382 APPENDIX. 



quarters on the frontier of* the Brazils. The order came too late ; Ramirez, 

 though a stranger to him, had become his friend, and could not think of de- 

 livering his friend to destruction. He put the letter into Can-era' s hands, re- 

 questing he would direct him in so intricate a situation, and assuring him that 

 he would sooner meet all the resentment of Artigas, than be guilty of deliver- 

 ing him. Carrera told him not to fear Artigas ; and devised a plan by which 

 Ramirez might establish himself, independent of Artigas, in the government 

 of the province of Entre Rios for the present, and afterwards perhaps might 

 supersede him in the government of the Ban da Oriental. A palliating letter 

 was written by Ramirez to Artigas, stating that Carrera was a patriot, a friend 

 of his, and that he stood in much need of his talents in the prosecution of 

 the war against the Portenos, or Buenos Ayrians. Artigas thought it unavail- 

 ing to use menaces to enforce his orders at such an immense distance, and 

 therefore affected to acquiesce in the request of Ramirez ; not doubting that 

 an opportunity might soon occur more favourable to the execution of his un- 

 generous designs against a man already too unfortunate. Artigas's hatred 

 to Carrera originated in an idea that Carrera, by his superior abilities, might 

 supersede or supplant him in his government of the Banda Oriental. 



Some time had elapsed since San Martin and O'Higgins had crossed the 

 Andes ; they had already gained some decided advantages over the Spaniards 

 in Chile. The news of the battle of Maypu ; the death of his two brothers in 

 Mendoza, and that of his father in Chile; the confiscation of all their estates 

 and properties ; the declaration against them, the Carreras, as being traitors 

 to their country, and to be proceeded against accordingly ; — all came to him 

 the same day : add to tins catalogue of misfortunes, the imprisonment of his 

 lady, Dona Mercedes, and Dona Jabiera, his sister, in Buenos Ayres. 



The popularity of the Carreras in Chile appeared so glaringly to San Mar- 

 tin, that he resolved to end the existence of Don Juan Jose and Don Luis, 

 whom he had left in Mendoza, lest they shoidd escape, well knowing that 

 in Chile he could hold no competition with them. He therefore sent an order 

 to Luzuriago, governor of Mendoza, intimating the advantages that would 

 accrue to the state from the immediate execution of the Carreras. Luzu- 

 riago, whose military preferment and admission into the honourable orders 

 of new nobility established in Chile and Buenos Ayres, depended on his 

 promptitude in assassinating those whom his employers would point out for 

 victims, quickly put into execution the mandate of his fell master. 



The Carreras were conducted to the public plaza, to gratify the envy, am- 

 bition, and revenge of a base tyrant. They died ! But they suffered death 



