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 preparation, Santiago Liniers, captain of a vessel, a Frenchman in the employ of Spain, arrived at Montevideo with the same purpose. The forces were confided to his command, and he retook Buenos Ayres on the 14th of August. The next day the principal inhabitants formed themselves into a junta which invested Liniers with the command, and created civic forces to defend the territory which was threatened with a new invasion. Sobremonte was obliged to bend before the will of the people. He confirmed Liniers in the military command, delegated his political and administrative powers to the audiencia, and retired to Montevideo.

In 1807, Sir Samuel Auchmuchty with five thousand English soldiers, took Montevideo by assault. The cabildo and the civic corps demanded the imprisonment of Sobremonte, and the audiencia, after resisting for a time, yielded to the will of the people, and took part in a second junta which decreed the arrest of the viceroy and the seizure of his papers.

Another English force under General Whitlocke, laid siege to Buenos Ayres, but was beaten in the streets of the city on the 3d of July, capitulated, and was obliged to evacuate the whole territory of La Plata. The court of Spain confirmed Liniers in the post of viceroy, and nominated Don Francesco Javier Elio governor per interim of Montevideo.