Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-06-30
From the London Times of June I'd
Pigs and Whaiers-The London Times on the
Falkland Island Trouble.

Sidney Smith once said that if new rock were
thrown up in ocean by volcanic any other agen-
CIV, it would instantly be taken possession OF as
British settlement that it would have governor and
deputy governor appointed to it, storekeeper and
a deputy storekeeper, colonial secretary, chap
lain, and garrison What he did not say, but what
he might have added with perfect proprieiy, is, that
the new government would infalhbly have Pro-
ceeded TO reveal its political existence by embroing
itself with some similar establishment or the repre-
sentative of other Power, and thus illustrate
the glorious and nterminable liabilities of the Impe-
rial State. MOI many days ago MIR. Gladstone OBJ
served in the House of Commons that " if we con-
sidered the extended relations of this country, and
looked at the arms of British strength encompassing
the globe. it must be evident that there was always
chance of war = but he could hardly have sus-
pected how very pretty an exempllhcanon OF TINS
highly comfortable doctrine was close at hand
Among the g dependencies " of the British Crown
is group of insulated crags termed Sc the Falkland
Islands, The Falkland Islands not the Auck-
land Islands, though they declared TO be-
and the mistake was perfectly pardonable We can
not give the precise latitude of these precious bits OF
territory, but they somewhere about Cape Horn,
not very far from the antartic Pole, and have nearly
the same relation to Patagonia that Madagascar has
to Mozambique If this description should not prove
sufficient, the reader resort to the Great Globen
Leicester square, or some other very comprehensive
delineaton OF the universe, where, upon careful
survey, he may possibly discover these arms of
British strength laid down in their proper position.
AS to their use function or capacity, except as quar-
reltraps, can give no kind of account. The last
time they were ever heard Of in squabble with
Spain some 60 years ago, and now if what the
American journals state is true, they have turned up
again on a very similar occasion.
Of course we have Governor, Secretary, and so
fourth in this important colony; in fact, we are not
sure that there is not Council and % Legislature,
though we never heard of any population. Howev-
err the authorities by whatsoever title they are to
be described, decreed and enacted time ago that
any person killing any cattle the Falkland terri
tory should be liable to fine of EGO steriing-a
resolution which should think Robinson Crusoe
might have made with about the propriety,
ing that no persons except the crew of some be-
lated whaer could by any possibility be expect
ed mar the place. But whaler did come, it seems
| an American and the captain, Suadentc dtabolo,
| broke the ordinance and killed Il pig. On hearing
of this accident to their bacon, the " authorities -
were furious, and put in motion the machinery of
| British power Generally speaking, when any dis
turbance happens, 1T quite to be found that
British force is hand but in this there actual
~ brig of-war within reach, and her Majestys
| officer commanding in those waters, forthwith
required by the Government of the Falkland Islands,
| TO chase, pursue. and apprehend the delinquent
American, and bring both the whaler and her tender
into port. This--though it must be understood that
relating the whole story from Americ"n
version-seems positively TO have been done; the
whaler was fetched away from her snug anchorage,
and the captain carried before mag strate for trial
1t was sworn that he had stuck first and last %
! pigs, which, at f20 pig, made total fine, we
should reckon, of $40, but which, it is put at
ESQ in the records of transaction perhaps dou
bled off hand by way of improving the OCCASION
The captain stoutly declared that, instead of being
near the Falkland Islands at the time deposed, he
off the coast of Patagonia, and this fact, we
presume, must have been taken in mitigation, as the
original damages ultimately reduced TO g27, be
ing apparently GI pig, and R5
All this gives charming Illustration OF the Dur-
pose to which " British arms of strength encompass
the globe; ;" but unluckly there is something more
behind. The Americans also had ship of, war in
these ATTITUDES, and they looked with much afec
ton their whalers the British authorities did on
their pigs. They accordingly to have repaired
the Falkland Islands, reversed the capture and
instated the captain in the command of his vessel
That the two men-of-war then set to work on their
own account and fought desperate action, costing
enormous loss of life and embroiling two mighty
States in fearful war; is fortunately not recorded,
or the pigkiIling would have come 10 pretty end.
As it is, shall probably have all kinds of repre-
sentations and claims, with every possible appraise
tuent and adjudication of national rights, indepen-
dent flags, outrages, indignihes, and so fourth OF
course, if our representatives have done wrong, we
must make amends, but it is fine example Of what
may be accomplished in the way Of universal abili-
~.