V 



DISSENSIONS IN CENTRAL AMERICA. 227 



State of Guatimala. The Liberal party was dominant, 

 but at this critical moment a fatal division took place 

 among its members ; Barundia, a leading member, dis- 

 appointed of a high office for a profligate relative, de- 

 serted the administration, and appeared in the Assembly 

 at the head of the opposition. Party distraction and 

 the rising of Carrera stirred up all who were dissatisfied 

 with the government ; and the citizens of the Antigua, 

 about twenty-five miles distant, sent in a petition for a 

 decree of amnesty for political offences, allowing exiles 

 to return, and a redress of other grievances. A depu- 

 tation of the Assembly was sent to confer with them, 

 which returned unsuccessful, and the Antiguans threat- 

 ened to march against Guatimala. 



On Sunday, the twentieth of February (1838), proc- 

 lamations of the Antiguanos were found strewed in the 

 streets, and there was a general alarm that the Antigua- 

 nos were on their march to attack the city. The troops 

 of the general government (less than five hundred in 

 number) and the militia were mustered ; cannon placed 

 at the corners of the square, and sentinels in the streets ; 

 and General Prem published a bando, calling upon all 

 citizens to take up arms. Galvez, the chief of the state, 

 mounted his horse, and rode through the streets, en- 

 deavouring to rouse the citizens, and giving out that 

 Morazan was on his march, and had defeated three 

 hundred of Carrera' s gang. On Monday all business 

 was suspended. Galvez, in great perplexity, reinstated 

 some officers who had been dismissed, and appointed 

 Mexia, a Spaniard, lieutenant-colonel ; which gave such 

 disgust that Prem and all the officers sent in their res- 

 ignations. Galvez begged and implored them to con- 

 tinue, reconciling himself to each individually; and at 

 length, on his revoking the commission of Mexia, they 



