THE BATTLE OF SIPE-SIPE.

237

Ayreans claimed the best of the day, it is certain that they were repulsed; and on the 29th of the same month Rondeau was defeated at Sipé-Sipé, with the loss of two thousand men. He retreated with precipitation to La Plata, where he was on the 7th of December, with a view to recruiting his army in the province of Cinti, and once more trying his fortune in the field with the Limenian general, Pezuela. This officer seems always to have been too much for the Buenos Ayreans, whenever he could tempt them to come near the Desaguadero.

Among the miscellaneous events of this year may be mentioned the commencement of General San Martin's preparations for crossing the Andes ; and the death of Candiote, the patriarch, and at the time also governor of Santa Fé.

Osorio, the Spanish general, was in possession of Chile; a desultory but successful warfare was going on in Cochabamba. Vague rumours were afloat, and disturbed the people, of the equipment of a large expedition in Spain, with a view to the complete reconquest of all the revolted colonies: but it

was destined never to come.

Your's, &c.,

THE AUTHORS.

LETTER XXXIX.

THE AUTHORS TO GENERAL Miller.

Forced Loans-Exportation of specie prohibited—-Affair of Sipé Sipé-Education-Splits among the Americans-Sovereign will of the people-A Bando-Resolutions of the people-Remarks— The Government's quarrel with Captain Fabian-Tribute of justice to his Excellency Don Manuel de Moreno-The people again assemble-General Viamont-Despatch from Tucuman— The National Congress at Tucuman-The Spanish Minister at Washington-Pueyrredon elected Director.

London, 1842.

THE year 1816 commenced a system, which was not despotic merely, but laid a foundation of fraudulent principle, unjust and unequal taxation, which, when carried out, brought the finances of the country into complete disorganization. This system was one of "forced loans;" of which the very terms are odious and contradictory. For how can that be a loan, in the ordinary sense of the word, to which you are forced to contribute?

Yet the South American Governments, devoid of foresight, or extravagant beyond their means, were continually harassing the people, and exciting their

་

odium, by the levy of loans,-one might almost say, at the bayonet's point.

In this spirit, on the 20th of January, 1816, a loan was exacted of the inhabitants of Buenos Ayres (foreigners included) of two hundred thousand dollars, under conditions, at once inquisitorial and irresistible.

Another great mistake of the infant Government was the prohibition, under heavy penalties, of the exportation of specie; as if any fiscal regulations could, de facto, frustrate the ingenuity of the man, who, having introduced his wares into the country, paid duties on them, and sold them, had still to take the proceeds away, in the manner most profitable to himself.

The stringent measures resorted to by the Government, were said to be adopted for preventing contraband; that is, to make a man surrender his own interests for the good of the community; but where is such a man to be found?

From Tupiza, on the 25th of December, 1815, Rondeau writes to the Government, fully acknowledging the disastrous affair of Sipé Sipé, and urgently requiring a further stock of arms and ammunition.

240 SPLITS AMONG THE AMERICANS.

Anxious to promote education, the Government, on the 20th of January, 1816, issued a decree for the forwarding of the mathematical sciences, which it characterizes (how truly we leave our readers to judge) as one of the elements which make up the "character of virtuous and illustrious citizens." We fear they have found out, since then, that for this purpose, something higher than squares, cubes, and conic sections is necessary.

In the early part of this year, January 20, 1816, the making of arms was commenced in Buenos Ayres; and Don Estevan Luca, the master of the ordnance, was promoted and rewarded for his skill and science in the manufacture of muskets and sabres.

As a sample of the sort of eruptions, which ever and anon were now breaking out in Buenos Ayres, all more or less consequent upon the " 'split” caused by Saavedra's headlong career, take the following official account given in the Buenos Ayres Gazette, of the 17th of February, 1816

"It is not easy to give an account of the circumstances which happened in this city a few days ago. The substance of it is, that the Director, pro tempore, (Don Ignacio Alvarez,) thought it neces

SOVEREIGN WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

241

sary to reform the provisional statute, and to assemble the people of Buenos Ayres in open sessions, that they might declare their opinion upon an affair of importance to themselves.

Several obstacles being removed, the people met together, in the most solemn manner, on the 12th and 13th of the month (February, 1816); and their sovereign will on the 14th, was thus publicly proclaimed by "bando."*

"THE DIRECTOR, ad interim, of the State.

66

Yesterday, the 13th of the present month, 1 received the communications herewith copied.

'I I have the honour of laying before your Excellency, the annexed certified copy of the Articles agreed to at the meeting of the sovereign people, assembled this day, who are engaged in electing the individuals noticed in Articles 7 and 8, of which

* The "Bando" is the mode of issuing proclamations in Buenos Ayres by a public notary, who, in a loud voice, reads at various corners of the streets the government decree, followed by a company of soldiers, and generally attended by a band.

VOL. II.

M