At the beginning of 1814 Montevideo was still in the hands of the Spaniards, who continued to command the estuary of the River Plate and the great river system generally.  Ominous news arrived from Europe.  An important Royalist expedition, it appeared, was being prepared in Spain.  The outlook for the patriots was serious.  A Council of State was called in Buenos Aires, consisting of nine members, of which Alvear was the most prominent.  It was agreed that, so long as the Spanish fleet commanded the home waters, there was very little chance of driving their garrisons from the ports.  It was resolved to establish a patriot fleet, which should sweep the seas clear of the Royalist vessels.

Three small vessels were in the first instance obtained—­the Hercules, the Zefiro, and the Nancy.  The command of these was given to an Irishman, William Brown, who lost no time in displaying his fitness for the post, and who, indeed, played the part of a lesser Cochrane.  With his insignificant force he vanquished the Royalist fleet and captured the Island of Martin Garcia and blockaded Montevideo.  On land General Alvear took charge of the investing patriot forces.  Montevideo could now look for no assistance from the sea, and on June 20, 1814, after having suffered many hardships, the garrison capitulated, and with the collapse of its gallant defence ended the power of Spain in the River Plate.

San Martin was then appointed Governor of Cuyo, with his head-quarters at Mendoza.  The situation in general was serious.  Outside Argentina and Uruguay the Royalist cause had held its own, and in many districts had triumphed.  It was said that the Spanish expedition of 15,000 men was on the eve of embarkation in Europe, and even in the victorious River Plate Provinces dissensions between Artigas, the Uruguayan leader, and rival Generals had resulted in civil war.

It was undoubtedly necessary to obtain some recognition of the Constitution in Europe.  To this end Rivadavia and Belgrano proceeded to the Old World and sought the assistance of various countries, particularly that of England.  On May 7, 1816, they arrived in Europe.  The harassed statesmen of Argentina had, after consideration, decided that the best means of avoiding anarchy was to establish a monarchy.  The emissaries of the New World offered the throne to Don Francisco Paulo, an adopted son of King Carlos IV.  These negotiations and others which succeeded them broke down and Belgrano returned to Buenos Aires.  Rivadavia went to Madrid, where he was not permitted to remain.  A little later Belgrano became possessed of the somewhat extraordinary idea of crowning a member of the family of the Incas.  This naturally enough met with ridicule, and was rejected.

[Illustration:  DON FRANCISCO SOLANO LOPEZ.

Third Dictator of the Republic of Paraguay.

A.  Rischgitz.]