From the Rio Grande.
--
More Troubles--The N. O.
Picayune has information from the
Rio Grande, received through a merchant from
Brownsville, from which we learn that the condition of affairs in that quarter indicates that another trouble is about to come upon our enemies.
The intelligence is that the
British and
French consuls at
Matamoras had presented to the
Captain of the
United States frigate
Portsmouth a formal protest against the blockade of the
Rio Grande, and that on the 6th the
British consul dispatched a schooner to
Tampico, with orders for a British war vessel to hasten to the
Rio Grande and prevent, even to the extent of hostilities, the blockade of the river by the
Portsmouth.
The consul's orders were that the British vessel should engage the
Portsmouth immediately upon her arrival.
The French consul had also sent a request to
Tampico for the forwarding of a French war ship.
The
Picayune adds:
A large number of vessels arrived from
Europe are in durance under the guns of the
Portsmouth.
The captain of the latter will not allow these vessels to discharge their cargoes, unless it is guaranteed that the goods will be delivered in
Matamoras, and not at
Brownsville.
Now, this condition, even if legal, is impossible, as the steamboats plying on the
Rio Grande are all owned in
Brownsville, and as such, being the property of rebels, they date not undertake to lighten these
European vessels at the mouth of the river, for in doing so they would run the risk of being seized by the
United States frigate.
Thus it will be seen that the damage for the detention of these neutral merchantmen must amount to a very round sum against the by no means plethoric purse of old Abe.
The
Portsmouth continues to fly the
French flag as a decoy to all traders approaching her station.
She frequently takes a short cruise under the same colors; but when no merchantman is in sight, she hoists the old "gridiron."
