The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-02

Important from the Pacific speclSs OfWar.
From the Times
The news from the Pacific this morning Is of
more than ordinary importance. While Frapce,
England, and Spain have been exchanging notes
On the question of peaceable settlement of the
difficulties between the lastnamed power and
Chill, events have transpired, almost within
sight of Valparaiso, which change the situation
from one of passive wariare TO active hostlities.
Anticipating the difficulty which followed
Admiral Pareias quarrel with the authorities at
Callao, and the subsequent seizure of the
Chincha Islands, the Chilian Government seem
to have taken steps to render their position less
helpless than that of the Peruvans, in case of
blockade of Valparaiso and other ports. The
Government of Chill were self.cOnsciOus of their
sympathy with the sister republic. They were
prepared to plead guilty of having refused TO
supply Admiral Pareias fleet with Goals and pro-
visonung, while he was directing his operations
against Peru; and of having thereby materi-
ally impeded his operations against that State.
The arrival of the Spanish blockading fleet
therefore, was not likely to take the Chilians by
surprise. The fleet arrived; redress for the in.
dignity offered TO the flag OF CASTLE was refused;
and the principal ports of the republic were
sealed against foreign commerce, as far as
formidable proclamation by the Spanish Ad-
miral, and four or five Spanish men-ot-war,
could seal them.
In the meantime a Chilan corvette, well
manned and armed, had quietly sailed out of
the harbor of Valparaiso, and gone no one eX-
Cept the Government authorities knew whittier.
Some supposed she had made for a Peruvian
port; others conjectured that she had set out on
a still longer errand. The truth, however, was
that the mysterious craft had anchored in some
cove or port only few miles from Valparaiso.
From The 18th OF September-the date of her
sailing from the last named port-ull the 26th of
November, this Chllan craft (the BSn1erdtd1 by
name) lay perdu in her port OF concealment. On
the latter day, having, evidently, foreknowledge
annrOacl q dp5OaJcl
Admiral Pareja's fleet, the ESn1erdldd weighed
anchor, ran out directly in the path of the hos
lille vessel, fired on her for twenty odd minutes,
ultimately captured her and made prisoners OF
her officers and III men, together with Admiral
Pareia's letter-boX.
The Chillah victory does not seem to have
ended here. A launch from one OF the Spanish
blocEadng vessels was almost simultaneously
captured by the Chilians at another point on the
coast. The launch which was employed to
watch blockade-runners, was manned by forty
men, all of whom were made prisoners.
Along with this news there comes the report
that Admiral Pareja had sailed from Valparaiso
in the direction of some Peruvian port, and the
scarcely less interesting item that the Esmerdldd
which has thus reflected lustre on the power of
the Chilian Republic, is commanded by an Eng
lishman, who had an American as his first lieu
tenant. Both of these individuals, according to
the decree OF the Spanish Admiral are liable to
be dealt with as pirates, and not as belligerents,
If they should happen to be captured.
The difficulty may thus be complicated in
various ways, beyond the power OF European
diplomacy to unravel it, before the good offices
of France and ENGLAND can be brought INTO
active play. Probably General Kilpatrlck, who
sailed for the scene Of his mission at Santiago on
Saturday, my be able to render the service of
peace-maker available sooner than the agents
of the leading powers of Western Europe. At
all events, we know that our agent goes out
with instructions which will enable him to
take unbiased position between the con-
tending Powers. While our Government enter
taius the warmest friendship for the sister
republic, it chershes also a cordial feeling OF
respect ard goodwill towards the Government
of her Catholic Majesty. And between the con.
testants the voice of our representative is as
likely to be listened to with difference as that OF
any other power more eager and ward in
Offering remonstrances or rendering advice.