The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-04-10
Gltrope

LONDON, Jan. 81.
RECAPTURE OF BUENOS AYRES.
OFFICIAL.
admiralty off,, Jan. O.. 1907.
DiiPatches, OF which the following are copies
have been received at this office from Commo
dore Sir Home Popham, addrelled to William
Marfden, Efq.
His MojeGr's hip Di0dem, Rio d. ID
Plata, Ansnf rs, 1906.
When the events OF war ceaIe TO be fayo,fra
bic to any armament, conidcr it the duty Of
CSmmanding Officers TO ftatr all the circum.
tances under their knowledge or information
with clearneis and perfpicuity, which, either
Prosreitively or fuddenly, led to reverfr oil
fortune. ~
Inpurfuing this courfe, feel confident fl,a,l
be able to fatisfy the Lords Commitioners OF
the Admiralty, that the liberal and benefcen,
principles upon which the Government of Gen
berestord was conducted, do more honour to
his Malefty's arms, and the character of G. b
than 1t he had reiorted to expedients complete.
~ within his power, which would have effeStu-
ally annihiated all the efforts of Il e enemy, and
wreited, probably, forever, thefe countries from
the crown of SPAIN
Pueridon, one ofthe municipality, appears to
have been the greateft organ of the revolution
He applied himielf with great art and addrefs
IN preparing the people for general infurreSti-
or.
The arms in the town were frcreted, ready
for the moment of action the difcontented
attended every night, and attended to his in
itruetions; and he RATED all the rabble of the
country, by the ample fupp!ies of money with
which he WAS furniled from the north iide of
the river.-Col. LINERS, French Officer in the
Spaniih tervice, and on his parole, fuccefsfully
employed himfelf in collecting people at Colo
mia.
Terror was efabfhed, and ev.ry perfon
who refufed to contribute his afiifancc to this
conipiracy, was threatened with immediate
death.
Ihave traced this from very objectionable
authority and 10 rapid was the progrefs of the
revolution, when ii firt fhewed itfeif that it was
not till the slit July that learned by difpatch
from the General, which reached me at Enfe.
NADIA, on my return from Monte Video, that
he was apprehenive, from the information he
received, that an infurre6tion would flortly be
made.
l heard at the fame time from Captain
Thornton, that feventeen of the enrmy's vefIels
had Juf arrived at Colonia, and As it was report
ed that force was fill to be encreafed from
Monte Video, / fent orders for the Diomede to
be brought to EHfenada, and for captain King,
OF the Diadem, to come up with the remaining
re" marines, the two companies of Blues, and
as many other men as could, in any degree, be
ipared from the fhips, for the purpofe of arm
ing Tome vefes to attack the enemy at Colonia,
as 1t was impoliible to prevent his crofIine
from the north ihore whenever the wind was
fair.
On the LIT OF Auguf, in the afternoon, th c
Leda anchored off Buenos Ayres, about twelve
miles diftant and on my landing Oh the I'd Z:
which / did as foon as the weather would admit
OF boat getting on lhore, found the General
had juit made very fucceisful attack on about
500 SPaniards, under Pueridon, five leagues
from the town, with 500 men, in which he took
all the enemy's cannon, Il think nine pieces. J
and feyeral prfoners.
On the Sd, attempted TO return to the Leda,
in the Encounter, which Capt. Honymaa bro,
within few miles of that ihore for this pur-
poie, asst blew very itrong, but the wind frcih-
ened 10 contiderdbe from the eaitward, thar we
could not get TO wndward.
On the 4th, in the morning, it was very thick
weather, aud the gale increafed 10 much, that il
was impoiiihle to weigh.
About noon, Capt. King arrived in a. aIiva.,
With l 80 tnen from the Diadeni, for the pur
pole OF armng and Commanding the few final
vetels We had collected in the harbour but
~ "do HOt dOtS W get I'LL the following
day.
On the 5th, in the morning, it moderated,
and reached the Leda, when received 4 re.
port from Capt. Thompfon, that in the gale of
TIE proceeding day, the enemy had crolIed from
Coonia totally unobferved by any of our fflips,
except the fchOoDer under tie command OF
Lieut.. Herrick who was lying il the narrow
gut leading to Couchas and ST. Ildon bur the
eaiterly wind had thrown fo much water m the
river, that the enemy were enabled to croIs
over any part Oi the Parmas Bank, without TIN.
neceihty OF making a greater detour by soipy
higher up the river.
On the 9Th and 9TH it blew hurricane: the
Leda was lying in four fathoms, with two anch-
ors down and her yards and topmsfts truck.
On the 9Th heard from Capt. King, that five
Of our gun-boats had foundered at their an.
chors that the Walker had loft her rudder.
and the launches aud large cutters of the Dia.
dem and Leda were lol.
The torrents Of rain that fell during the IN.
9Th and sth, had rendered the roads totally i'm.
practicable for any thing but calvary, and con.
ieqnently Gen. Beresford was mott feriouf,y
disappointed in his determination to attack the
enemy at difance from the town in which.
had 1t taken place, entertain no doubt that
his army would have added anoiher trait of its
inyincibe fpirit under hisdifpofitions.
The enemy, however, by his inexh .uftibIe
fuPply of horie, fuFered little Inconvenience
from the Rate of the roads, and he was there.
tore, enabled TO approach the town by feyeral
directions. without piyino the Ur;,;u, &c.. =. .