In 1825, the Empire of Brazil went to war with the Republic of Argentina. The pretext was control of the north bank of the Plate, and consequently of the river itself. The conflict lasted for three years, the Argentineans dominating on land, the Brazilians at sea. As a compromise, the state of Uruguay was created as a buffer between the two. This book is about the naval war and its international repercussions. It describes the struggle between Brazil, a maritime power with a huge Navy and an extensive sea-borne commerce, and Argentina, which had tiny naval forces but a huge international trade carried mostly in British and American ships.