INTRODUCTION. 



35 



ventures, depending on the temper of the ruling parties of Buenos 

 Ayres, and wishing to join their family in Chile, proceeded towards 

 it in disguise by different roads, and at different times. They had 

 been seized and recognised, however, near Mendoza, and there 

 closely imprisoned. They more than once attempted their escape, 

 well knowing that they could expect but little mercy from the mili- 

 tary governor. The young and lovely wife of Juan Jose, accom- 

 panied her husband, and sold every thing of value belonging to her, 

 to provide him even with common necessaries in the prison : it will 

 give some idea of their sufferings, when it is stated, that a friend 

 having sent her a fanega of flour, she actually went to the public 

 market-place to sell it, to obtain a supply of other necessaries for her 

 husband ; and that a shoemaker whom she had formerly employed, 

 seeing her in the market, and touched by her distress, made her 

 rest in his house, while he disposed of the flour to the best ad- 

 vantage; and on the price obtained for it she and her husband 

 subsisted almost until his untimely death. Meantime a commis- 

 sion had been sitting to take cognizance of the crimes of the Carreras. 

 I have read the published account of it attentively ; the chief article 

 is the attempt to escape from prison — for as to having been mem- 

 bers of the government of Chile, and having endeavoured to re- 

 possess themselves of their former influence, times of civil war open 

 but too fair a field to all adventurers not to warn any successful leader 

 to beware how he punishes such attempts too severely, lest the axe 

 should fall in turn on his own neck. After the commission had sat 

 some time in Mendoza, San Martin's confidential secretary, Montea- 

 guda, arrived there, it was said solely in consequence of the rout of 

 Cancharayada. But on the 8th of April, not many hours after he 

 reached the place his name appeared affixed to the sentence of death 

 pronounced on these unfortunate young men, which sentence was 

 executed at six o'clock the same evening. They were seated on a 

 bench in the public square, and, as the soldiers fired, they embraced 

 each other, and so died ! Their death excited pity for them, and 

 fear of the party that so wantonly used its power : that fear has been 



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