population of +the Republic was again engaged in a struggle which, from the great +disproportion of the forces, nothing but the promised intervention of +England and France can bring to a close which will not be fatal to +them.</p> + +<p>My object in referring to these facts is not to excite odium against +Mr. Mandeville, who could have had no object in making the promises +contained in his letters of the 28th December and 12th of January, +except that of preserving the independence of Monte Video, until the +forces which he expected from Europe had arrived. In a previous +letter, quoted in the Appendix, he positively refused to give any such +promises without the permission of his own Government; and in his +letter of the 12th of January he bases his promises of aid to the +Monte Videan Government on this assertion:—"<span class="smcap">The Interview between the +British Ambassador</span> (at Paris) <span class="smcap">and Guizot took place on the 9th +September, when he agreed to all that Lord Cowley proposed of uniting +their forces to put an end to the war.</span>" I will not suppose, even for +the sake of argument, that an English Minister made such a statement +as the above without believing it to be true, still less that he made +it for the sake of exciting fallacious and unfounded hopes in the +minds of men struggling for existence. He must have believed his own +assertions, and he must have had some strong, if not conclusive +reasons for believing them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is just as little my wish to cast odium on the English Government +as on Mr. Mandeville. Its foreign policy in other parts +of the world has been wise, dignified, and honest, and all that +is asked is that it will act on the same principles in this transaction. +No one can doubt that it is sincerely desirous of restoring +peace in the River Plate. The reason which Sir Robert Peel gives +for the non-fulfilment of Mr. Mandeville's promises is that he had +exceeded his orders in giving them. That there was a mistake +somewhere or other cannot be doubted, though whether it arose +from want of explicitness in the directions given to Mr. Mandeville +or from want of comprehension on his part no one is in a position +to decide, except those who have seen them. What, however, +is perfectly clear is this, that the promises given by him to the +Monte Videan Government and the assurances given by him to +his own countrymen have had a most important influence on their +conduct, and have so far compromised the British Government as +to add greatly to the other many and strong reasons for interposing. +It is no longer a question of whether an independent Government, +formed under the mediation of England shall be sacrificed, and +along with it the peace which it has so long been the means of +preserving between two of the most important states of South +America, neither is it a mere question of whether the commercial +intercourse with the finest regions of that great continent shall be +carried on without impediment; it is not now even a question of +whether a friendly Government shall be destroyed and all connected +with it ruined; these considerations, great as they are, yield to the +consideration that the honour of this country has been pledged by +its authorized representative, and that promises have been given +which cannot be violated without deep disgrace to the hitherto +unsullied honour of the English name.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Postscript.</span>—Since the above observations were written, explanations +have been given by the Prime Minister in Parliament which encourage us +to hope that her Majesty's Ministers have at last decided to fulfil +the promises made by their late representative Mr. Mandeville, by taking +effectual steps to terminate the war, and to secure the independence of the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +Republic of Uruguay. They have only to speak the +word, and to make such a display of force as will show that they are +in earnest, and Monte Video is saved. Admiral Brown, or as Commodore +Purvis calls him, "Mr. Brown, the British subject, commanding the +Buenos Ayrean squadron before Monte Video," will never run the double +risk of being sunk by an English broadside, or of being hung as a +traitor by resisting the orders of his own Government, if he is +convinced that his Government means to be obeyed, and the moment that +he strikes his flag, Oribe will have nothing left but to make the best +terms for himself and his army. He draws all his provisions from the +fleet, and must retire when his supplies are cut off.</p> + +<p>Within the last few days information has been received from Buenos +Ayres strongly confirmatory of some of the views stated above. +According to letters from that city of the 7th February, the +Governments of Brazil and Paraguay have formed a treaty offensive and +defensive, in which they stipulate for the freedom of the rivers +flowing through the territories of both. This is a movement of the +greatest commercial as well as political importance, and if the +independence of Monte Video is preserved, there can be no doubt that +it will join this league, and that the line of communication with the +interior of South America up the River Uruguay will be kept open, even +if General Rosas should persist in his illegal anti-social policy of +closing the Parana against foreign nations.</p> + + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h4>FOOTNOTES</h4> +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> The Monte Videan Government has granted a patent for +introducing steamers on all its rivers to an Englishman, Mr. +Bugglen.—(<i>See Appendix.</i>)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_B_2" id="Footnote_B_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_B_2"><span class="label">[B]</span></a> Plans for forming such a canal were under consideration +by the Commissioners appointed under the treaty of San Ildefonso, in +1778, to fix the boundaries of the Spanish and Portuguese +possessions.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_C_3" id="Footnote_C_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_C_3"><span class="label">[C]</span></a> MR. MANDEVILLE'S SUMMONS.</p> + +<p class="author"><i>Buenos Ayres, December 16th, 1842.</i></p> + +<p>The Governments of England and France having determined to adopt such +measures as they may consider necessary to put an end to the +hostilities between the Republics of Buenos Ayres and Monte Video, the +undersigned Minister Plenipotentiary of her Britannic Majesty to the +Argentine Confederation, has the honour, conformably to the +instructions received from his Government, to inform H. E. M. Arana, +Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Government of Buenos Ayres, that +the sanguinary war at present carried on between the Government of +Buenos Ayres and that of Monte Video, must cease, for the interests of +humanity and of the British and French subjects, and other Foreigners +who are residing in the country which is now the seat of war; and +therefore requires of the Government of Buenos Ayres:—1. The +immediate cessation of hostilities between the troops of the Argentine +Confederation and those of the Republic of Uruguay. 2. That the +troops of the Argentine Confederation (it being understood that those +of the Republic of the Uruguay will adopt a similar course) remain +within their respective territories, or return to them in case they +should have passed their frontier.—The undersigned requests H. E. to +reply as soon as he conveniently can, whether it is the intention of +the Government of Buenos Ayres to accede to these demands, and has the +honour to be, &c.</p> + +<p class="author">J. H. MANDEVILLE.</p> +<p> <i>To H. E. Don Felipe Arana.</i></p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_D_4" id="Footnote_D_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_D_4"><span class="label">[D]</span></a></p> + +<p class="author"><i>Buenos Ayres, December 28th, 1842.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear M. de Vidal</span>,—I received this morning your private letter of +the 20th; after thanking you for it I have little to add, except that Count de +Lurde and I have received an answer to our note demanding an armistice, +stating that a demand of this nature, menacing as it does the Argentine Confederation, +requires time for deliberation before a reply can be given. In the +mean time, I trust that the step which I and the French Minister have taken +will in no manner weaken, but, on the contrary, hasten and encourage the +zealous efforts of your Government to resist invasion, because, where winds and +waves are concerned, no man can say, when he leaves Europe, in what week or +in what month he will arrive at Monte Video. I know nothing of the operations +of the armies on either side of the Uruguay; I thank you for the information +which you send me about them; I know nothing from any other source.</p> + +<p>Believe me ever, my dear M. de Vidal, ever your sincere friend,</p> + +<p class="author">J. H. MANDEVILLE.</p> + +<p> <i>To his Excellency M. de Vidal, &c. &c. &c.</i></p> + +<p class="author"><i>Buenos Ayres, January 12th, 1843.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear M. de Vidal</span>,—When I received M. Gelly's official letter upon +the entry of Oribe's troops into the Banda Oriental, I was myself too +unwell to thank you for your letter of the 28th ult. on the subject of +your resignation, and too sad and discouraged by it at the idea of +your retirement from office at the present moment. But now when I see, +by the <i>Nacional</i> of the 3d, that you have nobly decided upon still +retaining the foreign and home departments, I am as anxious to +congratulate you and your country upon this resolution, as I was +averse, on the day I wrote to M. Gelly, to take up my pen for any body +or any thing, but for this letter of yours above mentioned. The two +official communications, which I send you with this opportunity, would +have gone with my letter to M. Gelly, luckily, it's of little +consequence whether you receive them now or this day month. What has +prevented the British and French naval forces from coming long before +this to the River Plate, I can have no conception. The interview +between the British Ambassador and Guizot took place on the 9th +September, when he agreed to all that Lord Cowley proposed, of uniting +their forces to put an end to the war. Before the end of December I +would have sworn that they would have been here. I cannot conclude my +letter without expressing to you my truest thanks for the expression +of your friendship towards me, and my confidence that, happen what +may, you will always duly appreciate my public and private conduct to +you. Believe me, my dear M. de Vidal, that my sentiments and my utmost +efforts will always be in unison to draw closer the ties of +friendship, which have been so happily established, through you in +great part, between the two countries where we first drew our breath, +and my labour will be unceasing to preserve them unchanged.</p> + +<p class="author">J. H. MANDEVILLE.</p> + +<p> <i>To his Excellency Don Jose Antonino Vidal.</i></p></div> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> +<h3>APPENDIX.</h3> + +<h2>CORRESPONDENCE OF H. J. MANDEVILLE, ESQ.,<br /> + +<small><i>British Minister to the Argentine Confederation</i>,</small></h2> + +<h4>WITH</h4> + +<h2>SENHOR VIDAL,<br /> + +<small><i>Secretary of State of the Republic of Uruguay</i>.</small></h2> + + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> +<p class="author"><i>Buenos Ayres, May 26th, 1842.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear M. de Vidal</span>,—I have received your official letter +of the 20th May, with the enclosure which you have had the +goodness and frankness to communicate to me,—and also the two +private letters of the same date, which you have done me the +honour to write to me.</p> + +<p>I beg you to believe that I share with you all the disagreeableness +of the suspense which the silence of the British Government +to my despatches of the 4th December last causes to us both. To me +it is only a matter of a little personal inconvenience that I ought not, +nor do I, regard; to you it is very different—and all that I can +say to you on the subject is, that the moment that I hear from +England respecting it, I will not lose a moment in communicating +it to you—of this be assured, as of the sincere esteem and consideration +with which I remain,</p> + +<p class="center">My dear M. de Vidal, always truly yours,</p> + +<p class="author">J. H. MANDEVILLE.</p> + + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<h4>(PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.)</h4> + +<p class="author"><i>Buenos Ayres, June 8th,1842.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear M. de Vidal</span>,—Although I have not received any +official answer to the proposals which I transmitted by your +Excellency's desire to her Majesty's Government, on the 6th of +December last, as a basis for the conclusion of a Treaty of Amity +and Commerce with the Republic of the Uruguay, I am led to +believe and know that they will not be accepted, for the reasons +which I stated to your Excellency at the time these proposals +were made to me—namely, that the acceptance of this offer would +be at variance with the policy and practice of her Majesty's +Government, whose wish, in matters of commerce, is to stand +on the same footing as other nations, and to enjoy no advantages +but such as would, upon similar terms, be conceded to any other +friendly power, and that accordingly her Majesty's Government +have no intention of availing themselves of this proposal.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> + +<p>I therefore again most pressingly renew, to your Excellency, +the proposals I made when I first had the honour to see your +Excellency, to negociate with me a Treaty of Amity, Commerce, +and Navigation, upon the basis which was presented to the Monte +Videan Government by Mr. Hamilton, in the year 1835, and +brought forward by me at a later period.</p> + +<p>I am enabled to assure your Excellency that Her Majesty's +Government is not indifferent to the welfare and prosperity of the +Republic of the Uruguay, as your Excellency will shortly see by +the measures which will be taken for its preservation, and to which +I am sure you will be a willing party, and I beg your Excellency +to believe that nothing will strengthen these good intentions on +the part of Her Majesty's Government so much as a frank and +cordial acceptance of the terms of the above mentioned Treaty.</p> + +<p>I have the honour to be with the highest consideration, Sir,</p> + +<p class="center">Your Excellency's obedient humble servant,</p> + +<p class="author">J. H. MANDEVILLE.</p> + +<p> <i>To his Excellency, Don Jose Antonino Vidal, &c. &c. &c.</i></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<h4>(MOST CONFIDENTIAL.)</h4> + +<p class="author"><i>Buenos Ayres, June 10th, 1842.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear M. de Vidal</span>,—My Government has seen with +regret that the results of my visits to Monte Video, in December +and January last, was not concession of a Treaty of Amity, Commerce +and Navigation between Great Britain and the Republic of +Uruguay upon the footing proposed by my predecessor Mr. +Hamilton, and subsequently by me, and I have been represented +as not having been sufficiently urgent with your Excellency to +conclude this treaty with me, and I have been blamed in +consequence.</p> + +<p>I therefore appeal to your Excellency if I did not do my +utmost to induce you to negociate it with me, observing, that +once concluded, it would not prejudice the acceptance of any other +additional proposal on your part which might be added to it +afterwards and form additional articles—and that I only desisted +from urging it upon you, when I saw that my solicitations were of +no avail, and you were resolved to await the answer to the proposition +which I transmitted to London by your Excellency's desire.</p> + +<p>I am anxious that this circumstance should be put in its true +light, and that I may be exonerated from an undeserved censure—and +still more that your Excellency should commence the negociations +of the treaty with me, which would be the best answer to the +reports of the lukewarmness of my wishes in this business.</p> + +<p>Believe me to be, my dear M. de Vidal, with great truth and +regard, most sincerely and faithfully yours,</p> + +<p class="author">J. H. MANDEVILLE.</p> + +<p> <i>To his Excellency Don Antonino Vidal.</i></p> + + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> +<h4>(SECRET AND CONFIDENTIAL)</h4> + +<p class="author"><i>Buenos Ayres, June 18th, 1842.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear M. de Vidal</span>,—The measures which I alluded to in +my private letter to your Excellency of the 10th instant—that her +Majesty's Government will take for the effectual protection of the +Republic of Uruguay are a joint mediation of Great Britain and +France, which I am formally to tender to the Buenos Ayrean +Government, upon the arrival of the French Minister here, Baron +de Lurde, to adjust the difference between Monte Video and +Buenos Ayres.</p> + +<p>I did not acquaint you of this important intelligence in my +last letters, on account of the possibility of their falling into other +hands; and as I am not to make the formal offer of joint mediation +of Great Britain and France, until the arrival of the French +Minister at Buenos Ayres, I think, for many reasons, which I am +sure you will share with me, that it should not be made known; +but I have taken the first safe opportunity of communicating it to +you, for your own satisfaction and for that of your colleagues.</p> + +<p>Believe me always, my dear M. de Vidal, with great regard +and esteem, most faithfully yours,</p> + +<p class="author">J. H. MANDEVILLE.</p> + +<p> <i>To his Excellency M. de Vidal, &c. &c. &c.</i></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<p class="author"><i>Buenos Ayres, June 23d,1842.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—I have had the honour to receive your Excellency's +dispatch, marked confidential, of the 18th instant, in answer to +mine of the 8th, which was delivered to me this morning, the +contents of which will cause great satisfaction to her Majesty's +Government, as to me they have procured the highest gratification. +Her Majesty's Ministers will see, in the determination of the +Monte Videan Government to conclude a Treaty of Amity, Commerce, +and Navigation, with Great Britain, on the terms proposed +by Mr. Hamilton and by me, the most unequivocal proof of the +loyalty of its intentions towards the British Empire, and of its +friendly sentiments towards her Majesty's Government.</p> + +<p>I shall, in consequence, avail myself of the friendly dispositions of +the Monte Videan Government for the adjustment and conclusion of the +treaty which your Excellency has done me the honour to communicate to +me, and I propose, in a few days, to embark for Monte Video, for the +termination of so honourable and desirable an event.</p> + +<p>I have the honour to be, with the highest consideration, Sir,</p> + +<p class="center">Your Excellency's obedient humble servant,</p> + +<p class="author">J. H. MANDEVILLE.</p> + +<p> <i>To his Excellency D. Jose Antonino Vidal, &c. &c. &c.</i></p> + + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> + + +<h4>(PRIVATE.)</h4> + +<p class="author"><i>Buenos Ayres, June 24th, 1842.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear M. de Vidal,</span>—I have received your two most +amiable and friendly letters of the 18th and 20th instant; it is +needless for me to tell you the delight and gratification which +they have procured to me.</p> + +<p>I have little more to add to my acknowledgement of the receipt +of these letters, as I shall so very soon have, God willing, the +satisfaction of seeing you, except to renew to my heartfelt thanks +for their contents, which only serve to increase the sentiments of +friendship and esteem which your conduct to me has inspired me +with, since the first day of our personal acquaintance.</p> + +<p>I reserve all communications upon any other subject until we +meet, which will be about the middle of next week, but rely upon +it, and it is with pride I tell you, <i>you and your Government will +be satisfied</i>.</p> + +<p>Believe me ever, my dear M. de Vidal, with the highest regard +and consideration,</p> + +<p class="center">Most faithfully yours,</p> + +<p class="author">J. H. MANDEVILLE.</p> + + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<h4>(CONFIDENTIAL.)</h4> + +<p class="author"><i>Buenos Ayres, June 25th, 1842.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear M. de Vidal,</span>—Would you have any objections to +have the treaty copied immediately?</p> + +<p>I have motives so strong not for coming back to Buenos Ayres, +but for being able to return at the moment when it becomes +necessary, that I should impart them to you, which I cannot well +by this conveyance.</p> + +<p>I will answer for your concurrence with me in this desire to be +ready, at a moment's notice, to come back here.</p> + +<p>Another motive, which is a very secondary one, and that is, +having no steward at this moment, the one who was with me for +six years having left me to set up a coffee-house. I cannot bring +my establishment with me, even if I had a house to go to at Monte +Video, and therefore I am obliged to live at the Consul's, which +is a great inconvenience to him, and consequently very disagreeable +to me; but, as I have said, this is a trifling consideration, which +may be got over very easily. Again, Mr. Hood may come by the +next packet—where shall I go then?</p> + +<p>All these considerations, put together, make me very anxious, +not so much to get through the treaty, for the sake of concluding +it, as to be ready, when circumstances require my departure, to +come back here.</p> + +<p class="center">Ever, my dear M. de Vidal, your faithful and sincere friend,</p> + +<p class="author">J. H. MANDEVILLE.</p> + + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> + + +<h4>(PRIVATE.)</h4> + +<p class="author"><i>Buenos Ayres, August 18th, 1842.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear M. de Vidal,</span>—I had the greatest pleasure in receiving your +friendly letter, without date, which was accompanied by an official +note brought to me by M. le Comte de Lurde, to which you require an +answer.</p> + +<p>If you will weigh the contents of this note, you will find that +it is impossible that I can answer it in any other way, than has +done the French Plenipotentiary by that of acknowledging the +receipt of it.</p> + +<p>In the first place, no formal tender of mediation has as yet +been made by the French Plenipotentiary and me, and therefore, +until it has been positively refused, it would be as unusual as it +would be impolitic to have recourse to threats to enforce the +acceptance of it. But other and more powerful reasons forbid +this line of conduct; you who are accustomed to give directions +to your foreign Ministers and agents, know that they must act by +their instructions, and by their instructions alone. I cannot take +upon myself to say what means are at the disposal of the Comte +de Lurde, but I know I have no more the power of constraining +General Rosas to pay respect to the wishes of the mediatory +powers, as far as physical force goes than you have.</p> + +<p>If I were to ask the British naval officer on this station to +land his men and garrison Monte Video, or prevent any power +blockading the port, (which in my opinion, you may rely upon it, +will never be done by General Rosas), he would laugh at me, unless +I could show that I had positive orders from my Government to +require it of him.</p> + +<p>To make a declaration to this effect to General Rosas, without +having the means of carrying it into execution, would be only +exposing myself to ridicule, and my future communications to this +Government as unworthy of belief.</p> + +<p>And as it is unnecessary, unless you require it, that I +should put these reasons, for not acceding to what you demand, +in an official note, I have answered it word for word, as the Comte +de Lurde has informed me he has done, by simply acknowledging +the receipt of it, thus privately stating to you my reasons for so +doing.</p> + +<p>Believe me, my dear M. de Vidal, always and faithfully,</p> + +<p class="center">Your sincere Friend,</p> + +<p class="author">J. H. MANDEVILLE.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<h4>(PRIVATE.)</h4> + +<p class="author"><i>Buenos Ayres, August 25th, 1842.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My M. de Vidal,</span>—I have to thank you for your letter of +the 15th instant, and for the information you gave me in it with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +regard to Ellauri's proceedings in London, and to the assurances +made to him by Lord Aberdeen of his determination to put an +end to the war. His, M. Ellauri's project of a treaty rather +surprises me, considering that he was unauthorized by you to +propose it, but I suppose Republican Ministers take upon themselves +a little more in their negotiations than we Ministers of +Monarchs, at all events I hope that they will send me an outline +of it from the Foreign Office, as I am very anxious to see what +M. Ellauri would have liked to have had.</p> + +<p>You may rely upon it, my dear M. de Vidal, that in spite of +all your opposers and enemies may say, your confidence in the +mediation has not been vain and groundless: Count de Lurde and +I are determined to uphold the respectability of the mediation, +but we must wait until it be rejected before other measures can +be taken.</p> + +<p>Yesterday the mediation was formally proposed by M. de Lurde, and by +me to Don Felipe de Arana on the part of our respective Sovereigns, +and supported by arguments which seemed to make an impression on the +Minister. He, of course, could give neither answer nor opinion upon +the proposal, and I do not think it very likely that we shall obtain +one before the departure of the packet which is fixed for the day +after to-morrow.</p> + +<p>The picture you give me of the state of your armies in Entre Rios, +leaves you little to apprehend.—A private letter from a friend of +mine in the Foreign Office says, "By the accounts from Monte Video, we +expect to receive by the next packet a demand from the Buenos Ayrean +Government to defend it from the troops of General Rivera."</p> + +<p>Be assured, my dear M. de Vidal, that I will leave no opportunity +neglected to write to you whenever I have any thing to communicate +worth your knowing, and that I am always,</p> + +<p class="center">Your sincere and faithful Friend,</p> + +<p class="author">J. H. MANDEVILLE.</p> + +<p> <i>To his Excellency M. de Vidal, &c. &c. &c.</i></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p><i>August 26th.</i>—I received late last night your letter of the +24th. I really have not time to do more than thank you for it by this opportunity.</p> + +<p class="author">J. H. M.</p> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<h4>(PRIVATE.)</h4> + +<p class="author"><i>Buenos Ayres, October 19th, 1842.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear M. de Vidal,</span>—I received by the last packet a +letter from Mr. Hood, a part of which I will communicate to you, +as I think it right that you should be literally and truly informed +of what is going at the Foreign Office, in London, between Lord +Aberdeen and M. Ellauri, on the subject of negociation, with +respect to a treaty of commerce.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Hood says "I am employed modifying the treaty and +talking Ellauri into acquiescence to our views. Yesterday, +(August 2nd), we had an interview with Lord Canning, and +during it I heard that he said he would not hesitate to sign the +treaty as now prepared. If it should come to a bargain, I think +it may be very likely that the Foreign Office may wish me to +take it out to get ratified."</p> + +<p>Now, my dear friend, tell me, if you can, how is it possible for +M. Ellauri to sign and conclude a treaty, or even to say that he +will, unless he has full powers to do so? I am confident that he +has neither one nor the other, because you told me he has not, +but still it is so very extraordinary his whole conduct that I should +like if possible to have it explained.</p> + +<p>I had a discourse the other day with a gentleman on the right +of the Government of the Republic of Uruguay and this country, +to expel any foreigner from their territory, at their pleasure. I +know that it is never done but under very grave circumstances; +but what I contended for was, the power and the right they +possess to do so.</p> + +<p>I suppose you have not written to me lately because I did +not answer your letter of the 20th ult., but if you have no other, +it does not resemble you. Always, my dear M. de Vidal,</p> + +<p class="center">Sincerely yours,</p> + +<p class="author">J. H. MANDEVILLE.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<h4>(PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.)</h4> + +<p class="author"><i>Buenos Ayres, October 20th, 1842.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear M. de Vidal,</span>—I have not before acknowledged +the receipt of your letter of the 20th of last month, for until now +I have had nothing to communicate to you that was worth the +trouble of taking your time to read.</p> + +<p>I am greatly pained by the sad termination of Count de +Lurde's and my most strenuous efforts, as far as argument and +persuasion could go, to induce the Buenos Ayrean Government to +listen to the dictates of sound policy as well as of humanity and +accept the mediation of Great Britain and France to put an end +to the war. It will grievously disappoint the great expectations +of her Majesty's Government, but for which disappointment from +my previous dispatches they will be, in a great measure, prepared.</p> + +<p>I have set Messrs. Ball and Diehl to work to copy the +answer, that no time may be lost in communicating it to you, +and I shall send down the Cockatrice with it the moment it is +done.</p> + +<p>Believe me, my dear M. de Vidal,</p> + +<p class="center">Always your sincere faithful Friend,</p> + +<p class="author">J. H. MANDEVILLE.</p> + +<p> <i>To his Excellency D. Antonino de Vidal, &c. &c.</i></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>P.S.—Although I transmit this document to you officially, +as I feel it my duty to do, I would rather that it be not published +until we have the resolution of the Sala. In Europe, these papers +are never published until some time after they have been delivered, +which we consider as by far the best mode of conduct.</p> + +<p class="author">J. H. M.</p> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<p class="author"><i>Buenos Ayres, October 26th, 1842</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear M. de Vidal,</span>—Neither you nor I were, nor could +be surprised at the wretchedness of our negociation, or rather of +M. de Lurde's and my attempt to make this Government accept +the mediation of Great Britain and France, to put an end to the +war, and I am happy to think that when I was last at Monte +Video, I prepared her Majesty's Government for this result.</p> + +<p>I feel the greatest pleasure to find that my unceasing efforts to +obtain the acceptance by the Buenos Ayrean Government of our +joint mediation have satisfied you. I can conscientiously say that +I have done every thing in my power to make it succeed.</p> + +<p>Of course I never meant but that the note should be immediately +communicated to the Government, all I requested, and in +which I was sure your own discernment and good feelings would +make you concur in, was, that it should not be published until it +has come out here.</p> + +<p>I observe, in all your letters, you write <i>mediation</i> for mediators, +as applicable to my expressions.</p> + +<p>"My words in one of my preceding letters were, that your +reliance on the mediators should not be vain or unfounded." +This you have seen and can rely upon. I never hoped or gave you +reason to hope that the mediation would be successful, but the +results, according to my opinion and belief, (I am no prophet to +predict), will not be vain nor illusory. The feelings of the British +Government (and as you tell me Lord Aberdeen has himself +said) towards the Banda Oriental will be very different since the +conclusion of a treaty between it and great Britain to what they +were before.</p> + +<p>Believe me, my dear M. de Vidal,</p> + +<p class="center">Always your sincere and faithful Friend,</p> + +<p class="author">J. H. MANDEVILLE.</p> + +<p> <i>To his Excellency M. de Vidal, &c. &c. &c.</i></p> + + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<p class="author"><i>Buenos Ayres, November 28th, 1842.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir,</span>—I have the honour to transmit to your Excellency a copy of the +note from the Buenos Ayrean Minister for Foreign Affairs, transmitting +to me the resolution of the Chamber upon the correspondence between me +and the French Minister on one part, and M. Arana on the other, upon +the subject of the me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>diation which was transmitted to the Chamber for +its consideration, and a decree which it has issued.</p> + +<p>Thus, notwithstanding all my efforts, the Buenos Ayrean Government +still continues to refuse her Majesty's mediation, and <i>persist in a +war not justified by any national object</i>.</p> + +<p>I have the honour to be with the highest consideration, Sir,</p> + +<p class="center">Your Excellency's most obedient humble Servant,</p> + +<p class="author">J. H. MANDEVILLE.</p> + +<p> <i>To his Excellency Don Jose Antonino Vidal, &c. &c. &c.</i></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<h4>(PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.)</h4> + +<p class="author"><i>Buenos Ayres, September 2nd, 1842.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear M. de Vidal</span>,—I had not time, before the +departure of the packet, to answer your private letter of the 24th +ult., and now keep my promise made to you in my letter of the +25th ult., of replying to it.</p> + +<p>I must first begin by telling you that, some days before the +packet sailed, Count de Lurde and I made the formal tender of +the mediation in the manner presented to me by my instructions +with which I made you acquainted when I was last at Monte Video.</p> + +<p>I told M. de Arana that he was doubtless acquainted with the +object of our visit, to which he assented, of which he had been +informed by previous conversations which he had with me, and +which was no longer a secret, for it had formed articles in the +Monte Video newspapers, and the topic of conversation in the +streets of that Town for weeks. But public or private the object +is the same, one of the greatest importance to this country and of +serious consideration to Great Britain and to France,—that of +urging General Rosas to accept the mediation of France and +Great Britain, of which the Count de Lurde and I then made the +formal offer to the Buenos Ayrean Government in order to put an +end to the deplorable conflict in which Buenos Ayres and Monte +Video have for such a length of time been engaged. <i>That Monte +Video to my knowledge is anxious and willing to make peace</i> with +Buenos Ayres upon fair and reasonable terms, and I could produce +authority for what I advanced, if required, that the proposal +which General Rosas had formerly made, of accepting the mediation +of Great Britain upon the condition that General Oribe should +be returned to power, was inadmissible, and that it was obviously +impossible that either the British or French Governments could +sanction, by their mediation, the desire of General Rosas to place +in the Presidency of Monte Video <i>a particular individual</i>, who, +however meritorious in other respects, may not be acceptable to +the majority of the inhabitants of the Oriental State, and that +those Governments can only agree to offer to either of the +belligerent powers such conditions as one independent State can, +consistently with its honour, accept from another.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> + +<p>I then acquainted his excellency that it was the confident expectation +of her Majesty's Government that the Argentine Government +will accept the offer of Great Britain and France to mediate +between Buenos Ayres and Monte Video, upon just and reasonable +conditions, and that the Buenos Ayrean Government will authorize +us, the Count de Lurde and me, to propose moderate and honourable +terms of peace to the Government of the Republic of the +Uruguay. I stated to M. de Arana that this offer is dictated by +the feelings of humanity and of warm interest in the prosperity of +the two neighbouring Republics, and her Majesty's Government +earnestly hope, as M. de Lurde said does that of France, that the +Government of Buenos Ayres will maturely reflect before they +reject the friendly intervention which is now offered to them by +two such powerful states, and I concluded by conjuring his Excellency +to use his whole influence with General Rosas, as his friend +and adviser, to accept the offer of mediation in the manner just +proposed to him.</p> + +<p>M. de Arana replied, that of course we could not expect from +him any other answer than that he would hasten to lay the object +of the communication we had just made to him before General +Rosas, which he would do on that evening, and addressing himself +to M. de Lurde, he said, you know the answer which was addressed +to the British Minister last year, a copy of it having been given to +M. de Becourt. Neither the French Minister nor myself were +anxious to recur to that answer nor to discuss it, but he joined +with me in soliciting the good offices of M. de Arana to obtain a +happy issue to our joint offer. M. de Lurde said, and with +reason, that it would be of the greatest importance to obtain the +acquiescence of General Rosas to the mediation as soon as possible, +in which I joined him in pressing terms. M. de Arana immediately +replied that he would render an account to the Governor +of the earnest desire of the two Ministers with all the interest that +demands an affair as delicate as it is important.</p> + +<p>With this last observation of M. de Arana the conference +ended, and we took leave full in hope that General Rosas, with the +soundness of his judgment and the generosity of his disposition, +aided by his Excellency's influence and good offices will not +hesitate to accept the offer of Great Britain and France to terminate +a war which, for the sake of humanity and the prosperity of +the two Republics, is so earnestly desired by all Europe, as well as +by the people and Government of Monte Video, who ask only for +peace, and the power the most legitimate in the world, that of +choosing its own rulers, and its form of government themselves.</p> + +<p>Two days after the packet sailed we, the Count de Lurde and +I, called upon M. de Arana; he told us that in a question of such +great importance, as is the joint offer of mediation of Great Britain +and France, it should, he thought be communicated in writing, +and he asked us if we had any objection to make it in that manner, +I said by no means, and the French Minister and I sent in a note<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +on the following day, 30th August, beginning with "In consequence +of your Excellency's desire to have the communication we +verbally made to you on the 24th instant, committed to writing, +we have the honour, &c., &c., and I repeated in writing word for +word what I had said to him verbally, and the French Minister +did the same. You have now, dear M. de Vidal, a faithful and +exact account of every thing that has taken place in this important +business.</p> + +<p>Now as to what you ask of me with respect to answering the +official note you sent to me by the French Minister, I agree with +you perfectly, that Her Majesty's Government would not make a +second offer of its mediation, without being resolved to support it, +more especially since you say that Lord Aberdeen has declared to +M. Ellauri, that he will put a stop to the war.</p> + +<p>But this assurance on the part of Lord Aberdeen does not +give me the power either to take measures for carrying this +declaration into effect, or to make such a declaration to General +Rosas. I <i>must wait</i> for instructions from my Government <i>before</i> +I inform the Buenos Ayrean Government what they will direct +shall be done, as it is not for me to say in what manner the war +shall be put a stop to.</p> + +<p>M. de Lurde, when I spoke to him about the purport of the +official note to me from you, of which he was the bearer, told me +that he had simply acknowledged the receipt of it, because he +could give no other answer, and I feel that I am in exactly a +similar position.</p> + +<p>You are now, as you have always been, in possession of my +public and private sentiments upon this most important question, +the mediation, and you may be most confident that my conduct +upon it, whilst it is pending, will be as satisfactory to your +Government as to yourself.</p> + +<p>Believe me, my dear M. de Vidal, always your faithful and +sincere friend,</p> + +<p class="author">J. H. MANDEVILLE.</p> + +<p> <i>To his Excellency Don Jose Antonino Vidal, &c. &c. &c.</i></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<h4>(PRIVATE.)</h4> + +<p class="author"><i>Buenos Ayres, December 23rd, 1842.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear M. de Vidal</span>,—I received this morning your private +letter of the 20th,—after thanking you for it, I have little to +add, except that Count de Lurde and I have received an answer +to our note, demanding an armistice, stating that a demand of +this nature, menacing as it does the Argentine Confederation, +requires time for consideration before a reply can be given.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, I trust that the step which I and the French +Minister have taken will in no manner weaken, but, on the contrary, +hasten and encourage the zealous efforts of your Government<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +to resist invasion, because, where winds and waves are concerned, +no man can say, when he leaves Europe, in what week or in what +month he will arrive at Monte Video.</p> + +<p>I know nothing of the operations of the armies on either side +of the Uruguay; I thank you for the information which you send +me about them—I know nothing from any other source.</p> + +<p>Believe me ever, my dear M. de Vidal,</p> + +<p class="center">Your faithful and sincere friend,</p> + +<p class="author">J. H. MANDEVILLE.</p> + +<p> <i>To his Excellency M. de Vidal, &c., &c., &c.</i></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<h4>(CONFIDENTIAL.)</h4> + +<p class="author"><i>Buenos Ayres, 24th December, 1842.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My Dear M. de Vidal</span>,—I took the liberty, when I sent you a copy of +our note to this Government, demanding a cessation of hostilities, to +beg the favour of you not to make it public. Communications of this +nature are not intended at the time to be made public.</p> + +<p>If I had intended that Mr. Dale should have a copy of it, I would have +sent one to him; but copies have been given—for the commander of the +Fantome has written a letter to me of complaint, that I had not +communicated the circumstance to him, when some one had shown him a +copy which he had read.</p> + +<p>People sometimes think that by giving publicity to a document they +bind down more the persons who have signed it to their engagement; +this is a mistake. The only result which comes out of it is, that it +makes them much more cautious and reserved in future in communicating +them.</p> + +<p>Believe me ever, my dear M. de Vidal,</p> + +<p class="center">Your sincere friend,</p> + +<p class="author">J. H. MANDEVILLE.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<h4>(PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.)</h4> + +<p class="author"><i>Buenos Ayres, January 12th, 1843.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear M. de Vidal</span>,—My thanks for your letter of the 28th ult. in +answer to mine of the complaints of the captain of the Fantome. It was +perfectly satisfactory.</p> + +<p>I have received a despatch from Lord Aberdeen, acquainting me that the +Vidal and Ellauri treaties are under the consideration of her +Majesty's Government, and that he will not fail by next packet to +communicate to me the result of their deliberations.</p> + +<p>The under Secretary of State writes me that the latter is in some +measure preferred, and, therefore, it is right for me to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> mention this +circumstance to you, in order that you may not be unprepared, should +it be adopted.</p> + +<p>Believe me, my dear M. de Vidal, ever your sincere Friend,</p> + +<p class="author">J. H. MANDEVILLE.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<h4>(PRIVATE.)</h4> + +<p class="author"><i>Buenos Ayres, January 12th, 1843.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear M. de Vidal</span>,—When I received M. Gelly's official letter, upon +the entry of Oribe's troops into the Banda Oriental, I was myself too +unwell to thank you for your letter of the 28th ult. on the subject of +your resignation, and too sad and discouraged by it at the idea of +your retirement from office at the present moment. But now I see by +the <i>Nacional</i> of the 3rd that you have nobly decided upon still +retaining the Foreign and Home Departments, I am as anxious to +congratulate you and your country upon this resolution, as I was +averse on the day I wrote to M. Gelly to take up my pen for any body +or any thing, but for this letter of yours above mentioned. The two +official communications which I send you by this opportunity, would +have gone with my letter to M. Gelly, luckily, its of little +consequence whether you receive them now or this day month.</p> + +<p>What has prevented the British and French naval forces +from coming long before this to the River Plate, I can have no +conception. The interview between the British Ambassador +and Guizot took place on the 9th September, when he agreed +to all that Lord Cowley proposed of uniting their forces to put +an end to the war. Before the end of December, I would have +sworn that they would have been here. I cannot conclude +my letter without expressing to you my truest thanks for the +expression of your friendship towards me,—and my confidence +that, happen what may, you will always duly appreciate my +public and private conduct to you.</p> + +<p>Believe me, my dear M. de Vidal, that my sentiments and +my utmost efforts will always be in unison to draw closer +the ties of friendship which have been so happily established, +through you in great part, between the two countries where +we first drew our breath, and my labour will be unceasing to +preserve them unchanged.</p> + + +<p class="author">J. H. MANDEVILLE.</p> + +<p> <i>To his Excellency Don Jose Antonino Vidal.</i></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<h4>MR. GORDON'S LETTER TO GENERAL RIVERA.</h4> + +<p class="author"><i>Ytapua, September 26th, 1842.</i></p> + +<p>Having arrived safely at this town on the 20th instant, I forwarded, +on the same evening, a despatch to the Government of this Republic +with my passports soliciting the necessary license for myself and my +companions to continue our journey<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> to Assumption. By the same +opportunity I forwarded to the Consuls of the Republic the despatch +with which I was charged by your Excellency.</p> + +<p>The answer from the Consuls reached me yesterday afternoon, and with +it I have received, for my own person, my two companions and servant, +permission to proceed to the capital, with the assurance that every +assistance and protection will be afforded me. I regret having to add +that this license is not extended to the Oriental escort, under whose +protection and with whose assistance I have been able so fortunately +to complete my journey to the Paraguay territory—for the reason (in +the words of the Consuls note) of the said escort <i>being no longer +necessary</i>.</p> + +<p>On this account the Government of this Republic has granted a +passport, which Don Blas Acevedo takes with him, ordering the Paraguay +authorities to render to this officer and to the men under his command +every necessary assistance on his return to the camp of your +Excellency, and has also forwarded the despatch which I have now the +honour to transmit in answer to that of your Excellency, with which I +accompanied my above-mentioned letters to the Consuls of Paraguay.</p> + +<p>It only remains for me to express to your Excellency my perfect +satisfaction in regard to the conduct of the escort, generally and +individually, during the whole time that we have journeyed together. I +am perfectly well aware, Excellent Sir, that such a declaration is +unnecessary on my part, being confident that soldiers chosen by your +Excellency for any service, would necessarily act as these have done, +but I should neither satisfy my grateful feeling nor my duty, did I +not state that in fulfilling their commission, both the escort and the +officer that accompanied me from Monte Video, have, in every occasion +and in all circumstances, been constantly active, obedient and ready +to exert themselves to the utmost, and that in no instance have they +given cause of complaint, either to myself or to the parties at whose +houses we have stayed, or through whose lands we have passed.</p> + +<p>I cannot conclude without calling the attention of your Excellency to +the case of the soldier José Arillu and to that of the coachman +Antonio, both of whom have been seriously hurt in the service just +completed: at present I can do no more than to recommend them to the +consideration of your Excellency, but I purpose communicating the +affair to my Government.</p> + +<p>Repeating my sincere thanks, and saluting your Excellency with the +expression of my highest esteem and most distinguished consideration, +I have the honour to subscribe myself,</p> + +<p class="center">Your Excellency's most obedient humble servant,</p> + +<p class="author">G. J. R. GORDON.</p> + +<p> <i>To His Excellency Don Fructuoso Rivera, President of the Oriental Republic of the Uruguay, General in Chief of the army, &c. &c.</i></p> + + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> + + +<h4>REPUBLIC OF PARAGUAY.</h4> + +<p class="author"><i>Assumption, September 23d, 1842.</i></p> + +<p>The undersigned supreme Government has received the estimable note of +his Excellency the President of the Oriental Republic of the Uruguay, +dated the 1st of August last, informing this Government of the visit +of George J. R. Gordon, Esq., and his companion recommended by his +Excellency to this Government, who therefore assure his Excellency +that nothing is more gratifying to them than to accept the +recommendation his Excellency has been pleased to direct, for the +purpose indicated; and will correspond, in acting upon it, to the +sentiments of friendship by which it is animated towards the +Government of the Oriental Republic.</p> + +<p>The Government has disposed that the escort given by his Excellency to +Mr. Gordon, shall be provided with the proper passport for his return, +as it is a duty incumbent on this Government to give due fulfilment to +the necessary attentions on Mr. Gordon's leaving the country.</p> + +<p>The request of his Excellency being satisfied in all respects this +Government repeats its expression of true friendship and esteem and +affectionately salutes his Excellency.</p> + +<p class="author">CARLOS ANTONIO LOPEZ.<br /> +MARIANO ROQUE ALONSO.</p> + +<p> <i>To his Excellency the President of the Oriental Republic of the +Uruguay, Don Fructuoso Rivera.</i></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<h4>STEAM NAVIGATION ON THE RIVERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF URUGUAY.<br /> +(OFFICIAL.)</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>The Senate and Chamber of Representatives of the Oriental +Republic of the Uruguay, united in General Assembly, have +resolved on the following</i></p></div> + +<h4>DECREE.</h4> + +<p>Art. 1.—It is granted to Mr. John Halton Buggeln to hold +the exclusive privilege of navigating with ships propelled by +steam or other mechanical power, in the ports and on the rivers +of the Republic, during the period of twelve years from the +time of the arrival of those ships at the port of Monte Video, +under the conditions and restrictions to be expressed in the following +articles; reckoning the arrival of the first steam-vessel +at twenty months after the sanction of this project, save in case +of unforeseen impediment, and the contractor obliging himself +to prove his inculpableness by publishing the privilege in England +and soliciting the advance of the requisite capital; if in +thirty months from the date mentioned in the sanction of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +project, he shall not have verified that justification before the +Executive, Mr. Halton Buggeln shall incur the penalty of a fine +of 10,000 dollars to the public treasury, the same to be guaranteed +by his person and goods.</p> + +<p>Art. 2.—Vessels of the said description of less than fifty tons +burthen, are not comprehended in the exclusion of this privilege.</p> + +<p>Art. 3.—The undertaking shall be commenced by two vessels of three +hundred or more tons, and one hundred horse power. The latest +discoveries that shall have been made both for the acceleration of +speed and for the prevention of accidents of explosion or others, are +to be applied to their construction and machinery.</p> + +<p>Art. 4.—The vessels of this undertaking shall convey, free of all +charge, the mails of the Republic to and from all the ports of their +transit; the captains or masters being responsible for their safety, +unless the Government shall appoint a person for this object.</p> + +<p>Art. 5.—Each vessel shall maintain on board two young Oriental +citizens as apprentices to instruct them as engineers and pilots.</p> + +<p>Art. 6.—The vessels of this undertaking shall navigate free of all +tonnage dues, under the British flag, having liberty to deposit on +shore or on board of hulks, such coals, machinery or other matters +intended for use and consumption on board, not including provisions, +the Executive to determine the measures necessary to prevent the abuse +of this liberty, and it being understood that the said deposits shall +not be entitled to any other guarantee than such as belong to foreign +property on shore.</p> + +<p>Art. 7—Whatever may be the state of the relations of this Republic +with Great Britain, this undertaking, its funds and property, and the +men employed in it, shall never under any pretext be an object of +sequestration, indemnification, nor guarantee of any kind of +reclamations or reprisals, which may occur between the two nations, +but rather during the whole term of the contract until its +dissolution, it shall be under the protection of the laws as if such +misunderstandings did not exist; but the navigation may be temporally +suspended and with it the term of the privilege, if the defence of the +Republic or other similar interests should so require.</p> + +<p>Art. 8.—If there should be national contractors or shareholders the +undertaking shall admit them to the number of one third of the shares.</p> + +<p>Act. 9—This privilege shall become of no effect by the voluntary +interruption of its exercise, by the contractor, during a period of +six months continuously.</p> + +<p>Art. 10.—Let it be communicated, &c.</p> + +<p>And in making this known to the Executive Power, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> undersigned +President takes the opportunity of saluting the Executive with his +most distinguished consideration.</p> + +<p class="author">Dr. PEDRO PABLO VIDAL,<br /> +<i>Juan Manuel de la Sota</i>,<br /> +Secretary. </p> + +<p> Monte Video, February 7th, 1844.</p> +<p> <i>To H. E. the Vice-President of the Republic, Don Joaquin Suarez.</i></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<p class="author"><i>Monte Video, February 8th, 1844.</i></p> + +<p>Be it fulfilled, the receipt thereof acknowledged, let be +communicated to whom it may concern, published and inserted +in the National Register.</p> + +<p class="author"> +SUAREZ. <br /> +<i>Santiago Vazquez.</i></p> + + +<h5>Printed at the Liverpool Times Office, Castle-street.</h5> + + + + +<hr style="width: 80%;" /> +<h4>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES</h4> + + +<p>1. Footnotes have been moved from the middle of the text to just before +appendix.</p> + +<p>2. Other than the corrections listed below, printer's inconsistencies in +spelling, punctuation, and ligature usage have been retained:</p> + +<p> "the the" corrected to "the" (page 6)<br /> + "it" corrected to "its" (page 13)<br /> + "on" corrected to "of" (page 28)<br /> + "notwithsanding" corrected to "notwithstanding" (page 32)</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Observations on the Present State of +the Affairs of the River Plate, by Thomas Baines + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OBSERVATIONS ON THE PRESENT *** + +***** This file should be named 33322-h.htm or 33322-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/3/2/33322/ + +Produced by Adrian Mastronardi and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Observations on the Present State of the Affairs of the River Plate + +Author: Thomas Baines + +Release Date: August 2, 2010 [EBook #33322] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OBSERVATIONS ON THE PRESENT *** + + + + +Produced by Adrian Mastronardi and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + OBSERVATIONS + ON THE PRESENT STATE + OF THE + AFFAIRS + OF + THE RIVER PLATE. + + BY + THOMAS BAINES. + + + "Malheur au siecle, temoin passif d'une lutte heroique, qui + croirait qu'on peut sans peril, comme sans penetration de + l'avenir, laisser immoler une nation." + CHATEAUBRIAND. + + + LIVERPOOL: + PRINTED AND PUBLISHED AT THE LIVERPOOL TIMES OFFICE, + CASTLE STREET. + + 1845. + + + + + OBSERVATIONS + ON + THE PRESENT STATE OF + THE AFFAIRS OF THE RIVER PLATE. + + +The destructive war which has now been waged for so many years, by the +Chief of the Province of Buenos Ayres against the Republic of Uruguay, +involves questions of so much importance to the commercial interests, +and to the national honour of England, that nothing can account for the +very slight attention which it has received from Parliament and the +press, except the fact that many of the principal considerations +connected with it have never yet been fully brought before the British +public. In order to supply this deficiency, and to show how much it +concerns the character of this country that this war should at once be +brought to a close in the only manner in which it can be ended; that is, +by the prompt and decided interference of the Governments of France and +England, I have thought that it might be useful to lay before the public +the following observations and documents, explanatory of the principles +involved in the war; of the conduct pursued by Mr. Mandeville, the +British Minister to the Argentine Confederation, at the most critical +period of its progress; and of the strong and rapidly-increasing +interest which this country, and more especially the port of Liverpool, +has in the preservation of the threatened independence of the Republic +of Uruguay. + +Most of the readers of these remarks are no doubt aware that the +Province of the Banda Oriental, or eastern bank of the River Plate, was +first constituted an independent state, under the title of the Republic +of Uruguay, at the close of the war between the Argentine Confederation +and the Empire of Brazil, in the year 1828. This arrangement was in a +great measure brought about by the good offices of Lord Ponsonby, the +Ambassador of the British Government to the Court of Rio, and the result +of his negociations was so agreeable to the English Government, that +the peace thus concluded was made a subject of congratulation in the +speech from the throne in the year 1829. The principal object in forming +this new Republic was, to put an end to the destructive war between +Buenos Ayres and Brazil, originating in the claims put forward by both +these countries to the possession of the Province of the Banda Oriental. +The Brazilians, who had had possession of it for several years, were +naturally unwilling to have so warlike and powerful a state as the +Argentine Republic on their most vulnerable frontier, and the Argentines +were not less unwilling to have the Brazilian frontier pushed more than +a hundred leagues up the River Plate, and within the limits of the +ancient Viceroyalty of Paraguay, which had for ages been occupied by the +Spanish race. As the only effectual solution of these difficulties, the +English Government proposed that the Banda Oriental should be rendered +independent of both countries, and this, after some negociation, was +agreed to by all the parties concerned. + +The primary object of the mediation of the English Government was the +re-establishment and preservation of peace and amity between two +nations, with both of which England had valuable commercial relations; +and this object has been completely gained by the arrangement then +effected. During the sixteen years which have elapsed since the treaty +was concluded, no serious difference has occurred between Brazil and the +Argentine Confederation, nor is any likely to occur so long as the +barrier of an independent state is interposed between them. It is only +during the last two years that serious discussions have arisen between +them, and these have originated in the fears of Brazil, lest the +successes of the Buenos Ayrean army, now before Monte Video, should be +such as to break down the barrier established by the Ponsonby treaty, +and again to bring the Buenos Ayreans on the frontiers of Rio Grande. +From apprehension of this event, the Brazilian Government has allowed +General Paz, with his military staff, to pass through its territory to +place himself at the head of the Correntino insurgents, who have risen +against Rosas, and made common cause with Monte Video; it has also +recalled Admiral Grenfell, its commander in the River Plate, as well as +its diplomatic agent at Monte Video, for engaging in an ill-timed +quarrel with the Monte Videan Government; and if the Buenos Ayrean army +should succeed in gaining possession of the city of Monte Video, it will +in all probability, whether backed or not by England and France, decide +to take part in the war, rather than allow General Rosas to succeed in +the designs which he now avows on the Republics of Uruguay and Paraguay, +the two bulwarks of the western provinces of the Brazilian empire. +Notwithstanding the recent victories of the Brazilian General, Baron +Caxias, over the rebels of Rio Grande do Sul, that province is still in +a very unsettled state--far too much so to be safely exposed to the +machinations of such dangerous neighbours as Generals Rosas and Oribe. +It may, therefore, be confidently expected, that if the great naval +powers do not interpose, the progress of events will again bring on a +war between Brazil, strengthened by the army of Uruguay, under General +Rivera, that of Corrientes under General Paz, and the forces of Paraguay +on one side; and Buenos Ayres on the other, backed by those other +provinces of the Argentine Confederation, which still follow the +fortunes of General Rosas. + +What the result of such a war would be no one can predict, but its first +consequence would be another blockade of Buenos Ayres, by the Brazilian +fleet, its next the reinforcement of the garrison of Monte Video by a +detachment of Brazilian troops, and its probable final result, after the +whole of the countries engaged in it had been thoroughly ruined, the +establishment of the ascendancy either of the government of Buenos +Ayres, or of that of Brazil at Monte Video. This would be alike opposed +to the wishes and the interests of the Monte Videans themselves, to the +interests of a large portion of South America, and to those of the +nations trading with it. A small Independent State, like the Republic of +Uruguay, governed as it has ever been since the date of its independence +on the most liberal commercial principles, is the best of all checks on +the commercial illiberality of the neighbouring countries, and is much +too valuable to be sacrificed by the Government of any commercial nation +which has at heart the prosperity of its subjects. + +If it should be said that neutral nations have no right to interpose +between belligerents, even for the purpose of preserving the national +independence of the weaker, I answer, that no longer since than last +year, the Government of this country was prepared to have interposed, if +it had been necessary, in order to preserve the independence of the +Empire of Morocco; and that the Government of France fully admitted the +right of England to do so in such a case, by giving a promise beforehand +that it would not use its victory either to conquer the territory or to +destroy the independence of the offending state. The reason why England +was prepared to resist the conquest of Morocco was, that such a conquest +would have seriously endangered her interests and influence in the +Mediterranean; and one principal reason why she should interfere to +prevent the conquest of Monte Video by the army and squadron of Buenos +Ayres is, that such a conquest would jeopardise her valuable commerce +and her influence in the River Plate, the only outlet of regions larger +than all the great Kingdoms of Western Europe united. Brazil has the +same right to interpose that Austria would have to resist the conquest +of Sardinia, or Prussia the conquest of Belgium, by France. + +Many advantages have resulted both to the commerce of foreign nations, +and to the prosperity of the people of Uruguay, from the recognition of +its independence both of Buenos Ayres and Brazil, which were not +anticipated at the time when it was established, the whole of which, as +we shall show, will be lost if it is allowed to be absorbed by or placed +in dependence on Buenos Ayres. Amongst these advantages are the +following:-- + +The creation of an Independent State on the eastern bank of the River +Plate has given the commercial nations of Europe trading with those vast +countries of South America, whose only means of intercourse with the +rest of the world is through that River, a greatly increased security +against being again cut off from communication with them, as they were +during the Brazilian blockade, in the years 1825, 6, and 7. At that +time, both banks of the river were involved in the war, the city of +Monte Video being in the hands of the Brazilians, and the Province which +now forms the Republic of Uruguay being in arms against them. The +consequence of this state of things was, that the whole of the countries +watered by the great rivers Parana, Paraguay, Uruguay, and their +innumerable tributary streams, as well as the provinces of Buenos Ayres +and Monte Video, were cut off from all communication with Europe for +nearly three years, and that the great commerce which even then was +carried on by England and other nations with those countries, was for +the time destroyed. Some notion may be formed of the inconvenience which +this country alone sustained from the blockade of the river, from the +following facts. In the years 1822, 3, 4, and 5, the four years +preceding it, the average annual value of the exports from England to +the River Plate, was L909,330, whilst in 1826, 7, and 8, during the +blockade, it fell to L279,463, and in 1827, to L150,000, and even that +small remnant of trade was carried on by vessels which broke the +blockade. At a subsequent period, namely, in the years 1838-9, and 40, +there was again a blockade in the River Plate, established by France, a +power much more capable of making a blockade respected than Brazil, but +as the east bank of the river was no longer under the control of Buenos +Ayres, which was the power against whom the blockade was directed, the +evils resulting from it were comparatively small. Foreign ships were +still able to proceed to Monte Video, (thanks to the independence of +Uruguay), and thus, although one line of intercourse with the interior +was cut off by the blockade of the port of Buenos Ayres, the other up +the river Uruguay was kept open. In consequence of this, the evils of +the blockade were, in a great measure, confined to the city of Buenos +Ayres and its immediate neighbourhood, for the eastern bank of the river +flourished more than ever, the communication with the interior was never +closed, and the commerce of the nations trading with those countries +continued to increase. When it is considered (and it ought never to be +lost sight of,) that the commerce of foreign nations with the whole of +the central regions of South America depends entirely on the keeping +open one or other of these lines of communication, it will be seen that +it is a matter, not merely of national but of universal importance, +though in an especial manner to England, to maintain the entire +independence of Monte Video of Buenos Ayres, so as to diminish as much +as possible the danger of both being closed at the same time and by the +same political events. We say the entire independence of Monte Video, +for though the nominal independence of the country might be preserved, +even if the Buenos Ayrean army, under General Oribe, should get +possession of the city of Monte Video, that officer would be compelled +to lean on General Rosas for support to protect him against the majority +of his fellow countrymen, who are now in arms against him quite as much +as the chiefs of the Banda Oriental were in 1826, 7, and 8, compelled to +lean on Buenos Ayres for protection against the arms of Brazil; and to +follow the fortunes of Buenos Ayres in any war in which General Rosas +might involve himself, either with Brazil or any of the nations of +Europe. This would again be fatal to the trade of the River Plate. + +It is not generally known, although it is very important that it should +be, that this trade amounted in 1842, including both imports and +exports, to upwards of Three Millions sterling, at the port of Monte +Video alone. It is still, however, in its infancy, and requires nothing +but a few years of peace, with the introduction of steam navigation on +the Parana, the Uruguay, and their tributaries,[A] to give it an +extension which will render it of vital importance to the merchants and +manufacturers of England. The Parana and the Paraguay, together, are +known to be navigable to Assumption, which is fifteen hundred miles +above Buenos Ayres, to vessels drawing nine feet water, and there is +every reason to believe that both those rivers might be navigated a +thousand miles higher by iron steamers, such as those recently built at +Birkenhead, by order of the East India Company, for the navigation of +the Indus and the Sutlej, the former of which, when carrying guns and +troops, draw only four feet water, the latter of which, when loaded in +the same manner, not more than two and a half. The Uruguay is equally +navigable for several hundred miles to the Salto Chico, (the little +leap), and if a short canal was cut, to turn that rapid and the much +more formidable one of the Salto Grande,[B] it would be navigable for +many hundred miles above the Falls. Several of the tributaries of these +gigantic streams are larger than the Rhine, the Elbe, or the Tagus, and +great numbers of them than the Thames or the Mersey, and the whole of +this vast net-work of waters is connected with the still more stupendous +river of the Amazons, by a short portage to the Madeira, one of the +principal tributaries of that king of rivers. The natural products which +these unrivalled lines of river communication might be made the means of +bringing to the ports on the Rivers Plate and Amazons are varied and +inexhaustible. In addition to the large supplies of hides, wool, tallow, +and provisions, which these countries now furnish, Paraguay and +Corrientes are capable of supplying the finest timber for ship-building +purposes, sugar the growth of free labour, the best kinds of tobacco, +cotton-wool, dyewoods, drugs, the tea of Paraguay, and the precious +metals from Bolivia and the back provinces of Brazil. It is now only +twenty or thirty years since steam navigation was introduced on the +Mississippi, and the consequence of its introduction has been an +extension of cultivation and population such as the world never before +saw. The natural resources of the great valleys of the Parana, Paraguay, +and Uruguay, merely require to be developed by the same means to make +Monte Video and Buenos Ayres as flourishing as New Orleans, and to make +the commerce of the River Plate rival that of the Mississippi. It is +perhaps vain to hope that anything will induce the present Governor of +Buenos Ayres to abandon the suicidal policy which is at once impeding +the intercourse with the interior, and depriving that city of the +principal benefits of its unrivalled position, but this only renders it +the more necessary to keep open the only other course, namely, that +through the Uruguay, by which the resources of these vast countries can +be brought into activity. + +For another of the great advantages which has resulted from the +independence of Monte Video, has been the opening of a new channel for +the commercial intercourse between Europe and the central states of +South America, in peace as well as in war; and this channel the Monte +Videan Government has laboured to improve and keep open, as zealously +and as successfully as the Buenos Ayrean Government has laboured to +narrow and impede the old ones. The Buenos Ayrean Government has been +warned repeatedly by its warmest friends of the consequences which would +result from its illiberal commercial policy; but they might just as well +have reasoned with the winds; for, the only effect of the contrast +between the rapidly increasing prosperity of Monte Video and the +declining state of Buenos Ayres, has been to excite the most deadly +hatred and jealousy towards Monte Video on the part of the Buenos Ayrean +Government, and a settled determination to drag down that rapidly +improving city to its own level. The following sketch of the commercial +policy of the two countries will show what have been the principal +causes of the prosperity of Monte Video, and what of the decline of +Buenos Ayres; and also how strong a claim the policy of the former gives +it on the sympathy and support of this country. + +A large portion of the revenue, both of Monte Video and of Province of +Buenos Ayres, is raised by taxes on the importation of foreign goods, +and the rate of duties is not excessive in either case. It is not on +this account that any one complains of the Buenos Ayrean Government, but +because it confines foreign commerce to the single port of Buenos Ayres, +and excludes both foreigners and foreign vessels from the other ports of +the Confederation, as strictly as the Chinese formerly excluded them +from every port except Canton. This it is able to effect by its command +over the entrance to the river Parana, the direct route to Entre Rios, +Corrientes, and the other provinces of the Confederation. Whilst the +provincial Government of Buenos Ayres thus excludes all foreign vessels +from the Parana, and as far as its control extends from the Uruguay, it +claims the right to expend the whole of the customs' revenue raised at +Buenos Ayres. The upper provinces very naturally consider this unjust, +and insist on having either a share of the revenue collected at Buenos +Ayres (somewhat on the principle adopted amongst the states of the +German Zollverein), or on having a general Congress of all the provinces +of the Confederation to decide how the money shall be distributed. This +General Rosas and his adherents refuse, and this refusal, coupled with +the equally positive refusal of the same parties to allow foreign +vessels to ascend the river, is one principal cause of the frequent wars +between the states of the Argentine Confederation on the banks of the +river and the Government of Buenos Ayres, one of which is now raging +between it and Corrientes. In this way the commerce with the interior is +continually interrupted. The policy of the Monte Videan Government is in +every respect the reverse of this, for it not only throws open the ports +of Monte Video, Maldonado, and Colonia, on the River Plate, but those of +Soriano and Paysandu, on the Uruguay, the Yaguaron, on the Laguna Merin, +and the dry port of Taquarembo on the Brazilian frontier to all the +world, and thus gives every part of the republic all the advantages of +foreign commerce. + +There is a still greater difference, if it is possible, in the policy +adopted by the two governments with regard to the transit trade. At +Monte Video goods may be landed without the payment of any duty, may be +there deposited in the Custom-house stores for any length of time, on +the payment of a smaller warehouse rent than is usually paid in +Liverpool, and may be sent to any of the independent countries in the +interior, or re-shipped to foreign parts, without the payment of a +dollar. The Government goes even further than this, for it allows goods +in transit to be conveyed through the whole territory of the Republic, +with a guia or Custom-house Permit to all parts of the frontier, and to +be forwarded into the Argentine provinces of Entre Rios and Corrientes, +into the Republic of Paraguay, and into the back provinces of the empire +of Brazil, perfectly free from duty. Hence goods are constantly +forwarded up the Uruguay, instead of going to Buenos Ayres to pay duty +to General Rosas. The natural consequence of this is, that the people of +all the adjoining states have a friendly feeling towards Monte Video. +Corrientes has several times risen against the connection with General +Rosas, in support of Monte Video, and Brazil is prepared, if necessary, +to interfere to save it from his grasp. In fact, it is quite evident +that nothing but an entire change of policy on the part of Buenos Ayres +can prevent a general war against its usurpations. The policy of Rosas +with regard to goods in transit to the Independent States of the +interior is altogether different from that of Monte Video, for, when +landed at Buenos Ayres, they pay the same duties as if they were +intended for consumption there, and not a sixpence, or what is less than +a sixpence, a Buenos Ayrean paper dollar, is ever returned. When goods +are intended for re-exportation by sea, the difference is in appearance +less, but much the same in reality, for whilst they can be landed at +Monte Video without paying any duty, can remain there as long as the +owners like, and can then be re-exported duty free, at Buenos Ayres they +cannot be landed without paying the full duties, their owners lose all +claim to have any part of those duties returned, if they are not +re-exported within six months, and it is only with the greatest +difficulty and after waiting many months that they obtain any return at +all, even if they are exported within that time. + +A similar contrast is also seen in the spirit in which the Governments +of Buenos Ayres and Monte Video treat the diplomatic agents of foreign +nations. Soon after the death of the Dictator Francia, the English +Government determined to send a diplomatic agent to the Republic of +Paraguay. This gentleman, Mr. Gordon, first landed at Buenos Ayres, +hoping to be allowed to proceed up the Parana to Assumption, the +capital, but he soon found that it was no part of General Rosas's policy +to allow any such communication. The consequence was, that after +remaining at Buenos Ayres for some time combatting the pretences under +which permission was refused, he found that there was no hope of his +being allowed to proceed to the seat of his mission, through the +countries subject to the dominion of General Rosas, and crossed over to +Monte Video. There he was received with every attention, and furnished +by General Rivera with a guard of honour, under whose escort he +travelled to the frontiers of Paraguay. Mr. Gordon's letter of +acknowledgement to General Rivera will be found in the Appendix, and it +would be difficult to find a stronger illustration of the opposite +spirit of the two Governments than is presented by this transaction. Not +Francia himself was ever more determined to cut off Paraguay from +communication with the rest of the world than is General Rosas, and the +key to his conduct is, that he is determined, if possible, to reduce the +people of that Republic to subjection to his authority. No longer since +than the 15th of January last, a long article appeared in the official +_Gazette_ of Buenos Ayres, censuring the Governments of Brazil and +Bolivia for recognizing the independence of Paraguay. + +In addition to all these advantages arising out of the independence of +the Republic of Uruguay, it ought to be mentioned that the Government of +Monte Video has preserved an undepreciated silver currency through all +its difficulties, whilst the Buenos Ayrean Government has issued such +masses of paper without ever redeeming it, that the Buenos Ayrean paper +dollar is not worth more than 4-1/4d. at the present time. The other +states of the Argentine Confederation positively refuse to take the +Buenos Ayrean paper money, but foreign merchants are compelled to take +it, or to dispose of their goods by barter, which is seldom possible. + +The consequence of the liberal commercial system adopted by Monte Video, +aided by the excellence of its situation has been to raise that city, in +fourteen years, to the position of one of the first commercial places in +America, as will be seen from the following summary of the export and +import trade in 1842, the year before the commencement of the siege:-- + + EXPORTS. + + 638,424 Hides, salted $2,553,696 + 780,097 Hides, dry 2,340,291 + 60,904 Hides 91,356 + 100,583 Skins of Sheep 201,706 + 111,801 (arrobas) Tallow 223,602 + 4,444 (tons) Bones 31,108 + 2,690 (arrobas) Mares Oil 4,035 + 26,462 (arrobas) Hair 79,386 + 946,955 Horns 28,408.5 + 96,540 (arrobas) Wool 144,810 + 3,341 (dozens) Skins of Sheep 6,682 + 8,019 (quintals) Garras 8,019 + 1,109 (tons) Ashes 8,872 + 18,198 (arrobas) Fat 36,396 + 424 (dozens) Skins of Nonatos 848 + 938 Ditto Nutria 2,345 + 513,641 (quintals) Meat 1,540,923 + 121 (barrels) Tripe, salted 726 + 150 (barrels) Meat 1,200 + 2,065 (boxes) Candles 6,195 + 170 (dozens) Tongues 170 + 470 Mules 9,400 + 2,380 (lbs.) Ostrich Feathers 892.4 + ------------ + Value of Exports $7,321,066.1 + Value of Imports on which duty was paid $9,237,696 + ------------- + +How much this extensive trade has increased since the establishment +of the independence of Monte Video, will be seen from the following +statement of the increase of British shipping from 1830 to 1842:-- + + BRITISH SHIPPING. + + Years. Ships. Tonnage. Men. + 1830 41 7480 425 + 1831 36 6418 387 + 1832 30 5577 324 + 1833 51 9377 541 + 1834 65 12339 664 + 1835 54 10571 573 + 1836 58 11121 628 + 1837 63 12874 708 + 1838 100 20800 1143 + 1839 103 21257 1147 + 1840 132 23821 1447 + 1841 159 34537 1788 + +Up to the 6th of September, 1842, 128 British vessels had arrived at +Monte Video during that year. + + + COMPARISON OF THE COMMERCE OF MONTE VIDEO AND BUENOS AYRES. + +Number of merchant vessels arrived at the Ports of Monte Video and +Buenos Ayres during the half-year ending June 30th, 1842:-- + + Monte Video. Buenos Ayres. + National 16 0 + Brazilian 54 17 + American 48 31 + Chilian 1 1 + British 115 47 + French 52 20 + Spanish 44 17 + Sardinian 76 14 + Portuguese 4 2 + Hamburgh 14 8 + Danish 17 12 + Austrian 6 0 + Swedish 9 8 + Belgian 3 1 + Bremen 3 3 + Prussian 6 0 + Russian 1 1 + Hanoverian 1 1 + Lubeck 2 0 + Norwegian 3 2 + Tuscan 1 1 + --- --- + 475 186 + --- --- + +Great as this trade is, there is no reason why its future increase +should not be as rapid as its past. There are at present several +millions of cattle roving over the boundless pastures watered by the +Uruguay, the Rio Negro, the St. Lucia, and the two hundred arroyos or +rivulets which flow into them, and with a few years of peace, this +number would be doubled, or if it was found more profitable, flocks of +sheep might be introduced instead. The repeal of the duty on foreign +wool, by the Act of 1844, gives additional encouragement to the raising +of this kind of stock, and the reduction in the duty on foreign +provisions made by the tariff of 1842, would, if this country was at +peace, throw a considerable portion of the provision trade created by +that reduction of duty, and at present monopolized by the United States, +into Monte Video. Enormous quantities of meat are now wasted, which it +might be worth while to prepare for this market, in a way suited for the +English taste. + +Pastoral countries, such as the territory of Uruguay, New South Wales, +Van Dieman's Land, and South Africa, have this great advantage over +arable countries that their resources can be developed much more +rapidly, with a much smaller amount of labour, and with much less +capital. This is one of the causes of the sudden rise of the trade with +Australia, and it is also a considerable cause of the rapid development +of the prosperity of Monte Video. Its power of producing hides, wool, +tallow, and provisions is unlimited, by any thing except the deficient +numbers of its population; and whilst on this subject, I may mention +that Monte Video is the only one of all the Republics formed out of the +ancient possessions of Spain which has been sufficiently well governed +to attract to its shores any considerable number of emigrants from +Europe. It will be seen from the following table extracted from the +books of the Custom House at Monte Video, that not less than 33,607 +emigrants arrived in that port between November, 1835, and December, +1842:-- + + _Table made from the books at the Sala de Comercio of the + number of passengers who arrived at Monte Video from Nov. + 1835 inclusive, to the end of 1842._ + + KEY: + A: Basques, from both sides of the Pyrenees. + B: Frenchmen. + C: Gallicians. + D: Catalanes. + E: Spaniards from Cadiz, &c. + F: Genoese. + G: Canarios. + H: Portuguese and Brazilians. + I: Miscellaneous. + J: Total. + + ----+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+-----+-----+----- + | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J + ----+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+-----+-----+----- + 1836| 1116 | 56 | ... | 94 | 112 | 365 | 744 | 782 | 331 | 3600 + ----+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+-----+-----+----- + 1837| 348 | 72 | 101 | 485 | 310 | 175 | 949 | 454 | 223 | 3117 + ----+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+-----+-----+----- + 1838| 1939 | 71 | 85 | 264 | 284 | 645 | 2320 | 294 | 177 | 6079 + ----+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+-----+-----+----- + 1839| 233 | 69 | 141 | 64 | 53 | 202 | ... | 160 | 111 | 1033 + ----+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+-----+-----+----- + 1840| 1107 | 80 | 106 | 107 | 58 | 727 | ... | 316 | 122 | 2623 + ----+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+-----+-----+----- + 1841| 3965 | 121 | 408 | 104 | 92 | 2552 | 365 | 101 | 111 | 7819 + ----+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+-----+-----+----- + 1842| 4968 | 227 | 502 | 143 | 293 | 2123 | 774 | 140 | 166 | 9336 + ====+=======+=====+=====+=====+=====+======+======+=====+=====+===== + | 13676 | 696 |1343 |1261 |1202 | 6789 | 5152 |2247 |1241 |33607 + ----+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+-----+-----+----- + +Of this large number of emigrants, 13,676, it will be seen, were from +the Basque provinces; 696 from France; 3806 from Spain; 6789 from Genoa; +5152 from the Canary Islands; 2247 from Portugal and Brazil, and 1241 +from other parts of the world. If, as has been said by one of our +greatest writers, there is no worse sign of the condition of a country +than the fact of large masses of its subjects leaving it, surely it must +be considered an equally strong proof of the goodness of a Government +and the resources of a country when great masses of foreign emigrants +are pouring into it. In this respect, Monte Video stands pre-eminent +above all the States of America, except those founded by the British +race, and considering the limited extent of its territory, and the short +period of its independent existence, it can scarcely be said to yield to +them. + +Having thus shown the grounds on which the Government and people of +Monte Video are entitled to the sympathies and support of England, I +shall now proceed to say a few words on the present disastrous position +of the affairs of that Republic. + +For the last two years, the city of Monte Video has been besieged by an +army composed almost entirely of Buenos Ayrean troops, commanded by +General Manuel Oribe, the expatriated President of Uruguay, who claims +to be the legal President of the Republic, and whose avowed object is to +overturn the present Government, and to seize on supreme power for +himself, and blockaded by sea by a Buenos Ayrean squadron, commanded by +William Brown, a British subject in the pay of General Rosas. If the +army of General Oribe was composed of Monte Videans, England could have +nothing to say in this matter, as his success would be merely the +substitution of the chief of one native party for another; but this is +not the case. Oribe has neither army, fleet, nor treasures of his own, +and owes every thing to General Rosas as absolutely as if he was a +Buenos Ayrean citizen. To allow him, therefore, to get and to retain +possession of Monte Video, would be to establish the authority of Buenos +Ayres on the east bank of the river as effectually as on the west, and +this I have already shown would be most injurious to the interests of +England, of Brazil, and the other adjoining States, as well as to Monte +Video itself, and to the upper States of the Argentine confederation. + +Whatever might be the wishes of General Oribe, it is evident that he +would have no chance of retaining power any longer than he made himself +agreeable to General Rosas. In the city he has a considerable number of +supporters amongst the shopkeepers and a few amongst the merchants, but +in the country, the landed proprietors and gauchos or peasantry are all +opposed to him, and are enrolled in the armies of General Rivera, or his +lieutenants. When President, he was besieged and deposed by this class, +against which the mere townsmen can effect nothing. If he got possession +of the city, he would not be able to raise such a native force as would +sustain him. He must, therefore, retain the Buenos Ayrean army in his +pay, or he could not stir a mile from the walls without being attacked +by the army of Rivera. Hence he would continue in a state of dependence +on General Rosas for many years, if indeed he ever became entirely +independent of him. Thus, it will be seen, that this is not a struggle +to decide whether Oribe or Rivera shall be chief of the Republic, but +whether the Republic shall remain independent or become subservient to +the will of its bitterest enemy. + +If the will of General Rosas should thus be allowed to become the law of +Monte Video, the prosperity of that country is at an end. A very large +revenue would be required for the support of the Buenos Ayrean +mercenaries, and it is not at all unlikely that Rosas, who confiscated +the property of the whole of the Unitarian or Centralist Party to pay +the expense of a former civil war, would insist on the repayment of the +whole, or at least of a part of the expenses of the present war, in +carrying on which the finances of Buenos Ayres have been brought to the +verge of ruin. To raise the money required for these purposes, there are +only two ways; the first, the confiscation of the property of Oribe's +opponents; the second, a great increase of the taxes on foreign imports. +The first of these measures would destroy all the best connections of +the English merchants, and ruin all the most respectable men in the +Republic, whilst the second would quite as effectually destroy its +foreign commerce. + +It is by no means certain, however, that even the name of independence +would long be left to Monte Video, if General Oribe should succeed. +General Rosas would, in all probability, soon grow tired of supplying +troops and money to support another man's authority, whilst General +Oribe's necessities would compel him to submit to anything which his +patron might propose, even if he went the length of proposing the +annexation of Monte Video to Buenos Ayres, in humble imitation of the +annexation of Texas to the United States. The last letters from Monte +Video state, that Oribe has been getting together, at the Buceo, all the +members of his former Legislative Assembly, who had followed him to +Buenos Ayres or joined him there, and with their aid he will soon form +an assembly quite capable of performing any act which it may suit his +convenience to have performed. With such materials we shall scarcely +fail to have a repetition of the annexation of Texas on the banks of the +River Plate, whenever it may suit the plans of General Rosas and the +necessities of General Oribe to effect it. + +It is not, however, merely on grounds of policy and humanity that +England is called upon to interfere in this contest, but it is bound to +do so by the distinct pledges of assistance given by Mr. Mandeville, the +English Minister at Buenos Ayres, to the Government of Monte Video, in +the name of his own Government. In December, 1842, at the most critical +period of the war, that gentleman formally announced, both to the +Governments of Monte Video and Buenos Ayres, that England and France had +determined to put an end to the war, and demanded that they should both +cease from hostilities.[C] Not content with this, he addressed an +official letter to Senor Vidal, the Secretary of State to the Republic +of Uruguay, urging him and his Government not to relax, but rather to +redouble their efforts to resist the Buenos Ayreans, until the arrival +of the assistance which, he stated, might be expected daily from +Europe.[D] The letters of Mr. Mandeville will be found in the appendix +to this pamphlet, and it will be for the public to decide whether +promises so distinct and emphatic, accompanied by exhortations so +strong, do not justify the Government of Monte Video, and the merchants +trading with that country, in calling on the British Government to +fulfil the engagements of its representative. Indeed it is impossible +that the Government of England can allow Monte Video to be taken and +plundered, the leading men of the Republic to be murdered or driven into +exile, and the Republic itself to be annihilated, without destroying the +high reputation which England has so long possessed in all those +countries for honour and uprightness. + +That these consequences will be justly chargeable either on the +Representative or the Government of this country, if Monte Video +should be taken, is evident from a consideration of the circumstances +under which Mr. Mandeville gave his promises and his urgent +recommendation quoted above. The letters containing them were written +in the period which intervened between the total defeat of the Monte +Videan army at Arroyo Grande, and the advance of General Oribe and the +Buenos Ayrean forces on that city. When they were given, the Monte +Videan Government was in a state of the utmost uncertainty as to +whether further resistance would not be a useless waste of human life, +and whether it could have any other effect than to render its own +position more desperate. The infantry of Rivera, the only force up to +that time available for the defence of the city was destroyed, and the +cavalry was broken, and discouraged, besides being totally useless for +the purpose of resisting a siege. Within the city were a considerable +number of Oribe's supporters, and many neutrals, including nine-tenths +of the foreign population. At this critical moment the letters of Mr. +Mandeville, given above, were written, and it is the opinion of those +who were at Monte Video at the time, that it was those letters which +induced the Government to forego all attempts at negotiation, and to +call upon the whole population to rise and resist to the last. With +this view, besides calling on those classes of the people which had +previously taken part in the struggle, to rally round the Government, +it declared all the negro slaves in the Republic free, and formed them +into regiments of infantry for the defence of the capital, and it also +gave every encouragement to the foreign population which had emigrated +for the purpose of following the pursuits of peaceful industry, to +take up arms. By these means, an army of some thousand men was formed +within the city, chiefly from classes not before compromised, whilst +in the open country, the landed proprietors and peasantry, were +encouraged to take arms again under the command of their favourite +chief Rivera. Thus the war was renewed, and the whole population of +the Republic was again engaged in a struggle which, from the great +disproportion of the forces, nothing but the promised intervention of +England and France can bring to a close which will not be fatal to +them. + +My object in referring to these facts is not to excite odium against +Mr. Mandeville, who could have had no object in making the promises +contained in his letters of the 28th December and 12th of January, +except that of preserving the independence of Monte Video, until the +forces which he expected from Europe had arrived. In a previous +letter, quoted in the Appendix, he positively refused to give any such +promises without the permission of his own Government; and in his +letter of the 12th of January he bases his promises of aid to the +Monte Videan Government on this assertion:--"THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE +BRITISH AMBASSADOR (at Paris) AND GUIZOT TOOK PLACE ON THE 9TH +SEPTEMBER, WHEN HE AGREED TO ALL THAT LORD COWLEY PROPOSED OF UNITING +THEIR FORCES TO PUT AN END TO THE WAR." I will not suppose, even for +the sake of argument, that an English Minister made such a statement +as the above without believing it to be true, still less that he made +it for the sake of exciting fallacious and unfounded hopes in the +minds of men struggling for existence. He must have believed his own +assertions, and he must have had some strong, if not conclusive +reasons for believing them. + +It is just as little my wish to cast odium on the English Government +as on Mr. Mandeville. Its foreign policy in other parts of the world +has been wise, dignified, and honest, and all that is asked is that it +will act on the same principles in this transaction. No one can doubt +that it is sincerely desirous of restoring peace in the River Plate. +The reason which Sir Robert Peel gives for the non-fulfilment of Mr. +Mandeville's promises is that he had exceeded his orders in giving +them. That there was a mistake somewhere or other cannot be doubted, +though whether it arose from want of explicitness in the directions +given to Mr. Mandeville or from want of comprehension on his part no +one is in a position to decide, except those who have seen them. What, +however, is perfectly clear is this, that the promises given by him to +the Monte Videan Government and the assurances given by him to his own +countrymen have had a most important influence on their conduct, and +have so far compromised the British Government as to add greatly to +the other many and strong reasons for interposing. It is no longer a +question of whether an independent Government, formed under the +mediation of England shall be sacrificed, and along with it the peace +which it has so long been the means of preserving between two of the +most important states of South America, neither is it a mere question +of whether the commercial intercourse with the finest regions of that +great continent shall be carried on without impediment; it is not now +even a question of whether a friendly Government shall be destroyed +and all connected with it ruined; these considerations, great as they +are, yield to the consideration that the honour of this country has +been pledged by its authorized representative, and that promises have +been given which cannot be violated without deep disgrace to the +hitherto unsullied honour of the English name. + + * * * * * + +POSTSCRIPT.--Since the above observations were written, explanations +have been given by the Prime Minister in Parliament which encourage us +to hope that her Majesty's Ministers have at last decided to fulfil +the promises made by their late representative Mr. Mandeville, by +taking effectual steps to terminate the war, and to secure the +independence of the Republic of Uruguay. They have only to speak the +word, and to make such a display of force as will show that they are +in earnest, and Monte Video is saved. Admiral Brown, or as Commodore +Purvis calls him, "Mr. Brown, the British subject, commanding the +Buenos Ayrean squadron before Monte Video," will never run the double +risk of being sunk by an English broadside, or of being hung as a +traitor by resisting the orders of his own Government, if he is +convinced that his Government means to be obeyed, and the moment that +he strikes his flag, Oribe will have nothing left but to make the best +terms for himself and his army. He draws all his provisions from the +fleet, and must retire when his supplies are cut off. + +Within the last few days information has been received from Buenos +Ayres strongly confirmatory of some of the views stated above. +According to letters from that city of the 7th February, the +Governments of Brazil and Paraguay have formed a treaty offensive and +defensive, in which they stipulate for the freedom of the rivers +flowing through the territories of both. This is a movement of the +greatest commercial as well as political importance, and if the +independence of Monte Video is preserved, there can be no doubt that +it will join this league, and that the line of communication with the +interior of South America up the River Uruguay will be kept open, even +if General Rosas should persist in his illegal anti-social policy of +closing the Parana against foreign nations. + + + FOOTNOTES + + [A] The Monte Videan Government has granted a patent for + introducing steamers on all its rivers to an Englishman, Mr. + Bugglen.--(_See Appendix._) + + [B] Plans for forming such a canal were under consideration by + the Commissioners appointed under the treaty of San Ildefonso, + in 1778, to fix the boundaries of the Spanish and Portuguese + possessions. + + [C] MR. MANDEVILLE'S SUMMONS. + + _Buenos Ayres, December 16th, 1842._ + + The Governments of England and France having determined to + adopt such measures as they may consider necessary to put an + end to the hostilities between the Republics of Buenos Ayres + and Monte Video, the undersigned Minister Plenipotentiary of + her Britannic Majesty to the Argentine Confederation, has the + honour, conformably to the instructions received from his + Government, to inform H. E. M. Arana, Minister for Foreign + Affairs of the Government of Buenos Ayres, that the sanguinary + war at present carried on between the Government of Buenos + Ayres and that of Monte Video, must cease, for the interests + of humanity and of the British and French subjects, and other + Foreigners who are residing in the country which is now the + seat of war; and therefore requires of the Government of + Buenos Ayres:--1. The immediate cessation of hostilities + between the troops of the Argentine Confederation and those + of the Republic of Uruguay. 2. That the troops of the + Argentine Confederation (it being understood that those of the + Republic of the Uruguay will adopt a similar course) remain + within their respective territories, or return to them in case + they should have passed their frontier.--The undersigned + requests H. E. to reply as soon as he conveniently can, + whether it is the intention of the Government of Buenos Ayres + to accede to these demands, and has the honour to be, &c. + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To H. E. Don Felipe Arana._ + + [D] _Buenos Ayres, December 28th, 1842._ + + MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--I received this morning your private + letter of the 20th; after thanking you for it I have little to + add, except that Count de Lurde and I have received an answer + to our note demanding an armistice, stating that a demand of + this nature, menacing as it does the Argentine Confederation, + requires time for deliberation before a reply can be given. In + the mean time, I trust that the step which I and the French + Minister have taken will in no manner weaken, but, on the + contrary, hasten and encourage the zealous efforts of your + Government to resist invasion, because, where winds and waves + are concerned, no man can say, when he leaves Europe, in what + week or in what month he will arrive at Monte Video. I know + nothing of the operations of the armies on either side of the + Uruguay; I thank you for the information which you send me + about them; I know nothing from any other source. + + Believe me ever, my dear M. de Vidal, ever your sincere + friend, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency M. de Vidal, &c. &c. &c._ + + _Buenos Ayres, January 12th, 1843._ + + MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--When I received M. Gelly's official + letter upon the entry of Oribe's troops into the Banda + Oriental, I was myself too unwell to thank you for your letter + of the 28th ult. on the subject of your resignation, and too + sad and discouraged by it at the idea of your retirement from + office at the present moment. But now when I see, by the + _Nacional_ of the 3d, that you have nobly decided upon still + retaining the foreign and home departments, I am as anxious to + congratulate you and your country upon this resolution, as I + was averse, on the day I wrote to M. Gelly, to take up my pen + for any body or any thing, but for this letter of yours above + mentioned. The two official communications, which I send you + with this opportunity, would have gone with my letter to M. + Gelly, luckily, it's of little consequence whether you receive + them now or this day month. What has prevented the British and + French naval forces from coming long before this to the River + Plate, I can have no conception. The interview between the + British Ambassador and Guizot took place on the 9th September, + when he agreed to all that Lord Cowley proposed, of uniting + their forces to put an end to the war. Before the end of + December I would have sworn that they would have been here. I + cannot conclude my letter without expressing to you my truest + thanks for the expression of your friendship towards me, and + my confidence that, happen what may, you will always duly + appreciate my public and private conduct to you. Believe me, + my dear M. de Vidal, that my sentiments and my utmost efforts + will always be in unison to draw closer the ties of + friendship, which have been so happily established, through + you in great part, between the two countries where we first + drew our breath, and my labour will be unceasing to preserve + them unchanged. + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency Don Jose Antonino Vidal._ + + + + + APPENDIX. + + CORRESPONDENCE OF H. J. MANDEVILLE, ESQ., + _British Minister to the Argentine Confederation_, + + WITH + + SENHOR VIDAL, + _Secretary of State of the Republic of Uruguay_. + + + _Buenos Ayres, May 26th, 1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--I have received your official letter of the 20th +May, with the enclosure which you have had the goodness and frankness +to communicate to me,--and also the two private letters of the same +date, which you have done me the honour to write to me. + +I beg you to believe that I share with you all the disagreeableness +of the suspense which the silence of the British Government to my +despatches of the 4th December last causes to us both. To me it is +only a matter of a little personal inconvenience that I ought not, +nor do I, regard; to you it is very different--and all that I can say +to you on the subject is, that the moment that I hear from England +respecting it, I will not lose a moment in communicating it to you--of +this be assured, as of the sincere esteem and consideration with which +I remain, + + My dear M. de Vidal, always truly yours, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + * * * * * + + + (PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.) + + _Buenos Ayres, June 8th,1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--Although I have not received any official answer +to the proposals which I transmitted by your Excellency's desire to +her Majesty's Government, on the 6th of December last, as a basis for +the conclusion of a Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the Republic of +the Uruguay, I am led to believe and know that they will not be +accepted, for the reasons which I stated to your Excellency at the +time these proposals were made to me--namely, that the acceptance of +this offer would be at variance with the policy and practice of her +Majesty's Government, whose wish, in matters of commerce, is to stand +on the same footing as other nations, and to enjoy no advantages but +such as would, upon similar terms, be conceded to any other friendly +power, and that accordingly her Majesty's Government have no intention +of availing themselves of this proposal. + +I therefore again most pressingly renew, to your Excellency, the +proposals I made when I first had the honour to see your Excellency, +to negociate with me a Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, upon +the basis which was presented to the Monte Videan Government by Mr. +Hamilton, in the year 1835, and brought forward by me at a later +period. + +I am enabled to assure your Excellency that Her Majesty's Government +is not indifferent to the welfare and prosperity of the Republic of +the Uruguay, as your Excellency will shortly see by the measures which +will be taken for its preservation, and to which I am sure you will be +a willing party, and I beg your Excellency to believe that nothing +will strengthen these good intentions on the part of Her Majesty's +Government so much as a frank and cordial acceptance of the terms of +the above mentioned Treaty. + +I have the honour to be with the highest consideration, Sir, + + Your Excellency's obedient humble servant, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency, Don Jose Antonino Vidal, &c. &c. &c._ + + * * * * * + + + (MOST CONFIDENTIAL.) + + _Buenos Ayres, June 10th, 1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--My Government has seen with regret that the +results of my visits to Monte Video, in December and January last, +was not concession of a Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation +between Great Britain and the Republic of Uruguay upon the footing +proposed by my predecessor Mr. Hamilton, and subsequently by me, and I +have been represented as not having been sufficiently urgent with your +Excellency to conclude this treaty with me, and I have been blamed in +consequence. + +I therefore appeal to your Excellency if I did not do my utmost to +induce you to negociate it with me, observing, that once concluded, it +would not prejudice the acceptance of any other additional proposal on +your part which might be added to it afterwards and form additional +articles--and that I only desisted from urging it upon you, when I saw +that my solicitations were of no avail, and you were resolved to await +the answer to the proposition which I transmitted to London by your +Excellency's desire. + +I am anxious that this circumstance should be put in its true light, +and that I may be exonerated from an undeserved censure--and still +more that your Excellency should commence the negociations of the +treaty with me, which would be the best answer to the reports of the +lukewarmness of my wishes in this business. + +Believe me to be, my dear M. de Vidal, with great truth and regard, +most sincerely and faithfully yours, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency Don Antonino Vidal._ + + * * * * * + + + (SECRET AND CONFIDENTIAL) + + _Buenos Ayres, June 18th, 1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--The measures which I alluded to in my private +letter to your Excellency of the 10th instant--that her Majesty's +Government will take for the effectual protection of the Republic of +Uruguay are a joint mediation of Great Britain and France, which I am +formally to tender to the Buenos Ayrean Government, upon the arrival +of the French Minister here, Baron de Lurde, to adjust the difference +between Monte Video and Buenos Ayres. + +I did not acquaint you of this important intelligence in my last +letters, on account of the possibility of their falling into other +hands; and as I am not to make the formal offer of joint mediation of +Great Britain and France, until the arrival of the French Minister at +Buenos Ayres, I think, for many reasons, which I am sure you will +share with me, that it should not be made known; but I have taken the +first safe opportunity of communicating it to you, for your own +satisfaction and for that of your colleagues. + +Believe me always, my dear M. de Vidal, with great regard and esteem, +most faithfully yours, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency M. de Vidal, &c. &c. &c._ + + * * * * * + + + _Buenos Ayres, June 23d,1842._ + +SIR,--I have had the honour to receive your Excellency's dispatch, +marked confidential, of the 18th instant, in answer to mine of the +8th, which was delivered to me this morning, the contents of which +will cause great satisfaction to her Majesty's Government, as to me +they have procured the highest gratification. Her Majesty's Ministers +will see, in the determination of the Monte Videan Government to +conclude a Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, with Great +Britain, on the terms proposed by Mr. Hamilton and by me, the most +unequivocal proof of the loyalty of its intentions towards the British +Empire, and of its friendly sentiments towards her Majesty's +Government. + +I shall, in consequence, avail myself of the friendly dispositions of +the Monte Videan Government for the adjustment and conclusion of the +treaty which your Excellency has done me the honour to communicate to +me, and I propose, in a few days, to embark for Monte Video, for the +termination of so honourable and desirable an event. + +I have the honour to be, with the highest consideration, Sir, + + Your Excellency's obedient humble servant, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency D. Jose Antonino Vidal, &c. &c. &c._ + + * * * * * + + + (PRIVATE.) + + _Buenos Ayres, June 24th, 1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--I have received your two most amiable and +friendly letters of the 18th and 20th instant; it is needless for me +to tell you the delight and gratification which they have procured to +me. + +I have little more to add to my acknowledgement of the receipt of +these letters, as I shall so very soon have, God willing, the +satisfaction of seeing you, except to renew to my heartfelt thanks for +their contents, which only serve to increase the sentiments of +friendship and esteem which your conduct to me has inspired me with, +since the first day of our personal acquaintance. + +I reserve all communications upon any other subject until we meet, +which will be about the middle of next week, but rely upon it, and it +is with pride I tell you, _you and your Government will be satisfied_. + +Believe me ever, my dear M. de Vidal, with the highest regard and +consideration, + + Most faithfully yours, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + * * * * * + + + (CONFIDENTIAL.) + + _Buenos Ayres, June 25th, 1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--Would you have any objections to have the treaty +copied immediately? + +I have motives so strong not for coming back to Buenos Ayres, but for +being able to return at the moment when it becomes necessary, that I +should impart them to you, which I cannot well by this conveyance. + +I will answer for your concurrence with me in this desire to be ready, +at a moment's notice, to come back here. + +Another motive, which is a very secondary one, and that is, having no +steward at this moment, the one who was with me for six years having +left me to set up a coffee-house. I cannot bring my establishment with +me, even if I had a house to go to at Monte Video, and therefore I am +obliged to live at the Consul's, which is a great inconvenience to +him, and consequently very disagreeable to me; but, as I have said, +this is a trifling consideration, which may be got over very easily. +Again, Mr. Hood may come by the next packet--where shall I go then? + +All these considerations, put together, make me very anxious, not so +much to get through the treaty, for the sake of concluding it, as to +be ready, when circumstances require my departure, to come back here. + + Ever, my dear M. de Vidal, your faithful and sincere friend, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + * * * * * + + + (PRIVATE.) + + _Buenos Ayres, August 18th, 1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--I had the greatest pleasure in receiving your +friendly letter, without date, which was accompanied by an official +note brought to me by M. le Comte de Lurde, to which you require an +answer. + +If you will weigh the contents of this note, you will find that it is +impossible that I can answer it in any other way, than has done the +French Plenipotentiary by that of acknowledging the receipt of it. + +In the first place, no formal tender of mediation has as yet been made +by the French Plenipotentiary and me, and therefore, until it has been +positively refused, it would be as unusual as it would be impolitic to +have recourse to threats to enforce the acceptance of it. But other +and more powerful reasons forbid this line of conduct; you who are +accustomed to give directions to your foreign Ministers and agents, +know that they must act by their instructions, and by their +instructions alone. I cannot take upon myself to say what means are at +the disposal of the Comte de Lurde, but I know I have no more the +power of constraining General Rosas to pay respect to the wishes of +the mediatory powers, as far as physical force goes than you have. + +If I were to ask the British naval officer on this station to land his +men and garrison Monte Video, or prevent any power blockading the +port, (which in my opinion, you may rely upon it, will never be done +by General Rosas), he would laugh at me, unless I could show that I +had positive orders from my Government to require it of him. + +To make a declaration to this effect to General Rosas, without having +the means of carrying it into execution, would be only exposing myself +to ridicule, and my future communications to this Government as +unworthy of belief. + +And as it is unnecessary, unless you require it, that I should put +these reasons, for not acceding to what you demand, in an official +note, I have answered it word for word, as the Comte de Lurde has +informed me he has done, by simply acknowledging the receipt of it, +thus privately stating to you my reasons for so doing. + +Believe me, my dear M. de Vidal, always and faithfully, + + Your sincere Friend, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + * * * * * + + + (PRIVATE.) + + _Buenos Ayres, August 25th, 1842._ + +MY M. DE VIDAL,--I have to thank you for your letter of the 15th +instant, and for the information you gave me in it with regard to +Ellauri's proceedings in London, and to the assurances made to him by +Lord Aberdeen of his determination to put an end to the war. His, M. +Ellauri's project of a treaty rather surprises me, considering that he +was unauthorized by you to propose it, but I suppose Republican +Ministers take upon themselves a little more in their negotiations +than we Ministers of Monarchs, at all events I hope that they will +send me an outline of it from the Foreign Office, as I am very anxious +to see what M. Ellauri would have liked to have had. + +You may rely upon it, my dear M. de Vidal, that in spite of all your +opposers and enemies may say, your confidence in the mediation has not +been vain and groundless: Count de Lurde and I are determined to +uphold the respectability of the mediation, but we must wait until it +be rejected before other measures can be taken. + +Yesterday the mediation was formally proposed by M. de Lurde, and by +me to Don Felipe de Arana on the part of our respective Sovereigns, +and supported by arguments which seemed to make an impression on the +Minister. He, of course, could give neither answer nor opinion upon +the proposal, and I do not think it very likely that we shall obtain +one before the departure of the packet which is fixed for the day +after to-morrow. + +The picture you give me of the state of your armies in Entre Rios, +leaves you little to apprehend.--A private letter from a friend of +mine in the Foreign Office says, "By the accounts from Monte Video, we +expect to receive by the next packet a demand from the Buenos Ayrean +Government to defend it from the troops of General Rivera." + +Be assured, my dear M. de Vidal, that I will leave no opportunity +neglected to write to you whenever I have any thing to communicate +worth your knowing, and that I am always, + + Your sincere and faithful Friend, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency M. de Vidal, &c. &c. &c._ + + * * * * * + +_August 26th._--I received late last night your letter of the 24th. +I really have not time to do more than thank you for it by this +opportunity. + + J. H. M. + + * * * * * + + + (PRIVATE.) + + _Buenos Ayres, October 19th, 1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--I received by the last packet a letter from Mr. +Hood, a part of which I will communicate to you, as I think it right +that you should be literally and truly informed of what is going at +the Foreign Office, in London, between Lord Aberdeen and M. Ellauri, +on the subject of negociation, with respect to a treaty of commerce. + +Mr. Hood says "I am employed modifying the treaty and talking Ellauri +into acquiescence to our views. Yesterday, (August 2nd), we had an +interview with Lord Canning, and during it I heard that he said he +would not hesitate to sign the treaty as now prepared. If it should +come to a bargain, I think it may be very likely that the Foreign +Office may wish me to take it out to get ratified." + +Now, my dear friend, tell me, if you can, how is it possible for M. +Ellauri to sign and conclude a treaty, or even to say that he will, +unless he has full powers to do so? I am confident that he has neither +one nor the other, because you told me he has not, but still it is so +very extraordinary his whole conduct that I should like if possible to +have it explained. + +I had a discourse the other day with a gentleman on the right of the +Government of the Republic of Uruguay and this country, to expel any +foreigner from their territory, at their pleasure. I know that it is +never done but under very grave circumstances; but what I contended +for was, the power and the right they possess to do so. + +I suppose you have not written to me lately because I did not answer +your letter of the 20th ult., but if you have no other, it does not +resemble you. Always, my dear M. de Vidal, + + Sincerely yours, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + * * * * * + + + (PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.) + + _Buenos Ayres, October 20th, 1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--I have not before acknowledged the receipt of +your letter of the 20th of last month, for until now I have had +nothing to communicate to you that was worth the trouble of taking +your time to read. + +I am greatly pained by the sad termination of Count de Lurde's and my +most strenuous efforts, as far as argument and persuasion could go, to +induce the Buenos Ayrean Government to listen to the dictates of sound +policy as well as of humanity and accept the mediation of Great +Britain and France to put an end to the war. It will grievously +disappoint the great expectations of her Majesty's Government, but for +which disappointment from my previous dispatches they will be, in a +great measure, prepared. + +I have set Messrs. Ball and Diehl to work to copy the answer, that no +time may be lost in communicating it to you, and I shall send down the +Cockatrice with it the moment it is done. + +Believe me, my dear M. de Vidal, + + Always your sincere faithful Friend, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency D. Antonino de Vidal, &c. &c._ + + P.S.--Although I transmit this document to you officially, + as I feel it my duty to do, I would rather that it be not + published until we have the resolution of the Sala. In Europe, + these papers are never published until some time after they + have been delivered, which we consider as by far the best mode + of conduct. + + J. H. M. + + * * * * * + + + _Buenos Ayres, October 26th, 1842_ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--Neither you nor I were, nor could be surprised +at the wretchedness of our negociation, or rather of M. de Lurde's and +my attempt to make this Government accept the mediation of Great +Britain and France, to put an end to the war, and I am happy to think +that when I was last at Monte Video, I prepared her Majesty's +Government for this result. + +I feel the greatest pleasure to find that my unceasing efforts to +obtain the acceptance by the Buenos Ayrean Government of our joint +mediation have satisfied you. I can conscientiously say that I have +done every thing in my power to make it succeed. + +Of course I never meant but that the note should be immediately +communicated to the Government, all I requested, and in which I was +sure your own discernment and good feelings would make you concur in, +was, that it should not be published until it has come out here. + +I observe, in all your letters, you write _mediation_ for mediators, +as applicable to my expressions. + +"My words in one of my preceding letters were, that your reliance on +the mediators should not be vain or unfounded." This you have seen and +can rely upon. I never hoped or gave you reason to hope that the +mediation would be successful, but the results, according to my +opinion and belief, (I am no prophet to predict), will not be vain nor +illusory. The feelings of the British Government (and as you tell me +Lord Aberdeen has himself said) towards the Banda Oriental will be +very different since the conclusion of a treaty between it and great +Britain to what they were before. + +Believe me, my dear M. de Vidal, + + Always your sincere and faithful Friend, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency M. de Vidal, &c. &c. &c._ + + * * * * * + + + _Buenos Ayres, November 28th, 1842._ + +SIR,--I have the honour to transmit to your Excellency a copy of the +note from the Buenos Ayrean Minister for Foreign Affairs, transmitting +to me the resolution of the Chamber upon the correspondence between me +and the French Minister on one part, and M. Arana on the other, upon +the subject of the mediation which was transmitted to the Chamber for +its consideration, and a decree which it has issued. + +Thus, notwithstanding all my efforts, the Buenos Ayrean Government +still continues to refuse her Majesty's mediation, and _persist in a +war not justified by any national object_. + +I have the honour to be with the highest consideration, Sir, + + Your Excellency's most obedient humble Servant, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency Don Jose Antonino Vidal, &c. &c. &c._ + + * * * * * + + + (PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.) + + _Buenos Ayres, September 2nd, 1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--I had not time, before the departure of the +packet, to answer your private letter of the 24th ult., and now keep +my promise made to you in my letter of the 25th ult., of replying to +it. + +I must first begin by telling you that, some days before the packet +sailed, Count de Lurde and I made the formal tender of the mediation +in the manner presented to me by my instructions with which I made you +acquainted when I was last at Monte Video. + +I told M. de Arana that he was doubtless acquainted with the object of +our visit, to which he assented, of which he had been informed by +previous conversations which he had with me, and which was no longer a +secret, for it had formed articles in the Monte Video newspapers, and +the topic of conversation in the streets of that Town for weeks. But +public or private the object is the same, one of the greatest +importance to this country and of serious consideration to Great +Britain and to France,--that of urging General Rosas to accept the +mediation of France and Great Britain, of which the Count de Lurde and +I then made the formal offer to the Buenos Ayrean Government in order +to put an end to the deplorable conflict in which Buenos Ayres and +Monte Video have for such a length of time been engaged. _That Monte +Video to my knowledge is anxious and willing to make peace_ with +Buenos Ayres upon fair and reasonable terms, and I could produce +authority for what I advanced, if required, that the proposal which +General Rosas had formerly made, of accepting the mediation of Great +Britain upon the condition that General Oribe should be returned to +power, was inadmissible, and that it was obviously impossible that +either the British or French Governments could sanction, by their +mediation, the desire of General Rosas to place in the Presidency of +Monte Video _a particular individual_, who, however meritorious in +other respects, may not be acceptable to the majority of the +inhabitants of the Oriental State, and that those Governments can only +agree to offer to either of the belligerent powers such conditions as +one independent State can, consistently with its honour, accept from +another. + +I then acquainted his excellency that it was the confident expectation +of her Majesty's Government that the Argentine Government will accept +the offer of Great Britain and France to mediate between Buenos Ayres +and Monte Video, upon just and reasonable conditions, and that the +Buenos Ayrean Government will authorize us, the Count de Lurde and me, +to propose moderate and honourable terms of peace to the Government of +the Republic of the Uruguay. I stated to M. de Arana that this offer +is dictated by the feelings of humanity and of warm interest in the +prosperity of the two neighbouring Republics, and her Majesty's +Government earnestly hope, as M. de Lurde said does that of France, +that the Government of Buenos Ayres will maturely reflect before they +reject the friendly intervention which is now offered to them by two +such powerful states, and I concluded by conjuring his Excellency to +use his whole influence with General Rosas, as his friend and adviser, +to accept the offer of mediation in the manner just proposed to him. + +M. de Arana replied, that of course we could not expect from him any +other answer than that he would hasten to lay the object of the +communication we had just made to him before General Rosas, which he +would do on that evening, and addressing himself to M. de Lurde, he +said, you know the answer which was addressed to the British Minister +last year, a copy of it having been given to M. de Becourt. Neither +the French Minister nor myself were anxious to recur to that answer +nor to discuss it, but he joined with me in soliciting the good +offices of M. de Arana to obtain a happy issue to our joint offer. +M. de Lurde said, and with reason, that it would be of the greatest +importance to obtain the acquiescence of General Rosas to the +mediation as soon as possible, in which I joined him in pressing +terms. M. de Arana immediately replied that he would render an account +to the Governor of the earnest desire of the two Ministers with all +the interest that demands an affair as delicate as it is important. + +With this last observation of M. de Arana the conference ended, and we +took leave full in hope that General Rosas, with the soundness of his +judgment and the generosity of his disposition, aided by his +Excellency's influence and good offices will not hesitate to accept +the offer of Great Britain and France to terminate a war which, for +the sake of humanity and the prosperity of the two Republics, is so +earnestly desired by all Europe, as well as by the people and +Government of Monte Video, who ask only for peace, and the power the +most legitimate in the world, that of choosing its own rulers, and its +form of government themselves. + +Two days after the packet sailed we, the Count de Lurde and I, called +upon M. de Arana; he told us that in a question of such great +importance, as is the joint offer of mediation of Great Britain and +France, it should, he thought be communicated in writing, and he asked +us if we had any objection to make it in that manner, I said by no +means, and the French Minister and I sent in a note on the following +day, 30th August, beginning with "In consequence of your Excellency's +desire to have the communication we verbally made to you on the 24th +instant, committed to writing, we have the honour, &c., &c., and I +repeated in writing word for word what I had said to him verbally, and +the French Minister did the same. You have now, dear M. de Vidal, a +faithful and exact account of every thing that has taken place in this +important business. + +Now as to what you ask of me with respect to answering the official +note you sent to me by the French Minister, I agree with you +perfectly, that Her Majesty's Government would not make a second offer +of its mediation, without being resolved to support it, more +especially since you say that Lord Aberdeen has declared to M. +Ellauri, that he will put a stop to the war. + +But this assurance on the part of Lord Aberdeen does not give me the +power either to take measures for carrying this declaration into +effect, or to make such a declaration to General Rosas. I _must wait_ +for instructions from my Government _before_ I inform the Buenos +Ayrean Government what they will direct shall be done, as it is not +for me to say in what manner the war shall be put a stop to. + +M. de Lurde, when I spoke to him about the purport of the official +note to me from you, of which he was the bearer, told me that he had +simply acknowledged the receipt of it, because he could give no other +answer, and I feel that I am in exactly a similar position. + +You are now, as you have always been, in possession of my public and +private sentiments upon this most important question, the mediation, +and you may be most confident that my conduct upon it, whilst it is +pending, will be as satisfactory to your Government as to yourself. + +Believe me, my dear M. de Vidal, always your faithful and sincere +friend, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency Don Jose Antonino Vidal, &c. &c. &c._ + + * * * * * + + + (PRIVATE.) + + _Buenos Ayres, December 23rd, 1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--I received this morning your private letter +of the 20th,--after thanking you for it, I have little to add, +except that Count de Lurde and I have received an answer to our note, +demanding an armistice, stating that a demand of this nature, menacing +as it does the Argentine Confederation, requires time for +consideration before a reply can be given. + +In the meantime, I trust that the step which I and the French Minister +have taken will in no manner weaken, but, on the contrary, hasten and +encourage the zealous efforts of your Government to resist invasion, +because, where winds and waves are concerned, no man can say, when he +leaves Europe, in what week or in what month he will arrive at Monte +Video. + +I know nothing of the operations of the armies on either side of the +Uruguay; I thank you for the information which you send me about +them--I know nothing from any other source. + +Believe me ever, my dear M. de Vidal, + + Your faithful and sincere friend, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency M. de Vidal, &c., &c., &c._ + + * * * * * + + + (CONFIDENTIAL.) + + _Buenos Ayres, 24th December, 1842._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--I took the liberty, when I sent you a copy of +our note to this Government, demanding a cessation of hostilities, to +beg the favour of you not to make it public. Communications of this +nature are not intended at the time to be made public. + +If I had intended that Mr. Dale should have a copy of it, I would have +sent one to him; but copies have been given--for the commander of the +Fantome has written a letter to me of complaint, that I had not +communicated the circumstance to him, when some one had shown him a +copy which he had read. + +People sometimes think that by giving publicity to a document they +bind down more the persons who have signed it to their engagement; +this is a mistake. The only result which comes out of it is, that it +makes them much more cautious and reserved in future in communicating +them. + +Believe me ever, my dear M. de Vidal, + + Your sincere friend, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + * * * * * + + + (PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.) + + _Buenos Ayres, January 12th, 1843._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--My thanks for your letter of the 28th ult. in +answer to mine of the complaints of the captain of the Fantome. It was +perfectly satisfactory. + +I have received a despatch from Lord Aberdeen, acquainting me that the +Vidal and Ellauri treaties are under the consideration of her +Majesty's Government, and that he will not fail by next packet to +communicate to me the result of their deliberations. + +The under Secretary of State writes me that the latter is in some +measure preferred, and, therefore, it is right for me to mention this +circumstance to you, in order that you may not be unprepared, should +it be adopted. + +Believe me, my dear M. de Vidal, ever your sincere Friend, + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + * * * * * + + + (PRIVATE.) + + _Buenos Ayres, January 12th, 1843._ + +MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--When I received M. Gelly's official letter, upon +the entry of Oribe's troops into the Banda Oriental, I was myself too +unwell to thank you for your letter of the 28th ult. on the subject of +your resignation, and too sad and discouraged by it at the idea of +your retirement from office at the present moment. But now I see by +the _Nacional_ of the 3rd that you have nobly decided upon still +retaining the Foreign and Home Departments, I am as anxious to +congratulate you and your country upon this resolution, as I was +averse on the day I wrote to M. Gelly to take up my pen for any body +or any thing, but for this letter of yours above mentioned. The two +official communications which I send you by this opportunity, would +have gone with my letter to M. Gelly, luckily, its of little +consequence whether you receive them now or this day month. + +What has prevented the British and French naval forces from coming +long before this to the River Plate, I can have no conception. The +interview between the British Ambassador and Guizot took place on the +9th September, when he agreed to all that Lord Cowley proposed of +uniting their forces to put an end to the war. Before the end of +December, I would have sworn that they would have been here. I cannot +conclude my letter without expressing to you my truest thanks for the +expression of your friendship towards me,--and my confidence that, +happen what may, you will always duly appreciate my public and private +conduct to you. + +Believe me, my dear M. de Vidal, that my sentiments and my utmost +efforts will always be in unison to draw closer the ties of friendship +which have been so happily established, through you in great part, +between the two countries where we first drew our breath, and my +labour will be unceasing to preserve them unchanged. + + J. H. MANDEVILLE. + + _To his Excellency Don Jose Antonino Vidal._ + + * * * * * + + + MR. GORDON'S LETTER TO GENERAL RIVERA. + + _Ytapua, September 26th, 1842._ + +Having arrived safely at this town on the 20th instant, I forwarded, +on the same evening, a despatch to the Government of this Republic +with my passports soliciting the necessary license for myself and my +companions to continue our journey to Assumption. By the same +opportunity I forwarded to the Consuls of the Republic the despatch +with which I was charged by your Excellency. + +The answer from the Consuls reached me yesterday afternoon, and with +it I have received, for my own person, my two companions and servant, +permission to proceed to the capital, with the assurance that every +assistance and protection will be afforded me. I regret having to add +that this license is not extended to the Oriental escort, under whose +protection and with whose assistance I have been able so fortunately +to complete my journey to the Paraguay territory--for the reason (in +the words of the Consuls note) of the said escort _being no longer +necessary_. + +On this account the Government of this Republic has granted a +passport, which Don Blas Acevedo takes with him, ordering the Paraguay +authorities to render to this officer and to the men under his command +every necessary assistance on his return to the camp of your +Excellency, and has also forwarded the despatch which I have now the +honour to transmit in answer to that of your Excellency, with which I +accompanied my above-mentioned letters to the Consuls of Paraguay. + +It only remains for me to express to your Excellency my perfect +satisfaction in regard to the conduct of the escort, generally and +individually, during the whole time that we have journeyed together. I +am perfectly well aware, Excellent Sir, that such a declaration is +unnecessary on my part, being confident that soldiers chosen by your +Excellency for any service, would necessarily act as these have done, +but I should neither satisfy my grateful feeling nor my duty, did I +not state that in fulfilling their commission, both the escort and the +officer that accompanied me from Monte Video, have, in every occasion +and in all circumstances, been constantly active, obedient and ready +to exert themselves to the utmost, and that in no instance have they +given cause of complaint, either to myself or to the parties at whose +houses we have stayed, or through whose lands we have passed. + +I cannot conclude without calling the attention of your Excellency to +the case of the soldier Jose Arillu and to that of the coachman +Antonio, both of whom have been seriously hurt in the service just +completed: at present I can do no more than to recommend them to the +consideration of your Excellency, but I purpose communicating the +affair to my Government. + +Repeating my sincere thanks, and saluting your Excellency with the +expression of my highest esteem and most distinguished consideration, +I have the honour to subscribe myself, + + Your Excellency's most obedient humble servant, + + G. J. R. GORDON. + + _To His Excellency Don Fructuoso Rivera, President of the + Oriental Republic of the Uruguay, General in Chief of the + army, &c. &c._ + + * * * * * + + + REPUBLIC OF PARAGUAY. + + _Assumption, September 23d, 1842._ + +The undersigned supreme Government has received the estimable note of +his Excellency the President of the Oriental Republic of the Uruguay, +dated the 1st of August last, informing this Government of the visit +of George J. R. Gordon, Esq., and his companion recommended by his +Excellency to this Government, who therefore assure his Excellency +that nothing is more gratifying to them than to accept the +recommendation his Excellency has been pleased to direct, for the +purpose indicated; and will correspond, in acting upon it, to the +sentiments of friendship by which it is animated towards the +Government of the Oriental Republic. + +The Government has disposed that the escort given by his Excellency to +Mr. Gordon, shall be provided with the proper passport for his return, +as it is a duty incumbent on this Government to give due fulfilment to +the necessary attentions on Mr. Gordon's leaving the country. + +The request of his Excellency being satisfied in all respects this +Government repeats its expression of true friendship and esteem and +affectionately salutes his Excellency. + + CARLOS ANTONIO LOPEZ. + MARIANO ROQUE ALONSO. + + _To his Excellency the President of the Oriental + Republic of the Uruguay, Don Fructuoso Rivera._ + + * * * * * + + + STEAM NAVIGATION ON THE RIVERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF URUGUAY. + + (OFFICIAL.) + + _The Senate and Chamber of Representatives of the Oriental + Republic of the Uruguay, united in General Assembly, have + resolved on the following_ + + DECREE. + +Art. 1.--It is granted to Mr. John Halton Buggeln to hold the +exclusive privilege of navigating with ships propelled by steam or +other mechanical power, in the ports and on the rivers of the +Republic, during the period of twelve years from the time of the +arrival of those ships at the port of Monte Video, under the +conditions and restrictions to be expressed in the following articles; +reckoning the arrival of the first steam-vessel at twenty months after +the sanction of this project, save in case of unforeseen impediment, +and the contractor obliging himself to prove his inculpableness by +publishing the privilege in England and soliciting the advance of the +requisite capital; if in thirty months from the date mentioned in the +sanction of the project, he shall not have verified that +justification before the Executive, Mr. Halton Buggeln shall incur the +penalty of a fine of 10,000 dollars to the public treasury, the same +to be guaranteed by his person and goods. + +Art. 2.--Vessels of the said description of less than fifty tons +burthen, are not comprehended in the exclusion of this privilege. + +Art. 3.--The undertaking shall be commenced by two vessels of three +hundred or more tons, and one hundred horse power. The latest +discoveries that shall have been made both for the acceleration of +speed and for the prevention of accidents of explosion or others, are +to be applied to their construction and machinery. + +Art. 4.--The vessels of this undertaking shall convey, free of all +charge, the mails of the Republic to and from all the ports of their +transit; the captains or masters being responsible for their safety, +unless the Government shall appoint a person for this object. + +Art. 5.--Each vessel shall maintain on board two young Oriental +citizens as apprentices to instruct them as engineers and pilots. + +Art. 6.--The vessels of this undertaking shall navigate free of all +tonnage dues, under the British flag, having liberty to deposit on +shore or on board of hulks, such coals, machinery or other matters +intended for use and consumption on board, not including provisions, +the Executive to determine the measures necessary to prevent the abuse +of this liberty, and it being understood that the said deposits shall +not be entitled to any other guarantee than such as belong to foreign +property on shore. + +Art. 7--Whatever may be the state of the relations of this Republic +with Great Britain, this undertaking, its funds and property, and the +men employed in it, shall never under any pretext be an object of +sequestration, indemnification, nor guarantee of any kind of +reclamations or reprisals, which may occur between the two nations, +but rather during the whole term of the contract until its +dissolution, it shall be under the protection of the laws as if such +misunderstandings did not exist; but the navigation may be temporally +suspended and with it the term of the privilege, if the defence of the +Republic or other similar interests should so require. + +Art. 8.--If there should be national contractors or shareholders the +undertaking shall admit them to the number of one third of the shares. + +Act. 9--This privilege shall become of no effect by the voluntary +interruption of its exercise, by the contractor, during a period of +six months continuously. + +Art. 10.--Let it be communicated, &c. + +And in making this known to the Executive Power, the undersigned +President takes the opportunity of saluting the Executive with his +most distinguished consideration. + + Dr. PEDRO PABLO VIDAL, + _Juan Manuel de la Sota_, + Secretary. + + Monte Video, February 7th, 1844. + + _To H. E. the Vice-President of the Republic, Don Joaquin Suarez._ + + * * * * * + + _Monte Video, February 8th, 1844._ + +Be it fulfilled, the receipt thereof acknowledged, let be communicated +to whom it may concern, published and inserted in the National Register. + + SUAREZ. + _Santiago Vazquez._ + + + +Printed at the Liverpool Times Office, Castle-street. + + + + + TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES + + +1. Passages in italics are surrounded by _underscores_. + +2. Footnotes have been moved from the middle of the text to just before +appendix. + +3. The following misprints have been corrected: + "the the" corrected to "the" (page 6) + "it" corrected to "its" (page 13) + "on" corrected to "of" (page 28) + "notwithsanding" corrected to "notwithstanding" (page 32) + +4. Other than the corrections listed above, printer's inconsistencies in +spelling, punctuation, and ligature usage have been retained. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Observations on the Present State of +the Affairs of the River Plate, by Thomas Baines + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OBSERVATIONS ON THE PRESENT *** + +***** This file should be named 33322.txt or 33322.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/3/2/33322/ + +Produced by Adrian Mastronardi and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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