The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-14

accept the proposition, provided member OF the
Chilean Government would guarantee to me per-
sonally, in tho presence OF the American Minister,
that my proceeding would be appreciated and re-
cprocated. Tho proposal Of tho commodore was
nevertheless rudely rejected by Chile, and another
one advanced in its stead, ridiculous thai it has
only served as a laughing-stock to the English
and American commanders. The idea was that
sort of international duel should be enacted,
and this in terms indecorous and oven insult
ing. 1t being assumed that l dared not seek
them at Chloe. they proposed that We should
equalization OF which should be left to Commodore
Rodgers. The result Of tho duel was to be the
termination OF the war, and to this no other de-
claration whatsoever WAS added he proposal,
again say it, simply ridiculous, and in this
light it has been viewed by every one, without
perhaps excepting the very persons who orgnat-
Commodore who boro the dispatch to say, in my
Sehalf, that such proposals deserved no answer.
It is gratifying to me to be able to state that both
the Commodore and the English Admiral APPROX
ed my answer; the latter was so disgusted that,
losing his habitual reserve, he said to me "Sir,
the letter you have Just received is in itself
accomplish Your conduct has been most digni-
fed and proper, and your generosity has met no
response from the government of this country"
Previously to these incidents, on the 9th, / had
In Like manner been called upon by the represen-
tatives Of England and France. Instead Of pre-
senting themselves in the guise OF friendly ne
partial to Chile. They contended that the brief
delay granted to the government for the accept
snce OF terms, would make any resolution appear
as dictated under the pressure OF force that suf-
fcient time had not been allowed for consultation
with the allies that in fine, longer delay should
they had strong reasons to fear for the lives Of
the Spaniards at present in Santiago, should the
answered, that it was six months since the war
had commenced, and that the government of
Chile, who now complained Of the short space al
lowed had never up to the present moment made
a
offered by me were precisely those OF their own
governments of England and France; and that in
the event of 30 savage butchery taking place, it
should be visited with new and terrible rigor The
interview terminated with marks of mutual cold
ness.
On the 18th, received from the aame gentle
men q plan for arrangement, in which they
proposed the cessation of hostilities, the with
drawal Of my vessels, and the presentation OF my
credentials, all OF which were as your Excellency
perceives, totally inadmssible.
At eight o'clock, on the morning of the 91st the
foreign vessels of war had Withdrawn from my
front, AT the said hour of eight, the two guns
we're fired that were to serve an announcement
| that one hour later 1 would open ON tho city. At
| quarter past nine, the frgate Blanca common
eed firing at the government warehouses; and a
frgate Villa de Madrid. Meanwhile the schooner
Yencedora directed her guns against the 1nten-
dencia, and the frigate Resolution against the
railroad terminus; all Of which buildings were
government property. At the end Of two hours
the warehouses were reduced to ashes; the fort
was CONSIDERABLY damaged, as were also the In
tendencia and railroad terminus; and q portion OF
| the city was set on fire by grenade ricochetting
| from the Inteudencia aud exploding in & chemical
laboratory. The firing was suspended at half
past eleven. 1t ,is as yet impossible to estimate
| tie damages.
The Chilean Government had decided on max
ing no resistance, and consequently ordered that
not gun should be fired.
1t was confidently expected that the forces of
England and the United States would oppose the
bombardment.
| The property stored in the Government ware
houses, and entirely consumed by the firing, be-
lopged to Frenchmen and Germans.
/ The Government had opposed the removal OF
\ goods by the foreign. merchants.
remain, &c.,
(Signed} casio MENDEZ NUNEZ