The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-31 00:00:00

LITERAI'U B.

Narrative of Services in the Jeration 0f CAN,
Peru, and Brazil, from Spa. 4 and Portuytuse
Domination. By Thomas, ..,arl of Dundonald,
G.C.8., Admiral of the Re 'd, Rear-Admiral of
the Fleet. 2 vols. Ridgwa y.
The illustrious Earl of Dune ild, who, has but
very recently entered upon the .oghty-fourth year
of his age, having been born as fa back as the 14th
of December, 1775, here, in thca: two remarkable
volumes, offers to the world a ftag'inent of a great
historic vindication. Forty years ago this heroic
sea captain—one of the most dauntless 'commanders
that ever trod the deck of a line-of-battile-ship, one
whose personal daring has certainly nes 'el. ea( n in
the annals of the Royal Navy of Englind been
surpassed—accepted the command of the maritime
forces first upon the west and afterwards upon the
east coast of the South American Continent; and
there by a series of the most brilliant exploits sue
ceeded in effecting the liberation of Chili, Peru, and
Brazil from the domination of the Spanish and
Portuguese Governments. During an interval of
fully two years and a half, Lord Dundunald, then
known to fame by his courtesy title as Lord
Cochrane—as symbolic of the truest heroism, a
name second only to that of Lord Nelson—conducted
a war of independence, now in the waters of the
Pacific for the establishment of two republics,
now in the waters of the Atlantic for the consol-

dation of the authority of a new constitutional
Sovereign. To the unhesitating valour, to
the indomitable perseverance, to the saga-
city and determination of this true -hearted
Sailor--Chili—Peru--Brazil—each in turn owed,
under God, the boon of its political.
liberation. The Chilians and Peruvians were alike
in succession wrested from the Spanish Monarchy,
by the genius, the skill, and the matchless bravery
of this great maritime commander-in-chief. It was
to the protecting and sustaining influence of his
strong arm that his Imperial Majesty Don Pedro I.
owed his elevation to a throne no longer the
appanage of Portugal, by the name, style, and
title of the constitutional Emperor of the Brazils.
For these "resplendent services Lord Dundon4l4l
received a- recompense in every respect worthy of
the despicable repute ever since then appertaining
to those three liberated, but utterly contemptible
and degraded governments. The gratitude of
Chili, of Peru, of Brazil to their sailor-liberator,
might be cxpressed by what would equally
'well express the influence, since their liberation,
exercised by them for good or for evil on the rest
of the world—a nought ! Nay, -the flagrant and
monstrous ingratitude' displayed by -the .three
peoples to whom Lord Dundonald had been princi-
pally instrumental in giving freedom and indepen-
dence was, in reality as it happened, far worse than
nothing. The commander-in-chief of the Chilian,
Peruvian, and Brazilian navies, remained actually
for years and years not simply unpaid but literally
out of pocket, through his heroic services to the
three governments. Repudiating his claims—
claims emblazoned in characters of- blood and flame
upon the first pages of their history—the Ministers
of the " Constitutional Emperor," the provisional
rulers of the twin Republics, had the mean-
ness to deny to Lord Cochrane and the
gallant crews manning his little squadron
even the very prize-money won by their life-blood !
The tricky evasions, the petty shifts, the miserable
quibbles, the systematic swindling and chicanery
by which justice was thus denied to the heroic
band of sailors to whom the Chilians, Peruvians,
and Brazilians were indebted for their independ-
ence—will be found by those who care to read the
melancholy record, related in these two volumes,
beyond the possibility of any future misapprehen-
sion. So old a story and yet so new a story as this,
a narrative so old in the events to which it has
reference, and yet so entirely new in the vast
majority of its revelations, demands at the outset
obviously a word or two explanatory of its tardy
publication. The venerable hero who has penned
it was the first to recognise this necessity for an-
nouncing to his readers the reason, first of all of the
protracted reticence, and secondly of this eventual
announcement of his wrongs and record of his
achievements. Prudence dictated the delay. Hon-
our prompted the ultimate publication: Subjoined,
however, are the very words of the narrator :

"It may be asked, why—with the clear documentary
evidence in my possession—and now adduced—l have for
so many years endured an amount of obloquy and in-
justice, which might at any time have been set aside by
its publication ? The reply is obvious. The withholding,
of ,my claims by the Governments of both sides the South
American Continent, and the ruinous expense to which I
was put on account of Chili, entailed upon me many years
of pecuniary difficulty. To have told even the truth—un-
hacked as I then was by the British Government—Would
have been to have all my claims set at 'defiance, so that
compulsor) discretion was a sufficient reason for my silence.
It was long before I could induce a British Minister to
satisfy himself of the rectitude of my conduct—the sound-
ness of my claims—or the dishonesty of those who, be-
lieving me to be powerless' laughed at reiterated demands
for my stipulated_rights. Yet. more, I have never sought
frilm those to whom I gave liberty and dominion.
" There is, however, a reason for the present publication,
of which I have never lost sight. Amidst all the injustice
which it has been my lot to sustain, I have ever deter-
mined—for the sake of my family—to whom my character
is an ,heir-loom—that no obloquy shall follow me to the
grave, for none have I merited. On the day these volumes
see the light, this resolution will be partially fulfilled."

That 'noble intention is here, in truth, completely
and signally realised. But how realized ? By the
production in these two mournful volumes of a
series of the most lamentable details of the most
despicable turpitude on the part of the chiefs of the
three liberated Governments. We lino* scarcely
any more melancholy annals of blended valour and
baseness—valour the most heroic, repaid by base-
ness the most paltry well imaginable. Gladly do
we turn from the darker portions of the 'picture to
those radiant with the glory won in the South
American waters by the daring of the iron-hearted
Earl of Dundonald. No one can surely ever read
without. emotion of achievements like those with
which Lord Cochrane and his sailors captured the
forts of Valdivia; and cut -out the Spanish frigate
the " Esmeralda." The former conquest was pro-
nounced immediately after, by Zenteno (in de-
fiance of whose orders the deed had been done), to
be " the act of a madman :" Zenteno adding
that the victor " deserved t 3 have lost his life in
the attempt," and that even afterwards he ought to
lose his head "for daring to attack such a place
without instructions, and for exposing the patriot
troops to such hazard." Yet this (so-called) madcap
feat, was, notwithstanding, triumphantly accom-
plished. And as to the cutting out of the Esmeralda
—that, surely will, henceforth live in the • naval
annals of the world as an act of heroism that sets
at defiance the possibility of its being ever sur-
passed ! A less dauntless heart than that of COCH-
RAN-I: might have hesitated before the enterprise.
" This design," he writes himself, for we shall give
his own modest narrative of the. achievement—

" This design was to cut out the Esmeralda frigate from
under the fortifications, and also to get possession of another
ship, on board of which we had learned that a million of
dollars was embarked for flight, if it became necessary ; my
opinion being that if such display of power were mani-
fested, the Spaniards would either surrender -the capital or
abandon it. „

"The enterprise was hazardous, for since my former visit the
enemy's position had been much strengthened, no less than
300 pieces of artillery being mounted,on shore, whilst the
Esmeralda was crowded with the best sailors and marines
that could be procured, these sleeping every night at quar-
ters. She was, moreover, defended by, a strong boom with
chain moorings, and by armed blockships ; the whole being
surrounded by twenty-seven gun-boats; so that no ship
could possibly get at her.
" For three days we occupied ourselves in preparations,
still keeping secret the purpose for which they were in-
tended. On the evening of sth of. November, this was
communicated to the ships by the following proclamation :
" ' Marines and Seamen,—This night we are going to
give the enemy a mortal blow. To-morrow you will pre-
sent yourselves proudly before Callao, and all your com-
rades will envy your good fortune. One hour of .courage
and resolution Is all that is required of you to triumph.
Remember, that you have conquered in Valdivia, and be
not afraid of those who have hitherto fled from you.
" ' The value of all the vessels captured in Callao will be
yours, and the same reward in money will be distributed
amongst you as has been offered by the Spaniards in Lima
to those who should capture any of the Chilian squadron.
The moment of glory is approaching, and I hope that the
Chilenos will fight as they have been accustomed to do,
andothat the English will act as they have ever done at
home and abroad.

'‘ COCHRANE.'
" On issuing this proclamation, it was stated that I
should lead the attack in person, volunteers being requested
to come forward, on which the whole of the marines and
seamen on board the three ships offered to accompany me.
As this could not be permitted, a hundred and sixty sea-
men and eighty marines were selected, and after dark were
placed in fourteen boats alongside the flagship, each armed
with cutlass and pistol, being, for distinction's sake, dressed
in white, with a blue band on the left arm. The Spaniards'
I expected, would be off their guard, as, by way of ruse,
the other ships had been sent out of the bay under the
charge of Captain Foster, as though in pursuit of some,
vessels in the offing—so that the Spaniards would consider
themselves safe from attack for that night.
" At :ten o'clock all was in readiness, the boats being
formed in two divisions, the first commanded by my gag_
captain Crosbie, and the second by Captain Guise--my
boat leading. The strictest silence, and the, exclusive use of
cutlasses were enjoined; so that, as the oars were muffled,
and the night dark, the enemy had not the least suspicion
of the impending attack.
" It was just upon midnight when we neared the small
opening left *the boom, our plan being well-nigh frus-
trated by the vigilance of.a guard-boat, upon which my
launch had luckily stumbled. The challenge was given,
upon which, in an under-tone, I thrqateued the occupants
of the boat with instant death if they made the least alarm.
No reply was made to the threat, and in a few minutes our
gallant fellows were alongside the frig.kte in, boarding'
at several points simultaneously.
4t The Spaniards were completely taken by surprise—the
whole, with the exception of the sentries, being asleep at
their quarters--and
Phil great was the havoc made amongit
them by the
-elle cutlasses whilst
.they were recovering
themselves. 4.Zetreating to the forecamtie; they there made
a gallant stand, and it was not until the third charge that
the positito4 waß carried. The tight was for a short time
reuWeduithe.-Quarter-cleck, where the Spaaibh marines

fell to a man, the rest of the enemy. leaping overbeartand
info the hold to escape slaughter.
"Qn boarding the ship by the main chains, I was
knocked back by the butt end of the sentry's musket, and-
falling on a thole pin of the boat, it entered my back near
the spine, inflicting a severe injury, which caused me many
years of subsequent suffering. Immediately regaining my
footing, I reascended the side, and when on deck, was shot
through the thigh, but binding a handkerchief tightly
round the wound, managed, though with great difficulty,
to direct the contest to its close.

" The whole affair, from beginninglo end, occupied only
a qua rter of an hour,:ourtloss beinel I killed and 30 wounded,
whilst that of the Spaniards was a hundred and sixty,
many of whom fell under the cutlasses of the Chilenos
before they could stand to their anus. Orcater bravery I
never saw displayed than that of our oullantfellows. Be-
fore boarding, the duties of all had been appointed, and a
Party was told off to take possession of the tops. We had
not been on deck a minut 3, when I hailed the foretop, and
was instantly answered by our own men, an equally prompt
answer being returned from the frigate's maintop. No
British man-of-war's crew could have excelled this minute
attention to orders."

It is amusing, certainly, to find it related of the
--Animate hero who led that boarding party on
is he deck of the Esmeralda, under the shadow of
th. 300 guns of the Callao fortifications—it is
amusing, we say, to find it recorded of such a man
that, upon his return to England, some time after-
wards, " Having," says he himself naively, in re-
lating the circumstance—

"Havillg occasion to wait upon the then Attorney-Gt se-
ral relati,,e to a patent which I had in hand, he brusquely
inquired whether I was not afraid to appear before him ?
On my repl-fing that I was not aware of having reason to
fear appeariw in the presence of any man, he told me the
question had been officially put to him, whether I could 1 e
punished undt' the Foreign Enlistment Act, for the part I
had taken in the liberation of Chili, Peru, and Brazil ? To
this I replied, thst 'if Government was indiscreet enough
further to persec. :me for having thrown open to. British
commerce the largest %id for enterprise of modern times,
they could take what st-- g they chose, for that I, having
4 accepted service in South .n.erica before the passing of the
act, was not afraid of the rx querif P. of having infringed
its provisions.' It is dm needless s,l say that nv such
Prosecution was instituted, though the All was rood, de-
spite the national benefits conferred."

Almost everything in thebistory of this remarkably
man, by the way, is pretty well of a piece in regard
'to his treatment. Again and again has he been tl7e
victim of calumny and injustice, the most cruel and.
the most flagrant. And in every single, instance
his character has been completely and resplendently
vindicated. During several, years his name—the
name of this Sea Bayard—was struck off the
navy list of England. •oSo wrongfully, that many
years have now happily gone by since he
was reinstated •in all his professional
honours, honors won, as the world knows, with
a sword of terror in. the grasp of a hand without a
Stain ! Thomas Earl of I)undonald, Admiral of the
Red, Rear-Admiral of the Fleet, Grand Cross of
the. Bath, and wearing the symbols of divers other
orders .of knighthood, now in his eighty-fourth
year, is -regarded .by every one familiar with the
history of -the last half
.century not simply with
respect -slue to a.great man but with the sympathy
and admiration due to a great man contending
heroically during a long life against a world of un-
deserved misfortunes.

. Before closing his prefatory,remarks to the work
here under consideration,- Lord Dundonald says,
with a touching earnestness
" My reputation as a British seaman is to me' of the
highest moment, and it shall not be sullied after my death
by the aspersions of thoso who wilfully revenged the
thwarting of their anti-Imperial designs, by imputations
which can alone enter into the minds of men devoid (:)f
generous impulses, and therefore incapable of appreciating
higher motives."

Yet later, he adds the following important announce-
ment

" It is my intention, if God spare my life, to add to these
memoirs a narrative of my former experience in the British
navy, and, what may be of greater utility, an exposition of
that which, from jealousy and oilier causes no less un-
worthy, I was not permitted to effect. To these I shall
add a few remarks upon my connexion with the liberation
of Greece, developing some• remarkable facts, which have
as yet escaped thenotice of historians. These reminiscences
of the past will, at least, be instructive to future genera-
tions, and if any remarks of mine will conduce to the per-
manent greatness and security of My country, I shall deem
the residue of my life well spent in recording them."
Fervently do we pray- that the life of Lord Dun-
donald may yet a while be spared to the country he
has served so, often and so gloriously—that the
truthful pen may record the heroic deeds the
unsullied sword has accomplished. ,

The Two Mottoes. By the author of "Summerleigh
Manor." Parker.

This is another of those instructive and interest-
ing works for young people which have lately bcome
so numerous. The story is rendered very attrac-
tive by the discrimination manifested in the descrip-
tions of the several characters. That of Emmeline
is perhaps the most successful. There is something
very engaging in her gentle nature, which shines
conspicuous by the side of the meretricious brilliancy
of Cecil, whose fascinations of manner are soon lost
sight of in her vanity and selfishness. A great
deal of skill is displayed in the account of Dr.
Aytoun. The miseries that result from the indul-
gence of a hasty temper are here strikingly exem-
plified, and the details are given in a manner that
forcibly impresses the mind of the reader. No
mere statement of facts ever brings home the sub-
ject to the thoughts compared to a practical illus-
tration. The scenes that took place at the depar-
ture of Hector, and those that immediately followed
them, are true in the depths of their suffering. and
intensity of their endurance. A more painful
ordeal cannot well be imagined for a young girl of
Emmeline's temperament than that which she had
to undergo on this melancholy occasion. Faulty
as Hector was, it is evident that his father was the
most to blame, since he set no example of self-
restraint himself in the control of his passions.
Few trials more deeply affect, or painfully agitate,
a feeling disposition, or a sensitive nature, than
domestic discord and family quarrels ; and this is
powerfully represented in the story before us,
Cecil Egerton is of a very different class to her
cousin. She was enthusiastic, and determined to
achieve something grand, but all her plans and
projects at last centred in the indulgence of some
selfish wish, or personal gratification. There could
be no peace in such a life, no rest for such a mind.
Very different was her defiant nature to the calm
spirit of endurance with which Emmeline bore her
weary lot, so much more painful than the portion
allotted to Cecil, who yet never ceased repining at
every trouble with a vehemence that perplexed and
dismayed all who belonged to her. Once, in a
dreamy mood, they were choosing mottoes, and
•Cecil decided on "Excelsior," while Emmeline
selected " She hath done what she could." They
could not have chosen more consistently with their
characters. The fitful fever of Cecil's course, which
promised so much, performed worse than nothing.
Ever seeking to be higher than she really was, she
deteriorated rapidly, because she sought to rise for
the sake of being conspicuous, not to become better
in any way, to complete any undertaking noble or
useful. Emmeline, on the contrary, faithfully
fulfilled whatever duty lay nearest to her. She
strove with all the force of her weak nature to do
what good she could, and her efforts were signally,
blessed. Many a wayward temper, and an impa-
tient spirit, may take a lesson to heart from the
perusal of this excellent story, and derive pleasure
and profit from the study of its characters.

I .
A Handbook of _Railway Law. By Arthur Moore.
One vol. Pp. 400. W. H. Smith.
The Secretary of the Dublin and Wicklow and
Kingston Railways has here in this goodly volume
compacted together the whole of the Railway Law
of the United Kingdom. His ability as a compiler
in this way he has already evidenced beyond
dispute by his able " Compendium of Irish Poor
Law," and his valuable " Statistics of Union and
County Divisions." His experience beyond this
in regard to railway management has eminently
qualified him for the yet more important work he has
here brought to a atisfactory completion. It
contains the whole of the Ptiblic Railway
Acts from 1838 to 1858 inclusive—the fruits of
more than twenty years of railway legislation. It
accompanies these acts with other subsidiary
statistics connected in one way or another with
them. The whole is preceded by an introduction
comprising within it a large store of statistical and
financial information. Everything, moreover,_ is so
arranged in the volume that the varied contents
may be consulted with the greatest facility.
Otherwise, to express it in the
a
and a copious analytical index
ment upon the title-page—there simple announce-
atlhleestwok difficulty
is
preciselyin the Jeso"tnuottest„hfeorremiss,
Altogether
the
ethsmerof reference.
way of
was wanted
in the railway world, and in many hundred direc-
tions, we doubt not, will in that world prove
eminently acceptable.

The great chess match. at Paris ''between Mr.
Morphy and •M. Anderssen has been brought to a close by
the American winning the two remaining games. At the
termination, the score ran thus :—Mr. 3forphy had won
seven games , M. Andersson one ; and two were draws.
It may be remembered that the winner of seven games was
to be the victor. •
SPANISH AMERICAN BONDHOLDERS.—The Com-
mittee of Spanish American bondhoeders have received the
following letter : Committee of Spanish American Bond-
holders, 11, Austinfriars, London, Dec. 30, 1858.—Sir, in
the City article of your journal of the 29th inst. an extract
is given from a message from General Castro, Provisional
Chiof of Venexuela, to the National Convention, in which
•is stated The committee of Spanish American Bondholders
have not considered themselves called upon to pe.bli ;h.' I
beg to state to you, on behalf of the committee, that the
reason why they have not published this document is that
it he a never reached them. All the information affecting
the foreign debt contained in the said. extract, together with
additional matter, is however edinprised in the comnumica-
lion made by the committee to the newspapers on the 16th
inst., of the contents of Mr. Mocatta's letter of the 19th of
November.—l am, AL.raraD GODFREY) Sec.