The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-05-12
RATES OF ADVERTISING.
The BOmbardment of Valparaiso The
Spanish Account. rt..

| spanish Account. ASSN.
Casio Mendez Nunez, the Spanish Admi-
| raj, has Just transmitted his report dated
| April I'd, to the Minister PIenipotentiary of
his country at Washington, in which he gives
an account of the circumstances preceding and
| attending the recent bombardment of Valpa-
raise. He first mentions the endeavors on the
part of the American Minister and Commo-
dore, among others, to effect an arrangement
by which the necessity for a commandment of
| Valparaiso could be obviated The means
suggested were at once rejected and assurance
given all that the instructions from Spain
were positive, and that Chill must be made to
| render the required satisfaction at any cost.
| The terms proposed to prevent the bonn
bardment, were pronounced by both the
Commodore and Admiral to be honorable
and endeayors were at once set on foot to in
duce the Chilians to accept them. As is well
known they were frllitless 1t was then that
Commodore Rodgers said that if the Spanish
Admiral proceeded to carry out his intention.
he would be compelled, he feared, to oppose
such a movement by force, in which he would
be seconded by the British Admiral This
announcement was received with regret by
tbs Spanish commander; but he reiterated the
statement that his orders were 50 positive that
nothing whatever could deter him from their
execution. Commodore Rodgers approved his
resolution, and his words were repeated by
Gen. Fitzpatrick, both of whom then took
their leave
On the Goth of March Admiral Denman
came aboard Her Catholic Majesty vessel and
reiterated the assurances of the American au-
thorites, that it would be impossible for him
to stand by passive spectator of the destruc-
ton of the city, and that he would be re-
'luetantly compelled to adopt measures, the
extent OF which he could not then define. He
received the same reply as that given to those
who had preceded him. and left the vessel af-
ter giving assurances of friendship and es-
TEEN for the Spanish Admiral, and of hope
that nothing would occur to make unpleasant
the relations between them
Of the circumstances which followed. we
leave the report to the Minister at Washing
ton to speak:
On the same day (the 29th) | was once
more visited by the American Commodore, ac-
eompanied by the Secretary of Legation with
the apparent purpose of handing the reply to
my communication. On doing so he said
that he intended to oppose the bombardment
of Valparaiso by force, because he was at the
time convinced that Spain could not lawfully
do SO, and that Chill was in the right, but
that subsequently he had arrived at the con-
ciusion that right, moderation and dignity
were on the side of Spain; wherefore, he not
only should not oppose anytlnins5, but tiso frio
ships would move out of the way at eight
o'clock on the morning of the 3lst.
Persuasion was made use of by the Ameri-
can and English authorities, but it was Of no
avail; Chill rejected the most liberal proposal
that the narrow limits of his duty allowed the
Spanish Admiral to offer land presented one in
its stead, that the war should be ended by
sort Of international duel, which was looked
upon as absurd by all but the British Admir-
al who characterized it as justification of the
bombardment about to take place. .7.
Previous to these incidents, on the 9th, in
an interview with the representatives of Eng
land and France, marks of mutual GOODNESS
prevailed, both of those gentleman displaying
Partially for Chill. At eight o'clock on the
3lst, with the expectation that England and
the United States would oppose the lombard
ment, the action commenced, and at half past
eleven it ceased. sy-
Such is the Spanish version of an affair
which reflects no lustre upon its arms, and the
injurious effect of which has chiefly fallen up
on the Citizens of nations with which Spain is
at peace. The statement of the Admiral that
he expected resistance from the American and
British fleets, sounds very much like bravado.
1t is safe to crow after danger is over. - Trans
cript. /.