The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-07-22
cHIL &
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF TIVE HERALD.


Tho Spanish American War ,Qmesfion-The
NEGOTIATIONS for the Purchase Of War Ma
tcrial and Iron.Clads In the United States
Failure of Negotiations in Engiand-Stormy
Time in the Chilean CoDsress-Iiberty Of
the Press-Fnshions-Ear thquakcs.
SANTIAGO. June H. 1857.
There is nothing new In this republic respecting the
renewal Of hostities by the Spanish feet in the Pacific
except what may be cleaned from the recent action Of
the President Of Chine In laying before Congress
mendation, accompanied by the form of bill, for the
sale OF any or all vessels purchased by this
government IN the United States The vessels,
IN the first place, we're wholly unsuited for
naval operations at sea- and have been thorn In the
sidc Of the government their arrival here
Hundreds OF thousands Of dollars have expended
In fitting them out, and, as Of the leading Chile
papers stated n render ng them before -
None of them are really prepared TO meet enemy,
and on some Of them the work ia still going on.
with no prospect OF rts completion for many
months Compartments are altered. new decks built,
new spars and rigging put up, and large gangs kept
constantly busy caulkng the ships sides while every
few days the papers additional tinker
Ing of the machinery. What the Chile agents expected
to do with their vessels 10 puzzng conundrum, and
the government has not solved 1t yet II is not Inn
probable that Congress will authorizes their SALE not be-
Of any idea that the difficulty with spain ended
but from the knowledge Of the vessels useessness and
sheer disgust. Who will buy the steamers is another
question They not 1t for naval purposes except in
rivers like our own, although two Of Thorn might
toleraby well for privateerng IL would too
much to change Thorn again into freight passenger
steamers, and they sold at all they will either be
purchased for little nothing or by party with
more money than brains. The mails bring nothing
from Europe indicating what Span intends to do with
her Pacific troubles. IL ia she has enough 70
look after In her domestic affairs bu. the allied
publics have emphacay rejected mediation, and dared
her to "come on;n and Span send squadron
that would wipe out the allied feet in twinkling with
little more expense than Is at present involved in main
tanning her irgaes in peaceful waters. am well
sured that the allied governments are not without
serious apprehensions OF q renewal Of hostiites
in few months Spain will soon, IL she has
not already discovered H. receive information Of the de-
termination Of Peru and Chic slight II this
line" July and August will suffice for sho equipment
and corcentrnon Of fgaes aud iron cIads this
coast aud by that time tho inclement will have
passed. and September have opened the long, pleasant
Of sunshine and calm the Pacific Comm ,rcial
houses here which principally branches of English
and French FIRMS receive private European advices that
impe them to operate with the greatest caution; and
while the may possibly from mere impotence
on the part OF the belgerents the probabilities that
shail later have as sudden 40 appearance
Of Spanish fleet OF Valparaiso that which startled
Chile year and q half ago
Chile has been very much interested in ordnance and
ironclads during the but the only results obtained
thus far have been tho waste OF vast sums OF money
ridiculous Notifications and the acquisition of big guns
that still lie rustDg the beach and give promise prove
useless vessels The deences still being
elaborated most tresohcey, with scarcely enough
mounted to lre the cus,.cmary sautcs, and these
high bluffs from which even experienced artiliersis
would fail In giving much Annoyance to well handled
liz a xnne hao
and fed guns while the admirable posi,,-ns on the
beach FOR water batteries and tho ten fifteen. Kod-
:s'ea The rSa clad question que S1 came
negotiated for, but with loosene5s on The part OF
South American agents that continually frustrated the
parties In ire United States interested in her sale
Three different times her purchase the point Of
being concluded The last time, and quite recently, tue
gold was In the hands OK tho authorized AGENT from
sister republic 10 close the bargain but his handicapped
hesitation complicated matters beyond remedy; and
has passed into the hands or either the Prussans or
French. Durny the negotiations for this vessel other
were under consideration Also The visit o. the
double-,urreed monitor Monadnock 20 Valparaiso e.
cited universal desire in Chile TO possess some such
vessel but nothing definite was attained propo-
agent sent out from the United States for that purpose
sell the four sinsletureted monitors with guns and
complete, at $4,000 apiece TO be delivered
OF correspondence between the negotiating par.
ties in the United States and Mr.. Seward,
our ports without interference grounds OF neutrality,
sent with the terms CT SALE but the subject was
laid aside by Chile after little consideration, aud
finally forgotten. Next an OFFER was made to Chile by
perfectly competent parties 10 construct monitor
mcnts Including larger cylinders ana greater stroke
and improved steering apparatus that should
tue Liability 10 the pArng Of the rudder chains by which
In her stormy voyage down the Atlantic 10 this
1here 20 be four fifteen inch guns with thousand
rounds OF ammunition and oil the other appurten
reQustc man-Of-War going into commission. The
price was $l315,0o0 in Chile bonds sum little
than half the cost Of the Monadnock to be paid on the
agreed TO eyo bonds In the OF $500 600 for the
faithful execution Of their contract and the de-
the conclusion of the bargain. At one time
It seemed that the government OF Chile would
thatt the Dundcrbsrs had not been already purchased
the monitor would DO taken bat time passed away aud
rhe sy SSo FOR q Eur,nd
also failed, although or two vessels that might be
made into cruisers. were ob.sined The recent coes
poadcace between tho British government and Spain
relative TO the seizure Of the Tornado and Other ships
the latter has thrown considerable light on tho
operations Of Chilean agents in Engiaad but
does net indicats their oxtcnt There mover
were any very sanaune expectations OF acquiring IRON
csds IN Europe. however, and have no doab, that the
alleged Chilean ships captured by tho Spaniards VIII
be Of just as much service 70 tho alied republics
as prizes Of the enemy, as they would have been
standing unpopuiarity OF the English Minister Al
santiago, Whose Sithdrawa was asked for by the
increased BY the appearance In tho Iondcn papers OF
some Of hB correspondence 10 ~ government giving
details q tho operstons hea gagged IN by Chile for
ihe purchase 81 English sgsscis u seems that Me-
ghoupscn ccrsldor. I'D II his duty aiu ousy assume
the attitude OF prosecuting Witnes agalDs. Chile and
lie interests OF AIS csn county, shiyDuicrs and
and however sistoat iha may be
with bis ideas OF diplomacy he probably win receive few
thanks from home in Wow OF tho pectci phase the
publication 81 his information has gvcu 10 tho Tornado
question or Course Lord Stanley Is 'sct back IN his
emphatic demands for ihe rendition Of thu Tornac ass
genuine English vessel, and tho least agreeable part
Of tho business is that this undesirable CHECK
comes frcm his own over Jealous Subordinate.
II vlli certainly render Mr. Thompson's So
journ In Chile far from pleasant. ~ at
tho tine or the bombardment OF Valparaiso by The
spaniard the excited populace In Santiago threatened
% mob the British Legation; and IL only needs similar
excitement 10 occasion unpleasant demonstration
agalnsl or yajss'y's representative.
Congress lbs commenced IT. sessions with fescs OF
excited discussions that bfug wildly 10 mind ths Pro-