The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-08-20
The News from Rio Janeiro-The British
Aquressiena In Brazil.

Our correspondence from Rio Janeiro, received
by the arrival, at this port, Of the bark l.. Cor
ming, viii present our intelligent readers with some
interesting particulars Of the meddlesome and hos
tile spirit displayed by two of her Britannia Males
tvs war steamers, toward several Brazilian YES
sels The Sharpshooter war steamer, II up
pears, recently into Paranagua and set fire TO
several vessels belonging TO Brazil, and then took
two vessels in tow, on outward bound course for
Rio. The fort at Parsnagua, not withou; its eyes
open, ogened its mouth at these hostilities, and
SPOKE wKh the voice Of war, in the midst OF fire
and smoke E'Thereupon, the steamer OF her Briiaa'
mic Majesty received the warm salute, by return
ing il with greater spirit sud the demolition OF the
fort was the consequence After that event, the
" Sharps nc oierr continued lie work. and carried
the vessels cut OF the harbor, and ino the port Of
Rio-having iiumphed abundanty in this new aad
msgnanmous conquest. At Rio. also, a small
smack, a recognized old coastor,-has been
burned by the valoIous Cormorant Of Queen
Victoria This is the substance Of the record
against the Enslish officials, and, it should be
added, that these aggressive acts are not approved
Of by the British charge d'ailairs, Mr. Hudson. who
will remain quiet until he hears from his govern
ment
Ga the part Of Brazil, however, there has been
some little action II IL suggested that the former
duty on British manufactures was thirty per cenum,
and that the English desired TO have IL reduced
20 one-half Of that amount This was refused, and,
uuder the pretenoe Of capturing slayers. a little
punishment was inflicted. However, this speci.
men Of negotiating seems to have been a failure:
for, az soon as the acts Of the British officers had
been made known and were appreciated, the Cham
Der Of Deputies Immediately passed bill increas-
ing the duties on British manufactures sixty per
centum, thus making tanii Of ninety per oentum-
virtual prohibition Of imports from Great Britain.
In commenting upon all this, we arc very well
aware Of the difficulties in the way Of just judy
mont with respect to the vessels destroyed. The
coast Of Brazil has harbored 80 many VIGOROUSLY
bad characteristics been engaged IN such sys
TEN Of prahcal adventure upon a portion Of the
world and has given 50 many evidences Of cruel
~ against the African race, that vessels are
pected-and very properly, too-ofbcing engaged in
the illegal slave trade. Under these circumstances,
10 discriminate between the honest merchant
vessels and the pirates, is matter much more diff
fculi than stranger would be led 10 suppose
Where there Is a great chance for ungodIy gain.
arihce is most mastery in lite ingenuity, defying
even lynn eyed authority, and the speed Of the
armed marine. This fact, however, is no justihci-
ton for outrages because officers in the navy are
perplexed and ihwsred by the skill and cunning OF
the slave traders. They have right to lose thea
tmTcrs, and II they de not lose them, but thus
sgeiessively by instructions, as we are led to be-
Ieve they dc, then we mus, look upon their con-
duct ss without the shadow OF an excuse, snd
justly ceRsuruble in evey particular. Ia the pre-
cent case there does not ep.ear 70 have been the
sl'ghUrt ground for the attacks mad, upon The