The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-05-03

EeIaE,y OF the navy.
WAsHINaToN, May 2.-The following
ment Of Valparaiso have been received
at the Navy Department
u. s. STEAMSHIP VANDERBILT,
MARCH 81, 1866.
SIR: have the honor to announce
that upon my arrival in this port with
the squadron under my command, I
called upon the English Admiral who
had informed me that he intended to
prevent any sudden bombardment, and
would only suffer it after ample notice.
To this made no reply, but having
considered the matter, sought the 0cca-
sion the next day to say that would
join him in preventing any sudden
bombardment. and that would also go
as much further as he chose. 1 assured
assured him that the MonodroCk could
take care of the Nawancia. That from
large experiments / had witnessed, /
was absolutely certain that in not less
than thirty seconds, and not more than
thirty minutes, the 'Monodrock herself,
entirely unassisted, would leave only
the mast head of the Nawancia above
water, and that our wooden vessels,
English and American, could look out
for the wooden vessels of the Spaniards.
In thus offering to go beyond the letter
of my instructions TO observe strict
neutrality, ] acted upon the suppose
ton that neutrality among the nations
did not preclude all we'll directed eff
forts to keep the peace among them (;
that as peaceable citizen is not obliged
to stand by inert whffe another is suf-
fering from the unlawful violence of a
third person, but may justly interfere
with force to prevent an infraction of
the laws or n murder. For example,
nation witnessing the like disturb
anceS among her sister nations need
not rest absolutely impassive, but with
sincere neutrality, might interpose
with force, If necessary, to Keep the
operations of beligerants at least with
in the law, for the protection of neutral
persons and property. am aware that
action in the premises on our part in
wolves great responsibility, but had
reached the conclusion that with Eng
land an ally it was my duty now to aid
them. / told the English Admiral
what have written and frankly added
that his commerce was more extensive
than ours and more convenient to the
coast of Spain, but as he had more to
suffer In consequence of a rupture with
Spain he had also more to preserve by
Interference. That his interests in
Chilli would rise to thousands while
ours was only hundreds. The English
Admiral said at first that he would go
with me for 1 plainly declared that /
would not take step without him. I
said that 1 had no intention of becom-
ing n cats paw to draw Europen chest
nuts out of the fire and them having the
power. The English Admiral finally
determined to throw the responsibility
upon the English Minister who did not
choose to act in the premise. English
cooperation having failed no separate
action on my part was taken as none
had been proposed. have used such
measures as possibly could to bring
about an accommodation, but with
out success. This morning ut about
nine o'clock the Spanish Admiral
opened upon the town with shot and
shell, directing his fire principally
against public buildings and store
houses. After continuous lombard
ment of two hours and fifty minutes
the firing ceased, and the Spanish adj
miral withdrew his vessels. Four of
the stone buildings connected with the
custom house were entirely destroyed
with their contents. Other adjoining
buildings, used for the same purposes,
were very much injured. The value of
savingly estimated atsome twenty-five
million dollars. The house,
the exchange and the railroad buildings
were damaged to a considerable extent
naturally and inevitably. Parts of the
city which the Spanish admiral de-
clared he did not intend to injure, re-
ceived many of his missiles. Several
blocks of private buildings were de-
stroyed by fire, and churches and con-
vents and hospitals were not exempt
from injury. Few lives were lost, not
more than eight or ten. 1 enclose here
with copies of the letters addressed to
me by the foreign residents of Valpa-
raiso, representing the interests of near
ly all the nationa1ities OF Christendom,
bearing an official character, with
copy of my answer, also copies
of the manifesto and letter of
the Spanish Admiral. When was as
sured that the English Admiral was
determined not to resist the lombard
ment called upon him and said that
as did not choose to drift into collis-
ion; when had no.purpose to collide
should move my vessels to get out of
Spain's way. This intention commu-
nicated verbally to the Spanish Admit
raj. Thrown by circumstances into a
position in which it became necessary
to take some part, felt natural anxf-
ETY. to know whether the one 1 took
meets with the approval of the Govern
have conferred freely with our Minister,
General Fitzpatrick, and desired the
benefit of his advice and assistance. In
all 1 have done or offered to do he has
been consulted and he has fully con-
Cured, and if his name has not been
mentioned before it was because I did
not wish to break The continuity of my
narrative and not because am without
strong sense of obligation for his CO.
operation.
have the honor to be, Sir, your obe-
dent servant,
JOHN RoeERs, Commodore.
To Hon. Gideon WetLeS, Secretary of the
= ='e''s' 49, 49, ---------- a1.i'i5