DEFEAT OF THE ROYALISTS. 379 



Cimdinamarca, of which Bogota was the 

 capital, disapproved of the articles of the 

 federation ; and the Junta of Bogota having 

 convened an assembly of the deputies of 

 the province, a constitution was prelimina- 

 rily agreed upon, acknowledging the sove- 

 reignty of Ferdinand the Vllth., which was 

 ratified on the 17th of April 1812, by an 

 assembly specially empowe/ed for that pur- 

 pose. 



Tacon, the royalist governor of Popayan, 

 who, after his defeat at Palace, had fled to 

 Los Pastos, increased his force there by 

 giving liberty to the slaves. Opposed, how- 

 ever, by troops sent against him both from 

 Popayan, and by the Junta of Quito, he 

 was unable to maintain his ground, and 

 retreated to the south-east coast, near the 

 port of San Buenaventura : he was pursued 

 by Don N. Rodriguez, who had succeeded 

 Baraya in the command of the troops, and 



