The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-09-10
Affairs OF La Plata.
BUENos AYREs, May 2lst, leae


No. XI.
BuESos AYRrs, May 2lst, 1876.
have said but little of the blockadng opera
lions Of the medintors on this side the river. Up
to the 18th Of April no English or French vessel Of
war was seen off any other port of the whole
coast than at this city. Numerous small vessels
ofvarious nations, four or five Americans, entered
various ports blow here, with, and even some
without, cargoes, and all took away full cargoes
of produce, without obstruction or difficulty. The
launches from the vessels here made no captu res,
except occasionally few peach boats belonging
to poor foreigners, who for lack of other employ
ment, had gone to some of the little islands above
to brinc peaches to the market here. Peach trees
grow there wild and In great abundance.
AS the bockaders were suffering for fresh pro-
visions, there would have been some excuse for
these captures, if they had paid these poor boat
men fair price for their peaches but instead Of
this, they took them prisoners, and amused Them
selves by placing their boats at some distance
from the vessels, and practising gunnery, by sink
ing them with their heavy guns believe they al
ways sentthe robbed peach merchants ashore after
some days detention. This peach boat war is a
noble occupation for the combined royal navies
OF England and France. l have conversed with
some OF those who have been prisoners. They
say, the subordinate officers and sailors heart
ly SICK and ashamed of the whole blockade that
when the sailors are where they cannot be over
heard by their officers, they damn the Intervention
and shout Viva Rosasn' Sometime in Februa.
ry.thc bockaders captured some whale boats sent
out by this Government to capture such Monte
videan vessels as they could, and to give as much
annoyance as possible, to the PARMA expedition.
These boats, with about 80 men, were under the
command of anative of the United States, by the
name OF Wright; the officers were regularly CON-
mlssioned by the Government as Navy Officers.
They captured fifteen or twenty small vessels Mt
various times, and got them in with safety final
Iv aftar having takep n rich nrize- they Up I'M
prised, and twenty -One OF them captured and
carried prisoners TO Montevideo. Major Wright
aud three others made their escape in q small
boat and have returned.
The majority of these prisoners were foreigners
Of various nations, all OF whom were released at
Montevdeo, except two Americans, one named
Smith, who came here some years since Us Cap
tain of an American vessel, and the other Fair
field, an American seaman. Smith, was Lieu
tenant, and second in command of the whale
boats. Why was it that Portuguese, Sardnlans,
Brazlliaps, all others were released except these
two Americans, and why where they sent prison
ers ia England! What right had England to take
them prisoners at all LORD Aberdeen and Mr..
Ouseley, both declare they not at war with
Buenos Ayres. Certainly, Governor Rosas had
right to carry on his war with Montevideo,
and send out vessels to prevent an infracton
Of his revenue laws and his laws regulating
the navigation of his rivers. And American
citizens had a right to enter his service for these
purposes, and so long as England is not at war
with BuenOs Ayres, they were violating no treaty
With England and she had no right to send them
to England as prisoners. Can it be that our con-
sui and navy officers at Montevideo suffer ID this
to be done, under their own eyes, without a re-
monstrance, and that our Charge and Consul mt
this place will remain quiet! | trust in some
way that it will reach the ears of the government
at home, and that they will make prompt dc,
mand for their release. One American, named
Bowen, they released, exacting an oath from him
not to take up arms again during the present
difficulties. What right had they to exact such
an oath? have been told the consul at Monte
viaeo interfered for him. Why not for the others
also ?
On the 3lst of March, the English merchant brig
Ringdove smiled from Montevdeo for the Salado,
a port about 10 miles below here, for 4 cargo of
hides. She arrived off the harbor; the next day
she could not enter in consequence of low tides
and head winds she remained at anchor without
seeing English or French vessel Of war, till the
18th of April. when an English schooner hove in
sight, made prize of her, and carried her to Mon
Ievideo. After an examination, the English Adj
miral gave her up, on the ground that she was not
a legal prize, there being no force there when she
arrived she went back to the Salado, was cap
tured by French vessel, and is said to be now
alongside the French Admiral under French
flag. look for the issue with some anxiety, but
possibly the whole matter was understood and ar
ranged In advance.
There were three or four other vessels in the Sa-
ado, one American, when the Ringdove was first
AIKEN. They got out in safety with full cargoes.
The American was the brig Hanover.
sells, all Sardinians, in the port OF Ensenada,
about thirty miles below here, either receiving or
preparing to receive cargo. Vessels had been go
Jug there ever since the declaration OF the block
ade. There had been no vessels OF war stationed
nearer than here. On the morning of the 2lst, n
number of armed launches from the VESSELS here
raa in about daylight, boarded the vessels, car
fled OF what they could, even to the sailors
clothes then set fire to three of them and escaped
on seeing armed body approaching on shore /;
two were consumed and one sunk to extlnsuish
tie flames.
What win be said of this robbery and burning
of neutral vessels, under such circumstances I
And yet these pirates are sent here 10 humaniae
and cIvilise, and tranquilize these countries.
The next day after this, an English officer, q
mate believe, named Wardlove, who bad par
cipated in the burning, was shot in cod blood as
the English say, short distance below there
The English minister, Admiral and officers, are
all filed with horror at this "coid blooded butch
cry by Rosas. Now, say they, the world can
SEQ his barbarty Their story is, that Wardlove's
boat got aground, and he, the officer, was enticed
ashore by n flag OF truce, surrounded, and shot.
A likely story, that an officer would go to flag
of truce, instead Of requiring IT to come to him.
The story ashore is, that the boat being aground,
Wardlove came ashore, and on seeing party of
soldiers, hoisted white flag, and was taken prs-
oner-the tide rose, the boat was got of, he made
some signal, and started to run, when he was shot
NV word for it, Rosas will probe the matter, and
II his soldiers to blame they will be punished.
After these occurrences, Rosas issued decree,
directing the officers In the different districts to
seize all English or French who come into the har-
bors to burn vessels, and to punish them incen
daries that is viii, death, and to give an account
Of their proceedings to the Government.
CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES.
NEWSPAPER CONFLICT The Courier DIES Efats
Uam aud the Franco Amsyicats, the two French
papers published in New York. argue about amiably
cat and dog. And wonder Franco s4msrfeain is
sound honest democratic press, and views every thing
in country through untouched by srstocratic
pref udices and mind thoroughly imbucd with republi.
can feelings and convctions The Courier, the
trsry labors all the time to praise Louis Philippe and his
anti-Amsrican policy. little that 10 msrtorous
in this country that Is not oopicd from abroad, and
devoes all energies the diffusion Of corrupt, trans
atlantic ideas and exploded political theories The
editor the Courier has lately rewarded by Louis