140 REVOLUTION AT BUENOS AYRES. [chap. vit. 



would have been the aspect of this river if English colonists had 

 by good fortune first sailed up the Plata ! What noble towns 

 would now have occupied its shores ! Till the death of Francia, the 

 Dictator of Paraguay, these two countries must remain distinct, as 

 if placed on opposite sides of the globe. And when the old 

 bloody-minded tyrant is gone to his long account, Paraguay will 

 be torn by revolutions, violent in proportion to the previous un- 

 natural calm. That country will have to learn, like every other 

 South American state, that a republic cannot succeed till it con- 

 tains a certain body of men imbued with the principles of justice 

 and honour. 



October 20th. Being arrived at the mouth of the Parana, and 

 as I was very anxious to reach Buenos Ayres, I went on shore at 

 Las Conchas, with the intention of riding there. Upon landing, 

 I found to my great surprise that I was to a certain degree a 

 prisoner. A violent revolution having broken out, all the ports 

 were laid under an embargo. I could not return to my vessel, 

 and as for going by land to the city, it was out of the question. 

 After a long conversation with the commandant, I obtained per- 

 mission to go the next day to General Rolor, who commanded a 

 division of the rebels on this side the capital. In the morning 

 I rode to the encampment. The general, officers, and soldiers, 

 all appeared, and I believe really were, great villains. The 

 general, the very evening before he left the city, voluntarily went 

 to the Governor, and with his hand to his heart, pledged his word 

 of honour that he at least would remain faithful to the last. The 

 general told me that the city was in a state of close blockade, and 

 that all he could do was to give me a passport to the commander- 

 in-chief of the rebels at Quilmes. We had therefore to take a 

 great sweep round the city, and it was with much difficulty that 

 we procured horses. My reception at the encampment was quite 

 civil, but I was told it was impossible that I could be allowed to 

 enter the city. I was very anxious about this, as I anticipated 

 the Beagle's departure from the Rio Plata earlier than it took 

 place. Having mentioned, however, General Rosas's obliging 

 -kindness to me when at the Colorado, magic itself could not 

 have altered circumstances quicker than did this conversation. I 

 was instantly told that though they could not give me a passport, 

 if I chose to leave my guide and horses, I might pass their sen- 



