IMPORTANT FROM SOUTH AMERICA.

Wellington Independent, Volume II, Issue 79, 15 July 1846, Page 4

IMPORTANT FROM SOUTH AMERICA.

[From the Australian Journal, Jane 23.] ;

The latest intelligence from Monte Video, is contained in the following* extract from a letter, dated 20th December, copied into the " Launceston Advertiser," from the " Cape Herald" of January 24:—

By the William Piele ninety-three distressed British subjects have arrived from Monte Video, they are principally media •. nics. Some have already obtained employment, and we doubt not but the remainder will quickly be engaged. Intelligence of.a more cheering kind has reached us from that quarter. It appears from some extracts of private letters and ofhVal documents, that the combined English and French naval forces determined on forcing the passage of the river Parana, which had been closed to foreign ye sels. An engagement ensued, in which the Argentines were completely rout d. The loss on the part of the combined forces was about 30 killed and 95 wounded, whilst that of the enemy, it was supposed, could not have been lees than 1000 men. These deraonstra'ions on the part of the mediating powers will ultimately have ihe effect of opening up this fertile tract of country to British capital and enterprise, and of undermining the tyrannical power oi Rosas. The William Piele has, we understand, brought despatches to the Lieutenant Governor, requesting reinforcements of men and ammunition. Monte Video, 23rd Sept., 1845. Sir, —I have the honour to announce to you that, in conformity with a declaration which the Plenipotentiaries of the mediating powers addressed to the Government of Buenos Ayres on the 18th inst., a blockade of the ports and of the coasts of the province of Buenos Ayres, by the vessels of the British and French squadrons, will commence to-morrow, the 24th instant. The term of fifteen days has been granted for the departure of neutral vessels from the port of Buenos Ayres, and ihe commanders of the blockading forces have been authorised in case of neeesssity, to extend that term to the 24th October next. I have the honor, Ac. (Signed) Adolphus Ttjiher. To his Excellency Senor D. Santiago Vasquez, Ministercf Foreign Relations.; Extract of a Letter of 20th December, 1845. We are still beseiged, but safe, as we have upwards of 1,000 British troops here that were destined for the Cape. About the latter end of next month more troops may j be expected from England and France, j 1 send yon a copy of the notification of the blockade of Buenos Ayres, and 1 advise its publication in one of your journals. There has lately been a very serious engagement out here. The river Parana has been closed to foreign vessels, and the British and the French determined on forcing a passage, In a very strong position, about forty leagues above Buenos Ayres,atthe Vuelto del Obligado, Rosas erected four strong batteries, and mounted 26 brass and iron pieces of a calibre varying from 18 to 32 pounders. The batteries were well garrisoned, and in the neighbourhood were about 3,000 cavalry and infantry, with six field pieces, which were used in action. On the 20th of November, the Gorgon and Firebrand English, and the Fulton French, steamers, the Comu-!, Philomel, Dolphin, and Fanny English, and the Expeditive, Pandour, San Martin, and Procida. French, vessels of war, anchored of the batteries, and the action commenced. It lasted five hours in all its strength, and the batteries were not silenced completely in less than seven hours. The Argentines fought well. Whenever the infantry attempted to fly, they were charged by the cavalry, and forced back into the batteries, and at last the infantry actually fired npon and drove away their own cavalry, and escaped! The enemy lost in killed and wounded, little, if any, short of 1,000 men. The French lost about 20 killed, and had about 70 wounded. The English lost about.lO killed, and had about 25 wounded. The affair was a most desperate one, and pro* bably more severe in its effects than anything of the kind since the long European war. 1 enclose a semi bulletin, published here the day on which we received the account of the action. It is tolerably correct. The combined expedition afterwards proceeded up the river, but met with no opposition at the Rosario, where they had expected to encounter it. By this time theyare at Gorrientes. So sure was Rosas of being victorious, that in Bueuos Ayres

great preparations had been made on a grand scale. Since the action be has not been able to reunite more than 600 of thei men who were present. The is great, and the country people believe that the combined squadron was aided by supernatural power! They have, however, yet to learn the effects of a charge from British infantry. We have now a pros- { pect of seeing the complete overthrow of i the monster, Rosas, for I do not think the i British and French governments will make any terms with him. What, think of his giving orders to shoot all the officers from ; a corporal upwards (when taken,) who may have deserted from the Obligado action, as well as every fifth and seventh man ? yet this is true. He also published a decree, authorising the magistrates to treat as pirates the crews of such merchant vessels as may be taken navigating the Parana ! This is laying down the law of nations with a vengeance. Ail is quiet in Buenos Ayres. But if Rosas finds that the British and French governments, ap-; prove of the steps taken by their ministers, which he will ascertain in the course of the month of February, 1846, at farthest, it is expected he will commit some great crime. He had lately had a census taken of the foreign population of Buenos Ayres.

We are indebted to the kindness of a friend for the following translation of the semi bulletin :— THE VICTORY IN THE PARANA. Destruction of the Batteries of the Voltade Obligado. On the 20th, the position of the enemy in the Parana were attacked by the com bined forces of the English and French. The resistance was very obstinate. The conflict lasted with equal vigour from ten o'clock in the morning until after seven in the evening, at which hour all the batteries were taken, and the enemy expelled with a frightful carnage. After the occupation of the batteries there were discovered in one of them 250 killed, and in the other 160, all blacks. There were 22 pieces of artillery taken. At the *ime the infantry of the enemy began to fly, they were charged back by their own cavalry, who obliged them to renew the conflict It is thus they willingly destroy themselves for Rosas. The loss of the combined forces is as follows:—Of the Fronch there were 18 killed and 70 wounded: among the killed was Michaud, second lieutenant of the San Martin j among the wounded, Messrs. Hello, of the same vessel, Vernex, of the Pandour, Simoneau, of the Expeditive, and Daviei, of the Fulton. The English had 10 killed and 2d woundedj among the former were Lieut. Brigdale, of the Firebrand, and Mr. Andrews of the Dolphin. The last mentioned vessel received 107 balls in her hull, the Fulton 104, and the San Martin was completely riddled with shot. The French fired 1500 balls. Various pieces of the enemy having been dismounted were embarked with care at the termination of the battle.