The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-16 00:00:00

TIIE WAR AT TILE PLATE.

of hope. Tho Brazilian and Bolivian ministers have
offered to both parties their 'mediation, which has
been accepted, and under their auspices a joint com-
mission has been appointed by the belligerents,
which met for the first time on 'Thursday last, the
27th, the mediators assisting at it. It is reported
that as far as they have gone they hare got on very
well, though the particulars are, of course, not
, known.

BUENOS AYRES, MAT 2.
Our political condition is as yet no way improved,
though there is thought to be now some slight hope
of en arrangement. When I last wrote Urquiza,
who arrived at the camp of Lagos, at St. Jose de
Flores, two leagues off, with troops, on the 25th
March, had seat in to the government assigning his
reasons for rejecting tho treaty of the 9th March,
and demanding that a neir commission should be
appointed to consider the bases of a new treaty.
The government on the Ist instant refused to do this,
but offered to consider his proposed modifications of
the former treaty, if delivered in writing. On the
4th Urquiza replied, refusing the proposition, and
saying that in order to avoid the evils of
a war, occasioned by the "perverse obstinacy
of the government of the city, ho should be obliged
to have ream el to less pleasing measures." What
this threat meant we were at a loss to understand at
the time, but the event has shown too clearly his
real meaning. Ou the 9th, the government, in order
to do all in its power to procure peace, sent a mem-
ber of the Sala to communicate with a commissioner

from Urquiza about the modifications of the treaty.
He returned in the evening, stating that Urquiza
demanded the dismissal of the ministers and dis-
solution of the Sala. As this would be in fact
to give up the whole question, the government of
course refused it at once. Several angry letters
passed during the next few days, and on the 13th the
government sent a furious letter to Urqniza, up-
braiding him with all his sets of treachery since the
3rd of February of last year (all of which they de-
tailed), and giving notice of the termination of the
armistice on their part in 48 hours; and on the
Mlle day they sent a second note, stating that,
*mesh they thought it their duty to put an end to
the armistice, they were yet willing to consider any
reasonable proposition for terminating the war.
Urquiza replied in the same fierce terms as the first
letter was couched in, accepting the denunciation of
the armistice, asserting the Justice of his conduct, and
announcing his determination to carry on the war
with a high hand. A salvo from all the guns, on
the 15th inst. at midday, proclaimed the renewal of
hostilities. From that moment the guerrillas began
again, and there was a good deal of firing. On Sun-
day, the 17th, the national squadron (consisting of
six vessels, one of them a beautiful brig, formerly a
slaver, carrying the Admiral Zorowaki, a Pole, with
an English captain and English crew, armed with 10
gguans) sailsibma the roads with sealed orders. Their
destiaattea was not known until the following day,
when-a heavy cannonade from the water began
at 7 a.m., and lasted for about three hours. The fir-1
ing.was evidently in the direction of Martin Garcia,
an island about 35 miles up the river. Great crowds
assembled on the beach at mid-day, and immense
excitement prevailed as one of the vessels appeared
in sight. At 5 o'clock an officer landed, and pro-
claimed the defeat and dispersion of the Buenos
Ayrean squadron, the brig having been surrendered
to the enemy by her Engh,sh captain and crew, and
another vessel having grounded and struck. The
admiral escaped from the brig to another ship,
which fired a few shots, and then sailed away with
the other three. It seems that the government
had knowledge that Uninixa's squadron, of
three steamers and a brig, was at Martin
Garcia, unsuspecting an attack, and unpre-
pared for it. They (under the pretence that
the prolongation of the armistice only enabled
the enemy to increase his resources) denounced the
armistice with the intention of surprising the enemy's
squadron : but instead of sending at once on the
Friday, they delayed the departure of the vessels till
Sunday, and their design somehow getting wind,
Urquiza heard of it and sent up to Martin Garcia, so
that hii ships were all ready, and immediately the
enemy appeared steamed down upon them.
Since this time guerrillas have been of daily oc-
currence, and many lives have Igen lost on both
sides ; moreover, the enemy have amused themselves
with sending a few cannon-balls into the town,
thereby killing a few people. This, however, seems
not to have been done systematically, but in mere
wantonness; and no serious attempt has been made
upon the barricades, which it is thought, I suppose,
to be too dangerous an experiment. On the 23rd
Coo Urquiza, admiral, appeared in the outer roads
1 with a steamer, the surrendered brig, under the
command of Captain Turner, and manned by the
English crew, and another vessel, to which another
steamer has since been added. He immediately gave
notice to the commanders of the foreign vessels of war
of a blockade to commence in six days (the 29th). This
has been recognised by all the foreign authorities,
' so that now we are deprived by sea as well as land of
all provisions except such as may be obtained by
' bribing the besiegers, who daily show, by allowing
' a few cattle to come in, that they are not insensible
to sash appeals. We still get meat, though it is of
course very scarce and dear. I much fear that even
this measure will not induce the government to
retire, though they must see that all chance of suc-
cess is gone, and that a protracted resistance will
only lead to much bloodshed and misery, the pro-
; bable destruction of the town and ruin of the whole
country. But there are unfortunately so many men
in high posts about the government, who, by con-
tracting for the army, B:c., are daily filling their
pockets, that they will go on to the last, for the go-
vernment being able to get as much money (paper)
from the bank as they want, the supply is inex-
haustible, and I fear there is not enough patriotism
in the Sala or people to compel the government to
adopt the course which reason points out.
Things being in this state, you would imagine that
all hope of price was at an end, and that our posi-
tion was desperate. There is, however, just a ray

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 16, 1853.

great officers of state, and air endid by the principal of
of the household.

Supper was served in the dinner room, on a range Of
tables running round three sides of the apartment. Oppo-
site to the entrance was erected a large buffet covered with
crimson, on which were displayed • magnificent assem-
blage oiarticles of gold plate and vertu. Vases, jewelled
cups, salvers, the shield of Achilles, and a great variety of
au betiful specimens of artistic excellence and skilful work-
manphip. These were relieved with beautiful flowers and
wax lights in gold candelabra, introduced with great taste.
The service of the supper tables was else entirely of gold
' plate, and displayed some magnificent centre pieces, pia-
teaux, epergne., wee, and cantsisbra, many designed
by and executed under the superintendence of the first
artists._

The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Duke
and Duchess of Saxe Coburg Guth i, honoured the ltoyal
Italian Opera with their presence on Tuesday evening. The
miyal suite consisted of the Countess of Desert, Baroness de
Waugenbeim, Lord Rivers, Boron Seebach, Lord C. Fitz-
roy, Captain Hon. D. do Hos, and Captain Baron
Treskow.

Prince Albert, accompanied by the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-
Gotha, left Buckingham Palice a' half-past nine o'clock
yesterday morning for the Camp at Cholilmtn. In waiting
were Col. the lion. C. B. Phipps, Capt. the Hon. D. de 'Lis,
and Capt. Baron Tret-kow.
Their Royal Ilignesses ►eturned to Buckingham Palace
at a quarter before three o'clock.
The Duke and Duchom of Saxe-Cobourg-Gotha visited
the Duchess c f Kent on Tuesday.
The Duchess of Kent, accompanied by the Princess Ade-
laide of Hohenlohe, and attended by Lord .Limes Mnrray,
honoured the RiyaLltalian Opera with her presence on
Tuesday evening.

Mr. Hawkshaw, Mr. Lewis, and Mr. Henry Wickham
had an interview with th. Might lion. E. Cardwell yester-
day, at the Board of Trade.

A deputation, c insisting of Mr. Cheetham, M.P., Mr.
Bindley, M.l'., Mr. Bass, and Mr. Lees, had an interview
with Lord Stanley of Alderley yesterday, at the Board of
Trade.

Sir Willism A'Beckctt had an interview with the Duko
of Newcastle yesterday, at the Colonial-office.
Sir C. Smith had an interview with the Earl of Aberdeen
yesterday, at his official residrnce in Dawning-street.
the Right Rev. Bishop Willson, the Rev. Mr. Allwood,
from Australia, and the Bishop of Quebec, had interviews
with the Duke of Newcastle on Tuesday, at the Colonial-
office,
. .

----- The The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council Pat yester-
day, in the Council Chamber, Whitehall. The lords pre-
sent were—the Lord Chicf Justice of the Common Pleas,
the Chancellor of the Duchy of Cornwall, the Judpo of the
Admiralty Court. Sir J. Patteson„ and Sir E. Ryan. An
appeal from the Cape of Good Hope, "Maxwell v. Deare
and Dietz," was part heard.