The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-28 00:00:00

bientn int

LONDON, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1847,

After a succession of advances and evasions, such
as are only habitual among the plenipotentiaries of
South America,z_all expectations of an immediate ar-
mistice between the belligerents on the Rio de La
Plata have been utterly and finally dissipated. Monte
Video has coquetted with destruction ; it has adven-
tured upon a sort of apocalyptic role ; it has played
between the lairs of the asp and the basilisk. To the
mercantile population of England the events which
have latterly transpired in the Argentine Republics
cannot but be regarded as the ebullition of evil passions,
of jealousy, of revenge, of avarice, and of a barbarous
and despicable
.ambition. It is scarcely possible to
consider the course of occurrences since the com-
mencement of the combined intervention of the
British and French diplomatists without sentiments
of contempt and indignation. For, remembering
that our intervention originated in a solicitude to
protect the commerce of English traders in the
South American States, and at the same time to
terminate, if possible, the sanguinary and demo-
ralising feuds which had hitherto raged with so much
of deadly animosity between the Argentines and
Orientals, it is sufficient to arouse our contempt and
indignation to perceive the pertinacity with which
our most generous intentions have been thwarted,
and the insolent contumelies showered upon the emis-
saries of our Government by the very individuals
whose interests they are striving to protect.
British intervention has, however, at length ter-
minated. The barrier heretofore raised between
the contending parties situated on the opposite
banks of the River Plate has been removed.
Lord HownEN has not merely failed in his endea-
vours to negotiate a reconciliation, but has been de-
rided by the foreigners and pasquinaded by his
fellow-countrymen. Count WALEIVSKI, on the
other hand, with the
_felicitous stupidity of Dar-
FAUDIS, has been mainly instrumental in render-
ing the negotiations for an armistice abortive, and
thereby tending to perpetuate anarchy and bloodshed
in those immense and fruitful territories. That some
conception may be formed of the ignorant and mali-
cious tone of popular opinion among the Monte-
videans, we need only direct attention to the various
pieces of local intelligence brought by the Seagull
packet, conveying letters from the distracted capital up
to July 23. Nothing could be more scurrilous or auda-
cious in tone than the language adopted towards our
Ambassador by the petty gamblers in the commercial
speculations of South America, the smaller fry of the
Capel-court of Monte Video. Their hearing, indeed,
is so outrageous in its impertinence that it would; be
eminently worthy of chastisement, were it not so
extravagantly imbecile as to excite indifference. The
foreign cut-throats, it is true, have proceeded to such
lengths as to become, in a certain degree, formidable,
having organized a conspiracy to assassinate the Pleni-
potentiary of Great Britain. The mercantile malcontents
are scarcely more worthy of consideration than an insur-
gent army would be, composed of men with pot-hooks
instead of arms, and wooden pins instead of the ordi-
nary legs allotted to humanity. One gentleman
satisfies his purulent animosity by scrawling an illi-
terate lampoon upon the walls of the Custom-house,
against Lord flowners and Sir TIIONIAS HERBERT.
Another petulant blusterer forwards a communication
to the roble Lord, giving up his nationality, because
of what he conceives to be " the disgrace brought
upon England by a WHITELOCIE, a MANnEviu,s,
and ft HARDEN." it is pleasant, however, to
know that! the response conceded by the Noble
Plenipotentiary to the latter impertinence was
b the _tact that should similar insults be per-
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