The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-20 00:00:00

TER BRAZILIAN AND RIVER PLATE

MAILS.

The Royal Mail Company's steamship Medway,
Capt. John Hammack, arrived at Southampton
yesterday morning with the above-named mails, in
charge of Lieut. Cart wright, R. N., Admiralty agent.
Her dates are—Buenos Ayres, 2d Dec. ; Monte
'Video, sth ; Rio de Janeiro, 16th ; Babia, 21st ;
Pernambuco, 24th • S. Vincent (Cape Verd), 3d
Jan. ; Teneriffe, 9th ; Funchal (Madeira), 11th ;
Lisbon, 15th.

She landed 20 passengers at Lisbon, and brings
77 to Southampton, among whom are his Excel-
lency Mr. Trousdall (American Minister at Rio)
and son ; Assistant-Surgeon M'Clure, R.N., Capt.
Short=s, Second Master Trewin, 8 lieutenants of the
Brazilian Imperial Navy, wbo have come to Eng-
land to take charge of gunboats ; Mr. George
Furness and party, &c. On freight the Medway
has 100 barrels of tapioca, 150 rolls of tobacco, 75
bags of cochineal, diamonds value 9,3001., and the
folio wing amounts of specie :—From Monte Video,
5801. ; Buenos Ayres, 390/. ; Rio Janeiro, 96,8001.;
Bahia, 23, 7001. ; Pernambuco, 16,3221.; other ports,
2,B4o—Total, 140,632/.
There is very little political news of importance
from Buenos Ayres by this arrival. His Excellency
the Governor was making a personal inspection of
the country districts, which had met with general
approbation, and was looked upon as an augury of
good. To the south the frontier question presented
a more cheering aspect. Our correspondent, in his
letter of the 2d ult., says—
" The only point of some consequence, and which,
perhaps, merits more attention than it apparentlyreceives
from our statesmen, are the diplomatic ongoings at the
Parana. It is known that the Brazilian Envoy is in
confidential confab with the President of the Confederate
Provinces. The immediate objeot, of course, is the
rumoured war with Paraguay ; but the concillion of
General Urquiza's alliance will as certainly be
a definitive settlement of the question of Ar-
gentine nationality ; and, if that is to be settled by the
armed mediation or intervention of Brazil, it is one of
the worst modes I can imagine, and may involve 113 all,
with foreign commercial interests in the first line, in a
deplorable conflict. I trust Mr. Christie and the other
foreign diplomatists will see the matter in its true light,
and exert their influence in preventing (inch a catastrophe.
" The impending war will be a heavy blow to commer
cial interests in the meantime, with slender guarantees
of ultimate benefit to any one.
"Li connection with this, I may mention a sinister
rumour, tantamount, if true—which I half suspect—to a
commencement of hostilities. A. passenger who arrived
here on Saturday last from Bare Rios affirms that on
the 24th ult, a special courier had come from San Borja
bringing intelligence that on the 22d a Paraguayan force
of 800 men bad taken up a military position in front of
the said city. This ferce must have proceeded from
Itapna, and in its transit crossed the Argentine Misiones,
thus invading Brazil, and at the same time invading the
territory of the presumed ally.
"I can neither explain nor comprehend the apparent
apathy of the commercial community in a matter that so
nearly concerns it.

"The January mail must take important intelligence,
if aught from South America can be supposed interest-
ing to yon while the life and death struggle in India
lasts. I can assure you that our sympathy in your
favour is as ardent and sincere as in any dependency of
the British Crown, and I venture to say that in due
course something handsome will be done on behalf of
the widows and orphans of those tliat fall in so unequal
and glorious a strife.
" Private correspondence from the north announces
another intended irruption of Indians, headed by the
formidable Cristo, in the direction of Pergamino
" The conferences at the Parana have been brought
to a close, and the Imperial Envoy must be in good
btu:tour, for he gave a splendid official banquet before
starting for the Ascension. The result of the coofere. ces
has not transpired. As an indication that something is
in the wind some 70 half-pay officers have received orders
to prepare for active service, and be ready to march
against the 15th inst. It may be for the frontier against
the Indians, which is the only kind of war that would
be justifiable in our circumstances.
" Our revenues continue progressing in a very satisfac-
tory manner, but unhappily the demands of the public
service also increase, and in consequence the Govern-
ment has announced the sale of 4,000,000 of public funds
that stood over from last year.
"The later news of Dr. Alsina report his arrival at
the Azel, whence he has applied to the Permanent Com-
mission requesting a prorogation of his leave of absence,
which was sanctioned last night. He seems intent on
putting things to rights on the frontier, in which I hope
he will be successful."
" Dec. 3, 1857.—When closing my correspondence
yesterday I learnt that Mr. Christie had arrived on the
previous evening, and that the sailing of the Camilla was
delayed by his order to this day. Beyond the fact of his
presence I am not aware that anything of general inte-
rest has transpired, unless it be a confirmation of the
complete triumph of the new Fusionist party in Monte
Video, and pretty clear indications of an approaching
expedition against the Indians."
The British Packet of Nov. 28, says
:
"The last Southampton mail brought a protest of
General Roses against the law sanctioning the confisca-
tion and vale of his property. In other circumstances it
'might have created a sensation ; for the present it is a
dead letter, and can have no influence on commercial
prospects. Meanwhile it is proper that intending pur-
chasers should be aware of the existence of such a docu-
ment, and all must allow that the Government has acted
with becoming dignity in giving it publicity.
Commercial affairs at Buenos Ayres were dull and
flak. The news taken by the last packet from
Southampton produced a perfect revulsion in:the
produce markets with falling prices, and several
mercantile failures. In manufactured goods the
wholesale transactions during November were very
inconsiderable. Stocks were large of articles for
daily consumption.
At Monte Video the elections went off quietly, and
the Government, or Fusionist party, had gained-'
~,
Manuel undisputed triumph. Brigadier Don
Oribe
was dead.
From Fie adTicea are to the 15th Dee, By them