On the morning of the 6th General Whitelocke had still at his disposal some five thousand effective men. He placed himself in communication with the fleet, from which he could receive provisions and reinforcements, as well as big guns to use against the town. Liniers seeing that it was still possible for either side to fight, and wishing to avoid an unnecessary effusion of blood, took the bold step of sending a flag of truce to the English general, with the proposal to surrender all his prisoners, including those taken with Beresford, providing he should consent to at once embark with all his forces, and depart. And now occurred an incident which, but for its grave consequences, would border on the ludicrous. In drawing up his communication to the English general, Liniers had merely stipulated that in return for his prisoners, the latter should evacuate the territory of _Buenos Ayres_. Being a brave officer himself, it never occurred to him that General Whitelocke, who was still in possession of _Monte Video_, and at the head of an army of seven thousand effective men, not to speak of the fleet, could be asked to surrender his hold on _Uruguay_. But Alzaga thought otherwise. He insisted that the terms of convention should include the surrender of _Monte Video_. Liniers remonstrated that they had not taken _Monte Video_, and that they might be quite satisfied by obtaining the relief of _Buenos Ayres_. To this Alzaga replied that there could be no harm in inserting a clause demanding the restoration of _Monte Video_, since, at the worst, it could only be objected to. The clause was accordingly inserted--and complied with without remonstrance. When Whitelocke received the above proposals he at first rejected them; but he nevertheless demanded an armistice of twenty-four hours to carry away the wounded. Liniers, whose wounded were safely housed, replied by reopening a fire on the _Retiro_. The English made a _sortie_, in which they are said to have suffered even more than on the day preceding. The Buenos Ayrian writers admit that the English troops, officers and soldiers alike, penetrated through the deadly streets with the utmost intrepidity; but their confidence was entirely broken, as well it might be, when they saw themselves the victims of such a general. They fought as it was their duty to fight, but not with the least hope of conquering. The colonists, on the other hand, were full of confidence; and Alzaga was more than ever determined that the terms of capitulation should include _Monte Video_.