NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



14B 



of the Plata, we at length reached its mouth, and were proceeding 

 upward, when we were boarded by a Spanish Guarda Costa, commanded 

 by Don Luiz Liniers, who insisted that we should not go to Monte 

 Video, but gave us permission to proceed to Buenos Ayres. The officer 

 whom he sent for this purpose assigned, as the cause of the prohibition, 

 some of the circumstances which afterwards produced the Revolution 

 in that city, and cost General Liniers his life. He stated that 

 Monte Video had lately admitted vessels, and received and retained 

 the Duties payable by them, instead of transmitting the produce to 

 Buenos Ayres, that the General was distressed for money, and to secure 

 what was due to the government which he administered, had ordered his 

 son to cruize below Maldonado, where we unfortunately fell in with him. 



To secure our compliance with his directions he sent on board us a 

 party of marines, with the necessary provisions for them, assuring us, 

 in answer to our remonstrances, that we should be at Buenos Ayres in 

 two days, where our own wants might be supplied. The wind, however, 

 proved contrary, and the Cruizer having left us, we ran into Maldonado, 

 where we found two British men of war, the Monarch and the Aga- 

 memnon. It was not, indeed, matter of comfort to all of us, for the 

 moment our boat's crew had landed, Sylva, who was one of them, was 

 recognized by an officer of the Monarch as the man who had stolen a hat 

 from his head in Rio, was seized, carried on board his Majesty's ship, 

 and there punished by confinement, if not flogging. To our great mor- 

 tification he was restored to us, when we were again under way. 



On our waiting upon him, Captain Lee received us with urba- 

 nity and frankness. We were perfectly satisfied that he and Captain 

 Jonas Rose, who soon joined the party, were ready to protect, to the 

 utmost, the property and commerce of their fellow-subjects ; yet they 

 united to advise us, under existing circumstances, to comply with the 

 orders which we had received, and proceed to Buenos Ayres. This 

 advice they supported by explaining to us the state of things in the river, 

 and by showing us, as much as they deemed proper, of their correspond- 

 ence with General Liniers on commercial subjects. The Commodore 



