1838.] REVOLUTION AT BUENOS AYRES 141 
tinels. I was too glad to accept of this, and an officer was sent 
with me to give directions that I should not be stopped at the 
bridge. The road for the space of a league was quite deserted. 
I met one party of soldiers, who were satisfied by gravely look- 
ing atan old passport: and at length I was nota little pleased to 
find myself within the city. 
This revolution was supported by scarcely any pretext of 
grievances: but ina state which, in the course of nine months 
(from February to October, 1820), underwent fifteen changes in 
its government—each governor, according to the constitution, 
being elected for three years—it would be very unreasonable to 
ask for pretexts. In this case, a party of men—who, being at- 
tached to Rosas, were disgusted with the governor Balcarce—to 
the number of seventy left the city, and with the cry of Rosas 
the whole country took arms. The city was then blockaded, no 
provisions, cattle or horses, were allowed to enter; besides this, 
there was only a little skirmishing, and a few men daily killed. 
The outside party well knew that by stopping the supply of meat 
they would certainly be victorious. General Rosas could not have 
known of this rising; but it appears to be quite consonant with 
the plans of his party. A year ago he was elected governor, but 
he refused it, unless the Sala would also confer on him extra- 
ordinary powers. This was refused, and since then his party 
have shown that no other governor can keep his place. The 
warfare on both sides was avowedly protracted till it was possible 
to hear from Rosas. A note arrived a few days after I left 
Buenos Ayres, which stated that the General disapproved of 
peace having been broken, but that he thought the outside party 
had justice on their side. On the bare reception of this, the 
Governor, ministers, and part of the military, to the number of 
some hundreds, fled from the city. The rebels entered, elected a 
new governor, and were paid for their services to the number of 
5500 men. From these proceedings, it was clear that Rosas 
ultimately would become the dictator: to the term king, the 
people in this, as in other republics, have a particular dislike. 
Since leaving South America, we have heard that Rosas has been 
elected, with powers and for a time altogether opposed to the 
constitutional principles of the republic. 
