to those who have adopted a course in opposition to us.

"Already have the two agents of England and France in La Plata proposed their amicable mediation; it has been refused. The hour for an armed mediation appears to have arrived. It is in this sense that the English Ambassador has spoken to me respecting the views of his Government. I have shown myself disposed to entertain them.

"I need not say that the independence of the state of Monte Video, reorganized by the treaty of October 1840, should be, in our opinion, the necessary point of departure in every negotiation that independence is, in reality, disputed by nobody.

"It should be, at the same time, distinctly understood that none of the three mediatorial Powers would seek to obtain either increase of territory or any separate advantage.

"We might merely demand, as the accessory consequence of our intervention, the application of the principles laid down by the Congress of Vienna, for the free navigation of the rivers or streams that descend from the frontiers of Brazil and of Paraguay into the Rio de la Plata."

All amicable negotiation having failed, the combined forces of England and France were, at the latter end of the preceding year, brought to bear against General Rosas with the result which might have been anticipated. On the 20th of November, 1845, an action took place on the river Parana, at the Puente del Obligado. The immediate object of the English and French commanders, Captains Hotham and Trehouart, was to force open the navigation of the VOL. LXXXVIII.

river Parana, which had long been closed by the command of General Rosas.

The passage forced is the narrowest point, forming a sort of elbow, about 800 yards wide; downwards it gradually widens, and above it expands to the left. On the right bank were four batteries, at nearly equal distances from each other, mounting from twenty-four to thirty guns, most of them 24pounders. Three of the batteries were established at the narrowest point facing downwards athwart the stream, and the fourth was above the others, at a projection commanding the length and breadth of the Parana. The background was covered with thick woods. Between the second and third batteries, and close to the second, twenty-four or twenty-five small vessels were moored directly across the river to the opposite bank, and these were strongly secured together by three frigates' chain cables. There were no batteries on the left bank, but just above this bridge of small vessels, on the left bank, General Rosas's brig, the Republicano, was moored broadside across the river. This brig had six guns of heavy calibre, and was so placed so placed as to enfilade the opposing ships. Under the second battery, and close to the bridge of boats, four fireships were stationed.

On the morning of the 20th the attacking parties moved up the river towards the point. They were formed into three divisions. The first was composed of the Procida (French) brigantine, Capt. De la Rivière; the Philomel, 6 (English), Commander Sullivan; the Fanny, brigantine (English), Lieutenant-Commander Astley C. Key, Second Lieutenant of the [2 A]

de la Plata.

and coolness, in der the cable mage of vessels tamers passed ming. and. taking

sition above the in the left of the "ver, they attacked en tank with great

cortest part of the ptain Hotham wrote Lue, Captain Treus. Si le titre de La te merité, c'est Dages.'

en with the bat

.i

T

A.M., and

Ling which Tessant firing.

1. the landterion of the

ཨཊྛ༎!

was ten unded;

* killed

landed ng, and zeir posi

In one of blacks

The

... and, with

rass pieces, wn into the

er, of Monte

Teas, con

resent uit.