1§6 



A VOYAGE TO 



Pueyrredon and others, he said they were the rational 

 and moderate men of the country, who were aiming at 

 something like a settled order of things, but^that the 

 people were of a restless and inconstant character, 

 and fit subjects to be acted upon by turbulent de- 

 magogues. Upon the whole, his opinions as to the 

 state of things in the country to which we were going, 

 was rather unfavorable. He gave us to understand 

 that a very considerable Spanish force from Peru had 

 taken possession of Talcahuana in Chili, and that a 

 second struggle would ensue between St. Martin and 

 the much more powerful force, than that which he had 

 subdued the year before. He gave us to understand, 

 that the Portuguese were unable to make any pro- 

 gress in the subjugation of Artigas, while the war 

 was carried on by them at great expense. Buenos 

 Ayres seemed to be determined to maintain a neu- 

 tral attitude as long as possible, on account of the 

 important warfare she was carrying on with the 

 Spaniards in Chili and Peru. He related to us a 

 curious anecdote respecting some agents of Buenos 

 Ayres, who had outwitted the court of Brazil, and he 

 seemed to think, that a depth of diplomacy was dis- 

 played by them, hardly to be expected or admired in 

 so young a state.* 



* I have seen some of these anecdotes in our newspapers, but 

 these are not to be believed merely because they are told. It 

 is well to receive such stories with distrust, until we can ascertain 

 their original source, and then we may judge of the degree of credit 

 they are entitled to. Buenos Ayres had an agent at Rio at this 

 time, of the name of Garcia, who I have understood held commu- 

 nications with the government. Some dexterity was no doubt ne- 

 cessary, and it is equally certain that no pains would be spared 



