every British prisoner by
consenting to evacuate Egypt.

DISASTERS IN SOUTH AMERICA.

It is an old proverb that "misfortunes never come alone." Thus it was
with the expeditions planned by the "all talents" ministry--t was hoped
that the reverses in the Mediterranean might be compensated in the
South Atlantic Oceans; but this hope was illusive. In October 1806, a
re-enforcement had been sent to the Rio de la Plata, under Sir Samuel
Auchmuty, who, on arriving at Maldonado, resolved to attack the strong
post of Monte Video, the key to the navigation of that river. His
efforts were at first successful,--the town and castle with fifty-seven
vessels of war and trade were captured. This success, however, was
followed by a series of reverses, induced by rashness and misconduct.
When intelligence arrived in England of the re-capture of Buenos Ayres
by the Spaniards, orders were transmitted to General Crauford, who had
been sent against Chili with 4,200 men, accompanied by a naval force,
under Admiral Murray, to proceed with his army to the river Plate.
He reached Monte Video on the 14th of June, where he found General
Whitelocke, with a re-enforcement from England of 1,600 men. The chief
command of the British forces was entrusted to General Whitelocke, and
he had orders to reduce the whole province of Buenos Ayres. A general
attack on the town was ordered to be made on the 5th of July, each
corps being directed to enter the streets opposite to it, and all with
unloaded muskets. No mode of attack could have been so ill-adapted
against a town consisting of flat-roofed houses, disposed in regular
streets, intersecting each other at right angles. Volleys of grape-shot
were poured on our columns in front and flank as they advanced, and they
were equally assailed from the house-tops. The service was executed,
but it was with the frightful loss of 2,500 men in killed, wounded, and
prisoners. Sir Samuel Auchmuty succeeded in making himself master of
the Plaza de Toros, where he took eighty-two pieces of cannon, and an
immense quantity of ammunition; but General Crauford, with his brigade,
and Lieutenant Colonel Duff, with a detachment under his command, were
obliged to surrender. Surrounded with foes, General Whitelocke, who
had arrogantly refused to treat before the attack, now consented to
a negociation with the Spanish commandant; and he not only agreed to
evacuate the town, on condition of recovering his own prisoners, and