Milton compared the wars of the Saxon lEeptarchy to the
"bat- tles of the kites and crows.* The simile is applicable to the mili- tary operations now in progress on the River 'Plate. The cuffing or kissing of the Dictator of Buenos Ayres and his rivals, who aspire to rule the equally minikin states of La Banda Oriental and Entre Rios, would be alike indifferent to this country, but that Brazil has at length mingled in. the fray. Nor would it much concern England whether Brazil aspired to annex the territory on the North bank of the Plate, or merely to prevent the consolida- tion of the Argentine States, were it not for the extent to which our relations with the most important of the South American Governments have been complicated by our Anti-Slavery bucca- neering. The recent appointment of Mr. Southern to the Imperial Court at Rio Janeiro—somewhat out of the regular routine of pro- motion, we believe—would seem to indicate that the Foreign Secre- tary feels he is in a serape there, and is preparing to display his
wonted dexterity in getting out of it. is exhibitions in that way are certainly amusing p but people with nerves not over- strong are of opinion that they are too frequently repeated.
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