TRAVELS, &c. 



CHAP. I. 



Voyage to Cadiz and thence to the Rio de la Plata. — Misfortunes at 

 Monte Video. — Character of the Inhabitants. — Trade. — Geological 

 Remarks. 



\ TRAVELLER who ventures to present his Narrative to the 

 Pubhc, is generally encouraged by the conviction that it con- 

 tains novel and interesting information. This is my case ; and I 

 beg leave, before I begin my story, briefly to state the subject of 

 it to the Reader, in order that he may perceive the grounds on 

 which it claims his attention. 



In the year 1804, 1 was induced to undertake a voyage of com- ' 

 niercial experiment, on a limited scale, to the Rio de la Plata. 

 On my arrival at Monte Video, the ship and cargo were seized ; 

 I was thrown into prison, and afterwards sent into the interior, 

 where I was detained until the taking of that place by the British 

 troops under Sir Samuel Auchmuty. I afterwards obtained leave 

 to accompany the army under General Whitelocke, which was 

 sent against Buenos Ayres, and I rendered such , services to the 

 expedition as my two years' residence in the country enabled me 

 to perform. At the termination of that expedition, I went to Rio 

 de Janeiro. A letter of introduction to the Viceroy of Brazil. 



B 



