Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-07-07
SOV'rH AMENlCA.
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WAsHlNGToN, July 1.-The late ari-
walls from La Plata, have, through The NE
dium ei private correspondence and Of
the gazettes of the oun,ry, furnished not
only much information Of public events,
ana ihe state and prospects OF The PATH
OF cause III Sonih An!eriea, blu, Likewise,
much insight into the condition Cf SOU
ely, and The characters of HE men WHO
.cononvt pubic affairs On that vast thea
ire. ne lieht thus shed on ., quarter so
interesting, we perceive every day max
ing us way TO the community ilrongi, our
numerous channels OF intelligence; and
tfis, with Tx information Which will here
after few from moro active intercourse
encouraged and promoted Inv increased
prttffiion, and from the multiplied visits
81 inie,iiseiii men, led thi,her by business
or by curiosity, vii. render our kuoNied. e
otflat portion OF the globe, and It's CON
Germs. infinitely more extensive and>more
aeeuraie-il,an has been heretofore. We
are enabled to-day Ia contribute eonside-
rabiy 10 tile stock of the public iniorma-
non, by The following extracts, which we
iia\e tcen permitted To take from The let
'ers OF highly respectable fel!ow-citizen
residing temporarily in Chill, one whose
opportunities OF viewing men and things
closely, favored the formation Of correct
Opinions concerning one of Ike most in
'cresiing portions of South America. Of
lie affairs OF which, from It's remote stu
aiior. on The margin of The Pacific Ocean,
we have been less frequently and less per
'eciiS ADVISED. Nat. Int.
st. Jdgo, de Gill, FEB. o, 1878.
arrived at Valparaiso OF The 25;li
nlt. and soon after proceeded 10 this CITY,
about 80 miles distant from The coast
On my way iither, called on San Mar
tin. The commander Of tie army, who re-
ceiNed me with great cordially. He
expressed much pleasure at The arrival of
ship OF war of the United States, che
Ontario, captain BiddIe,) and, without
enquiry as 10 the object of my visit, fur
Wished me with letters 10 The Supreme
Director. and other members of The gov
eminent, requesting every attention TO
me during my stay. Indeed the .seuti-
menf does not appear to be confined 10
HIM; IT pervades the great portion of so
cleiy; they teel the notice which has
been taken OF them by our government,
and the friendly advances made Nv it, as
an Indication OF interest I'm their revOln-
fion, and profess The strongest desire TO
country. | had no idea of the extent of
our commerce in this ocean. Indepcn-
IDENTITY OF the pumhcr captured, Of which
am as vet ignorant, upwards OK twcnty
vessels have entered the p0ri of Valpa-
raisn Within The last twelve months, Of
which there remain six In port, viii car
goes exceeding IN value one million of
dn!iars. In tile adjoining port of CO.
qmalbo, many have also arrived within
the same time, five Of which are still
there. These vessels, before The arrival
of The Ontario, were wing without pro-
lection, and liable 10 he cut out, or burnt
by any ore of the Spanish sbips of war
from Lima, cruizing off The port, and af
feeling TO hold Tie entire coast under a
b'Ockade-a feet destructive ONLY 10 TN
armed ships, upon which they commit
oufrages III defiance of every principle Of
The law OF nations, and even of ibe mo-
dern doctrine of blockade. They seize
and confscate, without previous notice.
both vessel and cargo, and deiain i'm irons
The officers and crew, treating them with
lie utmost iDhumaniiy. I.aiierlv. nIey
have extended their captures TO vessels
bound 10 the northwest coast, and ap-
pear determined TO anuihlate our com
merce IN this ocean. The Beaver, Of New
York and he Canton, of Boston, are insian-
ces which have occurred within short
time past.
There is another branch of our com.
merce, which Is suffering materially
allude TO the vessels engaged in collect
ing spermaceti oil. There are nearly 40
from Nantucket and New Bedford con-
stantly employed in this hazardous and
irksome life, and they never approach the
coast but from necessity yet, when they
do so, are liable 10 detention, TO seizure
and cOnfiscaiioD, aud always 10 indigni-
tics. To check acts Of hostility so drs-
iructive to the interests Of ihe u. States,
our Executive would do well 10 order AN
additional ship on this station.
No alterations have vet been made in
The commercial code of this country tue
merchant still groaDs under most of tie
difficulties heretofore sUbsisiing. am,
however, assured, that IL is in cOntenpIa-
ton TO change the whole system, and 10
adopt one more liberal and equal. The
duties remain the same, and are on i'm
ports thirty three per cent and Ohexports
ten per cent. On impOrlatons however,
it is in some measure nominal, inasmucII
as they are not charged OF the invoice
price, but upon the value Of the article al
this place, which value is determined by
an appraiser, whose judgment is most
swayed in favor of tire importer, by the
application of secret and irresistible IN .
6uence always witbia his power. The
articles of export consist of copper, -four,
fax and hemp, all of the best quality
ilIe former is taken principally TO China,
and The two latter may be shipped with
advantage TO our own market.
The affairs Of Chill are now at cri-
sis, and before leave Ibis, the fate Of
The country will most probably be decid-
ed, and with 1t, think that of Peru. The
whole effective force Of Spain, intended
for the defence OF Peru, amounting 10
three thousand and some hundred men,
have been sent by the yiceroy TO Tslca-