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

THE SOUTH PACIFIC.

Our dates are, from Valparaiso, Ist, and Callao
12th August.
The news from Chili is of a meagre description ;
very little business had been transacted by Con-
gress during the fortnight, but the Mercurio ex-

pects it to do something now.
The Mercurio informs us that a very rich copper
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 Chilee,
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 beach,
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.-All communication
between Buenos Ayres and the Argentine/Confe-
deration has been stopped by the late decree of
General Urquiza. Preparations are contiuued 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
the 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
against Peru from time to time, and then states the
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, andinwtoinadswaurp,
by the declaration, that if Peru is forced
Ecuador alone must be considered
wrehspatoenvseirblkeinfodi:
all damages, injuries, and losses of
that may be occasioned
lyobnytbhee pterremseinntatbeldocwkhaedne
or by a. war, which will
Peril 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 boon 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 Cisneros, Duarte, 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.

THE AFRICAN MAIL.

LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY.

The African royal mail steamship Etbiope arrived
here to-day, with the African mails from the West
Coast of Africa, 38 cabin passengers, 2,326 ounces
of gold, 156 bales of cotton, &c.
At Bonny the Regents have paid a fine of 100
casks of palm oil for firing on a British ship.
A boat of the ship Mars, of Liverpool, capsized
on the Ist of August, and some of the crew were
drowned.

At Sierra Leone news had been received of the
loss of the ship Margaret, from London to Suez.
The crew were saved.
The Niger Expedition steamers Rainbow and
Sunshine were at the mouth of the Nun river.
The Royal mail steamer Armenian had arrived
at Teneriffe, and sailed. for the River Gambia on
the Ist September.
Her Majesty's ships Imperial, Antelope, and
Sharpshooter were at Sierra Leone r the Medusa
and Brune at Lagos ; the Falconer at Accra ; the
American corvette Portsmouth at Cape Palmas.
Amongst the passengers brought by the Ethiop€
are the Hon. Mr. Fortescue and Gen. Ashburton.

THE PONTEFRACT ELECTION.--We learn, says
the Leeds Novato, that
i
no day has been fixed for the
hearing before the umpire, and it s expected that a month
will elapse before any appointment is made. The agents on
each side are to meet previously at Pontefract in order to
narrow the inquiry as much as possible,