AN ENGLISHMAN AFRAID. 159 the houses to witness the sight. Those who have seen shells coming in magnificent curve through the air, know that the destructive messenger, though he may fall a quarter of a mile from the spot whence he is seen, seems always as if he would fall on the spot itself where the observer stands. So it was that night. Mr. J. P. R. happened to be on the azotea of Madame O'Gorman; and he was one member only of a large tertulia, congregated to witness the scene. The Porteñas shrank a little as the shells approached; and feigned to scream as they fell. One person only, and he an Englishman, was afraid. Convinced that he was to be the victim of a descending grenade, he made a run off the azotea into the patio; and by his fall, broken fortunately by an open door, he narrowly escaped the penalty of a broken limb, which the shell, falling two whole quadras from where he was, never came charged to inflict. After throwing some fifty shells into the town, and keeping up a brisk, but ineffective fire upon the beach, Michelena sent a summons to the authorities to surrender. He little thought that while he was firing, the Porteñas were singing, dancing, or 160 SIEGE OF MONTE VIDEO. calmly looking on; and as little did he expect to receive for answer that he might do his worst. When he had done so, in the way described, he sailed. Shortly afterwards, he renewed his attack, and the negro washerwomen on the beach hooted him, clapped their mouths with their hands, and broke forth into every sort of extravagant and ridiculous gesticulation. Thus he went off the second time, and never returned on a similar errand. Meanwhile the siege of Monte Video proceeded, the island of Ratas was taken by Rondeau, and the enemy worsted in all his sorties. Some jealousy, at this time, arose between that general and Artigas; but their differences were adjusted; and at the suggestion of a classical friend of both, open profession was made of restored unanimity. He reminded them how fatal to the Grecian army were the cabals of its two principal chiefs, in front of the walls of hated Troy; and pointing to Monte Video, said, "If there it were known that disputes are going on here,— *Η κεν γηθήσαι Πριαμος Πριαμοιο τε 'Παῖδες. Another change of government took place at THE JUNTA OF THREE. 161 Buenos Ayres, the particulars of which it is unnecessary to state further than to say that the executive power was committed to Doctor Don Feliciano de Chiclana, Don Manuel de Sarratèa, and Doctor Don Juan José de Paso, as a junta, of which each member had a vote. Doctor Don Bernardino Rivadavia, and Doctor Don Vicente Lopez, were added as secretaries, without votes. This junta issued the usual proclamation, setting forth the great necessity for reform, unity, and celerity of action; it recalled the deputies of the original junta, who had been banished; it raised a regiment of blacks and mulattos (ycleped Patricios) and elevated it to the rank of a veteran corps; the soldiers of the Banda Oriental were declared "Benemeritos de la Patria, en grado heroico;" the Bishop of Cordova was liberated, and appointed to officiate as the diocesan of Buenos Ayres; the birthday of poor Ferdinand the Seventh was celebrated with great pomp,-the restored deputies, however, refusing to have their seats of honour regulated by the Government; the basis of a treaty of pacification with Monte Video was substantially laid, and the treaty itself ratified by Elio, on the 21st of October, 1811; the siege was forthwith 162 MILITARY REVOLT. raised; Pueyrredon was appointed to the command in chief of the army of Peru, where things began once more to wear a favourable aspect, in consequence of the re-taking of Cochabamba by Don Estevan Arcè; the Indians were declared exempt from tribute; duties on foreign merchandize were lowered one-third; Don Nicholas de Herrera was appointed Secretary of Government and Foreign Affairs; and all these things, some of them fortunate, and most of them good, were brought about under the new government, in the short period of three months, verifying the old proverb, that "new brooms sweep clean." In the midst, however, of the more or less gratifying events just recorded, one of a tragic, and at first seriously alarming, character occurred, as threatening to involve the country in the horrors of lawless anarchy and military insubordination. The first regiment of foot, instigated by two or three discontented serjeants, shut themselves up, unknown to their officers, in one of the barracks of the town. They there fortified themselves; placed cannon at the mouths of two of the streets by which it was approached; stationed armed parties on the azoteas; and took other measures indicative MILITARY REVOLT. 163 at once of their violent councils and reckless resolution to persist in their meritorious conduct unto death. Mr. J. P. R. was at his window, when a column of the Government troops, just under it, advanced upon two guns of the rebels, at a quadra's distance.* Two artillery-men applied their lighted matches to the pieces of ordnance, heavily charged with grape and chain shot. Down at the spectator's feet fell many wounded, and several killed; among the former the brave Captain Amaya, who was conveyed into the observer's house, and had his leg amputated that day by an English surgeon. Many more wounded followed Captain Amaya; the guns were taken by the advancing column; the whole city resounded with the loud and long cannonading; till, driven back to their barracks, the insurgents, after great loss, were forced to surrender at discretion. The focus of revolt (i. e., the barracks) formed one corner of a square; at another of which stood the Casa de Temporalidades, or large building of the Jesuits, of which one part was occupied by the senior writer of these pages. * A quadra is one hundred and fifty yards. |