The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-20 00:00:00

(Per French steamer Eitramadure via Bordeaux.)
BUENOS AYRES, Aug. 12.
The political state of the Argentine Provinces is
steadily undergoing a material improvement. Peace
reigns throughout the nation, and the various Go.

vernments in the interior display the greatest

anxiety to aid industry and immigration,

The Federal Congress is still sitting in Buenos
Ayres, and has had many measures of importance

before it during the past fortnight. Nothing of
material interest has been discussed.
The winter is ❑early over, and the sheep farmers
are prepariog for shearing. The season has been

remarkably favourable. The total amount of wool

or this year grown in the province of Buenos Ayres

is estimated at from 93,000 to 100,000 bales, equal
to about 87,500,0001 b.

Cotton, indigo, sugar, coffee, tobacco, and wheat

might be grown in this province to an unlimited

extent,

The Catamarca gold mines are said to be working
well, and great enthusiasm prevaile.
Affairs are going on better in Kioj a, and the new
governor's poptharity is increasing.
Sales of produce—Cow bides, dry, realised 112
to 114 dole; sheep skins, 160 to 190 dols ; and dry

horse hides, 42 dols. Merchants regard with favour
the project of the Government to make a loam, as

,he only plan for redeeming the paper currency

The amount of exchange by the Estramadure is

about £lOO,OOO sterling.

CAPTURE OF TACUAREMBO.
Advices from Porongos inform us that the
rebels under Moyana made an attack on Durazno,
which was defended by Colonel Pizard ; and the

garrison fought with great bravery, the fate of the
town not being decided up to latest dates, 6th
inst. The assailants had suffered heavily. At the

same time another column, under Pertz and
Valiente, awaited reinforcements to make a descent

on Porongos, but the garrison was determined to

give the filibusters a warm reception.
The latest news from Rio Negro, sth inst., re.
ports Mercedes strongly garrisoned, and Major
Larravede was making entrenchments to defend
Fray Bentos in case the Colorados attempted to
surprise the place.
General Moreno's despatch relating the fall of
Florida treats that reverse as a subject of glory for
Government arms and of disgrace for Flores. The
garrison was composed of 51 National Guards, 17
policemen, and 12 pensioners. The Florida In-
fantry Battalion and National Guards were absent
on camp service. General Flores attacked the
town with 800 horse and foot on the 4th instant.

Major Parraga made a gallant defence for eight
hours, killing 11 officers and several soldiers of the
enemy. Among the former were Colonel Faustino
Lopez and Venancio Flores (eon to the general),
besides 50 wounded. At length the garrison, being
nearly all killed, Major Parraga surrendered, and
Flores caused him and three other officers to whom
quarter had been given to be at once shot. Faustino
Lopez's son, instead of demanding vengeance for
his father, generously interceded for one of the
officers, and saved his life. The rebels at once
proceeded to sack the town, and great enormities
were perpetrated ; two women were killed and
several children wounded, and a shop belonging to
Sor Priato was burnt down because the garrison
had planted a battt ry on the ezotea. It is not true
that young Flores was murdered after the fight,
but the rebels accuse Parraga of having shot an
officer bearing a flag of truce.
Colonel Orrego's despatch, 31st inst., gives a full
account of the capture of Tacuarenbo. That to xn
was held by a band of Colorados, who occupied the
Plaza and the adjoining ezotea roofs. At 2 p.m_
the troops were led on to the attack in five columns,
Captain Benavides commanding tho left, Lieute.

nen- t Bitcha the right, Lieutenant Arevalo by the
Calle Real, Captain Senociano by the Gefatura, and
Orrego and staff by the Commandancia. The ad-
vancing bodies were met on all sides by a sharp
musketry fire from the barricades. Arevalo suc-
ceeded in forcing his way into the Plan, but was
unable to liuld h'is ground unaided, and was coma
palled to retreat, his horse being killed under him.
Captain Benaaides fared in like manner, having
two horses killed, but neither of these columns lost
a single man in the fight. The infantry, under
Senociano, pushed on valiantly, and drove the
enemy from their position behind the Azambuya
barricade; after which all the other defences were
easily reduced, except that of Chucaro and the
Police barrack, in which the rebels were strongly
barricaded. Senociano, with his infantry, held his
ground till 6.30 p.m., under a raking fire from the
above positions, which seemed impregnable. He
pulled down the Colorado flag from the Comman-
dancia, and, having received orders from Ortego to
retire, he drew off his men in order, leaving ten of
the enemy killed and several wounded. The storm-
ing forces had none killed and but one soldier badly
wounded. The commander speaks in high terms of
the valour of his men and the brilliancy of the
exploit, although it will be seen that the rebels
remained masters of the place.
Advices from Monte Video say :—The Envoy
Saraiva, not finding the Government disposed to
make satisfaction for the Brazilian claims, was on
the point of leaving Monte Video probably to carry
out the menace of reprisals, when President Aguirre
requested him to delay his departure; it is said
he gave but one day for deliberation, and that
probably the Government would yield to his
demands. A change in the Ministry of War
was caused by the resignation of General Lemas,
and General Andrez Gomez, a personal enemy
of Flores, was appointed as successor. General
Servando Gomez was said to be named to take com-
mand of the army in roam of Lucas Moreno, who
seems to have been dismissed : the former was to
leave for head-quarters on Wednesday, attended by
Col. Aparicio. We do not hear what became of
Senor Oribe, Chief of Police at Colonia, who was
sent to the capital i❑ irons. Col. Piris had orders
to proceed to the country. The officers shot by
Flores after the surrender of Florida were Major
Parraga, Capt. Sotelo, Lieuts. Hinchaurbe, Ibarra,
Bosh, Castillo, and Silva. It was rumoured that an
English officer commanding the artillery had also
fallen a victim. It seems Flores was enraged at the
loss of his son, killed in one of the three charges
sustained by the garrison before its fall.
A decree, dated the 9.,h inst., complains of the
apathy and reluctance displayed by the National
Guard in doing garrison duty in the capital, and
orders all citizens, under pain of arrest, who may
not be enrolled, to present themselves within 48
hours at the Commandancia.
The Brazilian war steamer Paranabiba arrived
from Rio ;and three others—the Marin, Recife, and
Hajaby—were to follow; so that the imperial navy
in Monte Video would present a formidable force.
The Russian frigate Alma left Rio to join the
Variag at Monte Video, en route for the Paoific, but
was obliged to put back in a damaged state, owing
to a heavy gale she encountered.
The Spanish corvette Vencedova is said to have,
received orders to proceed:to the Chinchae, in rein-
forcement of Admiral Pinzm.

FORESTS ON FIRES—A letter dated Siut de Ste.
Marie, Aug. 15, says :—" Extensive fires are raging
in the woods—fires which, in a long acquaintance with the
Lake Superior country, I have never known to be exceeded
sinea 181 G. They extend a great distance in the interior.
A trader from the neighbourhood of Le elos, on Georgian
Bay, says tbo country for 90 miles back is in a blaze. The
destruction of timber and fur-bearing animals is very great.
The last item will interest your lady leaders, who will feel
the effects of the fires in the enhanced price of their furs.
It is difficult to comprehend the extent of these conflagra-
tions, Imagine districts out of which States— nay, accord-
ing to the European standard, kingdoms—might be formed,
blp zing and smoking away ht a rate which would defy the
united fire departments of Christendom, The spectacle, at
least those detached portions which came within the reach
of vision, is very grand, Mountains are in flames, distin-
guishable by the pillar of fire at night and the cloud of smoke
'by day. The very lakes seem to be in the same fervid con-
dition, for the wind drifts the smoke in vast masses over
their suffice, presenting the appearance of a day fog.
The outlying farms have suffered in some instances very
severely, and, however beautiful the traveller may re-
gard it, the fires are a great and costly calamity,—Chicuyo
ibun e,