Dec. 13, 1858.] EXPLORATIONS IN ECUADOR. 97 



a mere pretext for the purpose of making war upon a peaceful neighbour. 

 The Peruvian president and generals seem to be animated by the lust of 

 rapine and conquest, like the first adventurous and unscrupulous cavaliers — 

 the Pizarros, the Almagros, and the Alvarados. The real causes are said to 

 be the secret instigation and lavish promises of the Ecuadorian ex-president 

 Flores, who has been ignominiously expelled as a traitor, and also the allure- 

 ment of a rich booty in the now wealthy city of Guayaquil. By the last 

 advices it appears that two steamers of war have appeared before that jjeaceful 

 and prosperous commercial port, threatening to bombard and bum it unless 

 the frontier dictated by Peru, and some other humiliating conditions, were 

 acceded to. In former centuries the reckless and turbulent captains appealed 

 in their civil conflicts to the King of Spain, but now, his jurisdiction having 

 ceased, there is that more powerful tribunal of public opinion, before which 

 both the contending parties seem anxious to appear to be in the right. But, 

 although from their rash conduct both parties may not be free from all fault, 

 Ecuador deserves our sympathy, not only as the weaker party, wantonly 

 attacked by a stronger neighbour, but also from the circumstance that her 

 loyal conduct towards her British creditors has been made the pretext to 

 involve her in this present difficulty. I consider this a geographical question, 

 on which you may by your impartial opinion exercise a powerful moral 

 influence. It is not merely the object of this Society, I believe, to acquire 

 and promote abstract geographical knowledge, but it is your noble task to 

 make practical application thereof for the progress of civilisation and the 

 welfare of mankind ; and certainly there does not exist a more noble task for 

 any Society, and particularly the Geographical, than to maintain and promote 

 the blessings of peace, and to avert the hand of wanton and fratricidal war. 



Mr. Markham. — The town of Nauta is on the south bank of the Amazon : 

 therefore, according to the last speaker's own account, it does belong to Peru. 

 I should think that legally and properly the true boundary between Ecuador 

 and Peru would be the line which formerly divided the Viceroyalty of Peru 

 from the jurisdiction of the Audiencia of Quito, and that would certainly give 

 Peru both banks of the river. However, I think that the most just boundary 

 would be the line of the Amazon, and that would bring Nauta within the 

 territory of Peru. 



Mr. E. Haslewood. — I believe the real point at issue between Ecuador 

 and Peru is the possession of the head waters of the Amazon. The object to 

 be attained by Peru is to close the Amazon against the trade of the world, at 

 the instigation of Brazil, and to limit it to Brazilian and Peruvian ships. If 

 Ecuador, as an effluvia! state, has any claim to that river, she has an un- 

 doubted right that all vessels should pass up into her ports. If, therefore, 

 Peru, and still more Brazil, can gain their object of depriving Ecuador of 

 those lands, they can seal the Amazon, and they mean to do it. It is of 

 the highest importance to the world at large that the Amazon should be con- 

 sidered as one long port, and that the navigation shall not be restricted to 

 Peruvian or Brazilian vessels. It has been my lot to reside three years in 

 Brazil, and a more idle, stupid people on all subjects of political economy does 

 not exist. It has been my good fate to reside a short time in the IJnited 

 States, and I say that the Anglo-Saxon state of New York is worth to us the 

 entire length and breadth of the whole of Brazil. Now, I most respectfully 

 request a little information. Can you tell us what are the rights of effluvial 

 states ? Have they the power to close these mighty rivers ? for you may 

 rely upon it that if Brazil and Peru succeed in shutting out Ecuador, they 

 will succeed in shutting out England. 



The President. — I am happy to find we have had a discussion of a cha- 

 racter which has thrown light on the advantages to British commerce, and 

 on the necessity of maintaining the integrity of the republic of Ecuador. But I 



