Part 4

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.