The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-16 00:00:00

BILL.

On the motion for the third reading of this bill,
Sir W. HEATHCOTE moved that it be read a third
time that day six months.

Mr. GOLDNEY seconded the amendment.

Mr. BIDDULPH defended the bill on the ground that
no more water would be required than heretofore, and sug-
gested that the bill should be postponed for a fortnight.
The bill was ultimately withdrawn.

In answer to questions from Mr. Gregory, Lord Naas,
and other Irish members, Mr. C. Fortescue said there was
too much reason to believe that the cattle plague had made
its appearance near Belfast, and explained the stringent
measures which had been taken to stamp it out.
THE BOMBARDMENT OF VALPARAISO.
Sir L. PALK asked for information as to the recent
bombardment of Valparaiso, and particularly for an ex=
planation of Admiral Denman's conduct.
Admiral WALCOT defended Admiral Denman with
great warmth, and Sir J. HAY and Admiral SEYMOUR in
the sametone expressed their confident belief that he acted
in conformity with his orders.
Mr. LIDDELL condemned in strong language the bom-
bardment of an unarmed city, and asked whether the
Chilian Government had requested the withdrawal of our
Charge d'Affaires, and, if so, on what ground.
Colonel EDWARDS read some extracts from resolutions
passed by the British merchants at Valparaiso tending to
show that it was owing to the assurances of the British
Admiral and the British Minister that the city had been
left undefended.

Mr. GRAVES pressed on the house the serious injury
inflicted on British interests by the conduct of our Admiral
and Minister, and asked whether instructions would be
sent out to prevent the repetition of such a barbarous
outrage.
_ _ _

Mr,-LAYARD thought that the best answer he could
give to the statements which had come from the other
side of tho house was simply to state what had taken
place at Valparaiso. Some time last year, in consequence
of events that had taken place in Chili during the war be-
tween Spain and Peru, the admiral who commanded the
Spanish fleet suddenly appeared before Valparaiso, and
made, under the form of an ultimatum, certain demands
upon Chili, giving that Government to understand that if
these were not complied with war would be declared be-
tween Spain and Chili. As soon as intelligence was re-
ceived by her Majesty's Government that this ultimatum
had been presented, and that war had been declared
between Spain and Chili, the Government manifested
an earnest desire to do something to bring
about peace between the two belligerent par-
ties. The despatches announcing the commencement of the
war against Chili were received in this country on Nov. 16,
and measures were immediately adopted. The English
Government, without a moment's delay, communicated
with the French Government with the view of ascertain-
ing whether that Government would be disposed to offer
its good offices to Spain and Chili in order to restore peace
between them. Another step was also taken. On the day
following that on which the despatches had been received
from the English minister at Chili orders were sent to him
to do all in his power to protect the property and interests
of British subjects, but at the same time to be careful in
maintaining the strictest neutrality between the bellige-
rents. The French Government, in answer to the commu-
nication addressed to them, responded most cordially to the
overture made by her Majesty's Government, and since
then both Governments had acted in complete concert in
all that had taken place. On Nov. 18 the Spanish Govern-
ment were informed that the French and English Govern-
ments were prepared to mediate between the parties if their
good offices were asked for or would be accepted. The
Spanish Government at once and very cordially accepted
the proposal to bring about peace by means of mediation.
The consequence was that the French and English Go-
vernments proposed the following terms to the belligerent
Powers : that Chili should disavow any intention of
offending Spain ; that the treaty existing between Chili
and Spain at the time of the outbreak should not be an-
nulled; that Spain should express herself satisfied, and
disavow any intention of conquest in South America ;
and that diplomatic relations should be renewed, iu
honour of which a salute should be fired, Chili firing
the first gun. These proposals were sent to the French
and English Ministers, witli instructions to propose
them to Chili. Whilst these negOtiations were going
on, her Majesty's Government received intimation from
Mr. Thompson that there was some apprehension of a
bombardment of Valparaiso, and that he had made strong
representations to the Spanish admiral on the matter.
The Spanish admiral declined to give any assurances
on the subject, and refused to state whether or not
he was going to bombard the town. The British
merchants in Valparaiso wire accordingly informed of
their danger, who thereupon requested the Milian Govern-
ment to afford them opportunities of removing their pro-
perty to a place of safety. This the Chilian Government
declined to do, but on a subsequent representation from
Mr. Thompson they withdreW their objections to the re-
moval of the property, saddling, however, their compli-
ance with certain conditions, which the British merchants
refused to comply with, declaring that they would hold the
Govprnment of Chili responsible fur any damage that
might ensue. Mr. Thompson thought the merchants acted
wrongly in not accepting the conditions offered to them.
On the 16th of December Mr. Thompson was instructed to
offer to the Chilian Government the good offices of Eng.
land, and the French Minister was commanded to make a
similar offer on the part of his Government. These in-
structions were received by the French and English Mini-
sters about the end of January, but unfortunately before
that time the Chilian. Go vernment had entered into a treaty
of alliance, offensive and defensive, with Peru and the
other South American Republics. Moreover, to complicate
matters, a successful attack had been made upon a vessel
of war belonging to the Spanish Government, which added
considerably to the difficulties of a pacific settlement. The
Chilian Government professed their desire to accept the
conditions offered, but said that owing to the alliance
which they had formed with the other republics they
could not without consulting these republics make any
arrangement with Spain. Considerable delay in conse-
quence took place, and the Spanish Government wished to
accept this as a pretext for breaking off the negotiation,
but the French and English Governments held Spain to
her agreement to accept their good offices. A short
time afterwards her Majesty's Government had reason
to believe that instructions had been sent to the
Spanish Admiral in the Pacific to bombard the city of
Valparaiso. The French and English Governments im-
mediately communicated with the Court of Madrid, and
asked whether such instructions had actually been sent
out. The Spanish Government equivocated a good deal,
and in fact led her Majesty's Government to believe that
no such instructions bad been sent. It was therefore with
great surprise that they heard yesterday that this defence-
less city had been bombarded. He wished that they should
clearly understand the position of English merchants. He
might say that every statement contained in the resolu-
tions which had been read to the house by the hon. and
gallant member for Harwich was entirely destitute of
foundation.

Col. EDWARDS—Does the right hon. gentleman mean
to say that the document itself is not authentic ?
(Laughter.)

Mr. LAirARD7-What I say is that the statements made
in the resolutions of the British merchants are completely
and entirely without foundation, and contrary to fact.
One part of one of the resolutions, viz., that Admiral Den-
man had promised to defend Valparaiso against any attack
by the Spanish fleet, was not correct. At one time it was
the intention of the Chilian Government to employ torpe-
does against the Spanish fleet, but Mr. Thompson had
assured them that such a procedure would be unwise, as it
would place Valparaiso in the position of being the attack..
ing party, and thus lay itself open to be bombarded. The
Spanish admiral moreover declared that he should bom-
bard the city if torpedoes were employed against his fleet.
Admiral Denman, in conjunction with the United States
navy, had then asked the Spanish admiral to give due
notice to the inhabitants if, in consequence of the use of
torpedoes, he shouldbe required to bombard the place. Tho
Spanish admiral declared that he would not do so, and
Admiral Denman had thensaidth
tal:e
tf:lredwas opened
suddenly suddenly upon Valparaisot
and British
This it would be soon was a dif-
ferente
od story should feel it his duty to interfere and stop thenpgreorceeed-
ings of the
to Spanih fleet.what was contained in the resolutions. The
pe
was ultimately abandoned by the President
of Chili, and the contingency provided for by Admiral
Penman never arose.
trThe Chilian Government, as he had
D
torpedo scheme
on condition that the republics with which they were in
d
stated, had accepted thegood offices of France and England
alliance should also agree,
on the 25th of March the
France and England as soon as an answer was promised to
was got from these
republics. Suddenly, however, a reply -
Spanish admiral declared that
bombarda
Valparaiso.
eertain number of dar,
• nce and
(America ; and their Ministers in Chili recet
• England,
by a
proposed were consented to,
certain conditions
which he d to,
inti-
mation was perfectly unexpected
received instructions
h should,
.This
within
to communicate with the President of Chili. That digni-
tary professed himself well disposed to accept the good
offices and conditions suggested by France and England,
but craved delay till he found whether the other republics
were favotirable. The Spanish commander believed that
this was an excuse to gain time, and sailed for Valparaiso.
The English, French, and American Ministers endeavoured
to dissuade him from attacking the place, but the Spanish
admiral declared that unless the proposals were accepted
within a few days he should give notice that he would
bombard the platy, allowing the inhabitants four days to
remove their property. After that the French and English