FALKLAND ISLANDS. 239 



requested the Government to furnish me with a vessel of war, 

 to enable me to cause the rights of the colony to be respected. 

 The Government was aware of the necessity of the measure ; 

 but not being then able to place a vessel at my disposal, it 

 resolved to invest me with a public and official character, and 

 for that purpose issued the two decrees of the 10th of June : 

 the one re-establishing the governorship of the Malvinas and 

 Tierra del Fuego; and the other nominating me to fulfil that 

 office."* 



In 1829, Vernet warned off some North American sealers ; 

 and in 1831, upon their repeating the sealing excursion of 

 which he had complained, he detained them by force. This 

 act, and various circumstances arising out of it, drew upon him 

 and his unfortunate colony the hasty indignation of Captain 

 Silas Duncan, of the United States corvette Lexington, who, 

 on his own responsibility, without waiting to communicate with 

 his Government, sailed from the Plata to the Falkland Islands, 

 surprised, assaulted, and made prisoners of many unoffending 

 people, and unwarrantably destroyed both property and build- 

 ings. Mr. Brisbane and several others were put into confine- 

 ment, and carried away, on board the Lexington, to Buenos 

 Ayres, where they were delivered up to the Buenos Ayrean 

 Government, in February 1832. The United States supported 

 their officer, and immediately despatched a charge-d'affaires to 

 Buenos Ayres, with instructions to demand compensation for 

 the injury done to North American trade, and full reparation 

 to all North American citizens for personal wrongs. 



While the L^nited States and Buenos Ayres were discussing 

 the questions at issue. Great Britain, following up the solemn 

 warnings she had given Buenos Ayres (especially in the pro- 

 test addressed to that Government by Mr. Parish, in November 

 1829), issued orders to her Commander-in-chief on the South 

 American station, to send a vessel of war to re-hoist the British 

 flag upon the Falkland Islands ; to assert her right of sove- 

 i-eignty, and to cause every thing belonging to the Buenos 

 Ayrean Government to be embarked and sent away. 



* See note, pag-e 2.36. 



