5th. That the free and unrestrained exercise of the Roman Catholic religion be granted to the inhabitants of _Buenos Ayres_. 6th. That all private property on shore shall be respected, and secured to its owners. Our force is so considerable that I believe, in candour, you cannot doubt of the ultimate result. I trust you will believe me when I assure you that a wish to avoid so dreadful a scene as that which a town taken by assault always presents is the only thing which has induced his Excellency Lieutenant-General Whitelocke to permit me to address you. (Signed) J. L. GOWER, Major-General. His Excellency Gen. Liniers, &c. &c. &c. (A true Copy) E. COOKE. Major-General ELLIO’S Answer to Major-General GOWER. _July 3, 1807._ SIR,--By orders of the Spanish General, _Don_ Santiago Liniers, I answer to the letter brought by your flag of truce respecting the surrender of this capital, by saying that nothing relative to laying down our arms will be attended to--that the Spanish General has a sufficient number of brave troops, commanded by brave chiefs, full of desire to die in defence of their country, and that this is the moment to show their patriotism.--I remain, &c. (Signed) Major-General CALL. ELLIO. Major-Gen. Levison Gower. Plan of Attack.--Circular. HEADQUARTERS, CAMP BEFORE BUENOS AYRES, _July 4, 1807_. SIR,--Herewith I have the honour to enclose instructions for the attack of Buenos Ayres. The refusal of the Spanish General to listen to terms, and the state of the army from fatigue and bad weather, leaves but little choice as to the mode of accomplishing our purpose; otherwise I should assuredly be disposed to adopt one _equally calculated_[17] to secure to us possession of the place without the probable chance of so much blood being spilt. I therefore have to desire that you will impress upon the minds of all officers acting under your immediate orders, the necessity of preventing, in as great a degree as possible under such circumstances, acts of violence on the persons of those who do not carry arms, as well as women and children.--I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) JOHN WHITELOCKE. To Brigadiers. COPY OF GENERAL ORDERS, _4th July, 1807_. Sir Samuel Achmuty to detach the 38th regiment, to possess itself of the _Plaza de Tauros_ and the adjacent strong grounds, and there post itself. The 87th, 5th, 36th, and 88th regiments to be divided into wings, and each wing is to penetrate into the street directly in its front, in a column of sections right in front. The light battalion to penetrate by wings into the second street, on the right of that leading up from Mr. White’s house, and the next to it, followed by the 95th regiment.