256 A VOYAGE TO 



vacancy, made an attempt to settle the dispute with 

 Artigas, but with no better success than his prede- 

 cessors. The installation of the congress at Tucu- 

 man, had put an end to the unfortunate dissentions 

 which manifested themselves in Cordova, and in some 

 of the upper provinces. All but the city of Santa Fee, 

 and the Entre Rios, of which Artigas claimed the 

 protectorship, had submitted to the general congress, 

 which declared independence in July, 1816. A de- 

 putation was sent to the chief of the Orientals^ but he 

 evaded any negotiation.^ So favorable an occasion 

 of furthering their views with respect to the Banda 

 Oriental, was not to be neglected by the Portuguese; 

 an army was assembled in the neighboring province of 

 Rio Grande, and marched into the country in three 

 divisions. The sober inhabitants^ who had thus far 

 submitted to the sway of Artigas from the hope that 

 it would not be of long continuance, now became 

 alarmed at the prospects of being permanently trans- 

 ferred to the dominion of Portugal; they were, also, 

 anxious to take advantage of the opportunity to unite 

 themselves with the confederacy of La Plata. In 

 Monte Video, and other towns, they formed themselves 

 into volunteer corps, or civicos, the force of Artigas 

 being fit for nothing but skirmishing and partisan war, 

 and, therefore, of no use in opposing masses of troops 

 in an open country.f The opportunity was siezed by 

 Pueyrredon, who was now at the head of affairs of the 



* Thus stated in the manifesto of the congress of the 17th of 

 October, 1817. 



t The war between Buenos Ajres and Artigas, in which the 

 latter was victorious, was carried on in the Entre Rios; chiefly a 

 wooded country. 



