The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-15 00:00:00

THE SOUTH PACIFIC.

Our dates are, from Valparaiso, Ist,
12th August. arid Callao

The news from Chili is of a
very little business had ''meagre description ;
men transacted by Con-
gress (hiring the for:mi
ght, but the Mercurio ex-
pects it to dr: something now.
"I'' :dercurio informs us that a very rich copper
1 mine has been discovered near the Port of Pan de

Azucar, ten miles to the north of Chanaral de los
Animas ; the master of the British barque Chiles,
had been requested to survey the port and reports
very favourably of it. He says it is well sheltered
from the southward and is the best port for load-

ing metals north of Caldera, as there are no dan
gers in the way ; ships can anchor there in eight
to ten fathoms, a cable's length from the bead
which is of sand.
Fresh outrages have been committed by Aure-
canian Indians in Southern Chile, and a meeting
of the Casiques had been held to consult upon mea-
sures for destroying the frontier towns on the
other side of the Biobio, but hopes were enter-
tained that their designs would be frustrated by
the Government.
A report was current that the British Minister
had demanded the presence of some British men-
of-war at Valparaiso in the event of four American
steamers arriving there, which were expected to
settle the difficulties with Chili by force ; but we
place no reliance in the report.
RIVER PLATE PROVINCES.—AII communication
between Buenos Ayres and the Argentine Confe-
deration has been stopped by the late decree of
General Urquiza. Preparations are continued in
Buenos Ayres for the war with the Confederation,
and the Commander-in-Chief has established his
head-quarters on the frontier line of Santa Fe.
The army amounts to 8,000 men, and the State
possesses five steamers and several sailing vessels
and gunboats.
Montevideo has declared its neutrality in the
war, but will undoubtedly take part against Buenos
Ayres.
The army of the Confederation amounts to
10,000 men, and three steamers were about to be
purchased and equipped in Montevideo.
There is little news from Paraguay. President
Lopez has refused to aid Urquiza in any way in
,he war against Buenos Ayres. The country is at

peace.
From Peru the news is of some interest ; the
Spanish Minister Sr. H. Garcia de Quevedo had
arrived for the purpose of negotiating a peace be-
tween Peru and Ecuador, but it appears without
success. At the time of the sailing of the steamer
from Callao, 5 p.m. on the 12th ult., a rumour was
current that Peru had formally declared war
against Ecuador, and that the foreign representa-
tatives had been notified to that effect. There was
however no official announcement made public in
Callao to that.effect up to the time of the sailing of
the steamer, but we have received a copy of El
Peruano, the Government paper, dated 10th inst.,
which contains an official note of Sr. Melgar, the
Peruvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, addressed to
the diplomatic corps resident in Lima upon the
pending questions between the two countries,
which we take to be a declaration of war.
The document is altogether too lengthy for in-
sertion in our columns, but a few lines will give its

substance.
It commences by accusing Ecuador of having
committed the most grave and serious offences t
against Peru from time to time, and then states the i
forbearance and friendly course always pursued by
the latter to obtain a just and honourable repara-
tion for these offences; that notwithstanding Peru
has overlooked many notable offences on the part
of Ecuador and has ever given her proof of the
most sincere friendship, sending to that Government
wise and able representatives who have offered the
most frank and patriotic aid in settling the most
important questions in a quiet and friendly way,
yet these Ministers have always had to return to
their Government, convinced of their inability to
accomplish any good, because the Government at
Quito always responded to their just demands with
neglect. delay, evasive answers, discourtesy, and,
in fact, in a manner foreign to the principles of in-
ternational relations and opposed even to one's own
self-respect. Signor Melgar then accuses Ecuador
of having evaded the settlement of the boundary
questions on the most frivolous pretexts; of prac-
tising a constant system of reserve and deception ;
of endeavouring to sell or make away with impor-
tant portions of the disputed territory to foreigners,
and of many other very serious charges. He then
alludes to the mediation of Chili and New Granada,
and says that the course pursued by Ecuador is the
cause of their being unable to bring the questions
pending to an amicable settlement, and winds up
by the declaration, that if Peru is forced into a war,
Ecuador alone must be considered responsible for
all damages, injuries, and losses of whatever kind,
that may be occasioned by the present blockade
or by a war, which will only be terminated when
Peru gets full satisfaction for all past offences com-
mitted by Ecuador.
The entire document is intended to represent
Ecuador as exceedingly overbearing and unfriendly
for a long term of years, and Peru as one of the
most forbearing and peaceable neighbours in the
world, and that after " patience has ceased to be a
virtue," she is now so insulted and trampled upon,
that there is nothing left to retrieve her wounded
honour but to declare war.
There had been another attempt at revolution in
Arequipa and Cuzco, but they were put down.
It is reported that Echenique was in Arequipa.
Judgment had been entered against the repre-
sentatives Senores Cisueros, Daarte, Casanova,
Montts, &c., who, it will be recollected, committed
the offence of meeting in the Legislative Hall after
President Castilla had declared, that " it was not
convenient" to do so. Congress remains adjourned
until next year.