The National Register.
London, England, 1814-08-21 00:00:00

GAZETA MINISTERIAL OF BUENOS ?SIRES.

OFFICI IL COMMUNICATION TO DON JUAN LARREA, SECRE•
TART OF STATE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCES AND
SOLICITOR Of THE NAVY.

"Un board the Hercules, off' Montevideo, May 19.

" I hive the grc-a:e.-1 catisfartion in acquainting your Lordship, that
on the 14411 in•t. at break of dav, the enemy's squadron set sail from
the port of Montevideo; composed of the corvettes, Mercurio. Me.
cedes, Neptuno, and Paloma, and of the I.rigs, Si. Jose, Hyena, and
Cisne, will► one galley, the lialandra de Castro, and another vessel,
the San Carlos, purpose was to make prize of and carry into
pert the ships I command. Butt the event, under ihe guidance rf
Divine Providence, has di•appointed 16.4 expectatimi4. small
force tinder my orders consisted of the corvettes, Hercules. Belfast,
Agreeable. and the rtesar, of the brig Nancy, with the Sallies Julia
and S uttissiu►a Trinidad."

(The account then states the maoatuvres doting the day, and pro.
ceeds to the action as follows
" The ketch H)eua was at the head of the squadron, and was at
the distance of gun-shot from the Hercules, but availing herself of her
facility of sailing, after having reeeiso d two broedides she withdrew
and separated herself from her companions. We soon discovered that
the Chief o the squadron of the enemy was in this ship, although
•he tied. The minting of thy 151 h we occupied ourselves in pursuing
the enemy, sailing under light winds. At onP in the evening the two
squadrons els! elicitor, and at eight at night the enemy availing him-
self of a north-east wind and of the darkness of the hour, weighed
ancher, and continued his flight. At ten my people were le despair,
the ui,ht having cleared up and they not discovering the enemy."
After a series of operations, the account states, that " the Ci•ne,
the Castro, and a galley, finding that it was impossible to escape,
berm se the Hercules interposed between them and the port, took a
course which ended in the galley being made prize ot, and of the
hurtling of thy' two others. The remains of the enemies ships pro-
evedeo towards the mouth of the river. The Agreeable and the Nutley,
on account of their bad sailing, could not come up in time to take
p. it in the action.
" Uocer these circumstance' the provinces of the Rio de la Plate
have obtained a comple victory over the superior forces of the enemy,
the object of whom was nothing less than to cut the throats of all
those under my command, and for which purpose they had provided
themselves with large knives adapted to such a design. Be their in-
teotion what it might 1 implore that they may be treated as prisoners
of war. Retaliation would indicate weakness, pardon will chew gene-
rosity. These mess should be taught humanity by example.
" The prisoners are about 309 in number, but the Officers are ex-
tremely numerous in proportion to their inferiors.
" Of the exact state of the armament which has been captured; I
am not yet informed, but it is considerable.
" gone ships of the enemy are anchored and moored in tl:e port, &c.
" Congratulating von- Excellency on this success, end recomo•mi...
ing to your I beralitv the Commanders, Officers, marine", and soldieis
of the squadron under my orders, I have the honour to be, &e.
(Signed) " WM. BROWN."

SuLsequent to the above engagement General Vigodet applied for
a truce, on the part of the itoyalistF, which led to the lohuvring
reply :

" On board the 1-ferculel before Montevifleq, Mal 19.

• •
gg Most EXCELT.Eftit Sin —I have the honour to receive the die-
patch that you have addresser., to me by a floe truce, an.i I have
only to sae in reply, in the name of my Government, that mail Monte-
vidto, with all its lorts, arsenals, ships of war, and..eery description of
public property, shall have been delivered up to the tOrces of Buenos
Ares, I shall li,ten to no terms that roily be proposed.
" The property individuals and private persons sirall be resprted,
butt the milirare must deliver up their arms
Hum you should accede
anity demands that and surrender at discretiou.
to these conditions.
" y
Jose Obregon, your Excellency's Adjutant, li.as proposed to rue
an exchange of prisoners, to
which l cannot accvde at present, but my
Ul?lrsontuent %hall be apprised of your wish.
"I have the huuour to be, Most Exerlient Sir, &e.

03t toccutient ou, a•..
WILLIAM SROWN."
biiiitti.sammtimmiriA
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