The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-23 00:00:00

AFFAIRS OF THE RIVEit PLATE.
The following documents relative to the affairs of the
River Plate have been published. The first is a transla-
tion of a paper which was delivered, unofficially and
confidentially, by the Argentine Government to the
French Charge d'Affaires, the Baron de Mareuil, con-
taining the several bases, upon a recognition of which
the Argentine Government was willing to enter into ne
gotiations with the mediating Ministers for the entire
and final pacification of the countries lying on both sides
of the river. The other document is a letter from Lord
Ponsonby, the British Ministerin the River Plate in 1828,
in which he distinctly refused to give the guarantee of
the British Government for the fulfilment of the treaty
of that year between Buenos Ayres and Brazil.
We subjoin the documents :
"Translation of a document delivered confidentially by
the Argestine Government to the French Charge
d'Affaires, Baron de Ma evil, ores for the
resumption of negotiations fur the pacification of the
River Plate :
"1. That the negotiation should be opened in a
proper and honourable m inner by their Excellencies the
Ministers of France and England with his Excellency
the legal president of the Oriental Republic of the Ura-
guayr Brigadier Don Manuel Oribe ; and that the Ar-
gentine Government, in consideration of the events
which have taken place, should participate and concur in
what might be agreed upon in consequence of such
negotiation.
"2. That his Excellency the legal President of the
Oriental Republ c, Brigadier Don Manuel Oribe, to whom
the direction of the war in the Oriental Republic be-
longs, should deserinine concerning any proposition re-
lating to a sung, nsion of hostilities.
"3. That on the re•establishtnent of the legal Govern-
ment in Monte Video, as already effected throughout
the rest of the Oriental territory, in such way and on
such conditions as might be resolved upon by his Excel-
lency the legal President of tue Oriental Republic, the
foreigners who had taken up arms in that city should
lay them down, delivering them up to the established
Government; the English and French troops should be
re-embarked ; Colonia should be evacuated, as should
also any other point of the coast of the Oriental Re-
public of the Uruguay, or of the Argentine Republic,
which might have been taken possession of by the
British and French forces ; and that the auxiliary Ar-
gentine divisions should return to the territory of the
Confederation.
" 4. That the vessels belonging to the Confederation
should be restored to the Argentine government, in the
port of Manes Ayres, in the same state in which they
were taken on the 2nd of August, by the French and
British squadrons ; that as soon as this had taken place,
the Argentine flag should be saluted by both squadrons
with 21 guns each, and that the Argentine squadron
should return the salute with 21 guns likewise for each.
" 5. That the island of Martin Garcia should be re
stored to the Argentine Government in the same rate in
which it was taken.
" 6. That the declaration of blockade and the ports
and coasts of the province of Buenos Ayres by the Mi-
nisters of England and France, dated 18th of September
last ; should be revoked.
" 7. That the merchant vessels under the Argentine
flag, with their cargoes, which might have been taken or
detained by the French or English naval forces, should
be restored.
" 8. That in consequence of the perfect right which
the Argentine Government has to regulate the naviga-
tion of the rivers Parana and Uruguay, which flow
through the territory of the Confederation, and belong
to its dominion, all the vessels:under the English and
French flag. which might have penetrated into the afore-
said rivers should immediately retire.
"9. That, as the belligerent rights of the Argentine
Government had been disavowed by the refusal of the
commanders of the British and French squadrons off
Monte Video to recognise the absolute blockade of that
port and of Maldonado, declared by the Argentine Go-
vernment, of which perfect rights it is in possession
with the same plenitude as any other independent state;
their Excellencies the Ministers of France and Eng-
land, in conformity with the laws and usages of nations,
should declare, in the names of their Sovereigns, that
said disavowal was not to be construed as a legitimate
precedent.
" 10. That the Argentine Government, whilst deter-
mined not to deviate from the policy of non-interven-
tion in the internal affairs of the Oriental republic,
which is inseparable from its political principles, de-
clared expressly that neither this convention, nor any
other which might be agreed upon for the sake of avert-
ing the serious complications which events had produced,
or might produce, affected iu any way the rights which
belong to the Argentine Confederation with reference
to the Oriental republic, arising out of the convention of
peace with the eaipite of Brazil, celebrated in the year
1828. That said convention remained in full force.
" 11. That, in the same manner, the Argentine Go-
vernment declared that in any convention, whether the
present or any other, which might be entered into with
reference to late events, it did not recognise any title, in
any case, either in France or in England, to interfere
in the affairs of the two republics of the River I'late,
and that the said 3overnments of France and England
were not to consider themselves as possessing any right,
in virtue of said conventions, to profess to 'constitute
themselves guarantes of the sovereignty and independ-
ence of the two republics of the Plate.
" 12. That for the sake of avoiding in future com-
plications prejudicial to the Argentine republic, and to
the commerce of neutrals, any political intimation, or
expression of its wishes, which either nation might wish
to make to the Argentine republic, should be exclusively
reserved for the diplomatic agents. That the corn
menders of the naval stations should in no case be en-
trusted with them, and that proper instructions should
be given to that effect.
" 13. That the satisfaction and reparation due to the
Argentine Confederation for all and each of the injuries
and losses which had been inflicted on it from the time
of the refusal to acknowledge the blockage of Monte
Video and Maldonado, daring the course of the hostili-
ties, and until the conclusion of the same, should be re-
ferred to the arbitration of two friendly neutral powers,
one to be chosen by the Ministers of England and
France, and the other by the ♦rgentine Government.
" 14. That it will belong exclusively to the legal
government of the Oriental Republic of the Uruguay to
claim and stipulate the satisfaction and reparation to
which it. may consider itself entitled.
" 15. That the internal regulation of the Oriental Re-
public of the Uruguay belongs altogether to its legal
government, without the interference or intermeddling
of any foreign force or influence, inasmuch as in the
domestic arrangements that its government might wish
to make, the general voice of the Oriental citizens alone
should have any weight.
" 16. That no conference nor communication, nor
official act whatever, should take place until these bases
had been agreed upon privately and confidently between
ther Excellencies the Ministers of France and England
and the government of the Oriental Republic of the
Uruguay, presided over by his Excellency the legal
President, Brigadier Don Manuel Oribe, to whom a
copy of said bases would be transmitted by the Argentine
government.
" 17. That in case this private and confidential ar-
rangement should be entered upon these bases, the Ar-
gentine Government would acquaint its ally his Excel-
lency the legal President of the Oriental Republic of
the Uruguay with the special mission which their Ex
cellencies the Ministers of Great Britain and France had
announced themselves as the bearers of from their Go-
vernments, respecting the pacification of the republics of
the Plate; that, at the same tine, the above-mentioned
should be communicated by his Exe -11 ency the legal
President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, Briga-
dier Don Manuel Oribe, and by their Excellencies the
Ministers of France and Great Britain, to the Argentine
Government, and that this latter would then unite in
establishing these same bases in public and official stipu-
lations, character, and form."

mand of young Lopez, the son of the President of that
Republic, had joined Paz in Corrientes, thus rendering
him fully equal to any force which Urquiza cou!d bring
against him, even if he was disposed to risk all for
Resas, which those who know him best consider him
very unlikely to do. Should Urquiza have joined Paz,
or even have consented to remain neutral, the province
of Santa Fe, which will then be the only province on
the banks of the Parana favourable to Rosas, will not
continue so long. For Santa Fe was for ages the great
line of communication with interior provinces, and has
been the greatest sufferer amongst the Riverine States
by the exclusive system of General Rosas, notwithstand-
ing the bribe of 60,000 silver dollars which he has paid
to it yearly to secure its acquiescence.
We sincerely trust that the news of Urquiza's defec-
tion will belconfirmed, as it will secure the two great ob-
jects which render the struggle interesting and important
to Europeans, and which induce five-sixths of the raer-
chants engaged in the River Plate trade to submit to
prevent losses with cheerfulness. These objects are the
preserving of the independence of Monte Video, a state
which has given a most signal example of c.mmercial
liberality to all the states o Amer'ca, and the opening
of that magnificent river, the Parana, which will in a
few years triple the trade of Europe with the River
Plate. The whole object of Rose's anti-social policy has
been to close the Parana and to crush -Monte Video,
whose rapid growth in prosperity was a perpetual re-
proach to his own selfis' and short-sighted policy.

LITERATURE.

LETTER FROM LORD PONSONBY, &C.
" Rio Jane ro, August 20, 1828.
" The undersigned, her Britannic Majesty's Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, has the
honour to acknowledge the receipt of a letter, under
date the 20th of August, from their Excellencies General
BAlcarce and General Guido, Ministers Plenipotentiary
of the Republic of the United Provinces of the River
Plate, wherein their Excellencies desire to be informed
if the undersigned, in his official capacity. can give any
guarantee for the performance of the stipulations that
may be entered into in any preliminary convention or
definite treaty of peace.
"The undersigned, in reply, has the honour to state
that he has no authority from his Government to on-
tract any engagement for the guarantee orf aenaye c and he
prelimi-
nary convention or definitive treaty
begs leave to r&er to his Excellency General Gseoinmeirri
knowledge, that the undersigned
the British
aalrlßy aslictauract(e),7l
forwarded with this note a
EwhnevonyhaethiTili,tat hAoynoreusr. and pleasurew to b!
" The undersigned has.
theirrea l
Excellencies, upon theb
question
for the strict ful-
filmentfrtter in answer to certamaienstteiorraoogfattohreieaspmp
apparent tb():r
securities which may be
the evacuation of the
the belligerents, touching
be-
tween .
of such conditionsc as may be agreed upon
of this occasion to
.* The undersigned avails himself
fortresses of the Banda Oriental.
assure their Excellencies of his high esteem and consi-
deration.

(Signed) "PONSONBY.
"To their Excellencies the Ministers Plenipotentiary
of the Republic of La Y ata, &c."

LIVES OF THE KINGS OF ENGLAND fume
the Norman Conquest; with Anecdotes of their Courts,
y!rc. By Thomas Roscoe, Esq. Vol. I.
This first volume of a series contains a very ample bio-
graphical sketch of the illustrious Norman who, some seven
hundred years ago, conquered England, and established
a dynasty of which the present Queen is a lineal de-
scendant. It contains a variety of details that cannot
fail to interest general readers—such as the birth and
parentage of the Conqueror, his invasion of England,
the battle of Hastings, his government in this country
for twenty-one years, together with an account of the
manners, customs, mode of living, dress, and amuse-
ments of
the people, Saxon as well as Norman, daring
that period. All the principal facts of the conquest are
well known, but still they are occasionally placed in a
new light, intermixed with anecdotes of the Sovereign
and his chief captains, of the discomfited barons and
their adherents, of the clergy and most other classes,
drawn from official records and other authentic docu-
ments. It extends to great length-415 pages—and
brings down events to the death of William, in the year
1087. Allowance, however, must be made for the ex-
tensive views taken of events during that reign, because
on account of their influence on the future government
of the country, its institutions, laws, and customs; but it
would be prudent on the part of the author to curtail.
with the exception of the more remarkable, the lives of
the other kings, else the work will beeome quite dis-
proportionate to its object. The writer, with an ex-
cusable vanity, though it rests on no solid foundation,
and may apply in different wars, attempts to prove that
the subjection of England to Norman dominion was not
a conquest, but simply a change of dynasty. "The new
monarch," he says, " never openly interfered with, or
presumed to question the constitutional rights of the
English, although he gave up the country to rapine, and
swept whole provinces with the Norman fire and
sword. Dignified with the title of Conqueror,
as wresting the crown from Harold, it constituted
a title of succession, not of conquest, over a free
people, whose monarchy was in great part elective."
But no conquest ever was more complete. The Saxon
king and his whole army were destroyed at Hastings,
attempts to restore the original dynasty were repeatedly
made under influential nobles, supported by large bodies
of the people, but they were all successfully put down,
and every defeat was marked by some additional national
disgrace. Property to an unheard-of extent was confis-
cated, insult was added to oppression, the natives were
reduced to the lowest depth of degradation, and many
generations elapsed before one family of Saxon pedigree
could attain so much as the rank of Baron, and (in the
words of Hume) "as all ancient authors, who lived
nearest the time and best knew the state of the country,
unanimously speak of the Norman dominion as a con-
quest, by war and arms, no reasonable man, from the
tear of imaginary consequences, will ever be tempted to
rejeet their concurring and undoubted testimony." The
author himself admits that an inveterate hostility be-
tween the two people continued for upwards of a cen-
tury after the conquest, and that the two languages,
from the same cause, were kept almost as distinct. But
this is a subject on which it is needless, because
it can serve no purpose, to employ argument. We sub-
join a few extracts from the work, relative to the dress
and customs of the times:—
" The costume of the Normans, about the time of the
Conquest and for some time afterwards, was simple and
graceful. Soon, however, it began to degenerate into a
certain fastidiousness and fantastic foppishness, peculiar,
perhaps, to men who have just succeeded to an unexpected
fortune; like that of Robert the Magnificent, when at the
imperial feast, the dress of the nobles and their knights was
excessively rich •, " gemmed and jewelled" in proportion to
the spirit as well as the rank and office of the party. The
caps and bonnets for the head, the shirts, doublets, and
cloaks, partook of the same costliness, while special richness
was bestowed upon the hose and shoes, on which were
lavished all the colours to be seen in the rainbow. The
same gaudy set-off was applied to the rest of their apparel,
so that ladies' caps and men's bonnets partook of the same
variety, the latter being made chiefly of furs or cloth of
different colours. The bonnets of kings, earls, and barons,
richly emblazoned with diamonds and precious stones, pro-
duced a splendid effect amidst the gorgeousness of their re-
ligious solemnities and their public spectacles. But shirts
made of fine linen were then a comparative luxury, confined
is persons of rank and fortune. The doublets were worn
next to these shirts, made exactly to fit the shape, and ex-
hibiting a fine field for fashionable caprice, iG regard to
style, size, and colour, according to the ever ' varying
Cynthia of the minute.' While the surcoats of royalty
almost swept the feet, those of the inferior orders reach,d
scarcely half the way, so as not to impede them in their
manual or professional labours.
" We need not enlarge upon the costume of the ladies,
either of, or out of the court, that having been with ad-
mirable felicity already done. But we may observe, that
the Anglo-Nermans were extremely delicate, not to say'
dainty, in the choice and preparation of their food.. It is no
fanciful theory to suggest that th, art of cookery was im-
proved by the f-udal tenures, for we are inclined to conclude,
from many savoury data, that such was actually the gratify—
ing tact. Coeval with the palmiest state of chivalry was the
grand office of cook in all distinguished families. So highlY
was it estimated that it became hereditary, each successor re-
ceiving at the hands of royalty or aristocracy, the best edu-
cation and the most enlightened views of the culinary art, so
as to embrace in the least compass the greatest possible
degree of piquant pleasure, combined with the most costly
and magnificent display.
" In great cities, particularly London, it was a favourite
Norman sport to bait wild boars and bulls for the entertain•
ment of the populace. Cock-fighting, betting, and horse-
racing held the next rank about the period of the Conquest;
and some of the chief barons were as decided patrons of tbe
csck and dog-pits, as the most distinguished amateurs, ill
g, skating
modern times, of the turf and of the ring.
" In addition to hawking and huntin seems to
have been a favourite diversion with. the Normans of
William's reign, though compelled, we ate told, to perform
their slippery evolutions upon the shank bones of a shett
They were so dexterous also as to tilt at each other in their
career with blunted spears."

.AIRD'S SELF-INSTRUCTING FRENCH
GRAMMAR. Fourth Edition.
The rapid circulation which this work has alreaaf
acquired is of itself indicative of its meritl and a careful
examination of the system upon which it is based con-
firms us in that impression, Mr. Aird has simplified the
very simplicities of his predecessors, and has given or
deuce of his capabilities as a lingual professor. Perban
his most successful eff ,rt has been in the arrangement Of
the verbs—the chief difficulty to all beginners in Frenchi
its superiority in this particular over the plan adopted
by Levizac is remarkable. One thing we must especiallY
obse: ye as peculiar to this grammar : it initiates its
reader into the subtlFties of Gallic pronunciation better
than any other written explanation we remember £0
have met, and in this respect is only short of oral tuition.
If the b )ok does not fulfil its title of self instruntl
within a very brief interval of study, the defaulters will
evidence a most marvellous capacity for being dull
-
headed. As an elementary volume, this work of gr'
Aird is worthy of the highest commendation.

THE BUSHRAA GER OF VAN DIEMEIVI
LAND. By C. Rowcroft. 3 Vols. 4
To those who are acquainted with the first series 1"
these ••Tales of the Colonies," and with Mr. Rowcroft
0
vivid delineations of .• life in the bush," any reeoor
mendations of these volumes will be needless. They
d
contain the same graphic sketches, the same animated
descriptions, while they are rendered more interesttob
errensi confined to a narrower compess',
incident—a remarkable passhage,
nbyottshpereaattdenotvieorntbaeaianygyears,
but concentrated on a sine
which prevail inp
markable man. The -
counteract the . in theo el 'ye o, f a
tvery
or te;
the pc ie
oc
authors
us
t:t 'to l)
rt
the e tendencya
anal
Australian settlements—to show that tran'sportatt°,
is, as it should be, a punishment, not a change of cotOltrnig
nwaolf
arrangements theoj falsec
to be desired as holding forthprospect of 1. otl°-
a
liberty, and the • au
opportunity of readily acqairing fell os
and also to give an example of the certain punishuae
and remorse which follow crime." He has found A vel
fitting hero in the person of the Bushranger, 14%ra
Brandon, an escaped convict, a man apparently P_llle
sessed of every talent, without a single virtue--": 1
whom we must admire, though we cannot approve, :d,
The accounts from the River Plate (says the Liver- in whose career, however reluctantly, we are intereaso
pool Times), brought by the last Brazilian packet, state while his gloomy fate can hardly be deplored. Mir
that an armistice had been concluded between General commencement of the tale, Mark and five or six ci.oeir
Urctuiza, President Rosas' commander in the province Panions, as desperate as himself, have escaped from t",,,,
of Lntre Rio; and General Paz, the commander of the imprisonment, and are waiting off the shore, without 'A,
united forces of Corrientes and Paraguay. We have sources, almost without a chance of ultimate safety- of
reason to know that this inteTgence was believed vessel ' in sight,English b • the properti le
at appears
Monte Video by persons generally possessed of the best a retired major, who, with his film ly, is prepared tusei of
intelligence. If true, it is of the utmost importance, as in the colony. This little vessel, under the comman'hae
such a Junction of parties, especially if supported by the mate, a genuine, thorough-going seaman, „hie
England and France would secure the independence
weathered every storm, an safely darrived almost
,i
. 1
Monte Video, open the navigation of the P of
sight its dnot To the MI angers are over.
Parana for at of port—but least fifteen hundred miles into the interior ' • Mark intro leen himselfd.,rit
, and would suspecting strangers
reduce Rosas to the defensive. Urquiza's and G ' the character of a pilot, and being a skilful it, t.i;
arzon 3 .
influence in the Entre Rios have been the 'of dissimulation and deception, all •04
in the arts
et
main
of his power for several years, as they have p supports assertions are, readily believed. His compald, v.
the union and co-operation of his enemies in threvirted
are allowed to join him, to assist in the Oriental with those in Corrientes. The latter chaveanda gerous navisratiosi, and by a bold manceavre
by
0
cently been reinforced by an army of 10,000 men fromre" I become masters of the vessel. But the seae ul,s. to
Paraguay, and are therefore more formidable than to the assistance of her own children: overpower
ro., 'the
ever. If Urquiza, who has thus been placed between sudden storm, the convicts are obliged to conskcieeo
two fires, has given way, General Rosas will by this ' management of the vessel to its legitimate rulers.
,-`'„ col?'
time have the united forces of Paraguay, Corrientes, , ashore just as the soldiers come up in pursuit of tn'of al,
Entre Rios, and the Banda Oriental, backed by England , victs, fierce encounters ensue, but Mark and two °oe °,,
and France, upon bis hands. What renders this pro- companions eventually escape, carrying with theft)
.e the
bable is, that he appears to have offered no serious op- the major's daughters. It is impassible to pur_s'euntoroci
position to the advance of the combined squadron, the narrative through the perfect labyrinth of adv. iarie..o
which follow. The dramatis persona are of 13309101(lite
commanders of which had reached General Paz's camp
character—from the sturdy and resolute British_s_,,ieg!
in Corrientes, and were about to proceed to Assun-
and seamen, a strange compound of discipline andias: flO
eion, the capital of Paraguay. The ' first division of
to the " noble savages," wild in their native wo°'
the army of Paraguay, 4,000 strong, under the corn-