SOUTH AMERICA. 



A criminal correspondence was some time after dis- 

 covered between Otorguese, one of Artigas' chieftains^ 

 and Vigodet;, the governor of Monte Video; a circum- 

 stance which is often alleged, a^ l-endering doubtful 

 the attachment of Artigas to the patriot caiise. It is 

 certain, that on this occasion, he deserted Rondeau, 

 with all his guerillas, and betook himself to the 

 plains. Rondeau, thus abandoned by a great propor- 

 tion of his numerical force, would have found himself 

 in a critical situation, but that, fortunately, the Spa- 

 niards mistook the whole for a ruse de guerre. 



Rondeau being sent to take the command of the 

 army in Peru, the siege of Monte Video was carried 

 on by Alvear, who was appointed to succeed him. 

 In the mean time, the government of Buenos Ayres 

 had undergone a change. What was called the so- 

 vereign assembly had been installed, and instead of a 

 triple executive, a single one was appointed under the 

 title of director, in January, 1813. The choice had 

 fallen upon Posadas, and when the last desertion of 

 Artigas was made known at Buenos Ayres, he pro- 

 ceeded at once to consider him as a traitor, and oiffer. 

 ed a reward for his apprehension. Funes considers 



but this daring measure had no eJfect upon what this body had 

 done. The selection of deputies, and a governor, was celebrated 

 in all the encampments, and the last named officer began to exer- 

 cise his functions. General Artigas viewed these measures with 

 a hatred, lively, as dissembled, and prepared to avenge himself. 

 Under various pretexts he withdrew his countrymen, and at last, 

 in the garb of a gaucho, deserted his post, thus leaving exposed the 

 right of our line. This rash proceeding made it apparent, that he 

 preferred his own interests to those ot his country; but many offi- 

 cers, and others of the Orientals, did not follow this pernicious ex- 

 ample." Funes, p. 63. 



VOL. I. 33 



