CHILI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 720, 6 March 1866, Page 5

CHILI.

DEFEAT AND CAPTURE OF A SPANISH MAN-OF-WAR. (From Im Pairia del ITapor,1 T apor, Dec. 22.) OFFICIAL CIBCT7LAR OF THE MINISTER OF INTEKIOB RELATIONS. This Minister has addressed to all Governors of Provinces the following circular informing them of the taking of the Covadonga. Santiago, November 27, ISGS. I hasten to communicate to you the following notice, taken from an official communication addressed xmder yesterday's date by the commander of the National Steam corvette Esmeralda to the Commander-General of the Marine Department of'Yalparaiso. On tlie morning of the above mentioned day, the Esmeralda left the port of Papudo to give battle to the Spanish gunboat Covadonga, that had sailed from Coquimbo. After a combat of one half hour the Esmeralda made a prize of the Covadonga, and took pi-i----soners her officers and crew. The prisoners taken are as follows : —the commander, six officers and from one hundred and ten to one hundred and fifteen of her crew. "Wo have happily not-lost one single man. The enemy on the contrary, had two killed, fourteen wounded, and amongst the latter an officer. The intrepid commander of the Esmeralda, does not in his note give farther particulars respecting this important occurrence, as time was pressing. The close proximity of Papudo to tho port of Yalparaiso, where the enemy lie in far superior force, allows the affair to be considered a3 glorious in the extreme. I am, &c„ At.v.vbo Covaebubias. THE FIGHT. Eyewitnesses of this first naval combat have communicated to ns the following details : — The Esmeralda laid in wait for the Virgen de Covadonga behind a point of land jutting into the sea a few.miles South of the port of Papudo. and as the Spanish vessel drew near, she sailed out with the British flag at her peak. The enemy hove to a? if wishing to examine her more closely. The Esmeralda continued advancing towards her, and so soon as she was within range and could bring her guns to bear, she hoisted the three coloured flag of Chile, and opened fire upon the enemy. The first shot went through the bows of the Covadonga, then a shell burst amidships, dismounting a large gun and levelling a number of men witli the deck. Of fifteen rounds fired by the Esmeralda nine struck their mark, although several were fired at long range. "When the Covadonga found out that she had irfet with more than her match in point of firing slie attempted to take to her heels but in this slie was disappointed, as the Esmeralda giving chase under a full pressure of steam, gained rapidly upon her. After a twenty minutes run, it appeared that the Esmeralda was determined Upon boarding her, This terrrible' perspective united with the bad condition of his vessel, determined tHc Spanish Commander to lower his flag to the Republican corvette. _ The Spaniards gave undeniable proof of their consternation and unskilfulness. Their guns were so badly managed that they only fired.three shots at the corvette, one of which, a GB-pourider, passed tllrough her bulwarks, but happily caused no further damage. One oftlie Spanish officers admitted afterwards, to a gentleman residing in Papudo, that the excellent management of the Esmeralda, had impeded the Covadonga from using to advantage, her artillery which was much superior. We are told that Captain. Williams in person, received the sword of his adversary on the quarter deck of his prize. The magnificent management of tho Chile artillery, the efficacy of its shots, and the able manner in which the vessel was worked, is worthy of notice, as it forms another instance in the comparatively fresh annals of contention between vessels impelled by steam power. The inhabitants of Papudo and its neighbourhood ivere eyewitnesses of this interesting spectacle. srANisn ri:isoNEH9. The prisoners disembarked from the Covadonga, as also the wounded, cannot complain of the treatment they are receiving at our hands. From the moment the flag was hauled down until now, they have been well provided for. The authorities as well as the people have treated them with benevolence and shown them consideration. As a proof of the statements we have made, •we are informed when the country people of Papudo saw the prisoners disembark with careworn looks and sallow faces, instead of giving rent to insulting slionts of deatb to tbe foe or making any hostile demonstration, they raised a subscription to distribute to them meat pies, pancakes, and other little dainty morsels, of which they pai'took with an avidity that shewed how much they relished them. The officers were served with an excellent dinner, after which they started for the capital in carriages. LA BESOLUCION. Yesterday this frigate belonging to the Spanish Squadron, lately occupied m the blockade of Tome and Talcahuano, anchored in this port. . In consequence of wbicb tbes© two ports ar€ again open to tho commerce ofthe world. Tho Esmeralda is a corvette of 900 tons When she loft Yalparaiso her armament consisted of 18 short 32 and 24 pounders, a portior i of which have been, it is believed, left m tht . fortresses to the South. ' v ' ' ' On the 20th November bet crew numhetec 188 m»a.

i The Covadonga was armed with three swivel x guns, one a 32 pounder, and tho other two f sixty-eights. ; She was manned'by 135 men, and owing to > tho narrowness of her beam, she had many adi vantages in au engagement. 3 The prisoners were conveyed to Santiago, f wliere they were provided for with a liberality t and kindness which speaks highly in favour of tho enlightenment of our people and the modef ration of our Government. The nation has celebrated with enthusiasm ' this first triumph, achieved in the very midst of ■ tho enemy's blockade, and with means comparaL tively slender and inadequate. J . Congress has voted, a well-deservod promotion to the intrepid commander of tho Esmeralda, ' Captain John Williams Rebolledo, and the Exe- ■ cutive litis made a general promotion of the other ofliccrs. COMMERCIAL PROSPECTS. It is needless to tell our foreign readers that public feeling, which two months of forced in- ' activity has failed to abate in the least, has been again heightened and emboldened by the occurrences of the last fortnight, both in Chili and Peru. . . The future ij looked forward to' with confidence and enthusiasm, and popular opinio'n does not confine itself within the limits of the present defensive war to which our momentary powerlessness condemns us. On the other hand commerce is resuming its operations. Steamers and sailing vessels are beginning to ply between the ports not under blockade. In ctery respect our prospects are brightening, and a prosperous future is before us.