Amalia; A Romance of the Argentine - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII SIR JOHN HENRY MANDEVILLE "did the Englishman come with you?" said Rosas to his aid-de-camp, as the latter entered the room. "He is outside, your Excellency." "What was he doing when you arrived?" "He was going to bed." "Was the gringo surprised?" "I thinlTlso." "I think so! What the devil are your eyes for? Did he ask you anything?" "Nothing. As soon as he heard your Excellency's message he ordered his horse to be saddled" "Let him come in." The personage whose acquaintance the reader is now about to make was one of those men who, so far as English statecraft is concerned, are to be met with frequently among British diplomatists in every country, but who, in respect to forgetfulness of his official position and of his dignity as a man, could be found only in a country whose government resembled that of Rosas; and, as there could be only one such country, it may consequently be said, who are to be found only in Buenos Ayres. Sir John Henry Mandeville, the English Minister Plenipotentiary to the Argentine Government, had obtained from Rosas what the latter had refused to his predecessor, Mr. Hamilton; that is, the conclusion of a treaty regarding the abolition of the slave-trade. And from this triumph over Mr. Hamilton it was that the English Minister's personal sympathy for Rosas first sprang. He could not fail to perceive, however, that what had really impelled the Dictator to conclude the treaty of the 24th of May, 1839, was tne necessity of seeking in the friendship and protection of Her Britannic Majesty's Government a support which had become necessary to him since the 23d of September, 1838. But whatever its causes this treaty was a triumph for the minister which he owed to Rosas. But men like Rosas neither desire...