The French navy in the South American area according to the Nederlandsche Staatscourant dated 16 June 1838

The newspaper Journal du Havre dated 12 June published more details dealing with the French naval blockades in the South American area just with a small number of vessels. Captain Bazoche blockaded the Mexican coast with just a frigate and a corvette. Admiral Leblanc blockaded the whole coast of the Argentinean republic with not more than a corvette as flagship and 2 or 3 smaller vessels. He was send to this coast due to the fact that the French consul was forced by the government to leave from Buenos Aires. The French admiral Villeneuve tried to stay neutral in the war between Peru and Chile despite both countries being also hostile towards France. Lucky enough hadn’t been necessary to blockade the ports of Haiti. According to tidings from master Rabardy who left with the merchant ship Napoleon 12 April Buenos Aires and 14 April Montevideo were since 1 April all merchant ships visited by the sloops of the 4 French warships. Admiral Leblanc permitted all neutral merchant ships at Buenos Aires to load their cargo and depart within 10 days. Another letter dated Buenos Aires 12 April reported the arrival of Leblanc with the corvette l’Expeditive at Buenos Aires and his adjutant handed over the French ultimatum to minister Arana allowing him just 3 hours to write an answer. Within short time it was made clear that there would be no answer before 26 or 27 April. In the afternoon of  26 April send Leblanc the captain of one of his ships to shore to demand an answer the same day. The same evening he got an unsatisfied answer and 28 April Leblanc made clear that he was going to blockade the coasts with his ships le d’Assas, la Camille, l’Expeditive and l’Allerte. Since 29 March visited none ships the harbours.