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more revolutionary chiefs burst forth into notice, destined, at subsequent periods considerably to distinguish themselves. The one, La Madrid, at

tacked the enemy's outposts, amounting to thirty men; the other, Don Hilarion de la Quintana, with a few recruits, rushed in upon the Spaniards at Gualiguaychu, and drove five hundred men on board of their ships. This was part of an expedition which had sailed from Monte Video, with what object was never known, shortly after the arrival there of the two Spanish ships of war, transports, and troops. They landed on various parts of the coast; but were invariably repulsed with loss, and obliged to return to Monte Video, to tell their hapless tale.

The duties on imports were lowered this year to twenty-five per cent., ad valorem.

Yours, &c.

THE AUTHORS.

LETTER XXXV.

THE AUTHORS to GENERAL MILLER.

Intrepidity of the Porteños-The Director Posadas-The KetchCreation of a Naval Power-General San Martin, and Affairs of the Interior-General Alvear-A Jubilee in Buenos AyresGeneral Success of the Patriots-Admiral Brown-Capture of the Fleet of Monte Video-His Triumphant Entry into Buenos Ayres-Mr. White.

London, 1842.

THIS year (1814) was one of the most stirring interest, bold enterprise, and well earned success "per mare ac terram," which had hitherto distinguished the intrepidity, or stamped with the character of persevering gallantry, the energies of the Porteños, the natives of Buenos Ayres.

All the men employed on the stage of action were more or less men of talent. Posadas, the director, was of a stayed, reflecting, though a little too bending character. Herrera, his secretary, was shrewd, penetrating, quick, eloquent, and a complete homme d'affaires. Rondeau, as mander, was cautious, circumspect, and yet sufficiently daring; while Alvear, who superseded him

а com

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in the command of the army which besieged Monte Video, was quick, mercurial, ambitious, full of enterprise, daring, and courage. But he that occupied the proscenium, as hero of the piece, counselled and assisted by a Mr. White, a citizen of the United States of North America, was a countryman of our own, William Brown,—a sort of second Cochran, or Napier,—admiral of the Buenos Ayres fleet. There never before had been such a thing, under independent colours, as a fleet on the River Plate, till White and Brown called it into existence. The basis of it was a little ketch already mentioned, which, though no pirate, moved upon the waters as if it had had the black flag nailed to its mast, spreading, under the direction of one undaunted spirit, consternation among the enemies of the state. They were, it must be confessed, rather chickenhearted; for ketch and diablo became pretty nearly synonymous terms among the marinos."

White was one of those subtle spirits, and Brown one of those daring and original ones, whom it was impossible to approach without recognizing in them something like a flash of lightning. Accordingly, merchants sold them their ships upon easy terms, and sailors deserted from all other vessels to man Brown's little fleet. He weeded

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the pulperias of their best customers, and all at once appeared at the head of ten or twelve quasi men of war, showing their teeth through their portholes, having the Buenos Ayres flag at their main, and looking out for prey, under their lynx-eyed admiral.

Then, in the interior, there was San Martin, governor of the province of Cuyo, already scheming his gigantic plan of crossing the Andes, retaking Chile, and thence proceeding to the gates of Lima, in Peru. The Carreras, Makena, and O'Higgins were all making headway against the common enemy, on the shores of the Pacific; and in Peru, Güemes and Rondeau were pushing their slow but sure encroachments upon the territory occupied by the army of the Limenian General Pezuela. Our old Paraguayan friend and universal compadre, Don Gregorio de la Cerda, was secretary to the government of Cordova; and, be it permitted us to add, that Doctor Bargas, of Paraguay celebrity (never so inflated in his life), appeared in costume in Buenos Ayres on a diplomatic mission from his native city of Mendoza.

But to enter a little more into detail. Alvear was gazetted, on the 27th December, 1813, commander-in-chief of the army of Buenos Ayres, and

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marched it out to the Olivas, about three leagues distant, for the purposes of drill and general organization. The urgency of pushing matters to a crisis was apparent; and in order to liberate the troops of the garrison for field operations, all citizens, under fifty years of age, were peremptorily ordered to enlist in the various bodies of militia then organized. A loan was raised of five hundred thousand dollars, about one hundred thousand pounds sterling; the supreme power was delegated to one individual, Don Gervasio Antonio Posadas; and his inauguration to power was celebrated with all the pomp and splendour usual on such occasions.

It is very delightful to witness a night of public jubilee in Buenos Ayres. The whole inhabitants,— literally the whole, except one or two servants left to keep the houses, sally forth, in full dress, to the great square. Two or three bands of music generally play from under the piazzas of the mayoralty house, or Cabildo, and the bands of some of the regiments perambulate the city, followed by thousands of the inhabitants of all classes. Lemonade is served in the market-place, eau sucré, fruit, and flowers. The Cabildo is lit up. Many parties have