364 



CHILI. 



derogatory to the punctiliousness (delicadeza) 

 with which Chili has recognized the rights of all 

 parties engaged in the war, so vigorously sustain- 

 ed by her against the pertinacious interference of 

 the usurpers. This outlaw, whom you have seen 

 executed, Vicente Benavides, son of Toribio, jailor 

 in Quirihue, in the province of Conception, was a 

 foot soldier in the Patriot army, and had attained 

 the rank of serjeant of grenadiers at the time of 

 our first revolution. He deserted to the enemy at 

 Membrillar, and in the memorable action at that 

 place under General Makenna, was taken pri- 

 soner, and was brought by the corps de reserve, 

 along with the army, which were marching on 

 that side of the river Maule, to be tried by a 

 Court-Martial. Near the city of Linares, he set 

 fire to a store-house and fled, taking advantage 

 of the army making preparations for a vigorous 

 night attack. He continued in the employment 

 of the tools (serviles) of Ferdinand, until he was 

 again taken prisoner on the glorious 5th of April 

 1818, on the plains of Maypo. He was kept as 

 a prisoner until he was sentenced, by a military 

 tribunal, to be shot as a deserter ; but having sur- 



