492 VOYAGE OF THE POTOMAC. [March, 
ment of Buenos Ayres, as well as every other step which they 
saw fit to take. 
On the twenty-seventh of February Don Manuel I. Garcia re- 
signed his place in the ministry, and on the seventh of March 
Don Juan Manuel de Rosas resumed the command of the prov- 
inces, as governor, with dictatorial powers. Garcia, previous to 
his resignation, informed Slacum (then divested of office, and un- 
acknowledged) by note, that Vernet, under decrees of the first 
and thirteenth of June, was the civil and military governor of the 
Falkland Islands, &c. 
Commodore Rogers arrived before the city, bearing the olive- 
branch : a reciprocation of civilities took place — mutual salutes 
were fired, and the seven men, arrested by Duncan at the Falklands, 
were surrendered on the ground that they had acted under the 
orders of Vernet, now acknowledged to be an officer of high civil 
and military rank under the repubhc. This " era of good feelings," 
however, continued but a short time : the peace-offering was not 
sufficient to appease the angry gods of Argentum. When the 
chamber of deputies met, which was about the middle of May, 
the governor, in his pubhc message, again alluded to the " scan- 
dalous" acts of Duncan, and assured the deputies that a minister 
was daily expected from the United States, who would doubtless 
foe instructed to offer reparation for his outrages. This public 
manifestation of the governor convinced Commodore Rogers 
ithat no amicable feeling existed towards the United States on the 
part of the government. He had pursued a course of conduct 
of the most conciliatory character; but the governor, without 
waiting the arrival of the minister, who was momentarily ex- 
pected, and who, according to his belief, was authorized to offer 
reparation, renewed, in an official document of the highest char- 
,acter, the insolent and irritating language of subordinates, and ap- 
plied it again to the sfecond officer of the squadron. The commo- 
dore ordered his officers on board their ships, which then lay in 
the outer roads : returned to his own, where he was taken sick, 
and soon after died. . 
It is proper to pause here and examine the conduct of Captain 
Duncan, with a view to ascertain whether the violent reproaches 
which have been cast upon him by the government of Buenos 
Ayres are founded on justice. This gallant and patriotic com- 
