The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-10-23 00:00:00

DETAIII OF THE PLOT.

Buenos AVM, JULY 10.—A conaderable num-
ber of European Spaniards in this capital prepared,
under an oath of secrecy, a conspiracy, formed on
the most horrible plan, and of which posterity will
not read without trembling. They had taken their
measures for a rising on one of those nights when
the negligence or confidence of the military detach-
ments best promised a fortunate result. The direc-
tion of the plate was entrusted to the Spaniard,' Mar-
tin Alzaga, of whose turbulent and daring charac-
ter we have had repeated proofs. For this purpose
they had formed their companies and regiments of
infantry, with corresponding officers. The Bethle-
mite, Father Jose de las Animas, had the chief corn-
asand of the cavalry. The Hospital of Convakseents
was to be the rallying point for all the conspirators.
Their first object was to seize upon the barrack guard-
room ; and as they calculated upon the assistance
of all the disbanded Spaniards, the lane w.re fo be
entrusted with the custody of all the principal points,
while arms were to be put into the bawds of the con-
spirators most distinguished for their valour and
skill. Numerous petroles were next to be detached,
for the purpose of surprising such of our's as they
might meet in the streets, and getting possession of
their arms. The cavalry was destined to surprise the
park of artillery, and scour the outside of the walls,
that nothing might escape. The infantry were to
surprise the head-quarters of the artillery, and cf
the civic regiments; from thence they were to march
to take the fort, with which view they laid a plan to
get the Fort-Major out of his house, and then com-
pel him to demand that the principal gate should be
opened, when immediately a corps of 300 men was
to advance and carry it by storm. The enterprise
was to be carried into effect at two in the morning,
and as soon as it was day they were to make signals
to the marines, for the purpose of supplying the as-
sistance agreed upon. To prevent any movement ou
the part of the Americans, they were to issue a Pro-
clamation, threatening death to every native who
should leave'his house, and to every European Spa-
niard who did not join them with all the arms in his
possession. When success was obtained, all the
Members of the Government, the Magistrates, that
principal American citizens, and the Spaniards most
attached to the present system, were to be seized
and shot. The capital was to be governed by the
author of the conspiracy, Martin Alzaga, without
acknowledging any dependence on the Governor of
Monte Video, till the decision of the Cortes ; for
the grand object was to restore the ascendancy of
the Spaniards, and to replace the Americans in a si-
tuation a thousand times more servile than theiffor-
mer one.
Such was the plan, as appears from the trials of
the conspirators ; but God, who always natcheleever
the good, provided the means of discovery at the
moment when it was about to be realised. One of
the cqnspirators incautiously disclosed himself in the
presence of a slave. This unfortunate
.man, alive•
to the dictates of reason and humanity, communi-
cated what he had heard to a person in whom he bad
confidence, and in this way it reached the knowledge.
of the Government The conspiracy being dieco.•
vered, after the first investigations,- three of the
chief conspirators wore seized, shot, and exposed' to
public view. *The traitor Alsaga, es ;Foto' Its' he
hoard the dews, led-from fris houstwvilktitelitoi.
escaping, but soon fell into the sands priaitice, and-
has been rewarded for his horrible t times by condign.
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punishment.
114, !tricimlness of these men could onlybe equalled'..
by tits! *OC-.arithasiasm 9f .the people 'of &woos
Ayres. •No sooner was the discovery mad public
4044 they took uparms,, and ran to lII+ tiharters,
deteimiered to save the country or
in its defence. In a short time more thint elthet men
were collected, who, mixed with our votesonslguardo
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