The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-05-03

at Valparaiso has been recei we'd at TIT
Navy Department.:
U. 8. STEAMSHIP VANDERBILT,
VALPARAISO, March 81, 1866.
SIR-I have the honor to announc,
that upon my arrival in this port will
the squadron under my command,
called upon the English Admiral, wht
had informed me that he intended t,
prevent any sudden bombardment, anC
would only suffer it after ample notice
To this I made no reply, but having con
sidered the matter, / sought an occasion
the next day to say that l would joit
him in preventing any sudden lombard
ment, and that l would also 60 as much
farther as he chose. / assured him thal
the Mnoadnock could take care OF the
Munancia; that from large experiments
| had witnessed, / was certain that
in not less than thirty seconds, and
not more than 80 minutes, the Monad
mock herself, entirely unassisted, would
leave only the mast heads of the Numan
cir above water, and our wooden vessels
English and American, could look out
for the wooden vessels Of the Spaniards
In thus offering to 60 beyond the letter
of nv instructions to observe strict
neutrality, acted upon the suppositioI
that neutrality among the nations die
not preclude all we'll directed efforts tc
keep the peace among then,i that as
peaceable citizen is not obliged
TO stand by inert while another
is suffering from the unlawful violence
os third person, but may justly inter
fere with force to prevent an infraction
of the laws, a murder, for example, SO
nation witnessing the like disturbance
among her sister nations need not rest
absolutely impassive, but with sincere
neutrality might interpose with force, IT
necessary, to Keep the operations of bel
ligerents at least within the law for the
protection of neutral persons and neutral
property. | am aware that action in pre-
mise on our part involves great respon-
sibility, but | had reached the conciu'
sion, that with England as an ally it
was nay 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 rupture with Spain, he
had also more to preserve by interference.
That his interests in Chilli rise to thous-
ands while ours were only hundreds
The English Admiral said at first that
he could go with me, for plainly de,
clared that ! would not take step
without him. / said that | had no in
tention Of becoming cats paw to draw,
European chestnuts out of the fire, and
those having the power | served laugh
ing at my singed paws, while they en-
loved the fruits of my temerity. The
E1plish Admiral finally determined
TO throw the responsibility upon the
ENGLISH minister who did not choose to
act in the premises. The English CO.
operation having failed, no seperate ac-
tion Gn my part was taken, as none had
been proposed. I have used such meas
ures as l could to bring about
an accommodation, bnt without success
This morning at 9 O'Clock, the Spanish
enemy opened upon the town with shot
and she'll, directing his FIRE principally
against public buildings and store
houses. After a continuous lombard
ment Of two hours aud fifty minutes, the
firing ceased and the Spanish Admiral
Withdrew his vessel. Four OF the stone
buildings connected with the custom
house we're entirely destroyed along
with their contents. Other buildings
used for the same purposes were very
mnch injured The value of merchah
die destroyed in the buildings was
vaguely estimated at some twenty two
millions of dollars. The Exchange
and the railroad building was damaged
TO considerable extent. Naturally and
inevitably, parts of the city which the
Spanish Admiral declared he did not III
tend to iniure, received many of his ms
sles Several blocks of private build
ings were destroyed by fire, and churches
converts and hospitals were not exempt
from injury. Few lives were lost, not
more than eight or ten. | enclose here
with copies of the letter addressed to me
by the foreign residents OF Valparaiso
and representing the interests OF nearly
all the nationalities 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 de
termined not to resist bombardment
| called upon him and said that as did
not choose to drift into a collision when
/ had no purpose to collide, | should
move nv vessels to get out of the Span
ish way. This intention communicat
ed verbally to the Spanish Admiral.
Thrown by circumstances into aposition
in which it became necessary to take
some part, ] felt natural anxiety to
know whether the one | took meets
with the appreciation of the Govern,
ment In my whole course | have con.
ferred freely with our Minister, General
Fitzpatrick. | desired the benefit of his
name end assistance in all | have done
or offered to do. He has been consulted,
and he has concurred, and if his name
has not been mentioned before, it was
because did not wish to break the con
tinuity of my narrative, and not be.
cause | am without a strong sense OF
obligation for his co operation.
have the honor to be, sir, your obedl'
emf servant. JOHN ROGERS,
Commodore.
To Hon Gideon Welles, Secretary OF
Navy.