SOUTH AMERICA. 



on Monte Video. In this state of things, the junta was 

 compelled to patch up a kind of truce with Elio, by 

 wliich it was agreed that, on condition the Portuguese, 

 who had been called in by Elio, should withdraw their 

 forces from the Banda Oriental, the patriots would 

 raise the siege, and retire beyond the Uraguay, into 

 the province of Entre Rios. Rondeau and his troops 

 returned to Buenos Ayres for the purpose of being 

 employed in another quarter, while Artigas remained 

 in the Entre Rios, at the head of his guerillas; here 

 he was supplied with arms and money, but the war 

 in the upper provinces, carried on against the army 

 of Lima, called for all the exertions of this infant re- 

 public. If overwhelmed in that quarter, the royalists 

 in all probability, would have formed a junction on 

 the Parana, with the forces of Monte Video, as has 

 been stated by Mr. Poinsett. It was, therefore, equal- 

 ly the interest of Paraguay and Banda Oriental, as 

 well as of Buenos Ayres, that the progress of the 

 Limanian army should be effectually arrested. 



The withdrawing of the troops of Buenos Ayres, 

 is said by some to have been the first cause of dissa- 

 tisfaction to Artigas, who thought the siege ought to 

 have been carried on at all events. It is alleged, 

 that from his limited information and capacity, he was 

 unable to take an enlarged and comprehensive view of 

 the situation and policy of Buenos Ayres; that he was 

 unable to calculate remote consequences, that his mind 

 embraced only the comparatively small district in 

 which he was placed, and could not enlarge itself to 

 the general emancipation of the viceroyalty; without 

 which, it would be in vain to expect emancipation of 

 a particular district. The reverses experienced in 



