APPENDIX. 393 



proclamation was more adapted to prepare the minds of the inhabitants to 

 bear with a meek and Christian resignation the vicissitude under which they 

 had fallen, than to rouse thein to any new exertion for the defence of their 

 capital. No immediate preparations were made by the government. No- 

 thing but fear and consternation reigned in the town ; they even had the 

 absurdity to believe that the body of the Federal army could advance with 

 the rapidity of a courier and enter the city that night. It is remarkable that 

 this was the first, and almost the only occasion on which the government of 

 Buenos Ayres acknowledged a defeat of their forces ; although their arms 

 were attended only with a series of uninterrupted misfortunes, owing to the 

 ignorance or cowardice of the commanders of their expeditions. Although 

 they had lost all the Banda Oriental, Entre Rios, Santa Fe, and all the towns 

 of High Peru ; yet the gazettes were filled with fictitious and imaginary details 

 of their victories, and plausible excuses for the necessity of sending such 

 frequent reinforcements were given to the public. This last misfortune 

 extorted from them not only a full, but an exaggerated description of their 

 loss. 



However, two days afterwards an express arrived from San Nicolas with 

 despatches from Balcarse. Their veteran infantry still existed ! A proclam- 

 ation was immediately published, in which the former report of Rondeau 

 was flatly contradicted. It was true, indeed, that the Director and his aid- 

 de-camp, with all the cavalry, were pursued five leagues ; nevertheless the 

 army rallied afterwards ; in fine, " their fellow citizens and soldiers were 

 covered with immortal laurels, and the enemy defeated." 



The first confession was believed by the people to be genuine ; it was the 

 only government news they had believed for a length of time. They, accus- 

 tomed to hear nothing from their press but falsehood and deception, con- 

 sequently found themselves under the necessity of learning to judge for 

 themselves. It was known that the Federalists were advancing on the town ; 

 and the inhabitants could not conceive how an enemy could receive such a 

 defeat as the Congress would fain make it appear they had, and still continue 

 to advance. 



The object of this last proclamation was to raise a contribution to pay the 

 civicos, in order to put them between the Congress and her danger. The 

 design did not succeed. The people had a right idea of their imbecile and 

 corrupted governors ; and looked forward with anxiety to the hour which 

 would free them altogether of their oppressors. 



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