The Express.
London, England, 1863-07-06 00:00:00

THE BRAZILS AND RIVER PLATE

THE CONFEDERATE CRUISERS AND THE

FEDERAL GOV=MIMIT.

The Boyal Mail Company'• steamship Puma,
Captain denim, with the above mails, errtud at
amp on yesterday morning. She brings in en 191 pas.
sugars ; specie, value 15,1336'. ; also eight paekages dianassis,
value not stated ; 250 rolls tobacco ; 50 packages crystals
and 150 package. sundries.
The Confederate steamer Florida Nailed from Pernatribu o
on the 12th May, and called at Ceara en the 4th June for a
'apply of coal. On the 14th May, in lat. 30.30 8., ale took
and burned the American ship Crown Point, of Newbury
Part, 1,098 tons, Grit master, from New York, bound for
California ; 11 of her crew reached Pernambuco en the 10th
June, in the Brazilian steamer Jagwaribe ; some of her crew'
joined the Florida ; the muter, his family, and a portion of
the crew were put on board a Danish brig. The latest
accounts from Pernambuco say the Florida had been lying
at the Rooms 10 days.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jrta 9.

The proceeding, of the Confederate cruisers Alabama,
Georgia, and Florida, which recently visited the Brazilian
ports of Fernando, Noreen*, Pernambuco and Bahia, have
given rue to questions from which serimui complieationas
may perhaps result. Upon the 19th ult. the American.
Consul complained that sailors belonging to Federal vessel,
burnt by the Alabama and Florida, put ashore at Bahia, and
placed is charge of the Bouillon authorities under the pro-%
Section of the American Consul, had been subsequently
taken on board the Confederate privateers, and now farmed:
portions of their crews.
Immediately, ,upon receipt of this communication the.'
president of the province of Bahia addressed letters to the
commanders of the Confederate privateers, stating "this'.
fact" was a flagrant breach of the neutrality imposed upon
itself by the government of Brazil, that he protested
warmly against such violation, and requested that the indi-•
viduals in question might be given up. The Confederates
officers denied that any such 00C111TOD 00 had taken place,
and their vessels were permitted to leave the port. Pre-
viously to this incident, upon the 14th tilt, the English.
ship Castor, loaded with coal, mid to be bound for Shanghes,
entered the port of Bahia, ostensibly to repair damages.
Upon the 15th the American consul informed the President
of Bahia that the Cuter had on board several pieces of artil-
lery and some 20 sailors, intended for the Alabama or,
the Georgia. The President next day forwarded this com-.
plaint to the English consul at Bahia, inviting him to ac-
company the custom-house officers on board the Castor, te;
see whether the complaint had soy foundation. bleantimir
the Castor had commenced discharging a portion of her coal.
into the Confederate cruisers. Upon the 18th the English
consul returned the following reply :—" The denunciatioa
the American consul is devoid of foundation. The facto he
bad put forward are quite inexact. The opinion he ex...-
presses is entirely illusive. The English consul has been..
on board the Castor, has ascertained that she does not carry"
arms, that her crew connote only of the men upon the.
ship's books, and that the only real fact of those alleged ,
is her delivery of coal—a proceeding which it is the sole.
aim of the American consul to prevent. The consul is.
ready to be present at the visit proposed by the President, •
The captain of the Castor is perfectly willing to permit such.
visit; but the consul in any case protests against
every act assuming the character of the right of search, :
or of requiaitioo, by the consul of the United States. B
(the English anul) entertains grave doubts of the American.
consul's right, owing to the mere supply of coal, to raises
any claim against an English ship, belonging to a neutral:
nation, at anchor in the harbour of Bahia, a neutral poet.
The neutrality resulting from the independent exercise eg
its right by a state cannot obstruct commercial relations,.
sod • belligerent power is not entitled to demand their caw:
Lion in a neutral port, between its opponent and the side:
jinn of a neutral nation. Toleration by the President of tkr ,
province of the supply of coal by an English ship to Us ,
Confederate cruisers in this port cannot (without Whin& g
common sense and international law) be considered a hoed le
act, contrary to the strict neutrality of Brasil."
The proposed visit on board the Cortex took place, iseno m.
prided by interrogation of the captain and crew. Thome tilt
showed no proof whatever of the alleg►tioes, althoegl it
seemed pretty clear that the cargo of coal had no o the,
original destination than the Confederate primness. The
captain of the Alabama indeed admitted the fact, pl eini7
declaring that he had a perfect right to pirchano a ea in
, England, and to provide for in discharge taking pis as oat
of a neutral ship within a neutral port. Captain. S manes
o at the wane time requested the Preside:l(4'a authorise dims to
continue taking in his coal. The President replied
that the coal must be put OR shore aal newt
f into the market, when Capiaia Serowe a coat i
buy as much as he pleased. lie added that
instructions forbade him to allow the delivery any kb 4

of goods coming direct from another counts'', whims the
sale had taken place abroad. The American cc mink Ir m-
over, Rill insisting upon search for and delivery of the r
traband of war, the English conga!, upon the 21st. opp aid
the application, repeating mom ,forcibly his argsmon ta of
the 16th. The President, theeefore;upo:a the 22nd, no .Aed
to the American consul that his'iluty was confined to • con-
fiscating contraband whenever its existence waa p roved,
but did not extend to making investigations ripen
the subj.ct. The American consul AA persist-
ing again received the mime reply, the President
declaring himself convinced that the alleged de-
livery of arms and munitions had not ta'aea place. The
consignee., of the Castor, in concert with the British consul,
upon their parts offered to unload the ship entirely, pro-
vided the expenses were paid by Brasil. The President
forwarded this offer to the American consul, with a propo-
sition that the latter should defray the costs.

At this juncture the Federal steam frigate Mobigen pat
in at Bahia, and a report was immediately circulated that
she intended to seize the Coster. The captain of the Eng.
lish vessel attempted to leave the port without hacrig
complied with the forma required by this Customs.
He was Draught to by the guns of the forts,
put back, and ' went through the accustomed far-
malaise preparatory to setting sail anew. Before the
Castor was outside the b.arbour, the Mohican got up steam
and went in pursuit. Perceiving himself chased, the captain
of the Castor determined not to leave the port, but to
place himself under the protection of Brazilian skips until
the arrival of an English man-of-war. Thereupon the Mo-
hican left Bahia to look after the Confederate privateers,
sod upon the let instant au American brig coming from
Rio Gmnde do Sol reported having recently passed the
Florida, with the Mohican in chase.
The above facts were all respecting the matter known at
Rio upon the 9th. They have given rise to an exchange of
notes between the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the
minister of the United States. The latter is reported to
Save sent in an ultimatum, demanding—let. The dismissal
from their poets of the Presidents of Bahia and Perea m-
how ; 2nd—Paymeut by the Brazilian government of the
value of Federal ships captured or burnt in Brazilian porta
or 'orders. 3rd—An indemnity.
A rumour is current that the dimpate has been settled, but
g in what manner bad not tramp"vad

Full benefit of reduced duty obtained by par-
clueing Bondman'. PUTS Tee, eery choke et la ad. and M.
" High Standard" at a. 4d. (fararerly ea ed.). le the strongest
and mo,t .I.lkbotts Imported. Meals la every town trawl) tt la
peckete.—{Advertkererchl.l