The south-western., 1856-03-12

A letter from Buenos Ayits, announces the
final dsmemberment and winding up ofthe U.
States and Paraguay navigation company, a
commercial enterprise orignatingin New York,
but principally supported by wealthy capital
| lists in Providence. The writer says:
! You may recollect that but little more than
two years ago this company was established IN
Paraguay, and in the apparent good graces and
| high favor OF the president dictator OF that
country, Don Carlos Antonio Lopez. The gen
eral agent Of TIE company in South America
was Mr.. Edward A. Hopkins. He was also U.
s. consul to F araguay, and having occasion, IN
his consular capacity, to defend an American
citizen from ouHage, president Lopez suddenly
laid aside all his pretended favor to the Amerl-
cans, covered the consul with the vilest person
al abuse, withdrew lis exequatur, sequestra-
ted all the property of the company for which
he was agent, and finally, negatively expelled
all Americans from the country, by preventing
them, through the enactment Of ex parte laws,
from pursuing any kind OF business. He wound
up his series Of violences against the Americans
by firing into the steamer Water Witch, lieu
tenant commanding Page, US. n, while she
was on a surveying cruze in the river Parana
|
even had the impertnence to address note to
Mr.. Marcy, demanding the dismissal of the com
mander ofthe Water Witch. because he had re-
turned the Paraguayan FIRE. These matters
created an immense excitement here, and 1t was
supposed that the American government would
vindcate its offended honor BY summarily cas-
tigating Paraguay, and teaching president Lo-
pez that he must let Americans, in the legiti
mate pursuit OF their lawful business, alone,
The facts Of the case were strongly represent
ed to Mr. Marcy, and he most solemnly pro-
missed to obtain the demanded reparation from
the Paraguayan government
On the strength ofthese assurances the COM
pany continued its enterprises. sending out
steamboats, in sections to be put up here. They
were the first steamers ever constructed here,
and attracted great attention. The largestve
sci, the Ascension has been doing good bus
mess lately; the Ycrba. beautiful boat was
chartered by the United States surveying ex-
pedtion, and under the charge OF capt. Page,
has gone nearly to the head waters of the river
Salado, stream never before navigated save
by the canoes of the savage. These vessels, to-
yether with the third stcamer-a smaller craft,
called the Pilcomay under the man
agement of Mr.. Hopkins, doing a business that
bid fair to remunerate the company in the course
Of time for all their losses. But Mr.. Marcy's
promises turned out to be worth Just nothing
at all. He listened to the tales Of a set OF in
tryuants who were interested in preventing
the recovery OF any indemnity to the company
and, in order to strengthen his prejudice against
the conduct of Mr.. Hopkins as consul, a num-
Der ofletters, bearing internal evidence of home
manufacture, were published in the Evening
Post, of New York, in which the character 0
that gentleman was painted in the blacklist col
ors. He was accused Of rashness, imprudence
corruption, and whole catalogue of similar
qualities, while the tyranny of Lopez was prais
ed as mild and paternal government.
Nevertheless, it is notorious fact here that
had it not been for Mr. Hopkins extreme eau
ton and moderation during the whole Of tn
trying ordeal through which he passed in Par
! aguav, not an American would have left H.
!; country alive; the disposition of president Lo
pez's paternal government has been safflcientl.
attested by his subsequent conduct. The com
panv. finding that, despite their urgent de
mands, and the solemn promises of the sccre
tary of state, no indemnity would be asked fo
from Paraguay and seeing ALSO that the prin
cipal opponent and sanderer of the genera
agent was appointed by the Pierce administra
ton as consul to Paraguay, vice Mr.. Hopkins
who resigned in 1854, determined to wind III
their business, and these steamboats,, whicl
have borne the American flag with SO mucl
credit TO American enterprise upon the grea
rivers of South America, will be sold. Univer
sal regret at this result is experienced here by
the commercial community and inhabitants gen
hut tI,, ,c ri -
pleasure at the understanding that the enter
prise will be in some measure continued by Mr.
Hopkins, whose thorough, go-ahead. homes
Amerlcanism is appreciated here, if it is not a
home.
The following anecdote, apropos of the golc
medals-some Of them of great value-whicl
the French government is distributing to tht
members of the international jury and others
is related by the French correspondent of ths
Courier des Etats Unis. The scene is laid il
| drawing room in Paris. One of the compan,
was showing gold medal which had bee,
; awarded him, and which was worth five thou
sand francs. The medal passed from hand t.
hand, and when, half an hour afterwards, thu
) owner asked for it again. it could not be found
, Every nook and corner was searched, but il
| vain This sudden disappearance produced
) considerable agitation in the company, which
was select, but numerous, and finally somc ont
proposed that every one should be searched
the men BY the men and the women by the wo
men. All the persons present eagerly signihee
their assent with the exception Of a single in
dvidual, who had been presented that very
night for the first time in the house. This mar
: declared very calmly, but very decidedly, that
he could not consent to be searched. The eff
feet these words produced may easily be i'm
: agined. Itwas no longer doubted that he was
} the robber, and the gentleman who introduced
him was more dead than alive.
The master Of the house was about turning
the supposed thief into the street, and the own
Ell of the medal had already entreated the com
pany to forget the circumstance, when lad,
having risen from her seat, loi the missing me
dal suddenly fell out of one of the founces o
her dress, into which it had accidentally slip
ped and buried itself The sensation produced
by this sudden denouement was prodigious.
cry of joyful surprise resounded throughout the
room The individual susnantad If .ha III n {