Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

From the Aurora
SOUTH AMERICA.

By the arrival of the brig America, in 107 days from Valparaiso, in the Delaware, we have received some private letters and some newspapers. We learn that Theodoric Bland, Esq. one of the commissioners who went hence last year to Buenos Ayres, and who passed the Andes to Chili, has arrived in this vessel, in good health, and yesterday proceeded to Baltimore. The arrival of Judge Bland is very timely, as his opportunities of information have had a wide ample range, and the intelligence and probity of his character, is a sure guarantee against error or exaggeration.

In the Gazeta Ministerial de Chili of the 5th of June last, we find a correspondence between our fellow citizen, Capt. James Biddle, of the United States navy, and the Chilian government, of which we give a hasty translation.

Translation of a letter from Capt. James Biddle, of the United States sloop of war Ontario, to his excellency B. O'Higgins, the supreme director of Chili.

On board the United States corvette Ontario in the anchorage of Valparaiso, May 29.

Sir--I have the honor to inform your excellency, that when about to take my departure from Lima for this port, I ventured to suggest to his excellency the viceroy of Peru, my regret, that no kind of exchange of prisoners, taken in the war between Chili and Peru existed, and that the number of prisoners on both sides was so considerable as to produce great misery; animated by a desire to alleviate the calamities of war, I offered to his excellency my good offices to promote between both countries, the means by which an exchange could be accomplished. In making a tender of my mediation to realize this object, I can assure your excellency that I was only actuated by motives of humanity, and an ardent desire to extricate from afflicting and prolonged suffering, many gallant men, who by the fortune of war had become prisoners on both sides.

His excellency, the viceroy, accepted my good offices, and has commissioned Don Felix de Ocbavarriaga y Blanco to treat with your excellency on this interesting subject. As this gentleman and his secretary Don Thomas Crompton, are on board the ship which I have the honor to command, and under my protection, I pray your excellency, that they may be permitted to land and to pursue their route unmolested for St. Jago; and I also solicit of your excellency, the assurance that they will be respected during their residence in that city; and that they may be freely permitted to embark whenever they may think proper.

As soon as I shall have the honor of this permission and of those assurances from your excellency, I shall accompany Mr. Ocbavarriaga to St. Jago, and will there have the satisfaction of contributing by every means in my power to establish between both countries a convention for the exchange of prisoners, so as to alleviate the evils of war, which at present exist. I bring the sum of $10,000 which was delivered to me by the viceroy of Peru, for the purpose of alleviating the wants of the Spanish prisoners in Chili, which sum I shall so dispose of as to be transmitted to St. Jago, if it should be your pleasure to permit its application to the purpose intended--and I have the satisfaction of informing your excellency, that Lieut. Col. Casara, and the captains Eugires, Valderrama, and Villanueva, officers of the patriotic army who were prisoners at Lima, have arrived on board my ship.

I have the honor to be, &c.

JAMES BIDDLE
Captain United States Navy.

To his excellency, the supreme director of Chili.

To which the following answer was returned.

Sir--His excellency the supreme director having taken into consideration the contents of your letter of the 29th inst. has directed me to tender to you, in his name, the expression of his most ardent thanks for the generous concern you have taken with the viceroy of Peru, in order to open an exchange of prisoners of war, a measure repeatedly solicited on our part, but until this occasion, rejected by the viceroy.

Chili, as well as the other states of South America, can never forget the name of him, whose generous interference in the cause of humanity has entitled him to their gratitude. for having commenced and accomplished this noble work of humanity, so congenial to the American character, and so different from the afflicting policy of despotic governments.

For the happy success and the generous disinterestedness of your undertaking, be pleased to accept the thanks of the people and the government of this state.

His excellency the supreme director also desires that I should communicate to you that orders are already issued to the governor of Valparaiso, for the safe landing and passage of the commissioners from Lima to this city, and a public commissioner has been ordered to attend them, in order to provide accommodations and to facilitate their journey. He also directed me to assure you that they shall be received and treated with that generosity and hospitality which characterises the people of Chili: nor shall the conduct pursued by the viceroy of Peru to our commissioner, Col. Torres, who was sent hence to accomplish the same good purpose, [he was cast into a dungeon!] influence her conduct towards these commissioners, who will be received with respect in this capital, and obtain every attention and indulgence which hospitality requires and the laws of war authorise, and that they will be at perfect liberty to retire from this city and embark whenever the object of their mission shall have been accomplished, or before, if they think proper.

You may be also assured that the distribution of the ten thousand dollars brought by you shall be made according to the intention for which it was originally appropriated.

The supreme director, wishing to give you a proof of his gratitude, has directed that proper lodgings be provided for your accommodation in this capital, where he will have the satisfaction of expressing personally his thanks for the services which you have so honorably rendered to humanity.

Be so good as to communicate your approach to this capital a few stages in advance.

May God preserve you many years.

The Department of State, May 30, 1818.

ANTONIO JOSE DE IRIGARRI
Secretary of State.

To captain James Biddle, commanding the U. S. corvette the Ontario, in the waters of Valparaiso.

The army of Chili were in June in the neighbourhood of Salta--the royal force was on the frontier of Peru.

Capt. Biddle, on the Ontario, had sailed for the mouth of Columbia river, on the N. W. coast; and a British ship of war, commanded by Capt. Hickly, followed the Ontario soon after, on board of which, Mr. Prevost, agent of the United States, also went as passenger. It was understood that the British officer was authorised to formally abandon all claims to territory or settlement in that quarter, to which some settlers and adventurers there had previously set up pretensions, which threatened unpleasant consequences--but which are thus likely to be terminated amicably.