The New York herald., 1868-05-21
THE SPANISH WAR IN THE PACIFIC.
Curious Observation-Disclosures Negotiation
for the Purchase Of American Iron.Clnds-
Strange Financiering-Plan Of n Raid on
Envu

Curious RevelatiOns-Peruvian Negotiations
for the Purchase Of American Iron.Clnds-
Strange Financiering-Plan Of a Raid ON
Havana.
The following is an abstract Of lengthy article
published April 20 in the Nacfonal Of Lima
from Peru as Consul General for New York. He ar
rived about the time that the news was announced
Of Spanish squadrons having sailed from Cuba and
priations made by the Spanish Cortfs for a second
expedition to the Pacific authorized the presumption
eventually. few days thereafter the New York
papers published list OF irOn-clads which
the United states was g about % ,s to
ft for Peruvian service-the Oneota and Ca
tawba. Consul Marquee at once proposed 70 his
Peruvian navy could make some headway against
the Spanish squadron, which included several IRON
the use OF from nve to six millions by Marquee for
the purchase Of those war vessels and material
Marquee Nen set about ascertaining whether the
american government had become cold towards
Peruvian interests on account OF the refusal
Of Mr.. Seward's offers to mediate. He then
addressed the New York agent OF the builders
Of said monitors and learned that the vessels
were for sale under circumstances similar to those
OF the Dunderburg.. The American government
preferred this mode OF procedure. The firm OF Alex.
Swift Co. claimed over 100000 OF the United
States on the ground that the value Of the paper
Oneota and Caiawba had deprecated TO that amount
since the signing OF their contract. After having
become satisfied Of the right and authority OF the
agent TO sell the vessels Marquee sought to ascertain
their fitness for service. Ample proofs Of this were
forwarded by Marquee TO the Peruvian government.
AT the same time he made the following proposition
That the two monitors be sent TO Havana, whose
fortficatons could not Keep them from entering the
harbor, as they are mounted with only o few
2oo-pounders; that they should capture or
destroy the Spanish wooden neet there's
that the commander should issue an utimatum
requiring Spain to return the three millions OF S,,
lars extorted from Peru Janue-- o. ~ ,ccrS and
threaten havana WIN the rate OF Valparaiso. ON
returning from Cuba they were to release the Rayo
at Carhagena and capture the Spanish frigate
Corona that watching her. The only serious
resistance that could be offered to the two monitors
at Havana would come from halfdozen 2Oo-pound-
ers at the foot Of MORO Castle.
Marquee Contracted for the monitors on the follow
ing terms:-Each vessel to cost 81, 900, 900 In
groenbacks the equivalent TO $10O000 in specie They
had coSt the United States 100000 in gold each.
Eacf vessels armament and ammunition $500 pro-
lectilesl provisions for Elk months and about 900
ton coal were to cost $4,000 In greenbacks. The
sellers we're to get them ready for sea at
o cost to themselves OF about $4,000 In gold.
The sellers were TO give security from the three lead
Ing banks In New York. Payments were TO be made
In two insiaiments-6ne NJ sixty days sight, the
other AT four months, without interest. The contract
WAS to be ratified by Peru and sixty days were al
lowed for the purpose Marquee 70 give $780, 0v0
In geenbacks cash down. to indemnify the sellers III
case by refusal OF Peru they should lose the chance
OF selling to other governments the two MONITORS "a
several were bargaining for their purchase. To close
the AFFAIR Marquee and Mr.: Gpstave Kicker, one OF
the partners In the house OF Alexander Swift Co.,
went TO Lima. The amount for indemnincati0n made
President Prado refuse TO sanction the contract
Thep Marquee presented Kicker to Prad0 to see II
more advantageous contract could be made.
Marquee refused to act interpreter be-
tween the parties, aud Don Antonio Car
ciA Garcia was summoned Minister
Hovey refused TO have anything to do with the
matter until Prado explained that 1t was rs per-
stated that he considered the contract an onerous
one Hovey expressed his surprise that the vessels
could be got on 80 favorable terms, but stated that
he had no doubt another contract could I've made
with Kicker and that he believed the contract OF
Marquez was OF advantage to Peru.
The following bases for q new contract were then
drawn upRcker was TO receive 5000 900 In advances
the balance TO be paid In bills on England accepted
by Thomas Lachambre, Sescan Valdeavellano the
ana eighteen months time. These bills were to bear
SIX per cent interest In the vessels were TO be
delivered outside " the United states jurisdiction
$40. .000 on the price we're TO be paid down. TIE
assertion OF Prado TO ovoy that Marquee had exceed
ed HIS authority made the latter resign his Consulate
on the balance of his accounts &l75 were due him by
peru. which has not yet been paid
some disagreement took place shortly aIter De.
tween the parties owing 70 the fact that s35o,0O0
were paid on the new contract; the treasury was
opened nc eleven Y. NJ 70 make the payment, and the
Gustav Kicker the full name not appearing. The ony
parties present at the payment were the Minister
Pedro Pas Sedan, Garcia Garcia, Kicker the rrea.
suror, and the Cashier. Garcia took letters 70 tne
United states for $500 900 sterltng and last Janu
ary or February Captain Moore took flOOOO0 more
40 that Peru has spent two and q third millions o
doars and has not yet got the monitors, 80 that
seems that the contract has cost Peru about a.
much In specie az hsfques would have IN green'