tinued with great force all that day and the day following, but with few casualties on both sides.

On the night of the 23d, at 11 o'clock p. m., a respectable person of this city came to inform me that a boat bearing a flag of truce, and commanded by the son-in-law of the admiral of the dock-yard, bearer of a dispatch for the French consul, had been seized and the officer impris oned, and wishing me to use my influence in procuring the liberty of said officer.

I proceeded to the "comité de salud publica" and had an interview with the president, and found it was impossible to obtain the liberation of said officer, as the flag of truce was used by him for visiting the British iron-clad Triumph, and not the comité. During my interview with the president and comité, they gave me to understand that they were tired and sorry of having commenced hostilities, and insinuated that they would be pleased to have matters arranged. I then offered my services toward this end, which they immediately accepted, with the understanding that everything should be considered strictly private and confidential, giving as a reason for this that the volunteers might create disturbances, thinking that the comité intended to compromise with their adversaries.

The comité gave the following conditions for treating for peace with the admiral:

That the admiral and the troops might evacuate the dock-yard with the honors of war, by land or with the fleet. That the arsenal and its dependencies should be delivered over to the comité of the canton of Cadiz.

The president of the comité, notwithstanding not wishing to take upon himself the entire responsibility of this affair, at the time of giving me said conditions, requested me to consult them with the general commanding the volunteer forces at San Fernando.

On the following morning, at 7 a. m., I proceeded on a special train with my vice-consul, Mr. Younger, and accompanied by two members of the comité, to San Fernando, where I had an interview with the Brigadier Egina, and these two members, who were not of the same opinion as the comité at Cadiz, but resolved that the following propositions should be presented to the Admiral Arias, of the dock-yard:

That the garrison troops of the dock-yard would be allowed to evacu ate the place with the honors of war and their arms; but the seamen to leave disarmed, but none of the vessels of war should leave the arsenal. That a sufficient number of officers should remain to deliver the arsenal and all its appurtenances in due form.

Both myself and vice-consul considered these terms too humiliating. and used every endeavor to have them modified, but without effect; and although we considered them utterly unacceptable, but for the sake of humanity, and wishing to stop the effusion of blood, for a short time at least, I wrote a letter, of which I inclose translation, to the admiral, and after some delay, caused by the volunteers in front refusing to allow their officers to hoist the white flag until it was accompanied by the United States colors, I received the admiral's reply, as per translation here

with.

The commander of the volunteer forces having given me his word of honor that all works pending should be stopped immediately, I proceeded with my vice-consul down to the dock-yard, where we were received with all honors and the greatest attention and friendliness by the admiral and his staff. The terms of which I was bearer were instantly and indignantly rejected; the admiral, besides stating that having re

ceived the command of the dock-yard and its dependencies from the gov ernment, he would nor could not deliver it but to the government, adding also that, having re-enforcements, the dock-yard was in a state to defend itself against the volunteers for at least three months, being sufficiently rationed and having abundance of ammunitions.

During our conference with the admiral he frequently expressed his desire of terminating that unfortunate state of affairs, and to this effect charged us with the following propositions to the comité of Cadiz :

That a truce of six or eight days should be agreed upon, during which time the two belligerent parties should suspend all hostilities and works, and remain within their lines; and during said period the comité of Cadiz should send to Madrid commissioners to treat with the government regarding the course the admiral should take, either continuing to defend his command or delivering it over to the comité.

On our departure we received the same honors and civilities from the admiral, who instructed us to inform the general of the volunteers that during our negotiations he would suspend hostilities, if not fired upon by his adversaries.

On our return we laid the conditions of the admiral before the authorities at San Fernando, who, although they personally refused them, would not take upon themselves the responsibility of giving a decided answer before consulting the comité at Cadiz, for which purpose they, on our return to Cadiz, accompanied us, at 7 p. m.

On the 25th, at 2 p. m., the comité informed me that the admiral's propositions were rejected, whereupon they placed a steamer at my disposal, in which I and my vice-consul proceeded to the arsenal, to inform that there were no apparent probabilities of arriving to a peaceful solution of hostilities.

The admiral received our information with marks of great regret, but assured us that he could not grant other terms, and that he should commence hostilities the next morning at 8 o'clock a. m., precisely, and would not cease until the volunteers were disarmed and re-organized under the true principles of order, of republicanism, of all of which we informed the Cadiz comité at our return.

As the admiral had said the day before, the dock-yard and squadron recommenced hostilities on the 26th, at 8 o'clock, a. m., precisely, which was promptly replied to by the batteries of the volunteer forces, and a heavy cannonade, chiefly from the arsenal, was kept up the whole day. As my dispatch would be incomplete without giving you further details regarding the state of the dock-yard and volunteer forces, and the reasons which have caused this serious conflict, I beg to inform you, with all impartiality, that on my visit at San Fernando I found the volunteers greatly disheartened, unruly, and disorganized, in general confessing themselves tired out, and wishing for peace.

At the dock-yard, on the contrary, I found, to all appearance, everything in the greatest order, good discipline, and enthusiasm among the troops and navy. The dock-yard and squadron did not receive the least damage during the first two days of hostilities, and only had one man slightly wounded.

The positions of the volunteers had, however, been more roughly handled, as the naval college, the barracks, railway-stations, and other places, showed marks of better firing, they having had, besides, several killed and wounded.

The first gun at the commencement of hostilities was from the volunteers.

The chief instigator of these disturbances is a man called Mota, mayor of San Fernando, and who, with 600 or 700 volunteers of the

lowest class, instigated the volunteers of Cadiz to take part in the operations against the dock-yard, it is said, with personal views of revenge, as he formerly held the position of boatswain and was dismissed in disgrace.

It is rumored to-day that he has been assassinated by the volunteers, of which I have no doubt, as he had many enemies in the comité of Cadiz.

I am, &c.,

A. N. DUFFIE.

[Inclosure 1.-Translation.] Mr. Duffie to Admiral Arias.

SAN FERNANDO, July 24, 1873.

YOUR EXCELLENCY: Wishing to pass over to that arsenal for holding (accompanied by my vice-consul) a conference with your excellency, and having obtained from the chief of the volunteer forces a suspension of hostilities during said conference, I have to beg of your excellency if we can pass into the arsenal, the firing ceasing also on the part of the forces under your excellency's command during said period.

I am, &c.,

[Inclosure 2.-Translation.] Admiral Arias to Mr. Duffie.

A. N. DUFFIE.

ARSENAL OF THE CARRACA, July 24, 1873.

SIR: In reply to your letter, which I just received, which was brought by a person who was permitted to enter this arsenal on account of having presented himself bearing the flag of the United States of North America, I have to say that your person, as well as that of the vice-consul of the United States, will be admitted as soon as you present yourselves in this arsenal, and I will have the pleasure of verifying with you the conference which you desire.

In due deference to the character and your representation, I give orders for the suspension of hostilities as long as the enemy does, but informing you that my adversaries are erecting works for augmenting their means of attack; considering this militarily, it is the same as a continuation of firing on their part, and thus I ought not nor cannot consent to the said suspension, if the enemy does not suspend the works which they commenced.

I am, &c.,

No. 432.

JOSÉ RODRIGUEZ DE ARIAS.

No. 378.]

Mr. Duffie to Mr. Davis.

UNITED STATES CONSULATE,

Cadiz, August 5, 1873. (Received August 26.)

SIR: I have the honor to inform you that, yesterday at 1 o'clock a. m., the consular corps received a request from the comité of public safety to repair to their headquarters, situated in the custom-house of this city.

The consular corps acceded to their request, and on arrival were informed by the president, Mr. Salvochea, that the comité had resolved to resign their authority into the hands of the consular corps.

A conference among the consuls took place, after which it was decided to accept the transitory power with which the resignment of the comité invested them, chiefly for humanity's sake and for stopping the shedding of blood, as at 2.30 o'clock a. m. firing commenced in the city between the artillery troops of the line and the volunteers, the former wishing to overthrow the comité, and which ceased as soon as it

was known by them that the comité had resigned their powers to the foreign consuls.

The reasons for the resignment of the comité, in my opinion, consisted in that about forty of our principal merchants having been shut up by them for twelve hours under the demand of $100,000, which they stoutly refused, (and who were liberated at the request of the consuls,) thus leaving them without funds to pay their volunteers and troops; that their troops having become entirely disorganized, the close approach of the government troops and the fleet of foreign vessels having been increased by three British iron-clads, must have decided them to take that step. During our temporary administration a military and civil governor as well as captain of the port were appointed, and all the naval officers liberated.

At 12 o'clock Admiral Lobo arrived at Cadiz, into whose hands the consular corps gave over the entire government of the city and retired; but before this Admiral Lobo addressed the foreign consuls in the most flattering terms, assuring them, in the name of the Spanish government, that the difficult commission they had for humanity sake taken charge of, was most highly appreciated, and that the city of Cadiz would never forget the great benefit received from them.

At about 2 o'clock p. m. the government troops, under the command of General Pavia, marched into the town without firing a shot; the volunteers were disarmed, and at present the city has recovered its former tranquillity, although commercial transactions are extremely dull, but which will improve as soon as it is seen that business can be transacted with safety.

General Pavia proceeds from this to Granada, where there exists another "comité of public safety," and after the pacification of that city and its province, the whole province of Andalusia will be under the control of the established government.

I am, &c.,

[Inclosure 1.-Translation.]

A. N. DUFFIE.

Proclamation of consular corps to the people of Cadiz.

Inhabitants of Cadiz :

The comité of salud publica has resigned its power into the hands of the foreign consular body of Cadiz. The consuls have not vacillated in accepting so difficult a commission on account of the affection they profess for so noble a people, trusting in the honesty and wisdom of all classes of the population in the towns, whose co-operation they solicit, so that order, tranquillity, and confidence be complete in Cadiz.

They all desire to be aided in this task by the battalions of volunteers, as they already are by the regular forces, so that order may be completely secured in Cadiz, without in the least wounding the just and patriotic susceptibility of the inhabitants of Cadiz, till the moment, near at hand, that the troops of the Spanish government commanded by General Pavia may receive from us the powers which legally belong to them.

No. 238.]

No. 433.

Mr. Hancock to Mr. Davis.

UNITED STATES CONSULATE,

Malaga, August 2, 1873. (Received August 26.) SIR: On Friday, the 25th ultimo, a conflict occurred in the streets of this city, between the followers of Francisco Solier and Edward Carvajal, two contestants for local popularity and honors, in which eleven were killed and twenty-three wounded. Some eight or nine of the wounded have since died.

On Monday, the 28th ultimo, two insurgent iron-clad vessels, the Victoria and Almanza, left Carthagena under command of General Contreras, to depredate on the towns along the coast between that place and Malaga. Together they carried something near two thousand people, made up of the very worst class of the population. Rumor says that the prison-doors were opened and nearly a thousand criminals of every class composed a part of this motley crew. The first place they stopped was at Almeria, one of the dependencies of this consulate, about eighty miles east of this. Under the threat of bombardment they demanded from the people $100,000 to be paid within an hour. Instead of raising the money (in fact it would have been impossible) the entire populace deserted the town, leaving a garrison of from eight hundred to a thousand volunteers, to prevent a landing of the followers of Contreras, if possible. At the end of the hour given some twenty shots were fired. Then, after a short respite, about twenty more were fired and the bom bardment ceased. One or two houses were slightly damaged but no lives lost.

At eight o'clock on Tuesday evening they weighed anchor and put to sea without having received a farthing.

Their next anchoring was at Motril, some forty miles east of this, in this province; and there they demanded $16,000, which was given in bills of exchange on Malaga.

Yesterday, Friday morning, the Almanza made her appearance in the distance off this harbor, when the English iron-clad Swiftsure, Captain Ward, and the German iron-clad Prince Frederick Charles, under the command of Commodore Werner, put to sea to prevent her coming in. The German iron-clad fired a shell across the bow of the Almanza, when her guns were loaded and run out and the deck cleared for action. Seeing the same preparations on the two other iron-clads, the insurgents changed their minds and lowered their flag and surrendered. General Contreras was ordered on board the German vessel and there made a prisoner. The three vessels then started for Carthagena, and about two hours afterward they overhauled the Victoria and took her also.

They go back to Carthagena with them, and it is reported that the German iron-clad will blockade the port to prevent their coming out again.

Immediately after the occurrence there was general rejoicing here that Malaga had been saved from the fury of these people; but a reaction is now taking place, and notwithstanding the action of the Madrid government in declaring these vessels pirates, a feeling of hostility is manifested at the interference of foreign nations. It is commonly said, as this is a contest between Spaniards, that foreign governments, so long as their subjects are allowed time to make their escape, have no business to take sides with either party in the absence of a recognition of the Madrid government.