ing to his Britannic majesty, in dishonour of the Argentine flag, in violation of the integrity of the territory of the Republic, of its rights of justice, and of the faith due to the relations of friendship and good understanding cultivated without interruption with the Court of St. James's, it feels no less in acquainting the hon. representatives with that new and scandalous aggression committed in the Malvinas by an officer in the English navyan aggression rendered more remarkable by the reciprocal relations and treaties of friendship and commerce existing between the two countries, than that which was last year committed by the officer of another friendly nation the United States of North America.

The schooner-of-war Sarandi, anchored in the outer roads on the 15th instant, on her return from Port Luiz de la Soledad, in the Malvina Islands.

Her comman

der, Don J. M. Pinedo, reports that he has returned from thence, prior to receiving orders for so doing, on account of his Britannic majesty's vessel of war Clio having, on the 2nd of this month, arrived in the island of Soledad, at a time when, owing to the insubordination of a few of the soldiers of the garrison, the chief of the establishment had been killed, and good order disturbed (in the restoration of which the naval commander was occupied when the Clio arrived): that, having sent two of his officers on board the Clio, to make the corresponding offers of attention and friendship, they returned and informed him, that Mr. Onslow, the commander of his Britannic majesty's sloop, intended to go on board the Sarandi, which he did on the same day, about three in

the afternoon, accompanied by two of his officers; and entering into conversation with the commander of the Sarandi, he informed him, that he came to take possession of the Malvinas, as belonging to his Britannic majesty; and that he had positive orders to hoist the British flag thereon within twenty-four hours; as he had already done in other ports of the said islands; and to give passage in a vessel to the officer and troops stationed there, and to the other inhabitants; and to cause every thing belonging to Buenos-Ayres, to be embarked and sent off; in consequence whereof he requested that the Argentine flag, which was then flying on the shore, might be struck the following day, as he was bound to fulfil the orders he had received.

The surprise of commandant Pinedo, under such circumstances, was as natural as was unexpected the aggression and violent spoliation which caused it, considering that this gross outrage was committed by a friendly and powerful nation, which has always boasted of its fidelity and moderation, and which has lost no opportunity of manifesting the cordiality of its kind feelings towards the Argentine republic. Notwithstanding, after having made to Captain Onslow the corresponding protests, and remarking to him, that if the two governments were in peace and friendship, this proceeding was unaccountably strange, he told him that his duty would not allow him to consent to this unjust pretension, without receiving express orders from his government. Mr. Onslow then took his leave, telling commandant Pinedo, that he would reply to him in writing.

In effect, about four o'clock in the afternon of the same day (the 2nd), the said commandant received the note of which the subjoined No I. is a copy; and on view of the intimation therein contained, he wished to resist at all hazards, when he met with difficulties which he considered insurmountable; nevertheless, he resolved to send a deputation which, in the name of the government, should repeat to Mr. Onslow the former protests, and inform him, that if he contemplated executing his project by force, he should consider himself bound to resist it, and that he therefore hoped Captain Onslow would prefer waiting until the government should have marked out to him (Pinedo) the line of conduct he ought to pursue.

It was more than ten o'clock at night when the deputation returned on board the Sarandi, without having been able to obtain an interview with Captain Onslow.

In this state of affairs, after having endeavoured to surmount the difficulties which, in his opinion, would render the most desperate resistance unavailing, he became thoroughly convinced of it; and at six o'clock on the morning of the 3rd, he went personally on board the sloop Clio; and, for the last time, protested to her commander against the violation he was about to commit. Captain Onslow replied to him in the sense of the latter part of the subjoined note, assuring him, that he could not defer the execution of the orders he had received for taking possession of the Malvinas; that he could see what force he had, and that he was in momentary expectation of more; that he, commandant Pinedo, could therefore

act as he might think fit. Commandant Pinedo immediately withdrew, declaring Great Britain responsible for the insult, and the violation of the dignity of the Republic and of its rights, which were thus inconsistently and disrespectfully trampled on by force; that he was going to withdraw, but that he would not strike the flag on the shore.

Consequently, commandant Pinedo returned to his vessel, and adopted, among other measures, prior to setting sail, that of prohibiting those on the island from lowering the Argentine flag, and of conferring the command of the establishment, in writing, on the overseer of the establishment, Don Juan Simon, who was going to remain, with some others.

At nine o'clock in the morning of the 3rd, three boats, manned with seamen and marines from the English sloop, landed at the point of Port Luiz, and placing a staff at the house of an Englishman, about four squares distant from the commandancy, they hoisted thereon the British flag, and then proceeded to strike that of the Republic, which was still flying; and which was immediately delivered to the Sarandi by an officer sent for that purpose. Captain Pinedo was ready on that day to remove from the scene of the insult; but the weather obliged him to remain the whole of the 4th, and up to five o'clock on the evening of the 5th, when he set sail.

The facts, as transmitted by the government to the hon. representatives, in conformity with the official despatch of the commander of the schooner Sarandi, exhibit a most flagrant abuse of power, and belie the friendly protestations it was accustomed to receive from a

nation with which it endeavoured to maintain the best understanding, by scrupulously fulfilling the du ties imposed on it by the existing treaties, and exercising a generous liberality, in proof of the most sincere friendship. By the copies Nos. 2, 3, and 4, the hon. representatives will learn what steps have been taken by the government in this serious and delicate affair; and likewise, its firm resolution to maintain the rights of the Argentine Republic, and not to come to any accommodation inconsistent with the national honour; taking every measure which justice and prudence may dictate, for the purpose of obtaining from the cabinet of his Britannic majesty full reparation, the acknowledg ment of our right to the Malvinas, and the exercise of our dominion

over that territory; and should this not suffice, then to adopt such measures as may be most conducive to obtaining a declaration of the opinion of the world, to which a government like that of England,

which wishes to be considered as ranking amongst the most free and enlightened of Europe, cannot be indifferent.

God preserve the hon. representatives many years.

JUAN RAMON BALCARCE.
MANUEL VICENTE DE MAZA.

No 1.-(Copy.)
His Majesty's sloop Clio, Berkeley

Sound, 2nd January, 1833. Sir, I have to acquaint you, I have received directions from his excellency the commander - inchief of his Britannic majesty's ships and vessels of war, South American station, in the name of his Britannic majesty, to exercise the "rights of sovereignty over these islands."

It is my intention to hoist, tomorrow morning, the national flag of Great Britain on shore, when I request you will be pleased to haul down your flag on shore, and withdraw your forces, taking with you all stores, &c. belonging to your government.

I am, Sir, your most obedient
humble servant,

J. J. ONSLOW, Commander. His Excellency the Commander, of the Buenos Ayrean forces at Port Luiz, Berkeley Sound.

No. 2. (Translation.) Department of Foreign Relations, Buenos Ayres, January 16, 1833, 24th year of the Liberty, and 18th of the Independence of the Republic,

The undersigned Minister of Grace and Justice, charged provisionally with the Department of Foreign Relations of the Argentine Republic, has the honour to address the Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of

his Britannic majesty in this city, to acquaint him, that the government has just learned that the commander of his Britannic majesty's sloop-of-war Clio has taken possesin the Malvinas, hoisting the Brision of the Island of La Soledad, tish flag where that of the Argentine Republic waved. This unexpected event has sensibly affected the feelings of the government of cannot discover anything to justify Buenos Ayres; and although it such a proceeding, nevertheless, presuming that the Chargé d'Affaires, whom the undersigned addresses, is informed upon a measure which openly compromises the dignity and rights of the Argentine Republic, it has directed the undersigned to request of the Chargé d'Affaires of his Britannic majesty the competent explanations.

God preserve the Chargé d'Affaires many years.

MANUEL VICENTE DE MAZA. To the Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of his Britannic majesty.

No. 3.-(Copy.)

Buenos Ayres, January, 17, 1833. The undersigned, his Britannic majesty's Chargé d'Affaires, in acknowledging the receipt of the note, dated yesterday, of his excellency Señor Don Manuel Vicente de Maza, minister charged with the Department of Foreign Relations of the Argentine Republic, has the honour to inform his excellency

that he has received no instructions from his court to make any communication to the government of Buenos Ayres upon the subject to which his excellency's note re fers.

The undersigned will hasten to submit it to his majesty's government, and he avails himself of this opportunity to repeat to his excellency Señor de Maza the assurance of his high and distinguished consideration.

PHILIP G. GORE. To his Excellency Senor Don Manuel Vicente de Maza, &c. &c.

PROJECT of CONVENTION between HOLLAND on the one part, and FRANCE and GREAT BRITAIN on the other part,

Art. I. His majesty the king of the Netherlands, engages to withdraw his troops from the forts of Lillo and Liefkenshoek, which shall be evacuated and surrendered to the Belgian troops, within ten days after the ratification of the present convention.

Art. II. His majesty, the king of the Netherlands, engages to open to commerce, immediately after the ratification of the present convention, the navigation of the Meuse and of its branches; and, until a definitive arrangement shall be agreed upon, with reference to this subject, the navigation of that river shall be subject to the arrange ments of the convention signed at Mentz, on the 31st of March, 1831, respecting the navigation of the Rhine, so far as those arrangements can be applied to the said river.

Art. III. Until the conclusion of a definitive treaty between Holland and Belgium, the navigation of the Scheldt shall remain free, and without any obstacle, as it has been since the 20th of January, 1881, conformably to the declaration made by his majesty the king of the Netherlands to the Five Powers on the 25th of January, 1831.

Art. IV. Their majesties, the king of the French, and the king of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, engage to obtain, immediately after the ratification of the present convention, the evacuation, by the Belgian troops, of Venloo, of the Dutch part of Limburg, and of the German part of Luxemburg, such as their districts were marked out by the treaty signed on the 15th of November, 1831, between the Five Powers and Belgium; and to cause to be surrendered to the authorities of the king of the Netherlands,

grand duke of Luxemburg, the fortresses, places, and territories abovementioned.

Art. V. His majesty, the king of the Netherlands consents that the commercial communications between Belgium and Germany, by way of Limburg, shall remain entirely free, and not be under any pretext interrupted. The use of the roads which traverse the towns of Maestricht and Sittard, leading to the frontier of Germany, shall only be subject to the payment of moderate barrier duties, for the maintenance of these roads, so that the commerce of transit may not experience any obstacle, and that whilst maintaining the rights above-mentioned, these roads may be kept in good order, and in a fit state to facilitate commerce. Art. VI. His majesty the king of the Netherlands engages that no person in those territories, which shall be evacuated by the Belgian troops, or which shall be surrendered to the Dutch or Luxemburg authorities, shall be prosecuted or disquieted on account of any parti cipation, either direct or indirect, in past political events.

Art. VII. His majesty, the king of the Netherlands, engages to reduce his army to a peace footing immediately after the ratification of the present convention, so that the reduction shall be effected within a month after the said ratification, provided always that the Belgian army shall be also reduced to a peace footing within the same time of a month.

Art. VIII. Their majesties, the king of the French, and the king of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, engage to obtain that the Belgian army shall be put upon a peace footing within

a month after the ratification of the present convention.

Art. IX. Immediately after the exchange of the ratifications of the present convention, their majesties the king of the French, and the king of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, will take off the embargo which they have placed upon the ships, vessels, and merchandise, belonging to the subjects of his majesty the king of the Netherlands, and all the vessels detained with their cargoes shall be immediately released and restored to their respective owners. TALLEYRAND.

PALMERSTON.

"The undersigned chargé d'affaires of France to the Netherlands government has received orders to communicate to his excellency the Baron Verstolk Van Soelen, propositions which have been addressed to the government of his majesty the king of the Netherlands, by his majesty the king of the French, in concert with his majesty the king of Great Britain.

"Under present circumstances, the courts of France and of Great Britain hope that the eagerness shown by them to communicate these propositions to his majesty the king of the Netherlands, will be considered by the latter as a marked testimony of those equitable and conciliatory dispositions which have never ceased to actuate the whole of their conduct.

"The undersigned seizes the opportunity of having the honour to tender to his excellency the Baron Verstolk Van Soelen the assurance of his high consideration.

"MARQUIS D'EYRAGUES. "The Hague, Jan. 2."