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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 Portefios 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 Caiiada 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 Fé, where we were: some of the officers 
passed over to Monte Video, from whence they united themselves again to 
our division. 7 
Rodriguez sent deputies to the Indians of the South, promising them great 
