\bb3.] DEVOLUTION AT BUENOS AYRES 141 



fcinels. J was too glad to accept of this, and an officer was sent 

 with me to give directions that I should not be stopped at the 

 oridge. The road for the space of a league was quite deserted, 

 I met one party of soldiers, who were satisfied by gravely look- 

 ing at an old passport : and at length I was not a little pleased to 

 find myself within the city. 



This revolution was supported by scarcely any pretext of 

 grievances : but in a state which, in the course of nine months 

 (from February to October, 1820), underwent fifteen changes in 

 its government — each governor, according to the constitution, 

 being elected for three years — it would be very unreasonable to 

 ask for pretexts. In this case, a party of men — who, being at- 

 tached to I\osa5, were disgusted with the governor Balcarce — to 

 the number of seventy left the city, and with the cry of Rosas 

 the whole country took arms. The city was tiien blockaded, no 

 provisions, cattle or horses, were allowed to enter ; besides this, 

 there was only a little skirmishing, and a few men daily killed. 

 The outside party well knew that by stopping the supply of meat 

 they would certainly be victorious. General Rosas could not have 

 known of this rising ; but it appears to be quite consonant with 

 the plans of his party. A year ago he was elected governor, but 

 he refused it, unless the Sala would also confer on him extra- 

 ordinary powers. This was refused, and since then his party 

 have shown that no other governor can keep his place. The 

 warfare on both sides was avowedly protracted till it was possible 

 to hear from Rosas. A note arrived a few days after 1 left 

 Buenos Ayres, which stated that the General disapproved of 

 peace having been broken, but that he thought the outside party 

 had justice on their side. On the bare reception of this, the 

 Governor, ministers, and part of the military, to the number of 

 some hundreds, fled from the city. The rebels entered, elected a 

 new governor, and were paid for their services to the number of 

 5500 men. From these proceedings, it was clear that Rosas 

 ultimately would become the dictator: to the term king, the 

 people in this, as in other republics, have a particular dislike. 

 Since leaving South America, we have heard that Rosas has been 

 elected, with powers and for a time altogether opposed to the 

 constitutional principles of the republic. 



