Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1825-06-22

1hests, anu, tney say, derive me greatest
advantage from the heat of their bodies"
The account of Lopez, the governor
of Santa Fe, and of his force, is singular:
" About nine O'Clock, the governor,
Lopez, made his appearance, and as soon
as he was seated in an adjoining hut,
went and paid my compliments to him.
found him sucking brandy and water
through tube, 10 uncommon way of
drinking. He was tall, fairer than usual,
and apparently thirty years of age. He
had the mark of dreadful sabre cut over
his right eye After the usual salutation,
we proceeded to talk of the war and its
present appearances of Buenos Ayres
and Cordova but of Chill and Peru, he
scarcely knew where they were, and
cared little about them He was ex-
tremely frank, told me he knew where
Ramirez, the commander Of the Orien-
tales. was posted, and added that on Fri
day he should attack him and cat off his
head. In CONCLUSION, l begged TO know
whether | could be SO fortunate as to
carry his Exceliency's dispatches TO Bu-
enos Ayres? His reply was 'Tengo.'t
Lopez had been, for several years, ii
private in the Santa Fe army, before
an opportunity occurred Of showing his
courage and talents for command. He
soon rose, however, and when no higher
than major. was named by the troops
governor and captain general. After his
elevation to this rank, various di>turhan-
ces on all sides afforded him the means
of still further distinguishing himself;
and II is proper 20 state, that putting
aside a slight tendency to harshness, he
has Conducted the affairs of The province
with considerable skill. In the year fol-
lowing my interview, the Santa Fecinos
declared, that the usual gradations of
military rank were not sufficiently rapid
to reward such merit, and they decreed
that he he at once named general.
"With regard to this threat against
Ramirez, he put it into execution. On
the Friday after, Lopez attacked, beat,
and cut off his head, which was success
sively sent from Cordova to Santa Fe
and Buenos Ayres. Nobody regretted
the death of this last chief-he was a
perfect untaught Gaucho, with conside-
rable natural talents. When he march
ed down against Buenos Ayres, he re-
manned outside the town, and received
the visits of many who were DESTROYS Of
beholdiug SO singular character. When
matters went as he desired, he seemed
to possess scarcely sufficient life to utter
"Esta muy bien, "--it is all very well !;
but it thwarted in his schemes, his eyes
flashed like wild cats, and nothing
could restrain him. With Lopez he was
for some time united in what appeared
the strongest bands of friendship. Con-
jointly they attacked Buenos AYres, and
were successful but the latter power,
by dint of grea' expense, contriyed 10
make them implacable enemies. Rami-
reg preserved on this occasion the most
perfect discipline among his troops: he
issued the usual orders against plumber.
One OF his soldiers took poncho from
woman who had approached near the
head quarters; Ramirez, observing her
distress, inquired into the matter, and
drew up his whole force to have the
soldier recognized. The woman point
ed him out, and the Poncho was aiscov-
cred on him. Friend said the general,
step out and kneel DOWN. he obeyed,
and was shot by him through the head.
His method Of securing the prisoners
was quite novel, but after the taste of
the country; he belted them round the
waist and arms with wet hide, which,
contracting extremely as it dried, caused
in many instances their death.
"To return to the Governor of Santa
Fe.-When | heard that his Excellency
had person will, him who oficiated as
secretary, | was quite relieved, fearing
that, if he took the pen in hand himself,
| should not get forward until the next
morning. After remaining quietly for
two hours, began 10 suspect that either
the governor had forgotten his dispatch,
or intended to send it only the next day.
| therefore walked up and down before
his quarter, for two hours, when at last
it appeared. One thing | universally
remarked in South America, that the
people have no idea of time or space,
They can neither distinguish one hour
from four, nor quadra from league.
"The commandant now returned me
my saddle-bags, &c. in safety; and taking
leave of his lady and the old Gaucho
guide Juan Jose, | proceeded to Coronda,
escorted by couple of dragons. Be-
fore left the encampment, two Quay
earu Indians, belonging to a party Of
forty then accompanying Mopez, rode up
alongside of me, and endeavoured to pull
a blanket from under me, but on making
application to my holsters they directly
made off. After this, and until was
perfectly free from the stragglers, kept
n hat