The Spanish colonies as nations--The first-fruits of freedom--Uruguay beneath the heel of Portugal--The advent of a second liberator--Juan Antonio Lavalleja-- The forming of the league of the "thirty-three"--Opening of the campaign--The patriot force--Rank and its distribution--The crossing of the River Plate--Commencement of operations in Uruguay--A first success--Spread of the movement--Rivera embraces the patriot cause--The march upon Montevideo--A daring siege--How the army of occupation was deceived--Timely reinforcements--Lavalleja establishes an independent Government--Incident at the opening of the Senate--Argentina comes to the assistance of Uruguay-- Beginning of the rivalry between Rivera and Lavalleja-- Dissension in the Uruguayan army--Temporary disgrace of Rivera--His acquittal--Lavalleja declares himself dictator--Uruguay's independence acknowledged by Argentina and Brazil--The national authorities enter Montevideo. CHAPTER VIII HISTORY (_continued_) 107 Foreign war succeeded by internal chaos--Warriors as statesmen--The dictatorship of Lavalleja--His methods--The first open breach between Lavalleja and Rivera--A temporary reconciliation--Establishment of the Constitution of Uruguay--Lavalleja and Rivera candidates for the president's chair--Differences in the temperament of the two--Rivera is elected first President of Uruguay--Jealousies and intrigues-- Attack upon Rivera--Narrow escape of the President-- Lavalleja's party temporarily occupy Montevideo--Defeat of the insurgent general--His flight into Brazil-- Intervention of the Argentine dictator Rosas--His support of Lavalleja--Combined forces beaten by Rivera--Lavalleja's second attempt proves unsuccessful-- General Oribe succeeds Rivera as President--Lavalleja's party again in the ascendant--Rivera heads a revolution-- Civil war--Intervention of France--Resignation of Oribe-- Rivera elected President--His alliance with the French and Corrientinos--Declaration of war against Rosas--Defeat of the latter--On the withdrawal of the French Rosas resumes the aggressive--Severe defeat of Rivera and his allies of the littoral provinces--Oribe besieges Montevideo--The services of Garibaldi--The Uruguayan forces decimated--Further incidents of the war--The power of Rosas broken by Brazil, Uruguay, and Entre Rios. CHAPTER IX HISTORY (_continued_) 118