The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-23 00:00:00

BUENOS AYRE S

RIO DE JANEIRO, April 24.

The Saintonge brought dates from Buenos Ayres
to the 13th, and from Montevideo to the 15th inst.
General Flores continues to use every effort to
reorganise the Oriental Republic. The new Bra-
zilian envoy extraordinary, Senhor Octaviano de
Almeida Rosa, was officially received on the 4th,
and, on presenting his credentials, said :—" Large
enough already for her future destinies and for
her present activity, Brazil looks not with long-
ing eyes upon the territory of the neighbouring
Republic ; neither does she aspire to a political
supremacy which could enfeeble their sovereignty
and liberty. A constant and disinterested friend to
all the South American nationalities, she sincerely
wishes that they may prosper and cherish a senti-
ment of dignity which will protect them from des-
potism of every kind.
" A people who have been enslaved offer no
guarantee of peace to their neighbours. They are
immediately converted into instruments of insane
governments who dream of absolute impunity and
venture to violate international law."

This declaration seems to put an end to the
alleged projects of Brazilian conquest, and introduc-
tion of slavery into the Plata, which has been so
much talked of.

The declaration of war by Paraguay against the
Argentine Confederation was hourly expected at
Buenos Ayres. The Argentine steamer Salto,
running between that city and Assumption, was
overdue,and fears are entertained that Lopez would
detain it in the same manner as he did the Brazilian
packet Marquez de Olinda. Rumours were current
of the invasion of the province of Corrientes by
12,000 Paraguayan troops, and the Argentine Go-
vernment were reinforcing that frontier. Two divi-
sions of the Brazilian squadron had left Buenos
Ayres and steamed up the river to operate against
Paraguay. The blockade of that country had been
declared, on the 10th, 20 days being allowed for
foreign vessels to leave with their cargoes. The 3d
division of the squadron, with Admiral Viscount
Tamandare, was to follow immediately.

From Mato Grosso we have dates overland to 2d
March. Letters from the capital give the most dis-
mal accounts of the state of that now almost inac-
cessible province. The river Cuiaba had overflowed,
and destroyed a large portion of the capital, which
bears the same name as the river. The unheard-of
atrocity and cruelty of the Paraguayan invaders
can only be compared to those practised by the
natives during the Indian rebellion. The following
is an abstract of a letter published in the Jornal do
Commercio of the 20th. It is from Colonel Porto-
carreiro, who so heroically defended Fort Coimbra.
lle writes :

" At Sara they (the Paraguayan) took a canoe with
Capt. Conrado, 2nd Lieutenant Barboza, and Ist
Lieutenant Bueno ; the first two they cruelly be-
headed ; the third, being an old man, they spared,
and contented themselves with kicking him down
the hold of the vessel. At Mangabal they acted
still worse. After surrounding the village and
making prisoners of upwards of 400 of the inhabi-
tants (of whom more than 100 were women and
girls) they sent them all under two strong escorts,
to the port, five leagues distant. The women were
obliged to walk half naked through the rain, and
on the way not one of the females escaped dishonour,
men and officers alike participating in these re-
volting acts in the sight of husbands and others
unable to protect them."
The Minister of War, addressing the President
of the province of Goyaz instructing them to send
to Mato Grosso all the troops in that province, ex-
presses himself thus :

" Government is well aware of the value of the
colonies, but think it its duty first to defend the
invaded territory, for when a large portion of FO
important a province as Mato Grosso is occupied
by such enemies as the Paraguayans, it is not then
the time to divert a portion of the army from the
war, in order that it may protect the colonies from
the attacks of the savages, undoubtedly much less
terrible than the external enemy. In fact, where-
ever the Paraguayans pass, they burn, sack, plunder,
murder, and, to crown all, ravish females of all

ages."

The volunteer movement all over Brazil continues
unabated, and the contingents from the provinces
are daily coming in. Amongst these corps the pro-
vince of Bahia furnishes one exclusively composed
of black citizens, officers as well as men, called the
Bahia Zouaves. A part of this corps is already
here, under the command of a lieutenant who
wears a badge of one of the Brazilian orders
and a campaign medal. Shortly after the arrival
of the corps, this officer convened a meeting of
the Brazilian citizens of his colour, which was
numerously attended, and conducted in the most
orderly manner. Several patriotic speeches were
made, and in conclusion many of those present en-
listed in the corps. All this will appear strange to
Europeans who never visited Brazil, and believe
that coloured men are here treated as they are in
North America, whereas in this country colour is
no obstacle to a man attaining the highest position.
In the Senate, and in the Chamber of Deputies,
there are several men of colour.

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

NOTTINGHAM.

Mr. Samuel Morley has just issued an address to
the electors. Mr. G. A. Martin will address the
Conservative electors at the Assembly-rooms on
Monday evening. Sir Robert Clifton intended to
come forward ; and Mr. Paget will be the fourth
candidate. Sir Robert will receive the support of
the Conservative party, as also that of many of the
extreme Liberals. Mr. Morley, in his address says :
" If it is your pleasure to elect me I shall enter
the House of Commons untrammelled by any per-
sonal ties, but anxious to support the present Liberal
Government, and especially that section of it which
appears to be thoroughly in earnest in the advocacy
of the old principles of peace, retrenchment, and
reform.' The reform cr the representation is the fore-
most question of the present time, and it is due to
the honour of any Liberal Government that a com-
prehensive and well-considered measure should, in
redemption of past pledges, be introduced into the
new Parliament. A professedly Liberal Administra-
tion will show itself unworthy of support unless it is
prepared to stand or fall by the adoption or rejection
of such a measure. A very substantial addition to
the present number of electors—a readjustment, in
many instances, of representatives in proportion to
population and property, by the withdrawal of mem-
bers from small and decaying boroughs and the con-
ferring of them upon unrepresented towns and dis-
tricts—together with the protection of the ballot, are
changes which follow naturally in the wake of the
great Reform Bill of 1832. It is unjust and unsafe
that, in a nation which boasts of its freedom, electoral
privileges should continue restricted to so small a
class. I avow myself in favour of extending and
strengthening popular influence in the Government
of the country. I believe that the time has come
when all compulsory payments for the support of all
religion should absolutely cease, and that the disen-
tanglement of religious communities from the thral-
-1 dom and support of the State is being brought about
by the progress of enlightened public opinion, and
, will be attended by the most beneficial results."
Mr. Paget has also just issued an address, in which
lie " regrets that Parliament has not legislated on
the subject of Reform, but trusts that the delay
which has taken place will be turned to good account
by the adoption of a full and well-considered mea-
sure in the next Parliament. Church rates remain
unrepealed. Injudicious friends of the Church per-
sisted in maintaining peculiar privileges which, in-
stead of being bulwarks, were sources of her weakness.
Should he be returned he would support efficient mea-
sures of Parliamentary reform and financial retrench-
ment, and all other such measures as would promote
the prosperity and security of this great nation."