214 



A VOYAGE TO 



a mistaken idea, that if once in possession of it, the 

 rest of the country would willingly throw off the Spa- 

 nish yoke, and acknowledge obedience to the govern- 

 ment of Great Britain. But in the month of May of 

 the year following, general Auchmuty, who command- 

 ed the van-guard of the second British expedition 

 against this country, after some resistance, took pos- 

 session of Monte Video. During this time it experi- 

 enced a momentary flush of prosperity, from the in* 

 creased demand of its produce, and the immense quan- 

 tities of British goods thrown in, and which the own-| 

 ers were compelled to sacrifice. This was soon after 

 succeeded by a series of reverses, with little or no in- 

 termission until the present time. The British, under 

 Whitlock, having been defeated at Buenos Ayres, thof 

 troops of that city laid siege to Monte Video, and com- 

 pelled the British to evacuate it. In the troubles 

 which afterwards ensued, these two cities were soon 

 found engaged in oppoiite interests. The people of 

 Buenos Ayres having deposed the Spanish viceroy 

 Sobremonte, on account of his incapacity, elected 

 Leniers in his stead; but at Monte Video, the Euro- 

 pean Spaniards, who were more numerous in propor- 

 tion, combining with the Spanish naval officers, pre- 

 vailed over the native Americans, who although the 

 majority, were by no means so well directed. A 

 junta was formed attached to these interests, determin- 

 ed to follow the varying temporary governments of 

 Spain, and therefore in opposition to that which had 

 been set up by Buenos Ayres. The year after the 

 British had been expelled from this country, Cisneros 

 was sent out as viceroy from Spain, Leniers was su- j 

 perceded, and peace between the two cities for a short | 



