The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-14 00:00:00

torday.

Without discussing the facts or appreciations of which
the first portion of that note is corposed, and confining my-
self to the principles which its tenor contains, I commence
by asking myself by what right his Excellency proposes to
the foreign agents to associate themselves up to a certain
point with the extraordinary measures
,he has decided to
pursue under the name of reprisals.
Has war been declared between the Imperial Govern-
ment and the Eastern Republic of Uruguay P Has there at
least been a notification of the blockade with the indispen-
sable formalities and delays required by the law of nations,
and the practice cf all civilised peoples?
In a state of affairs where neither belligerents nor neu•
trals exist, how are the laws relating to tho right of search
and to contraband of war applicable under the mere name of
reprisals ?
And nevertheless, his Excellency M. le Baron do Taman-
dare, considering all these rights as acquired by his Govern-
ment, after having notified to the agents naval and military
operations which are going to take place in consequence,
desires to conclude by asking tbem to concur in these steps
by ordering the ships of their nations to submit to his re•
quirements. What is more serious still, he adds that he
shall thus be released from the painful but indispensable
duty of exercising constant vigilance, and seizing such con-.
traband of war as those ships shall have on board.
In our turn, we fulfil the duty of notifying to his Excel-
lency that it is impossible for us to admit on the part of the
vessels placed under his orders the right of stopping, search-,
hog, or seizing, in time of peace, merchantmen navigating
upon the faith of solemn treaties waters essentially free, and
not even bordered by Brasil, and where such acts may even
entail complications with the Argentine Republic, diplo-
matically bound on its own pact to guarantee fluvial neu-
trality.

I will not onclude without adding, that in case the ope-
rations of war announced under the name of reprisals against
the seats of commerce situated on the north of the Rio
Negro should occasion injury to the subjects of the Empe-
ror, my august Sovereign, it will be for his Majesty's Go•
vernment to determine how far the responsibility for that
injury will fall upon the Brazilian Government.—l profit by
this opportunity, &c„
(Signed) M. MAILLEYER,
Charge d'Affaires of his Majesty the Emperor
of the French.
His Excellency M. le Baron de Tamandare, Vice-
Admiral Commanding the Brazilian Forces in
La Plata.

Legation of her Catholic Majeety.

M. le Baron,—l had the honour to receive to-day the
confidential circular note your Excellency addressed to me
under date of the 11th inst., and while abstaining from dis-
cussing the comments contained in the first portion of this
note, relative to the steps taksn by your Excellency towards
the Eastern Government, in consequence of the special mis-
sion of Councillor Saraiva, I shall confine myself to reply.
ivg to the second part. In this your Excellency acquaints
mo that the Imperial Government has determined that its
army shall expel the troops of the Eastern Government oc-
cupying the cities of the Republic north of the Rio Negro,
and shall retain them by way of reprisals until it obtains
the satisfaction demanded. In order that these troops shall
receive no assistance from Monte Video, your Excellency
asks me to give the necessary orders that ships sailing un-
der the Spanish flag (respecting neutrality) shall refuse to
take on board troops and munitions of war, as in the oppo-
site case you would find yourself under the painful but ine-
vitable necessity of exercising upon them constant vigilance,
and of seizing such contraband of war as might be found on
board.

While thanking your Excellency for the loyal and frank
considerations employed in the note above mentioned, I find
myself compelled, in replying thereto, to adhere to the prin-
ciples governing the matter in question.

The Legation of her Catholic 11.1ajcsty, M. le Baron, can-
not asslciate itself with your Excellency's intentions as to
the extraordinary measures which you inform me you have
determined to adopt under the name of reprisals, before
haying carried into effect the formalities demanded by public