A VOYAGE TO 



Peru, formed therefore, with him, no justification for the 

 step which Buenos Ayres had taken. The friends of 

 Artigas allege, that he was disgusted at this time with 

 intrigues, jealousies, and factions, which manifested 

 themselves in the democracy of Buenos Ayres; but 

 these persons do not reflect on the consequences of 

 every military officer, from a commander in chief to 

 the commander of a detachment, taking upon himself 

 to determine whether the government is managed 

 wisely and faithfully, or of his refusing obedience and 

 renouncing its authority. Besides, this plea is made by 

 every traitor, whether it has any foundation or not. 

 Artigas was regarded as an ignorant man, but useful 

 in his way; the hopes of the new republic, however, 

 rested upon men of a very different stamp, upon the 

 Hondeaus, the Belgranos, the Balcarces, and others 

 of this description, who adhered to the fortunes of 

 their country in the midst of all the turbulence, fac- 

 tion, and changes to which an unsettled republic would 

 unavoidably be subject. These things Artigas could 

 not understand; he was more pleased with that sim- 

 plicity and unity of action which arises from absolute 

 power. Whatever the causes may be, it is certain, 

 that from this time, Artigas manifested symptoms of 

 disaffection and obeyed the orders of the junta with re- 

 luctance, and sometimes not at all. 



The affairs of Buenos Ayres being placed on a 

 somewhat better footing, a new army, consisting of 

 four thousand men, was again sent over to the Banda 

 Oriental, early in 1812, under the command of Sarra- 1 

 tea. The Portuguese alarmed at their approach, ac- 

 cepted the mediation of Lord Strangford, and entered 

 into the armistice of the 10th of June; in pursuance 



