§ Mr. Ewartwas understood to ask whether our minister at Buenos Ayres had been instructed to use his exertions to put an end to the hostilities now being carried on between that state and Monte Video?
§ Sir R. Peelsaid that nothing had been more unremitting and zealous than the exertions of the British minister to prevent what he must call the insane hostilities which had been entered upon. He could assure the hon. Member that our minister had pushed his intervention to the utmost limits short of committing the country which he represented as a party to the war. In all that he had done the British minister had acted in concert with, and received the cordial co-operation of, the minister of France. Before the hostile advance was made, the ministers of the two countries made the strongest remonstrances to the Buenos Ayres government against the proceeding. On the 19th of February a party of marines, both French and English, were landed from vessels in the river Plate, to defend a certain building, in which the property of the French and English merchants was placed. At present there were five ships in the river Plate, and he could assure the hon. Member our minister would continue his exertions to bring about a cessation of hostilities.