when placed in competition with capacity, left the possessor, only the privilege of employing it for the benefit of the common cause, in purchasing uniforms for the soldiers, and in supplying their necessities. This disinterestedness, was only equalled by their assiduity in acquiring the elements of the military art. The most experienced in the science of war, would scarcely believe the progress made in the course of a few months, by several thousand individuals, who before were only accustomed to the peaceful occupations of commerce, to manual labor, or to the mechanic arts."

Several of the corps thus formed consisted of Europeans, and were designated by the provinces of Spain, of which they were natives, as Catalonians, Andalusians, Biscayans, &c. Among these, by far the greater number were of course entirely inimical to the design, soon after cherished by the leading Americans, of a separation from Spain; and here, as in other parts of Spanish America, they have continued to be one of the most serious obstacles to its success.*

Sobre Monte on his return from Cordova, attempted in vain, to resume his authority; but finding it impracticable, he descended to Monte Video, and although he had fallen into general contempt, he succeeded in raising a party amongst the European Spaniards at this place, who could not but view with uneasiness, any assumption of power on the part of the Americans. This is no doubt, the beginning of that hostility

* The number of Spaniards at Buenos Ayres, was supposed to be about three thousand in the breaking out of the revolution.

which afterwards broke out between Monte Video and the capital.

The year after the surrender of Beresford, the formidable invasion under general Whitelock took place. He attacked the city of Buenos Ayres, with an army of twelve thousand men; but was encountered on this occasion, by a people accustomed to the use of arms, and who felt a confidence in their ability to defend themselves. His signal defeat is well known. This second victory won by the inhabitants of Buenos Ayres, would lose nothing by comparison with that of New Orleans, and its effect upon the people themselves, must necessarily have been great. But they were still so far from entertaining publickly, any ideas of complete independence, that an attempt made by Beresford previous to this last affair, to induce some of the citizens to form a plan for throwing off the Spanish allegiance, drew upon him general indignation, and occasioned the punishment of those who lent an ear to his seductions.

Liniers became the popular idol, and appears to have conducted himself with prudence and moderation, but at the same time, with the most inflexible fidelity to the king and country of Spain. For it is to be observed, that the distinction was made at an

*He has been much abused in the revolutionary writings, which charge him with being at one time inclined to favor the preten sions of the French, and at another, those of the princess Carlotta. But these writings bear the stamp of party spirit, and are contradicted by a variety of circumstances, which satisfy me that the misfortunes of Liniers, proceeded from his fidelity to the Spaniards.

early period of those difficulties, in which Spain and her colonies were soon after involved, between allegiance to the king, to which the latter, according to the laws of the Indies, believed themselves bound, and allegiance to the country of Spain itself, which was claimed by her juntas, and other provisional governments. The troubles of the Spanish monarchy came on, England became its ally and defender, and Napoleon alone was held up as the object of fear and hatred, throughout the colonies. Two parties, however, soon sprung up in Buenos Ayres, as I believe was the case in all the other American cities. The more enlightened among the native Americans, some of whom had long secretly cherished the desire of independence, felt a wish to seize this opportunity, in order to throw off the Spanish yoke for ever; but here they were directly at variance with their European brethren, whose influence must necessarily have been great, as well from their holding nearly all the public offices, and from their having the commerce of the country in their hands, as from their numbers, experience, and intelligence. As to the mass of the population, the idea was yet too new and too bold. With this class of people, ancient habits and preju dices are not at once to be exchanged, even for things which are the most agreeable to the human heart. For the truth of this assertion, I need only appeal to the effect produced by the writings of Paine, on our own country; and it cannot be forgotten, that when the celebrated orator of Virginia, as if inspired, ventured to hint at independence, he at first astonished and shocked even those who became afterwards the

most distinguished patriots.* In this situation of the public mind, Liniers, who was obliged to temporise, incurred the suspicion of both parties. The circumstance of his being a Frenchman by birth, gave occasion to those who feared his popularity, or envied his success, to sow distrust of him.

The arrival of general Elio at Monte Video, was followed by the first symptoms of disaffection to his authority. The European Spaniards, who form a much greater proportion of the population there, than at Buenos Ayres, uniting with the officers of the army and navy, got up a junta, acknowledging dependence on those of Spain. But, a more serious attempt was made in the capital itself, by persons of the same description, to remove Liniers from the station of viceroy; they succeeded so far, as to place him under the necessity of resigning; but this was no sooner made known, than the patriots, or native civil militia, took up arms in his support, and again restored him to authority, while a number of the European Spaniards, concerned in this and the former transactions, were banished to Patagonia.† Here we behold the commencement of those vibrations, which every free state must experience without a well regulated established government. From this time, it could no longer be said by them, sterilis transmissimus annos; the new born republic might use the line of Statius,

Hæc ævi mihi prima dies, hæc limina vitæ.

* I refer the reader to the life of Patrick Henry, by Mr. Wirt; a work familiar to every American of literary taste.

† I speak from the manifestoes and documents, published at the time, and not from the distorted accounts of individuals, actuated by party spirit and passion.

The state vessel thus launched upon the ocean, was henceforth to be exposed to all the vicissitudes and perils of the elements.

The neighboring court of Brazil was at the same time desirous, in case of a general wreck of the Spanish monarchy, to make sure of these vast and important territories; it is therefore to be presumed, that nothing was left undone towards effecting this object. A complimentary letter, in the name of the princess of Carlotta, was at first sent to Liniers, and replied to by him, in a respectful manner. A formal proposition followed next, on the part of the princess and the infant Don Pedro, to take under their guardianship these unhappy countries, now in a state of orphanage by the imprisonment of her brother Ferdinand. Whatever might be the private sentiments and wishes of Liniers, it is very evident that public opinion would not have permitted him to have acceded to a proposal, which would have been disapproved of even by the European Spaniards; and it is equally evident, that at this time, his authority had scarcely any other foundation, than that of his popularity. The proposition was therefore rejected with some show of indignation. He was, however, successful in preventing the formation of a junta in Buenos Ayres, which no doubt would have been immediately attended with serious consequences; in this he completely seconded the policy of the provisional governments of Spain, which was only to permit the formation of juntas in those American cities, where the preponderance of Europeans insured their fidelity.

The junta central, which assumed the government at this period, determined to send a viceroy to Buenos