The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-06
AMhlrs I'm Chile.
OUR VALPARAISO CORRESPONDENCE.

AMhirs In Chile.
/ OUR VALPARAISO CORRESPONDENTS.
VALPARAISO, Dec. l6, 1857
| Outrage BY French Naval Officers on Chilean La,c
OFeials-Case Of the Ship Phoque-7ne An'sri-
| can Ship SpOrssmas-Efscts Of the Money Crisis
/ Popular Antipathy to American Shipmasters-
The Late Change in the Minisfry
Since the sailing of the last steamer we have wit
messed in port of the most gross insults
rendered by one nation to another friendly Power
This outrage has been committed by the commander
of the French war steamer Lavoisier, under orders
Of the French Consul Of this port Annexed are the
| authentic facts of the case:-
The French merchant ship Phoque sailed under
charter for Europe, but meeting with disasters at
sea, returned after few weeks to this port for
pairs. Several actions were commenced against the
ship for breach of contract and for costs of necessary
repairs In all of those actions Judgment was rem
dered by the Tribunal Of Commerce against the ship.
An appeal was taken to the High Court of Appeals
in San Jago, and the judgment of the court below
confirmed with costs. Execution was then issued
against the ship. AT this junctere by order of the
French Consul, the French war steamer Lavoiser
| hauled alongside the Phoque, disembarked two
boats with men and cannon, and placed them
l also alongside the Phoque, so as to prevent
| the Chilean law officers from executing
| their respective duties. The Captain of the Port,
with the process Of court, went towards the ship to
| levy execution, but was prevented by the French
| boats from boarding her. Hereupon the news
telegraphed to the President in San Jago, who de-
| manded an immediate interview with the French
Charge d'Affaires. The result thereof is not yet
| public; but within one hour after the vessel was
given to the CHILEAN government, orders were re-
ceived from the President, by telegraph, directing
the law officers to execute at all hazards, and, if ne
cessary, with the assistance of the army and navy
| the process of court. This order Immediately
| communicated to the commander of the French war
steamer and suppose he found it the best part of
discretion to retire. Calling his boats in he left for
| some other anchorage. Execution then levied
| on the ship and she remains in the custody OF the
| local authorities, to abide further events.
Our Minister, Mr.. Bigler, has not yet succeeded in
arranging the difficulty our government has with the
Chilean authorities in regard to the ship Sportsman.
| The effects of the late monetary crisis in the At
antic cities and Europe was only very slightly felt
| here We have no mercantile failures to report.
Some of dry goods jobbers and retail traders
| more than usually tardy in meeting their obGga-
tons: hut importers are strong enough to afford
them all necessary facilities. Still money Is scarce,
| and our largest houses draw by this means on Lon
| don at Asa a 40 premium for one hundred cents.
During the last few weeks we had several large sales
at auction of cargoes partially damaged by salt
water. The sales were well attended, and the goods
brought their full value, considering their actual
| condition. The cargoes consisted OF American
| prints, sheetngs bleached and brown muslins, Eng
| fish madepoams some one thousand kegs American
| gunpowder wooden chairs, adamantine candles,
| cordage &c.
| deeply regret TO have to admit that bitter and
vindictive feeling prevails in this republic against
| the Americans, mainly caused by set of rascay
| commanders of California passenger ships who in
their eager thirst after gain, commit the most Illegal
| mercenary and brutal acts towards the unfortu-
nate passengers. / have witnessed board one
| fOrC 1ays n Con-
gress in regard to the passenger and navigation laws
| of the United States The behavior OF the captain
towards the passengers was brutal, the provisions
rutten and unwhoesome, and even those not in suf.
fcient quantity. For nifty DAYS the passengers were
compelled to exist upon half rations of the most nau
seous food In this, as in other instances complaints
were entered at the Office Of the United States Con-
sui in Valparaiso but the acting Consul Mr. Hobson,
decided that neither he the local courts had ju-
rsdiction to interfere between the passengers and
captain. A similar opinion was read from MIR. Big
! Ter our Minister in San Jago. This stain upon the
American flag has left deep impression and it is
nearly impossible now for an American ship to get
passengers for any port even at less rate, II there
should be any other foreign ship bound for the same
port.
am rejoced to learn that an intelligent American
gentleman has received strong encouragement from
the Chilean government for the establishment OF an
express line between Chile and the United States.
The contamination of this arrangement is greatly
desired by our commercial community.
The registration Of the legal voters OF the republic
has caused some strong manifestations OF political
feeling during the last fortnight, and the results
thereof have been the resignation OF two ministers
belonging 10 the liberal party-namely, Mr. Sanfuert
Minister of Justice, and Mr. Bora Solar, Of the Urea
sury; they were replaced by Messrs r. Sotomajor
and NJ. Orvalu, both members of the government
party.
One thousand additional shares in the Valparaiso
and Giultosa Railway have been taken by the go
yernment.
VALPARAISO, Dec. l6, 1857
Loss Of The Steamship Vdidivia-Her Route and
Running Proprties-An american Steam Linz
TO Panoma-Ne,cspapers and Iheatricais
The only item of news which have to forward
you from this dull and stupid place, is the total loss
Of the British steamer Yaldvia, which occurred on
he 18th inst. She left here on the evening pre-
viousy, witt the mails and passengers for Talca-
huano, but during dense fog through which she was
slowly winding her way, she suddenly brought up
upon ledge Of rocks near Sico, about ninety miles
TO the southwark Of this port Passengers and mails
were saved, but the vessel became a total loss
She belonged 10 the Pacific Steam Navigation
Company, and was employed TO keep up the mail
communication with the southern end Of the route
She was a neat propeller, built Of iron, and about
900 tons burthen. This Is the second iron propeller
which has been lost on this coast within the past
six weeks. The only steamer now Of any consequence