The provocation given by President Lopez seemed so extr ordinary that it was believed he must count upon some co-operation and assistance from what is called the Federal party in the Argentine Republic, which is in political opposition to the Govern ment, and of which General Urquiza is the head; but if so, it would seem that he has been completely disappointed, for General Urquiza has declared his entire adhesion to the Government in the war against Paraguay, has accepted the command conferred upon him by General Mitre of the Entre Rios contingent, and is actively engaged in assembling his men. The Government are likewise taking the most energetic measures for forming an army; 1,500 men were dispatched yester day up the River Paraná, and they will soon be followed by 5,000 or 6,000 more. The Governor of Corrientes has already collected 5,000 men in his Province, and General Urquiza will, in a few days, have under his orders 10,000 men in Entre Rios. I believe that in about two months General Mitre, who will put himself at the head of the army, may have at his disposal nearly 25,000 men. I presume that the Brazilian forces now at Monte Video, or on their way towards Entre Rios, are not less than 16,000 men. The Argentine Government have no vessels that can really be called men-of-war, although they have 5 or 6 steamers at their disposal which will be useful as transports; but the Brazilians have about 20 serviceable steamers of war, suited to the navigation of the rivers, 8 of which should be now near Corrientes. For some days it has been rumoured that a Paraguayan force had also taken possession of the town of Corrientes, but it was only yesterday that authentic news arrived that 6 Paraguayan steamers appeared on the morning of the 14th instant at Corrientes, and landed about 4,000 men, who occupied the town. They were subsequently joined by about 1,000 cavalry who had come along the coast of the River Paraná. Another Paraguayan force, but of what amount it is not known, came lower down the river and took posses sion of Empedrado, a small town about 35 miles below Corrientes, on the coast of the Paraná. I had supposed that on the arrival here of Senhor Octaviano, the Brazilian Minister, who had come here sooner than he had intended, at the invitation of the Argentine Government, negotiations would at once have been entered into for a formal alliance with Brazil as regards the war against Paraguay; but at first there was an evident coolness between Senhor Octaviano and the Argentine Government. I can only attribute it to the stipulation demanded by the former, that both parties should declare that they would respect the independence of the Republic of Paraguay. Both President Mitre and Señor Elizalde have at different times declared to me that for the present they wished Paraguay to be independent; that it would not suit them to annex Paraguay, even if the Paraguayans should wish it; but that they were unwilling to make any engagement to that effect with Brazil; for they did not conceal from me that whatever were their present views on this point, circumstances might change them hereafter; and Señor Elizalde, who is about 40 years old, said to me one day, though in mere conversation, that "he hoped he should live to see Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and the Argentine Republic united in one Confederation, and forming a powerful Republic in South America." It would seem, however, that the nearer approach of danger has tended to modify the views of the Argentine Government upon this subject, and I understand that a confidential understanding with regard to the proposed alliance was come to this morning between President Mitre and Senhor Octaviano. A messenger has been dispatched this evening to Monte Video for the purpose of inviting General Flores, the Provisional Governor of the Republic of the Uruguay, to visit Buenos Ayres, in order to concert a triple alliance. I presume that on his arrival a formal Treaty will be drawn up. This and other important matters will have to be submitted to the Congress, who it is hoped will open their session on the 1st of next month. I will endeavour before the sailing of the packet to obtain the heads of the proposed alliance for your Lordship's information. Earl Russell. I have, &c., EDWD. THORNTON. (Inclosure 1.)-Proclamation of the President of the Argentine Republic of War with Paraguay.-Buenos Ayres, April 16, 1865. FELLOW-COUNTRYMEN! (Translation.) In the midst of peace, and in violation of all law, the Government of Paraguay has commenced hostilities by treacherously seizing two Argentine war-steamers in our own territory, and firing on an unprotected town. We are forced into a war, without provoking it, and after doing our best by a neutral policy to avoid it: we must answer war by war, and with all the energy and power of the Argentine nation, whose honour and security have been so basely attacked. Counting, as I do, on Argentine valour and determination, I have heretofore kept the country on a peace footing, knowing that when the hour of danger arrived all would flock around the national banner and do their duty. That hour has come. In the name of your country and of the law, I summon you to your posts as citizen soldiers, whose banners are always wreathed with justice and victory. Fellow-citizens! I can confidently promise you the triumph, because all Argentines count on it, and the elements at our disposal, with the aid of Providence, and your valorous patriotism, ensure success. After this noble effort peace will be more solid, glorious, and fruitful; and you can then resume with double energy the task of progress in which you are interrupted by a barbarous and treacherous aggression. I need not say that I will fulfil the duties imposed on me by the country and the Constitution, and confiding in the protection of Heaven for so just a cause, and in your generous patriotism, I will not rest until restoring you the peace so basely wrested from us, and vindicating the honour of the Argentine nation. Your friend and countryman, BARTOLOME MITRE (Inclosure 2.)—Decree of the President of the Argentine Republic declaring the Republic in a State of Siege. (Translation.) Buenos Ayres, April 16, 1865. THE nation being at war, and in conformity with Article XXIII and paragraph 17 of Article LXXXVI of the Constitution, the President of the Republic decrees :— ART. 1. The whole Republic is declared in a state of siege until the Assembly of the National Congress shall determine upon future mode of proceeding. Let the National Congress be informed in due time; let it be communicated to whom it may concern, and let it be published and inserted in the National Register. RUFINO DE ELIZALDE. LUCAS GONZALES. JUAN A. GELLY Y OBES. MITRE Mr. Thornton to Earl Russell.-(Received June 4.) MY LORD, Buenos Ayres, April 24, 1865. On the 17th instant a Decree, of which I have the honour to inclose translation, was published in the newspapers of this city. It declares that all the ports on the coast of the Republic of Paraguay are blockaded, and it is signed by President Mitre and his Ministers. Upon seeing it I called upon Señor Elizalde, and observed that this blockade could not be considered to exist until the ports were guarded by an effective force. His Excellency replied that it was merely a declaration of blockade by the Government, and would be further notified whenever sufficient force should be present to carry it out. Until then vessels might go to the ports in question, and would incur no penalties until they had been actually notified by the blockading force itself. The next day I received a note from Señor Elizalde, translation of which I have the honour to transmit herewith, inclosing copy of the above-mentioned Decree; a copy of my answer to this note is likewise inclosed. On the 20th instant I received a letter, dated the 14th instant, from my Brazilian colleague, M. Leal, inclosing copy of one from Admiral Tamandaré, in which it is announced that the ports and coast of the Republic of Paraguay will be blockaded by the Brazilian naval force which is now on its way up the Paraná; and, further, that the ports in the Province of Matto Grosso, being occupied by the Paraguayans, are closed to all vessels. A translation of M. Leal's letter to me, together with my answer, I have herewith the honour to inclose. The force mentioned in M. Leal's letter consists of 8 gun-boats, which passed Martin Garcia on the 12th instant, and should now, if they have met with no obstacle, be near Corrientes. They are good vessels, built for men-of-war, and well armed, and may therefore be considered nearly a match for the Paraguayan steamers, which are about 20, but all slightly built, as passenger steamers on the rivers, and not strongly armed. I imagine, however, that Admiral Tamandaré, who, I understand, will shortly proceed up the river, will take with him several more steamers. I have, &c., Earl Russell. EDWD. THORNTON. (Inclosure 1.)—Decree of the President of the Argentine Republic of the Blockade of the Ports of Paraguay. (Translation.) ART. 1. From the date of publication of this Decree, all the ports on the littoral of the Republic of Paraguay, and which are occupied by its Government, are declared blockaded. Let it be communicated to whom it may concern, and let it be published and inserted in the National Register. RUFINO DE ELIZALDE. LUCAS GONZALES. J. ANDRES GELLY Y OBES. (Inclosure 2.)-Señor Elizalde to Mr. Thornton. (Translation.) MITRE. Buenos Ayres, April 18, 1865. THE Undersigned, &c., has the honour to inclose to your Excellency translation of a Decree issued by the Government of the Republic, in which is decreed the blockade of all the ports on the littoral of the Republic of Paraguay occupied by its Government; and it has been made effective. The Undersigned, &c. E. Thornton, Esq. RUFINO DE ELIZALDE (Inclosure 3.)—Mr. Thornton to Señor Elizalde. Buenos Ayres, April 19, 1865. THE Undersigned, Her Britannic Majesty's Minister Plenipotentiary, has the honour to acknowledge the receipt of a note of yesterday's date from his Excellency Dr. Don Rufino de Elizalde, &c., inclosing copy of a Decree directing the blockade of the ports on the coast of the Republic of Paraguay, which it has been ordered to render effective. From the tenour of his Excellency's note the Undersigned infers that neutral vessels proceeding to those ports will incur no penalty until a sufficient force be present there to compel the observance of the blockade. The Undersigned, &c. Señor Elizalde. EDWD. THORNTON. (Inclosure 4.)-Senhor Leal to Mr. Thornton. (Translation.) Buenos Ayres, April 14, 1865. I HAVE the honour to place in your Excellency's hands the inclosed note, copy of a despatch from Vice-Admiral Viscount de Tamandaré, in which he begs this Legation to inform your Excellency that, in consequence of orders received from the Government of His Majesty the Emperor my august Sovereign, the naval forces under his command are going to blockade the ports on the coast of Paraguay, and that this blockade will take effect from the day that it shall be established by the divisions of the Imperial squadron now on their way up the River Paraná. The Vice-Admiral requests that I should further communicate to your Excellency that the Government of President Lopez having occupied the ports of Matto Grosso, the Imperial Government have determined to allow no national or foreign vessel to proceed to those ports until a new declaration. Having carried out Viscount Tamandaré's request, it only remains for me to renew, &c., E. Thornton, Esq. FELIPE JOSE PEREIRA LEAL. (Inclosure 5.)-Vice-Admiral de Tamandaré to Senhor Leal. (Translation.) ILLUSTRIOUS SIR, I HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that, in virtue of |