382 SPANISH AMERICA. 



resigned the presidency, proposed to quit 

 New Grenada, if the besiegers would spare 

 the lives and property of the inhabitants of 

 Bogota. They, however, insisted on a sur- 

 render at discretion; but, on attempting 

 to storm the place, they were completely 

 repulsed, and their army in consequence 

 dispersed, with the exception of a division 

 commanded by Girardot, which retreated to 

 Tunja. 



The Junta of Quito, the only one, as 

 already stated, the establishment of which 

 received the approbation of the Regency of 

 Spain, found it necessary to raise a body of 

 troops, for the purposes of defence against 

 the royalists of the province of Cuenca, 

 (situated on the frontiers of New Grenada, 

 in the viceroyalty of Peru,) who, with the 

 Bishop at their head, and having amongst 

 their officers several clergymen, who car- 



