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interrupted by those vicissitudes that elsewhere befel me, and there- 

 fore a narrative of it is little calculated to interest the Reader. Rather 

 than occupy his attention by relating my various hopes and disap- 

 pointments as the prospect of liberation became more or less favour- 

 able, I have chosen to present him with the result of some general 

 observations on the country, made during the daily excursions which 

 I enjoyed through the liberality of my friend. The longer I resided 

 in his house, the greater was his kindness to me in allowing me 

 those indulgences, and the more did he and his family strive to 

 render my exile agreeable. An event at length occurred which at 

 once delighted and distressed me, because while it afforded me hopes 

 of immediate deliverance, it destroyed for a time the harmony which 

 so long subsisted between me and my protector. 1 allude to the 

 taking of Monte Video by the British troops under Sir Samuel 

 Auchmuty. 



On hearing of the surrender of the place, I solicited Mr. Martinez 

 to liberate me, as I thought myself no longer a prisoner. He 

 seemed much astonished at this, and gave me to understand that I con- 

 tinued a prisoner, because, not being actually at Monte Video, I 

 was still in the power and under the jurisdiction of the Viceroy of 

 Buenos Ayres. This worthy man's mind was so distracted by the 

 fall of the town, and by the disgrace of the Spanish arms, that he 

 secluded himself from society, and avoided all communication with 

 me. Under these circumstances I was advised to attempt my es- 

 cape, but I felt great repugnance at the idea of thus wounding 

 the feelings of a man who had humanely released me from confine- 

 ment, and had ever treated me as a brother. Averse to such an act 

 of ingratitude, I intreated his amiable wife to intercede for me, and to 

 suggest that, on returning to Monte Video, it might be in my power 

 to be of service to him. But he rejected the proposal in the most 

 vehement manner, and forbade any one to talk to him on the sub- 

 ject. I now thought that my liberty was unreasonably denied me, 

 and as I saw no probability of obtaining it but through my own 



