SIEGE OF BUENOS AYRES.

43

that it is very desirable you should remain a few days longer in the port of Buenos Ayres.

"Events of importance, and of a decisive character, in respect to the condition of this city and province, are, in my opinion, at hand. No American man-of-war is in the river; Captain Downing, with the Jamestown, having suddenly, and without any correspondence or consultation with me on the subject, cleared out, as I have informally learned, to proceed to Rio Janeiro for the alleged purpose of having his ship caulked.

"I would not make this request but for the strongest conviction on my own part that the events referred to are almost certain, and for the farther fact that I am urged to do so by many American citizens resident in Buenos Ayres, and that I have also the concurrence of Mr. Schenck, who desires me to say so to you. JOHN S. PENDLETON.

"Capt. THOMAS J. Page, commanding U. S. steamer Water Witch.”

I felt it my duty to accede to this request, as the event alluded to in the letter of our Chargé was that some movement of the besieging army against the city was imminent; that foreigners, and all neutral persons, would be informed, in a day or two, of the intention of Urquiza to bombard the town; but an extraordinary occurrence saved Buenos Ayres from this infliction.

Our greatest amusement, after this new and unlooked-for aspect of affairs, was to watch the movements of the blockading squadron, and those of merchantmen seemingly running the blockade. Very perplexing were the efforts of the first in pursuing and never overtaking vessels deeply laden with flour and many other creature comforts, which would undoubtedly enrich the lucky merchant to whom they were consigned, and feed the hungry population whom Urquiza hoped to starve into terms. The skill was wonderful with which this squadron fired only to miss those running storehouses; and its manoeuvres not to intercept ships-to which, for an ample "quid pro quo," permission had been already given to enter-most amusing.

There was treachery somewhere, but, before Urquiza was aware of it, all was consummated by the commander-in-chief; and in full view of the foreign, national, and commercial ships in the inner and outer roads, and an immense concourse of people evidently gathered on the Plaza to witness the scene, the squadron was delivered up to the "inside" party.

We at first watched the movements of these vessels with interest and excitement as they came in one after the other, expecting to witness a fair fight; but, as we saw the rigging manned, and

44

MEDIATION OF FOREIGN MINISTERS.

listened to the hearty cheers of both sides, as each steamer and vessel entered and anchored; when we had seen the officers go deliberately on shore, where they were received with the most enthusiastic demonstrations of joy, our contemptuous indignation may be imagined.

Public rumor pronounced this act the consummation of a bargain, and even went so far as to specify the sum of 13,000 ounces as the share of the commanding officer, with an equal amount divided among the officers and crews. For the truth of this I do not pretend to vouch. I give it as a rumor of the time, generally credited. "The game was well worth the candle." The players knew well that, without the co-operation of the blockading squadron, there could be no reduction of the city. By its defection, a wide gate was opened for the introduction of supplies.

Though a bombardment of Buenos Ayres had been considered imminent, it seems never to have been the intention of Urquiza to resort to so desperate a measure. By interrupting trade and cutting off supplies he had hoped to bring the authorities to terms.

A fair opportunity was now presented for the mediation of the representatives of foreign powers. It was offered and accepted by the belligerent parties, and ended by the withdrawal of the besieging army. Messrs. Pendleton and Schenck took an active part in the negotiations, thus terminating a civil contest which, to one side or the other, must ultimately have been highly disastrous.

A little before the cessation of hostilities, our representatives, at the same time with those of England and France, concluded a treaty relating especially to the navigation of the Martin Garcia Channel, through which the Uruguay and main branches of the Parana empty into La Plata. It was supposed to command effectually the entrance of the upper waters, all vessels of more than eight feet draught being obliged to pass within pistol-shot of its shore.*

This treaty guaranteed the free navigation of the channel to all foreign flags, the governments who were parties to it agreeing to use their influence to prevent the occupation or possession of this

* Article 5 of treaty for the free navigation of the Rivers Parana and Uruguay, concluded on the 13th July, 1853:

"The high contracting parties, considering that the island of Martin Garcia may, from its position, embarrass and impede the free navigation of the confluents of the River Plate, agree to use their influence to prevent the possession of the said island from being retained or held by any state of the River Plate or its confluents which shall not have given its adhesion to the principle of their free navigation.

island by any nation that should attempt to close the navigation. At the time of this treaty it was in possession of the Argentine forces, but, by the defection of their squadron, jurisdiction over it passed into the hands of Buenos Ayres. The surveys of the Water Witch subsequently disclosed a channel on the other side of a greater depth by two feet, and so distant as to lessen its importance as a military position. The new channel will also divide the jurisdiction over the passage between Uruguay and Buenos Ayres so long as the island shall be retained by the latter: a possession acquiesced in by the former, but never conceded as a right.

The entire trade of those countries, save that which might be carried on in vessels of small draught by Las Palmas, must pass through one or the other, either or both of which might easily be blockaded by a very small naval force in co-operation with batteries on the island. The importance of this new channel was strikingly exemplified in a correspondence between the ministers of Brazil and the government of Buenos Ayres a short time before its discovery.

In February, 1855, a large Brazilian squadron passed through the channel of Martin Garcia on its way to Paraguay. Buenos Ayres complained of this as an infringement of her sovereignty, permission not having been obtained for the passage of these ships; for, upon the ground of holding territory on both sides of the channel, Martin Garcia being on the east, she based her right to prohibit the passage of a foreign fleet. Whether, under existing treaties, she possessed this right, is a question to be settled by diplomatists; but by the discovery of the new channel, even should the justice of her jurisdiction over Martin Garcia be fully recognized, it would avail her nothing more than closing the old highway, leaving a better passage, over which, at most, she could exercise but a concurrent power.

An acquaintance with the unbounded resources of the basin of La Plata can alone impress us with the importance of maintaining the free navigation of its interior waters to all flags, and the treaties between Urquiza, England, France, and the United States were only a consummation of the decree of August, 1852, declaratory of this fact.

Buenos Ayres will scarcely be permitted by the upper republics to renew the old exploded system of closing the rivers; but she is doubtless annoyed that so enlightened an act should have

been among the first of Urquiza's administration, and is consequently disposed to regard it as one of usurpation. She surely can not be so blind to her own interests as not to discover that it is freighted with immense benefits to herself. Her geographical position at the very portal of these tributaries will enable her, with her present population and capital, not only to maintain the ascendency she has always held as the emporium of La Plata, but to become one of the greatest cities of the American conti

nent.

The detention of the Water Witch was not at an end with the siege of Buenos Ayres; her presence was deemed essential in facilitating and carrying out some diplomatic movements to which the new aspect of political affairs had given rise; and though the connection between these duties and those prescribed by my letter of instructions from the Secretary of the Navy may not appear at first sight, the sequel will show that the service was not only one of deep interest to our government and people, by aiding in establishing a foundation on which individual rights in connection with commercial enterprises might be maintained, but at the moment and for all time to come it created a deep feeling of respect on the part of the people of the Argentine Confederation for the flag borne by the Water Witch. It subsequently facilitated the work of the expedition, and caused the officers to be received within the Confederation with special marks of respect and hospitality whenever they were brought in contact with the authorities or people of the country.

Before the close of the negotiations which resulted in an adjustment of the difficulties between the contending parties, besiegers and besieged, I received the subjoined note from Messrs. Pendleton and Schenck:

"Legation of the United States, }

Buenos Ayres, July 10th, 1853.)

"SIR, We are engaged in some confidential negotiations at present which are likely to result in an accommodation of the difficulties existing at Buenos Ayres between the parties to the civil war. There is no absolute certainty as to the event, but there is a sufficient probability of success to justify us in requesting that you will not leave the place for a few days. We make this request because it is a part of the present plan that the forn men-of-war in port may convey the Provisional Director and his escort the neighboring town of Gualaguaychu.

"As important objects connected with our duty here are likely to be atained more readily by the participation of the United States flag in this

THE DAUGHTER OF ROSAS.

47

transaction, we think it very important you should remain, there being no other United States vessel in port.

"ROBERT C. SCHENCK, "JOHN S. PENDLETON.

"Capt. THOMAS J. PAGE, United States Steamer Water Witch."

I assented to this request, and the Water Witch participated with two of her Britannic majesty's steamers in the conveyance of the Provisional Director and his suite to the province of Entre Rios.

The representative of France likewise offered the "Provisional Director" the use of a national vessel, but, on repairing with the others to Palermo, the point of embarkation, the French steamer, being totally unprepared for the service, did not join the escort. The duty consequently devolved on H. B. M. steamers Trident, Lieutenant Commanding Harvey, Locust, Lieutenant Day, and the U. S. steamer Water Witch. Only the staff, a few civil officers who were with General Urquiza, and such of the forces as had formed his escort, in all four hundred persons, were conveyed by these vessels, while the main body of the army marched by land to their respective destinations.

The "Provisional Director" selected the Water Witch for the passage of himself and suite.

We repaired at the appointed time to the anchorage off Palermo, the celebrated and once beautiful residence of the Dictator Rosas and his fair daughter "Manuelita." It is about two miles north of the city, and is now occupied as a barrack for soldiers. Slightly elevated above the river, nature had done nothing for Palermo, but the taste and wealth of Rosas had made it a paradise. The dictator was capable of one tender emotion, love for his fair and only child, and in seeking to manifest this affection, a sense of the beautiful in art and nature seems to have been awakened in the breast of this hard man. Nothing was spared that could adorn either dwelling or grounds. There were extensive groves of orange-trees, and some idea of the labor and expense bestowed on this domain may be gathered from the fact that hundreds of soldiers cleaned their foliage leaf by leaf. The road leading to the city was made with care, and being adorned and shaded by large trees, had become the fashionable afternoon drive. Some of the former visitors to Palermo assured me that the graceful manners of the Señorita Manuelita lent a charm to this residence which neither art nor the lavished money of Rosas could ever bestow.