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PUEYRREDON'S RETREAT.

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patience with which they were endured; in his generous and always feeling conduct to his companions in arms; and in the watchful eye which he kept upon the hide bags of dollars, until he successfully brought them out of the enemy's clutches,-he showed himself at once a brave soldier and a good citizen; and well convinced that money is not the sinew only, but the very heart's core of war, we question whether his little faithful troop would have shown so much fidelity, or supported their leader with such praiseworthy tenacity, if they had seen the laden mules driven off to the right hand or the left by a party of the enemy. Such were the results, for the time being, of the battle of the Desaguadero. Your's, &c.,

THE AUTHORS.

LETTER XXXIII.

THE AUTHORS to General Miller.

Buenos Ayres bombarded-An Englishman afraid-Michelena, commander of the blockading Vessels, and the Washerwoman— Siege of Monte Video-The Junta of Three-Treaty of Pacification with Monte Video-Military Revolt-Government's account of it-The guilty parties executed.

London, 1842.

WHILE these things were passing in Peru, all was stir and bustle in Buenos Ayres. The famous

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Marinos," with five small vessels and two gunboats, under the command of Michelena, came up from Monte Video, which Rondeau was bombarding. Taking their station at nine o'clock, P.M., in the inner roads, the flotilla, or Esquadra Sutil, commenced, without previous intimation, bombarding Buenos Ayres. The heated shells came describing their beautiful arcs over the city, already lit up by the lamp of night. The families were mostly at their tertulias; and though here one shell was bursting, and there another, the ladies could not be restrained from going to the tops of

AN ENGLISHMAN AFRAID.

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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

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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.

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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

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