OFFICERS, 1824.] For seven weeks Beresford held Buenos Ayres, the people swearing allegiance to King George, and doing everything in the way of promises that was asked of them,--all of which did not prevent them from rising _en masse_, when their preparations were complete, and attacking Beresford with unmistakable fury. [Sidenote: 12th Aug.] With but 1300 men against 13,000, Beresford fought for three hours and inflicted heavy loss on the enemy, but having lost 12 officers and 150 men, he was at length compelled to surrender. The Spaniards agreed to his proposals that he and his army should be shipped off to England forthwith; and there it might have been supposed that the whole matter would have ended. But it was not to be. The Spaniards most treacherously violated the treaty, and carried off Beresford and the whole of his army into the back country as prisoners. On the first capture of Buenos Ayres Popham had, of course, sent despatches home to report his success. The Government, however, was, for various reasons, much annoyed and embarrassed at Popham’s escapade, and responded by ordering him to England and trying him by court-martial. Still the nation at large was so delighted at the exploit that the Government, after much hesitation, was forced to send out reinforcements under Sir Samuel Auchmuty. Auchmuty’s instructions bade him simply make good Beresford’s losses and await further reinforcements, failing the arrival of which he was to proceed with his troops to the Cape. At one moment in August the whole expedition was countermanded; but finally the Government made up its mind and decided, on 22nd September, to despatch it. This vacillation accounts for the very short and sudden warning received by the Seventeenth. The whole force under Auchmuty’s command numbered 3000 men, viz. the Seventeenth, 700 strong; the 87th and 40th regiments of Foot; three companies of the 95th (now the Rifle Brigade), and 170 Artillery. [Sidenote: 1806.] The transports finally sailed from Falmouth on the 9th October, the British Government being still in ignorance of the loss of Buenos Ayres and of the capture of Beresford’s army. The haste in the equipment of the expedition soon showed itself in various ways. The transports were such miserable sailers that, long before they reached their destination, they ran short of water, and were obliged to put in at Rio Janeiro. There Auchmuty heard of Beresford’s disaster, and further of the arrival of a small reinforcement of the 47th and 38th Foot, which had been sent from the Cape to the Plata, and had taken up a position at Maldonado, a town standing at the entrance to the river on the north side. [Sidenote: 1807.]Not knowing what to do, Auchmuty victualled his ships for four months and started off again for Maldonado, where he arrived at last, after a passage of 147 weary days, [Sidenote: 5th Jan.] on the 5th January.