Observations on the Present State of the Affairs of the River Plate Part 2

MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--My Government has seen with regret that the results of my visits to Monte Video, in December and January last, was not concession of a Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation between Great Britain and the Republic of Uruguay upon the footing proposed by my predecessor Mr. Hamilton, and subsequently by me, and I have been represented as not having been sufficiently urgent with your Excellency to conclude this treaty with me, and I have been blamed in consequence.

I therefore appeal to your Excellency if I did not do my utmost to induce you to negociate it with me, observing, that once concluded, it would not prejudice the acceptance of any other additional proposal on your part which might be added to it afterwards and form additional articles--and that I only desisted from urging it upon you, when I saw that my solicitations were of no avail, and you were resolved to await the answer to the proposition which I transmitted to London by your Excellency's desire.

I am anxious that this circ.u.mstance should be put in its true light, and that I may be exonerated from an undeserved censure--and still more that your Excellency should commence the negociations of the treaty with me, which would be the best answer to the reports of the lukewarmness of my wishes in this business.

Believe me to be, my dear M. de Vidal, with great truth and regard, most sincerely and faithfully yours,

J. H. MANDEVILLE.

_To his Excellency Don Antonino Vidal._

(SECRET AND CONFIDENTIAL)

_Buenos Ayres, June 18th, 1842._

MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--The measures which I alluded to in my private letter to your Excellency of the 10th instant--that her Majesty's Government will take for the effectual protection of the Republic of Uruguay are a joint mediation of Great Britain and France, which I am formally to tender to the Buenos Ayrean Government, upon the arrival of the French Minister here, Baron de Lurde, to adjust the difference between Monte Video and Buenos Ayres.

I did not acquaint you of this important intelligence in my last letters, on account of the possibility of their falling into other hands; and as I am not to make the formal offer of joint mediation of Great Britain and France, until the arrival of the French Minister at Buenos Ayres, I think, for many reasons, which I am sure you will share with me, that it should not be made known; but I have taken the first safe opportunity of communicating it to you, for your own satisfaction and for that of your colleagues.

Believe me always, my dear M. de Vidal, with great regard and esteem, most faithfully yours,

J. H. MANDEVILLE.

_To his Excellency M. de Vidal, &c. &c. &c._

_Buenos Ayres, June 23d,1842._

SIR,--I have had the honour to receive your Excellency's dispatch, marked confidential, of the 18th instant, in answer to mine of the 8th, which was delivered to me this morning, the contents of which will cause great satisfaction to her Majesty's Government, as to me they have procured the highest gratification. Her Majesty's Ministers will see, in the determination of the Monte Videan Government to conclude a Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, with Great Britain, on the terms proposed by Mr. Hamilton and by me, the most unequivocal proof of the loyalty of its intentions towards the British Empire, and of its friendly sentiments towards her Majesty's Government.

I shall, in consequence, avail myself of the friendly dispositions of the Monte Videan Government for the adjustment and conclusion of the treaty which your Excellency has done me the honour to communicate to me, and I propose, in a few days, to embark for Monte Video, for the termination of so honourable and desirable an event.

I have the honour to be, with the highest consideration, Sir,

Your Excellency's obedient humble servant,

J. H. MANDEVILLE.

_To his Excellency D. Jose Antonino Vidal, &c. &c. &c._

(PRIVATE.)

_Buenos Ayres, June 24th, 1842._

MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--I have received your two most amiable and friendly letters of the 18th and 20th instant; it is needless for me to tell you the delight and gratification which they have procured to me.

I have little more to add to my acknowledgement of the receipt of these letters, as I shall so very soon have, G.o.d willing, the satisfaction of seeing you, except to renew to my heartfelt thanks for their contents, which only serve to increase the sentiments of friendship and esteem which your conduct to me has inspired me with, since the first day of our personal acquaintance.

I reserve all communications upon any other subject until we meet, which will be about the middle of next week, but rely upon it, and it is with pride I tell you, _you and your Government will be satisfied_.

Believe me ever, my dear M. de Vidal, with the highest regard and consideration,

Most faithfully yours,

J. H. MANDEVILLE.

(CONFIDENTIAL.)

_Buenos Ayres, June 25th, 1842._

MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--Would you have any objections to have the treaty copied immediately?

I have motives so strong not for coming back to Buenos Ayres, but for being able to return at the moment when it becomes necessary, that I should impart them to you, which I cannot well by this conveyance.

I will answer for your concurrence with me in this desire to be ready, at a moment's notice, to come back here.

Another motive, which is a very secondary one, and that is, having no steward at this moment, the one who was with me for six years having left me to set up a coffee-house. I cannot bring my establishment with me, even if I had a house to go to at Monte Video, and therefore I am obliged to live at the Consul's, which is a great inconvenience to him, and consequently very disagreeable to me; but, as I have said, this is a trifling consideration, which may be got over very easily.

Again, Mr. Hood may come by the next packet--where shall I go then?

All these considerations, put together, make me very anxious, not so much to get through the treaty, for the sake of concluding it, as to be ready, when circ.u.mstances require my departure, to come back here.

Ever, my dear M. de Vidal, your faithful and sincere friend,

J. H. MANDEVILLE.

(PRIVATE.)

_Buenos Ayres, August 18th, 1842._

MY DEAR M. DE VIDAL,--I had the greatest pleasure in receiving your friendly letter, without date, which was accompanied by an official note brought to me by M. le Comte de Lurde, to which you require an answer.

If you will weigh the contents of this note, you will find that it is impossible that I can answer it in any other way, than has done the French Plenipotentiary by that of acknowledging the receipt of it.

In the first place, no formal tender of mediation has as yet been made by the French Plenipotentiary and me, and therefore, until it has been positively refused, it would be as unusual as it would be impolitic to have recourse to threats to enforce the acceptance of it. But other and more powerful reasons forbid this line of conduct; you who are accustomed to give directions to your foreign Ministers and agents, know that they must act by their instructions, and by their instructions alone. I cannot take upon myself to say what means are at the disposal of the Comte de Lurde, but I know I have no more the power of constraining General Rosas to pay respect to the wishes of the mediatory powers, as far as physical force goes than you have.