The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-28 00:00:00

evidence which could not be doubted. They had b *ea
told that protection was the bane of agriculture;
was prepared to show that the contrary was the fact.
He (Lord G. 13entinck ) was prepared to show by evidence laid
before that House, that up to the year 1821, the soil
or England only produced 17 bushels per acre.
Now there were three millions of acres of land in Ireland, and
fifteen millions in England, which could be brought into Culti-
vation, and that being the case, how could it be said that the
country was not capable of producing sufficient food for the
population. Was it not beyond all contradiction that
this country produced more corn for a far more
smaller population than France for a greater population?
He had shown that Frenchmen were capable of earning more
wages than Englishmen, and yet not do so much work. He
had shown also that the state of agricultural improvement in
this country was very superior to that of France, and yet
that France was able to compete with England ; and he had
likewise shown that even in America, with all her disadvantages,
she was able to compete with England in the colonial market.
( Here the Noble Lord became inaudible for some time in con-
sequence of the loud cries of " Oh, oh," and groans from the
Opposition.; Jr they took 2,000,000 quarters of corn from
foreign countries instead of from our own country, the result
would be that they would throw from 500,000 to 800,000
persons out of employment.— (Prolonged cries of " Oh" from
the Opposition.") The Right Hon. Baronet had said that this
I inevitable result of the repeal of the corn-laws would be to
throw from 500,000 to 800,000 persons out of employment. If
they applied the principle to the duties on tea and sugar.
they would then do good by admitting articles which
did not compete with any of our home produce.
Why not import, for example, the produce of China in that
manner, instead of charging on tea at the rate of 250 per
cent, which tax was imposed on the labouring population
of this country. But the way they acted was to place high
duties on the produce of those countries that encouraged
the manufacturers, and cringed and bowed to those
countries that took the greatest pains to exclude our manu-
factures. Do you, therefore, deserve any consideration in the
course you have taken ?—( Loud cries of ' Divide, divide," and
great manifestations of impatience.) Certainly they were not.
When the Right Honourable Baronet came down to that
House to usher in the session, which, whether it
was to be for good or evil, had a tendency, at least
in the estimation of the Honourable Members on
that side of the House, to transfer the profits of the manufae-
turing classes to foreign countries. When he wsheed
Hon. Members to come to this House, assuring
them that they had the confidence of the Crown,
they might at least be certain that under such circumstances
they would vote as their duty to their consciences and their
constituents dictated. They had been told that they were a proud
aristocracy. They were proud, but they were only proud in the
chastity of their honour, and if they had turned out the Whig
Administration in 1841, they did it in highmindedness, and
with a pure desire to further the interests of the country.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the House
divided, when there appeared—
For the Motion
For the Amendment 240

MAJORITY FOR? 9,,
MINISTERS - -S '
The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of.
The House adjourned at a Quarter past Three.

NTIPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON

GAZETTE OF FRIDAY.
ADMIRALTY, FEB. 27, 1846.
Dispatches were this day received at this office from Rear-
Admiral Ingletield, addressed to the Right Hon. Henry T. L.
Corry, of which the following are copies :
lI.M. Ship Vernon, off Monte 'Video,
Nov. 30, 1845.
Sir,—My letters of the 30th October, No. 78, and
25th November, No. 85, will have informed the Lords
Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the French and
English combined expedition, consisting of the vessels
named in the margin,' respectively commanded by Captain
Hotham, of her Majesty's steam-frigate Gorgon, and
Captain Trehouart, of the French frigate Erigone,
had commenced the ascent of the river Parana,
agreeably to the decision come to by the Mediat-
ing Ministers at a Seance, held on the 9th of October,
for the purpose of opening that channel of commerce; suc-
cessive strong gales, and various other circumstances, pre-
vented the expedition from assembling at the appointed
rendezvous off the Gnassu (one of the mouths of the Parana)
so soon as it was intended, and consequently the entering the
river did not take place till the Bth instant, when it began
to ascend, and on the 18th instant arrived within three miles
of the defences. General Rosas had caused to be
thrown up at Punta Obliged° (on the right bank of the
river, about 100 miles from the entrance, and 36 miles below
the city of San Nicolas), to oppose their passing, which it ap-
pears were constructed with great military skill, and the
position of the batteries admirably selected on advantageous
ground, being supported by the presence of at least
3,500 troops of all arms, every appearance indicating a
determined resistance, which, however, did not deter the
gallant commanders of our little squadrons from deciding on
an immediate attack; and I have now the gritification of
transmitting to you, for their Lordships' information, a copy
of the report I have received from Captain Hotbam, detailing
the successful issue of the conflict that ensued on the 20th,
ending in the complete destruction of the enemy's batteries ;
a schooner of war (mounting six guns), and twenty-four
vessels chained across the river, all the guns found on the
fortications, except ten brass guns, which were taken off to
the ships.

The judicious plan for the attack, and the persevering
bravely displayed by all concerned in its execution, not-
withstanding the disadvantage some of the vessels were
under in not being able to attain their assigned positions,
owing to the wind failing, and a strong adverse current
of three knots, and the landing of the little band of seamen
aid royal marines, in the face of so large a force, will, I am
persuaded, call forth their Lordships' admiration of the skill
that directed, and the undaunted courage that acheived, this
brilliant exploit. Captain Hotham's letter brings the
merits of the contest so fully to the mind, that I feel it now
only remains for me to express to their Lordships the high
sense I entertain of the gallantry, zeal, and ability which
animates that excellent officer, who has, on every occasion,
given me perfect satisfaction in the performance of his various
duties ; and I beg to recommend his services most strongly
to their Lordships favourable consideration, as also those
officers serving in command under his orders on this occasion,
which, I conceive, reflects so much honour and credit on
themselves and the service.

I am convinced their Lordships will experience as much
pleasure as I do, in learning from Captain Hotham that he
had great reason to be satisfied with the good conduct of all
the officers,_ seamen, and royal marines engaged on this
service; and I trust I may be permitted to call their attention
to the circumstance of Captain Hope's cutting the barrier
chain, and to the merits of the officers and men ; Captain
Hotham has specially brought to my notice (particularly
Commander Sulivan and Lieutenant Levinge), as also the
case of Mr. Andrews' family, who have lest, in him, their
main support.
I sincerely regret this gallant achievement has been at-
tended with such a loss of life; but, considering the strength
of the enemy's position, and the obstinacy with which it was
defended, we have reason to be thankful to Divine Providence
that it was not greater. Among the killed is to be lamented
Lieutenant C. Brickdale, an officer of great promise.
It is very, gratifying to me to add that a perfect
unanimity and cordial • co-operation has subsisted
throughout between Captains Hotha n and Trehouart, and
the vessels under their orders ; and their Lordships will per-
ceive that the gallant bearing of the latter has called forth un-
qualified admiration from Capt. Hotham. I also beg to re-
mark the full confidence Capt. Hotham felt in the support of
his French allies. The official report of Capt. Trehouart to
Admiral Leine gives a long list of the killed and wounded
(17 of the former and 60 of the latter), sufficiently proving
the share the French division took in the contest, and which
must have essentially contributed to the success of the day.
I inclose a copy of the return of the killed and wounded,
and an account of the damages sustained by the vessels en-
gaged, so far as can be obtained from the logs and demands
1 have received. A more detailed report I will, transmit to
their Lordships when it reaches me.
Nothing positive is known as to the exact loss of the
enemy, but it must have been very great, from the number
found dead in the batteries, estimated at several hundreds.
I have the honour to be, &c.,
S. H. INGLEFIELD,
`Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
To the Right Hon. H. T. L. Corry, M.P.,
Secretary to the Admiralty.

Her Majesty's ship Gorgon, Obligado, Nov. 23, 1845.
Sir,—l have the honour to inform you that the combined
English and French force, under the command of Captain
Trehouart and myself, anchored on the 18th instant, at the
distance of three miles from the batteries of Punta Obligade,
in the river Parana. At daylight the following morning
we reconnoitred the position of the enemy, and
soon discovered that great military skill had been
evinced, both in the ground chosen and the plan of
defence pursued. Four batteries had been erected
—two on heights sixty feet from the water-line, and two in
the intervening valley; the whole mounting twenty-two
pieces of ordnance, 32, 28, 24, 18, and 12-pounders, and,
with the exception of a small open space, were backed by
thick woods ; three heavy chains, supported by twenty-four
vessels, were extended across from the main land to an
island; astern of these lay ten fire-vessels, and the west end
of the chains were defended by an Argentine schooner-of-
war, carrying six guns. The river at this point is 800 yards
wide, and the current runs three miles per hour.
From various sources we learnt that 3,500 men, cavalry,
infantry, and artillery, were assembled ; in short, everything
indicated a determined resistance. The reconnaisance being
completed, my colleague and myself resolved on the follow-
ing plan of attack :
To form the ships into two divisions, the north under the
direction of Captain Trehouart, to be composed of San Mar-
tin, Captain Trehouart ; Comus, Acting Commander Ingle-
field; Pandour, Lieut. Du Pais; Dolphin, Lieut. R. Levinge.
The south, under the direction of Commander Sulivan, to
be composed of Philomel, Commander B. Sulivan, Ex-
peditive, Lieutenant de Miniac ; Fanny (hired armed), Lieut.
Bey ; Procida, Lieut. Maria de la Riviere.
These divisions to be anchored on the north and south
shores, at a distance of 700 yards from No. 1 battery.
The steamers, Gorgon, Captain Charles Hotham ; Fulton
Lieutenant Mazeres ; Firebrand, Captain James. Hope ,
to anchor at a distance of fifteen hundred yarth
from the farthest battery; the morning of the 20th was fem
but about 8 A.M., the weather cleared, and a southerly
breeze sprang up. At Bh. 45m. the southern. division
weighed, [and were afterwards followed by San :klurtin aud
Comus, Dolphin and Pandour having previously anchored
on the north shore.

About 9h. 50m., Am., the batteries owned
.fire on the
Philomel and southern division, on which Dolphin weighed ;
but as some of her sails were shot away before she reached
her appointed station, the current drove her astern, and
obliged her to anchor ; she was,, however, admirably placed ;
the remaining ships of the north division were most ably led
by my brother officer in command, whose brig succeeded in
reaching her appointr,d station.
The general ca,:.nonading. unfortunately caused the wind
to fall light, and, the remaining ships of the north division,
having to coraend with the current of three knots per hour,
were obligta to anchor two cables shsrt of their stations.
At this, period the fire vessels chained together were cast
loose, and until they had drifted past, the steamers were
prevented from anchoring or opening their fire.
About 10h. 50m. the action became general, and the effect
of our gunnery was soon apparent in the unsteadiness of the
enemy's fire; still they fought most stoutly. No sooner
were one set of men swept from the guns than they were
replaced; the enemy's cavalry hovered round the wood and
drove back those who attempted to quit their To-its. At
Mi. 30m., the Republicano schooner blew up, and my Gal-
lant Friend Captain James Hope volunteered to pull up in
lainisdbaoapt
aasnsdagce inutbtehegchain ; success attended his endeavours,
cleared, at one P.M. the Fulton passed
through and flanked the batteries, and was speedily followed
by_cTorgon and Firebrand.

But prior to this, the enemy's fire had told most fearfully
on the San Martin and Dolphin ; the cable of the former
being shot away she dropped astern, with upwards of 100
shot holes through her side.
To assist the flanking fire of the steamers, the 'Expeditive
and Comus were ordered to place themselves within musket-