552 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



pendent of Sapin. By the capture of these vessels, therefore, the 

 Government of Rio became involved, and the Merchants of Buenos 

 Ayres, on the 22d May, 1813, complained to the Court of Brazil of the 

 conduct of Vigodet, and prayed for assistance '* this was afforded in the 

 shape of a remonstrance from Rio Grande ; the Spanish Governor was 

 finally obliged to fly from Monte Video, as Elio had done before, after 

 having, like him, submitted to Brazilian influence. Soon afterwards 

 Buenos Ayres brought a fleet to act upon Monte Video, in conjunction 

 with the army; the town was taken, given to Artigas, and proclaimed 

 its independence. 



After this object had been attained, Artigas with his army, con- 

 sisting chiefly of irregular militia cavalry, moved Northward, pressing 

 hard upon the whole frontier of Rio Grande, and gained some consider- 

 able advantages over the Portuguese troops during the years 1814-15. 

 Reinforcements were sent down from the provinces of Rio de Janeiro, 

 from St. Paul's, and St. Catherine's, and the war gradually became more 

 animated and determined, for its consequences were of immense import- 

 ance to Brazil. The supplies had been sent from Rio de Janeiro, yet in 

 such a careless manner, that, when led into action, the men found that 

 the cartridge-balls were too large for the muskets, and were therefore 

 entirely useless. The error occasioned not only the loss of a battle, (for 

 it is impossible to attack successfully with the bayonet men who are 

 expert at the lasso) but the finest park of artillery then in possession of 

 Brazil was lost, nor could the mistake be rectified but by sending for 

 other balls from Rio, a distance of nearly eight hundred miles. There, 

 also, as if negligence had been the chief characteristic of the inferior 

 officers, no balls were ready cast, nor even a quintal of lead in the 

 storehouses. A mistake of this kind, against a skilful and vigorous 

 enemy, must have been fatal ; yet against Artigas it produced only a 

 temporary embarrassment, and a delay of about three months in the 

 movements of the army ; unless indeed we consider that the season for 

 advancing upon the Uruguay had been lost. 



The line of the enemy's march was by the heads of the Igaroon, 



