THE war between Brazil and Buenos Ayres, which contined during a portion of the time of which we intend to give an account, renders it convenient to treat of the affairs of these two countries in one chapter. Towards the close of the year 1827, the movements of the belligerents indicated, that they were preparing for another active campaign.

The diplomatic interference of the British government in behalf of the emperor of Brazil, had totally failed by attempting too much. By inducing the negotiator of the republic, Manuel J. Garcia, to concede all the points in dispute to Don Pedro, it had caused the rejection of the treaty by the Buenos

Ayrean government. A more unfavourable treaty could not have been forced upon it, after a disastrous campaign; and hitherto, success had attended the arms of the republic. Besides driving the Bra. zilian troops from their positions in Entre Rios, and the Banda Oriental, they had invaded the province of Rio Grande, and almost annihilated the coasting trade, and blockaded the chief ports of Brazil by means of her numerous privateers.

The finances and credit of the republic were, indeed, at a low ebb; but this peace, of which the terms could scarcely have been more unfavourable if dictated by Brazil, of course was rejected; and its rejection led to the resignation

of Rivadavia, and the almost unanimous election of Don Manuel Dorrego, as president of the province of Buenos Ayres.

This province had latterly been compelled to bear the chief burden of the war-the national congress and government having voluntarily dissolved on the 1st of August, 1827, in consequence of the total disregard by the other provinces of their federal engagements.

The provincial government of Buenos Ayres, on the 27th of the same month, assumed the direction of the war, and of the foreign relation, and devoted all its energies to the discharge of the new duties forced upon that province by the desertion of the others. Com missioners were sent to the differ. ent local authorities, to solicit their co-operation in the war; and the province of Cordova, the next in importance to Buenos Ayres, de. termined to aid in the prosecution of the war, and to furnish a regiment of troops, and other assistance. Measures were also taken to reunite the provinces, but with

out success.

In the mean time, the province of Buenos Ayres prosecuted the contest with renewed vigour. The hostile armies in Rio Grande remained inactive, but some places formerly belonging to the viceroyalty, called the Missiones Orientales, were reduced by the forces of the province. It was on

the ocean, however, that the great. est activity was displayed. Al. though far inferior, in the force and number of vessels, to the Brazilian fleet, their seamen were vastly su perior in courage and skill. Their public armed vessels and privateers, almost invariably were successful, except when opposed to overwhelming force. Admiral Brown, with a squadron of light vessels, kept the blockading Brazilian fleet in the La Plata in constant terror, and in the partial engagements which took place, sustained the honour of the republican flag. The blockade, however, was kept up by the Brazilians, though not so rigorously that it was not sometimes evaded, and at other times, the Buenos Ayrean cruisers undertook to force their way through the blockading squadron.

On the 16th of June, 1828, the brig General Brandzen, Captain De Kay, in returning from a successful cruize, was attacked by the squadron, and after a most gallant resistance was driven on shore and destroyed. The officers and part of the crew escaped in the boats. In this engagement, a Brazilian brig of 14 guns grounded within gun-shot of the fort on Point Lara, and was sunk by the Buenos Ayreans. The next day a conflict took place between the two fleets, without any decisive result. Several partial engagements occurred, and the war was continued, neither

party being able to make any extraordinary exertion, while their resources were wasted and their energies crippled by the contest. Both parties, however, continued to exercise their belligerent rights, to the great annoyance of neutral commerce, and so contrary to the ordinary usages of civilized nations, as to provoke the interference of other powers.

The depredations of Brazil had already brought her into collision with the United States, whose minister demanded his passports, as mentioned in the 2d volume of this work. Prompt measures, however, were taken to prevent any ulterior steps, and the Brazilian minister at Washington was directed to promise indemnity for the illegal cap. tures; and a convention was after. wards concluded, liquidating the

amount.

The French minister had also ineffectually urged the claims of his own countrymen, for the cap. ture and unauthorized condemna. tion of their property. Finding that the negotiation was pro. tracted, and that their just claims were disregarded, the French go. vernment determined to do itself justice, by the same means by which it had itself been compelled to do justice, for a portion of the confiscations of neutral property by Napoleon.

In the beginning of July, 1828, a French fleet made its appearance

before the port of Rio Janeiro, and after forming in line of battle, entered the harbour and anchored within musket-shot of the town, to the great surprise and terror of its inhabitants.

Indemnity was then demanded for the illegal captures. The Brazilian government sought to nego. tiate, and insisted that the squad. ron should relinquish its hostile attitude. But indemnity or repri sals seeming to be the only alternative; a promise of indemnity was given by the Emperor, although some objection was made on the part of the chambers, which was then in session.

With this promise the admiral was satisfied; and the negotiations being renewed, a convention was concluded on the 21st of August, 1828, between the two govern. ments, relative to the indemnities to France. By this convention, Brazil agreed to pay to the French government the value with 6 per cent. interest, of certain vessels captured by the blockading squadron, and definitively condemned by the Brazilian tribunals, in three several payments at 12, 18, and 24 months after the liquidation of the amounts. The amounts, with the damages, were to be determined by a joint commission, be. fore the 28th of February, 1829.

An additional article was also agreed to, by which the vessels of either party were not liable to cap.

ture for endeavouring to enter a blockaded port, unless previously warned off and the warning regularly endorsed on the papers of the vessel.

While the irregular and unlaw. ful conduct of the naval officers of Brazil exposed their government to these indignities; the still greater irregularities of privateers sailing under the Buenos Ayrean flag, sub. jected the republican government to the remonstrances of the governments of this country and of England, on account of the facility with which commissions were granted to private armed vessels.

Under pretence of warring upon the enemies of Buenos Ayres, they plundered American and European vessels indiscriminately; and this licensed piracy was carried to such an injurious extent, as to induce Lord Strangford (whose intimate acquaintance with Spanish and Portuguese affairs in both hemispheres gave additional force to his observations) to remark, in his place in the House of Lords, that these unwarrantable commissions were granted, for the express purpose of benefiting individuals concerned in the administration of the Buenos Ayrean government.

One of these privateers was ta. ken possession of in the harbour of St. Barts, by Captain Turner of the U. S. sloop of war Erie; and the officers and crew of another captured by a British cruiser, 35 in

number, were executed in St. Thomas for their outrages upon the laws of nations.

These aggravated abuses of belligerent rights excited the pointed attention of commercial nations, and the American chargé d'affaires at Buenos Ayres, Mr. Forbes, urged upon the government the propriety of recalling all the commissions previously issued to private armed vessels. This urgent request was complied with; and on the 17th of March, 1829, all the privateer commissions, whether issued against Brazil or Spain, were annulled, and the national cruisers were directed to disarm them wherever found. Previous, how. ever, to the promulgation of this decree, the preliminaries of peace between Brazil and Buenos Ayres had been agreed upon.

Both parties were nearly exhausted. The finances of the republic were in the utmost confu. sion, and it had been even obliged to suspend the payment of interest on its debt contracted in London. The Brazilian government was in a condition not much better. The bank notes had depreciated 40 per cent. within the year. The report of the minister of finance showed a deficit of 5.769.037.000 reis; and in addition to the want of means, the government was further weakened by the mutinous spirit displayed by the regular troops. In order to maintain his power in

Brazil, Don Pedro had procured between 2 and 3,000 of German and Irish soldiers from Europe, to enlist in his army. These soldiers were kept in distinct regiments, in. stead of being amalgamated with the rest of the army. Brazilian officers were put over them; and as if the government had intended to prepare the materials of rebellion, they were kept unemployed in the capital, badly fed, and paid in de. preciated paper money. The necessary consequence followed. They were constantly involved in disputes with the native inhabitants, and on the 10th of June, 1828, in consequence of the punishment of one of the German soldiers, the battalion to which he belonged openly mutinied.

Having imprisoned their colonel and burnt their barracks, they began to insult the citizens. The next day the other German battalion followed their example. They in. sisted that they had been deceived by the government in the terms of their enlistment. That they had been led to believe, that they would only be required to act as militia in the settlements where they might be distributed, and that the government had violated its faith in employing them in the regular army. The government en deavoured to pacify them, and succeeded in persuading them to return to their quarters; but the next day their suspicions of its sincerity,

and the exhortations of the Irish soldiers, who had also determined to mutiny, induced them again to revolt; and they proceeded to violence and plunder. A scene of confusion and disorder now ensued, in which many of their officers were put to death; and the city during three days presented the appearance of a place taken by storm. The Brazilian militia were called out, but they were held in too great contempt by the muti. neers to produce any effect. The apprehension of a servile revolt in. creased the horror of the moment, and it was not until assistance was furnished from the French and English fleets in the harbour, that the government ventured to em. ploy the proper means to quell the revolt.

After a strong body of marines, about 600 in number, were landed to protect the palace and arsenal, forcé was resorted to. An action took place, and after some firing the mutineers retreated to their quarters, and the next day surrendered, upon a pledge on the part of the English and French ministers, that their just complaints should be attended to.

Their pay was then made up to them-the Germans were generally distributed in the province of Rio Grande, the seat of war, as agriculturists, and some were detached to the defence of the forts and measures were taken to send