The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-06
FII.IRUSTERING.
The Spanish (sunbOats that were TO Prev on
Gnhmn Shippimg-An OlILciml NmieIms.


Cnbun ShDping-An Official Quietus.
Remarks the y. Y. Tribune of hismorning:-
There exists but little doubt in the minds Of
persons who are well posted on the subject, that
the gunboats recently seized by Marshal Barlow
were intended to carry destruction and devasta-
ton into the territory OF the republic of Peru.
Though Spain has not carried on any serious
active operations against that country since the
bombardment of CallaO its supposed, with good
reason that she intends to resume those
operations as soon as she has a fleet OF light
draft gunbOats, which could enter the shallow
harbors of Peru and penetrate the intricate aud
shallow channels of the South American archi-
pelagoes As for the assertion that these vessels
were intended 80 be used as patrol boats around
the island of Cuba, it is notorious that at the
time the contract was made for their building
about three months ago the Spaniards ridiCuled
the idea OF the insurrectiOn ever reaching any
threatening proportions, and prophesed its
speedy and easy extinction. II Is regarded rs
ridiculous, therefore to assert that the armada
III thirty gunbOats was Intended to crush what
was then a weak inland insurrectiOn.
Orders were on Wednesday received by Judge
PierrepOnt from Bancroft Davis, the Assistant
Secretary of State, informing him that the SccrC-
tary OF the Navy. at the request OF the Depart
ment of State, had ordered the cOmmondaut in
New York to act under the direction of Judge
Pieuepont in the matter OF the Spanish gun
boats, and placed the ships Dale, Dictator, Iu-
niata and Frolic in readiness to cooperate in
the detention of the Spanish war vessels. Under
these orders action was Immediately taken and
on Wednesday afternoon General Grant called
at the office Of Judge fcrrepOnt, but The latter
had left To confer with the Secretary Of State at
his country residence. Yesterday the President
went up to the Highlands in The Mary Powell,
reaching there ut o'clock, for the purpose of
holding n conference ON this matter.
= Minister that il Enraged at their seizure.
The New York HerdM has the following to-
day
it has been generally presumed that the visit
made by the Spanish Minister, Senor Roberts,
and his Secretary of Legation, Mr.. PrOtCstad, to
New York at this particular iuncturc had refer
ence to the recent seizure or thirty Spanish gun
boats, information of which has already ap-
peared in this journal. President Grant being
here at this time has given color to the suppOsi-
ton that the Spanish Minister, learning of the
fact that certain property OF his Government was
placed under United States indictment, lett
Washington at once to seek an explanation from
| the head of the Government. Yesterday how
| ever, in conversation with an attache of this
| paper in the parlor of the Albemarle Hotel,
where SCnOr Roberts is stopping, the infOrma-
| tion was furnished that no such motive an
| interview with the President for the purpose of
demanding an explanation in relation to the
! seizure OF the gunbOatS was meditated by SenOr
| Roberts in his visit TO New York. At this par
| ticular season of the year, when the iatiguing
| dulness of Washington life grows insupportable,
| it is customary with the foreign legations,
| especially in the absence of the Executive and
| Secretary of the State Department, to repair
either to this great centre of cosmopolitan
life or to the waterlng-places. The coin
cidence of Senor Roberts presence here at
the same time with President Grant is purely
accidental. The Spanish Minister does not con-
slider that this question Of asking our admins
tration what reason and under what section of
international law the late seizure was made
comes within the scope of his duties. He has
not yet received from the home government at
Madrid any instructions on the subject, nor does
he think it is likely any will be addressed to
him. The matter does not fall within the pur-
view Of his diplomatic duties; but should its
abnormal character be made TO receive his atCen-
ton he will address himself through the
| proper channel and in the proper place, which
| is in the city of Washington and at the depart
ment presided over by Hamilton Fish, Secretary
| of State.
The Purchase of Cuba.
The State Department up till to-day has not
received the protest against the proposition to
| purchase Cuba, said to have been forwarded by
the Cuban Junta from New York. 1t is already
understood in official circles that the Spanish
Government is unfriendly to the movement, and
| this of itself would probably put an end 70 il;
but the fact that Spain refuses TO sell, and that
I the Cubans are unwilling to buy seems TO put
this mode Of settling the Cuban difficulty en-
! tirely out of the question: Wash. COR. ~ Y.
! HpTnM,