echo of her voice, and displaying the same sentiments, hastened to strengthen their relations with her, and to obey the authorities which superseded those of his Catholic Majesty and their subaltern functionaries. In proportion as the ties which united them to the ancient mother-country were severed, those were more closely knitted which previously had linked them among themselves. The same complaints which they uttered in that moment, on account of the oppressions of three centuries, combined with the necessity of defending themselves, compromised anew their rights and wishes; and the social compact which already existed between them, far from being subject to alteration, received a still greater degree of legality and solidity. In a word, these provinces became essentially constituted as a nation, at the very moment when they shook off the yoke of the ancient mother-country; in the same manner as those of Brazil entered into that rank, from the hour of the publication of the Act which proclaimed their independence from Portugal.

The province of Monte Video distinguished herself in her sentiments in favour of the cause of the revolution, and in her efforts to second the enterprise of Buenos Ayres. In her capital, the embers of commotion were speedily blown into a flame, which unfortunately was quenched by the Spanish authorities. Nevertheless, the opinion of

the propriety of a union with the other provinces discovered itself, and was unfolded more and more, amidst the same difficulties, till it became generally diffused among all Americans, or the greater part of them. The towns in the country became convulsed in different points, and, emancipating themselves from the force which oppressed them, hastened forthwith to become obedient to the general Government. For the same purpose, the most distinguished individuals emigrated from that side; and among them the officers of the army, Don Jose de Rondeau, and Don Jose de Artigas, who, after having paid their respects to the authorities, returned decorated and invested with the rank of lieutenant-colonels, and entrusted with the command of the troops which were already on their march for that destination, and whose ranks were to be reinforced by the remains of the army of Paraguay. When those forces had crossed the Uruguay, the divisions of patriot volunteers, who had mustered in the country and placed themselves under the orders of the general-in-chief, were immediately incorporated with them. The army marched without farther opposition, and the victory of Las Piedras, gained by its vanguard under the command of Lieutenantcolonel Artigas, left it master of the whole country, even to the walls of Monte Video.

The authority of the Supreme Government esta

blished in Buenos Ayres, was then acknowledged throughout the extent of that country. From all quarters felicitations were addressed to it, accompanied by protestations of union, fidelity, and obedience. All the persons employed, received from it new commissions; and the officers of the army, as well of the veterans as of the militia, were presented with the promotions of which the victory of Las Piedras had made them worthy. The eastern country retained itself, since that period, on the same footing of unity as the provinces of Corrientes, Entre Rios, Cordova, Mendoza, Tucuman, Salta, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, and La Paz: which, already free from the enemy, composed the integral parts of the new State.

The defeat of the patriotic army of Peru at that time obliged the Government to withdraw the troops from the siege of Monte Video, and to conclude an armistice with the Governor of the fortress. This was the moment when Colonel Artigas began to show indications of insubordination towards the supreme authority, by which he had been confirmed in the rank of Major-general of the army; to which he himself had formerly addressed the official despatch communicating the victory of Las Piedras; and from which, as a reward for that victory, he received the rank of Colonel.

That Chief, discontented with the armistice,

did not follow the army to Buenos Ayres, and kept a position on the Uruguay, at the head of the provincial militia. Nevertheless they continued their relations with that capital; and he was constantly assisted with the necessary succours, until, hostilities breaking out anew with the Government of Monte Video, a respectable army was despatched a second time to that side of the river, commanded by the representative of the Supreme Government, Don Manuel Sarratéa, who ultimately remained under the orders of General Don Jose de Rondeau. The militias under the command of Colonel Artigas co-operated in the new siege of the fortress; and, although the conduct of that chief was always arbitrary and alarming, General Rondeau was acknowledged and obeyed throughout the campaign. The war was carried on with such success, that, immediately on the defeat of the squadron of Monte Video by that of the United Provinces, the fortress was given up to the besieging General; and, his troops having occupied it, authorities, named by the general Government, were established in it.

It is not to be dissembled, that at this time the insubordination of Colonel Don Jose Artigas assumed a more decided appearance, which compelled the General-in-chief to cause him to be pursued, to the satisfaction of all the proprietors of the country, by a part of the same forces

who had occupied the fortress of Monte Video. Results unfortunately favoured his disobedience; and the Government of Buenos Ayres were necessitated to leave that province at his disposal, in order to turn its forces against the common enemy, whose movements it was necessary to confine to Peru.

Colonel Artigas, then become master of the eastern side of the river, and of the resources which it presented to him, displayed his resentment against the Government of Buenos Ayres ; and events were concatenated in such a manner, that hostilities, the operations of which are matter of notoriety, became unavoidable between the two provinces. Nevertheless, the eastern State remained firm to its first resolution-of forming one nation with the provinces of the ancient viceroyalty; and even Artigas did not in the least oppose, by any of his measures, a determination which in part had entered into the scope of his own sacrifices. Opinion, it is true, became divided on an important question--as to the form of government which ought to be adopted by the new State; the preference being given on that side to a federal government like that of the United States. This discrepancy of opinions retarded the organization of the State, and, favouring the private passions of that Chief, gave him an opportunity to tyrannize over that province