*

requiring most caution, would be, nication, both military and com." that which related to the assurances mercial, between the provinces of to be given to the inhabitants, in Chili and Buenos Ayres. proclamations or otherwise, as to When intelligence was received the support which they might ex- of the recapture of Buenos Ayres pect on the conclusion of a peace. by the Spanish soldiery, assisted by On this head, he could not follow a the townsmen, the Fly sloop of war better rule than that observed by was dispatched with orders to gebrigadier-generał Beresford, of ah. neral Craufurd to proceed, not to staining from all declarations hy Chili, but the Rio de la Plate, to which his majesty would stand join the British force under the pledged to any condition which it command of sir Samuel Auchmuty. might eventualiy be found incon. The sloop fortunately, as was then venient or difficult to fulfil. The supposed, arrived before the general inhabitants would witness, the ex. left the Cape of Good Hope. Ge... tent to which his majesty's autho- neral Craufurd, agreeably to orders, rity would have been established set sail from the Cape in April, and amongst them, and would judge of arrived in La Plata on the 14th of the reluctance with which he would June. After this junction between relinquish possessions likely to prove the two generals, the whole British so highly beneficial to the interests force in La Plata was computed at of his kingilom; and upon this judg- · 9,500 men. 66 As it had been ment they were to be left to regu. thought adviseable, (to use the late their conduct.

But no assu words of the secretary of state for rance could with propriety be given the department of war and colo. to them, other than that of protec. nies,) that an officer of high rank, tion, so long as his majesty's troops as well as talents and judgment, should remain in force in the coun. should be sent to take the command try, and of an anxious wish on the of such of his majesty's forces as part of his majesty, so to regulate were at that time employed, or the conditions of any future peace, likely soon to be employed, in the as to leave them no cause for ap- southern provinces of South Ame. prehension. If the general should rica, it was his majesty's pleasure succeed in obtaining possession of to make choice for that purpose of Valparaiso and St. Jago, or estab. general Whitelocke.” The gene. lishing any other sufficient footing ral accordingly set sail for his des. in Chili, he was instructed to take tination early in March, carrying the earliest possible means of ap- along with him an additional force prising brigadier-general Beresford of 1630 men; of which there was a thereof, and of concerting with him troop of horse-artillery to the num. the means of securing, by a chain ber of 130, dismounted, with har. of posts, or in any other adequate ·ness and appointments. The ge. manner, an uninterrupted commu. neral service intrusted to his care,

* Mose secret letter from the right honourable William Windham to brigadiergerierał Craufurd, October 30, 1806.

+ Letter from Mr. secretary Windham, containing instructions to lieutenantgeneral Whitelocke, March 5, 1807.

was

6. that an

was the reduction of the whole pro. the " language to be held in an. vince of Buenos Ayres under his swer to any inquiries on the part of authority. The instructions to ge. the inhabitants, respecting their fu. neral Whitelocke, respecting his ture situation at a peace: a point of conduct towards the inhabitants, great delicacy and importance.” It were the same as had been given seems astonishing, that while the to general Craufurd; with the ad. possibility was admitted, and even dition of one respecting a case that probability insinuated, of giving was not known to exist, at the time back the province in exchange for of general Craufurd's sailing from some other object, in any future England, viz. the case of general negotiation for peace with the go. Beresford; a case which, the secre- vernment of old Spain and France, tary for the colonial and war de. it could ever have been supposed, partment observed, “ called alike as Mr. Windham does, in his letter on the national honour, and on the to general Whitelocke, justice due from the country to all addition might be made to his ma. those whom it employs in its ser. jesty's forces by troops raised in vice.” It might not be clearly as. Buenos Ayres :" and this too, after certained, at that moment, to what ministers had been informed by sir extent the capitulation with those Home Popham,* that the Spanish troops had been violated, nor what, Americans had in contemplation, in consequence, was the precise des and even demanded the independ mand proper to be made in their ence of the country. In complete favour. But whatever should be unison with this letter of sir Home's, due to them, either in virtue of any is one from sir Samuel Auchmuty to special engagements, or of the ge. the right honourable W. Windham, neral usages established between Monte Video, March 6, 1808.6 nations, was to be enforced to the “ When I had last the honour of utmost; nor were any means that addressing you, (says sir Samuel,) the force of arms might place at his I was so little acquainted with the disposal, to be left unemployed, till country, that I could not presume complete justice should be obtained to give more than a general opinion . in their behalf. The attention of of the disposition of the inhabitants. general Whitelocke was particularly I had every reason to believe they summoned to the particular clause were without exception inimical to in the instructions, that related to us. Previously to the surrender of

* In a letter dated on board the Diadem, Rio de la Plata, August 25, 1806, and received by them the following January, several weeks before the above instructions were committed to general Whitelocke. The paragraph containing the information above stated was suppressed, in the publication of sir Ilome's letter in the Gazette. But the whole letter was afterwards published by sir Home, in the second, i.e. his own edition of his trial. The paragraph omitted in the Gazette runs thus: “ The object of this expedition was considered by the natives to apply principally to their independence; by the blacks, to their total liberation : and if general Beresford bad felt himself authorized, or justified in confirming either of these propositions, no exertions whatever would have been made to dispossess him of his conquest.” See Sir Home Popham's Trial, second edition. † Sce Appendix to General Whitelocke's Trial, p. 50.

p

Monte

B

Monte Vidco, I could not place the of anarchy, we invited them to sub-
least confidence in any information mit to his Britannic majesty's au-
I received : nor did any person thority; assuring them of the full
superior to the lowest class come benefit of their laws and re.igion,
over to me. After its capture, a and security to their property. The
sullen silence pervaded every rank; vessel containing these dispatches
and for some time, the best inform. fell in with a boat, with general Be.
ed among the principal citizens ap- resford and lieutenant-colonel Pack
peared ignorant of the most trifling on board, and returned immediately
occurrences. The seizure of the to Monte Video, without de ivering
viceroy by the inhabitants, first them.
gave me an insight into the views “ The escape of general Beres-
of many of the leading men, and ford, an event as pleasing and im-
convinced me, that however inimic portant as it was unexpected, has
cal they were to us, they were still put us in full possession of the views
more so to their present govern. of the leading men, and the real
ment. To the reports of the cap. state of the country. He had been
ture of the viceroy, it was added, ordered, immediately after the fall

, , that the royal court of audienza of Monte Video, to go to a town was abolished, the king's authority 200 leagues in and, and was already set aside, and the Spanish colours between 40 and 50 leagues from no longer hoisted. These reports' Buenos Ayres, when two Spanish were circulated with avidity, and I officers in the family of the goversoon found that they were accept- nor, who had been epdearouring to able to the principal part of the in- enter into some political negotiation habitants. The persons who ap- with him, proposed to assist and peared, before, hostile and invete. accompany him in making his esrate, now pressed me to advance a cape, which with great difficulty corps to Buenos Ayres; and assured was effected; and the general, after me, if I would acknowledge their being three successive days secreted independence, and promise them the in Buenos Ayres, fortunately reachprotection of the English govern. ed the ship with our dispatches. ment, the place would submit to me. 66 From the general I was made Being fully determined to give no acquainted, that the report of the assurance whatever, but desirous to suppression of the court of audi. gain further and more positive in- enza, and the revolt from the Spa. formation, I resolved to send an nish authority, was unfounded. The officer to Buenos Ayres. He was forms of the antient government were dispatched with a letter from the still adhered to, and the court of . admiral and myself to the cabildo, audienza, as next in authority to

, claiming our prisoners, agreeably to the viceroy, assumed his power; the capitulation : it was also inti. but the city was a prey to every mated, that we had heard they had disorder and tumult. refused obedience to the authority 66 The letter to the cabildo was in of the king of Spain; and, as it was consequence withdrawn, and one impossible they could have had time addressed to the viceroy, or officers to arrange a form of government, possessing the supreme authority, and consequently must be in a state was substituted in its place. I have

the honour to inclose a copy of it, though nothing less than independ. and of the answers received from ence will perfectiy satisfy them, tlrey Buenos Ayres.

would profer our governinent, ei. “ From these answers, it may be ther to their present anarchy, or to sppposed that the leading people the Spanish yoke, provided we could are unanimous in their determina. promise not to give up the country tion to defend the place and keep to Spain at a peace; but until such their prisoners. But it appears that a promise is made, we must expect there are two parties in that city. to find them open or secret ene. 66 The party now in `power are

mies.'? * mostly natives of Spain, in the prin- In this situation of affairs, gine. cipal offices of church and state, ral Whitelocke found the province and devoted to the Spanish govern. of Bucuos Ayres, when he arrived ment. It has been their policy to in La Plata, on the 9th of May. inflame the minds of the lower or- On the 11th, he took the com. ders against the English, by every mand of the troops : one division species of exaggeration and fa'se- of which, consisting of the troops hood, and to lead them to such acts that had arrived with general Crau. of atrocity, as may preclude the furd, was stationed at Colonia, oppossibility of any communication posite to Buenos Ayres, and one at with us.

Monte Video. Transports were From a consciousness, that si. ordered for the reception of troopis milarly situated, they would breathe for their passage to Buenos Ayres. nothing but revenge, they expect no On the 28th of June, a force was mercy, and are become desperate assembled near Ensenada de Bar. and determined.

ragon, amounting to 7822 rank and “ The second party consists of file, including 150 mounted dra. natives of the country, with some goons. It was provided with 18 Spaniards that are settled in it. pieces of field artillery, and 206 The oppression of the mother coun. horses and mules for their conveytry has made them most anxious to ance, and for that of small-arm throw off the Spanish yoke; and ammunition. There was, besides, though, from their ignorance, their a large quantity of ordnance stores want of morals, and the barbarity embarked, and a reserve artillery of their disposition, they are totally of heavy pieces, mortars and how. unfitted to govern themselves; they itzers. There were entrenchingaim at following the steps of the tools for 1000 men, six pontoons North Americans, and erecting an with their carriages, and some independent state. If we could pontoons. After some fatiguing promise them independence, they marches, through a country much would instantly revolt against the intersected by swamps and deep government, and join us with the muddy rivulets, the army reached great mass of the inhabitants. But Reduction, a village about 9. miles

Letter from sir Samuel Auchmuty. to the right honourable William Windham, Monte Video, March 6, 1808. Trial of General Whitelocke at Large, Appendix, + Trial at Large of General Whitelocke, p.06.

distant from the bridge over the sir S. Auchmuty to take possession, Rio Chuelo; on the opposite bank with a regiment, of the Plaza de of which, the enemy had construct. Toros, and the adjacent strong ed batteries, and established a fór. ground, and there to take post. midable line of defence. The ge. Four other regiments, divided into neral, therefore, resolved to turn wings, were ordered to penetrate this position, by marching in two into the street directly in its front. columns from his left, and crossing The light battalion divided into the 'river higher up, to unite his wings, and each followed by a wing force in the suburbs of Buenos of the 95th regiment and a three. Ayres. He sent directions at the pounder, was ordered to proceed same time to colonel Mahon, who, down the two streets on the right with two regiments, was bringing of the central one, and the 25th up the heary artillery, to wait for regiment down the two adjoining; further orders at the village of and after clearing the streets of the Reduction. Major-general Gower enemy, this latter regiment was to having the command of the right take post at the Residentia. 'Two column, crossed the river at a ford ' six-pounders were ordered along called Passo Chico, and falling the central street, covered by the in with a corps of the enemy, at. carabineers and three troops of the tacked and defeated it. Next day, 9th light dragoons; the remainder general Whitelocke, with the main of which regiment was placed as a body of the army, having joined reserve in the centre., Each divi. general Gower, formed his line by sion was ordered to proceed along placing brigadier sir Samuel Auch the street directly in its front, till muty's brigade on the left, extend- it arrived at the last square of the ing it towards the convent of the houses next the river Plata; of Recolletta, from which it was dis- which square it was to take postant two miles. Two regiments session, forming on the flat roofs, were stationed on its right. Briga. and there wait for further orders. dier-general Craufurd's brigade oc. Two corporals with tools were or. cupied the central and principal dered to march at the head of each avenues of the town, being distant column, for the purpose of breaking three miles from the great square open the doors. The whole troops and fort; three regiments on his were unloaded, and no firing was right extended in a line towards the to be permitted until the columns Residentia. The town was thus had reached their final points and nearly invested; and this disposi. formed. A cannonade in the cention of the army, and the circum. tral streets was the signal for the stances of the town and suburbs whole to come forward. The issue being divided into squares of 140 of the conflict which ensued, for a yards each side, together with the particular account of which, our knowledge that the enemy meant readers are referred to general to occupy the flat roofs of the Whitelocke's dispatch to govern. houses, gave rise to the following ment, dated at Buenos Ayres, July plan of attack : Brigadier.general 10, 1807,* was such as was to be