APPENDIX. 413 



Though Dorego had gained more honour for his country, and displayed 

 more courage and ability, with a smaller force, than any former governor of 

 Buenos Ayres ; yet, the Porteiios could not think of deviating from their 

 long-received principle of deposing every Director as soon as he had been 

 defeated, or otherwise unfortunate, without any regard to the abilities or vir- 

 tues which he might possess. Hence the many mutations of government : 

 their defeats were numerous, and each brought its political change. 



Martin Rodriguez thought this the most advantageous moment to assert his 

 claim ; and his first step was to gain all the regular soldiers to espouse his 

 pretensions. Soler (having recovered from the shame which he considered 

 attached to himself in consequence of his defeat in the Canada de la Cruz) 

 came to Buenos Ayres from Monte Video to offer himself as a candidate for 

 the government ; but considering the power of Rodriguez to predominate, he 

 united his faction with that of Dorego, that they might conjointly destroy 

 Rodriguez, leaving futurity to decide the particular fate of each afterwards. 



Every thing being thus arranged between Soler and Dorego, they assembled 

 their factions armed in the Plaza, when they fortified themselves with artil- 

 lery, &c. Rodriguez lost no time ; he appointed the rendezvous for his veterans ; 

 and when he inspected them he found they would not be sufficient to attack 

 the Plaza : he therefore went to the prisons where the officers and soldiers 

 of our regiment made prisoners in San Nicolas were, and offered them their 

 liberty if they would lend their assistance to him that day. They unani- 

 mously volunteered ; were immediately taken out of prison and armed ; and 

 being united with Rodriguez's troops, he advanced to the attack of the Plaza. 

 The citizens and civicos defended themselves for some time with resolution ; 

 they were, however, obliged to yield to the superior courage of Rodriguez's 

 inferior force, whilst he waded through the blood of 400 citizens to seize on 

 the supreme power of the republic, against the general consent of the town and 

 province. This mode of election is not very uncommon amongst the South 

 American Republics. 



Rodriguez having established himself in the government of Buenos Ayres, 

 and dispersed all the factions which had opposed him, performed his promise 

 to the Chilenos who had aided him, by granting them passports to proceed to 

 any of the provinces except Santa Fe, where we were : some of the officers 

 passed over to Monte Video, from whence they united themselves again to 

 our division. 



Rodriguez sent deputies to the Indians of the South, promising them great 



