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at that time composed of European Spaniards, favoured these artifices without 

 seeing their drift ; for, from the remarkable ignorance which notoriously charac- 

 terized every individual among them, we have not the smallest scruple in impeach- 

 ing their judgment ; but, as a voluntary concession to their sense of honour, we 

 would rather allow, that the sole intention which actuated them, was a rage for 

 suppressing bad news. From these different elements of authority, cunningly 

 combined by Liniers, was formed an extraordinary Junta, (convoked and pre- 

 sided over by himself,) to determine on all public concerns which presented them- 

 selves ; this establishment, however, was accidental, and produced no other effect 

 thaii that of giving efficiency to the will of their chief. 



The arrival of a French sloop of war at Maldonado in the month of July, of the 

 same year (1807 J, with an emissary sent by Napoleon, produced a change of 

 scene, and developed the mystery. However, as the vessel had arrived at sixty 

 leagues distance from the capital, the affair was still misrepresented to the people, 

 who were told that, in proof of the good faith with which the French had entered 

 Spain, Napoleon sent this ship, laden with muskets and other arms, in order that 

 they might defend themselves against the English. The Old Spaniards resident 

 in Buenos Ayres were the greatest dupes of this miserable imposture ; and for 

 two successive nights exhibited the ridiculous spectacle of parading the streets with 

 bands of music and lighted torches, and rending the air with acclamations of Viva 

 Napoleon : so earnest were they in this classic display of their stupid foolishness, 

 that, it may be presumed, they excited the compassion even of those who con- 

 trived the deception. The emissary having arrived at the capital, the Junta 

 above-mentioned was convened, and his dispatches were read ; they consisted of 

 some orders from the new ministers 0*Farrel and Azanza, giving an account of 

 the occurrences at Aranjuez and Bayonne, and the consequent abdications of the 

 crown of Spain in favour of Joseph. In these papers, reflections were made on 

 the necessity of acceding to such measures, even if it were for no other reason 

 than that of avoiding a disastrous war, which could be productive of no advantage, 

 as its last result would be the ruin of the nation, which, in that case, would have 

 to yield unconditionally to the law of the conqueror, whereas an opportunity now 

 offered, of peaceably placing at its head a wise king, supported by the immense 

 influence and power of his omnipotent brother. To this was added, a long and 

 piteous narrative of the evils brought on Spain by the family of the Bourbons, 

 especially by its later branches, whose misconduct, although described in ex- 

 aggerated terms, and with a malicious design, was not altogether misrepresented ; 

 the whole concluded with an admonition to the Afhericans, stating, that the 



