his sloop was obliged to be hove down, in consequence of her grounding on a bank near Maldonado. He had previously received a very friendly farewell letter from Commodore Bowles; and the following was there addressed to him by the new commander-in-chief, who afterwards did him the honor to hoist his broad pendant on board the Slaney:
“Sir,– Having witnessed the exertions of yourself, officers and ship’s company, and others employed in preparing H.M. sloop under your command for sea, when recently heaving down and refitting at Ensenada, I beg you to accept my best thanks, and that you will convey the same, in my name, to the officers and ship’s company of the Slaney, and to those belonging to other ships, serving under your orders, for the laudable zeal and exemplary conduct manifested on this occasion. I have the honor to be, &c.
Captain O’Brien was senior officer in the Rio de la Plata, at the period when the government of Buenos Ayres made an attempt to compel all the British merchants, &c. residing there, to organise themselves for the purpose of taking arms against the neighbouring provinces, so as to identify them with the natives; the result of which measure would have been the sacrifice of property to a very great amount. This design, however, Captain O’Brien fortunately succeeded in defeating; and he ultimately obtained, from the existing authorities of that distracted republic, an official document exempting every British resident from being drawn for military service, or in any way required to act hostilely against its recently declared enemies. It is necessary to observe, that this great point was not gained until after a most painful and persevering correspondence, many discussions upon the laws of nations. Sec. &,c., nor until it had been officially intimated to the said authorities that all our fellow subjects would be driven to the necessity of quitting the country. Captain Adam Mackenzie, then commanding the Superb 78, and entrusted with the direction of the naval force on the eastern coast of South America, addressed a letter to the Admiralty, dated April 30th, 1821, and in mentioning Buenos Ayres, observed, that “Captain O’Brien, the senior officer on the spot, had been ordered to avail himself of the many direct opportu-
