APPENDIX. 469 



never have died under their hands, nor his friends have suffered for the ima- 

 ginary crimes which were attributed to them by his enemies. 



If his ambition was to live without any imputation of blood, cruelty, or in- 

 justice on his character, he perfectly succeeded in his desire of deserving such 

 a character ; but 'tis more than probable that his enemies will deny that he 

 possessed any good quality. During three years of his government in Chile, 

 and in all his campaigns, he never had the life of a man taken away. The 

 only person Carrera sentenced to death in Chile was a near relation of his 

 own, whose crime in any other person would have been overlooked and 

 forgiven. His life was begged by the Congress of Chile ; and he was trans- 

 ported to the Brazils, and is now an officer of much merit in the Portuguese 

 service. 



Colonel Alvarez, who was executed with Carrera, died a penitent Catholic, 

 and evinced resignation and character in his last moments : he was also 

 beheaded, and the head sent to Bustos ; that by exposing it he might destroy 

 the hopes and repel the exertions of the Cordoveses, who so much venerated 

 the old man Alvarez, and called him their father and protector. 



Colonel Benevente, who expected to have been shot with General Carrera, 

 was surprised, on the morning appointed for their execution, to find himself 

 left behind in the dungeon. His brother, Don Juan Jose Benevente, mer- 

 chant of Mendoza, with all the principal men of Mendoza, waited on the 

 governor, Cruz, and begged the life of the Colonel ; which was granted, in case 

 Gutierres the general would ratify it. They immediately waited on Gutier- 

 res; but the old muleteer was inexorable, and resolved to have his vengeance 

 on a man whom he would tremble to behold in other circumstances. The 

 citizens retired disgusted with their new-created general, and without further 

 hopes of obtaining the life of Benevente. However, another experiment 

 was tried by the ladies of the town, and succeeded. The wife of Don Juan 

 Jose Benevente, accompanied by all the matrons and young women of the 

 town, in mourning, waited on Gutierres, at his house; and after flattering the 

 old wretch, by persuading him that he was brave, generous, &d, he became 

 flexible, and granted to them in writing the life they solicited. The fair 

 deputation immediately proceeded to the dungeon, and informed Benevente 

 that they had procured his life from Gutierres, and would alleviate the 

 inconvenience of his prison by all means in their power. The Colonel was 

 so struck with their humanity and generosity, that he was for some time 



