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follow the main road, in order lo avoid meeting the party of 40 rct.,Ular soldiers who were preparing lo i\larch lo overtake him. Tl~ose troops did, in fact, march from the city: but having failed lo meet the party after which they had been scnl, they returned on the following day, al JO o'clock A.\I., 4 hours afler lhe return of the Militia. On the 17th, al day break, I had agreed with the Ayuntamienlo and several influential citizens who had remained in al.lcndance near me, lo assemble the people, early in the morning in order lo acquaint them with the whole tranaction, and take into calm and deliberate consideration that important business. The mcetfog took place; but such was the popular excitement, that they resolved, at once, to make a bold attempt against the troops. However, the sound arguments of several intelligent citizens, and the advices of the old men, caused them lo reconsider their first resolution, and to feel the rashness of such a step. There was, indeed, no possibility of attacking the troops who whould soon have been reinforced by the garrisons of Goliad, Lipentitlan dn Guerrero, distant not over 60 leagues from the city. It is proper to state here, that the meeting was attended by not more than 70 citizens of all classes and ages; the other citizens being scattered in their Ranches could not have been summoned in time. Arms were not wanting, but a great many were not in order, and there was no time for repairing them, and also, ammunition could not be procured. Still I saw, al the time, no alternative left besides driving the troops out of town, or being driven off by them. The latter alternative was dreadful! to have to abandon our families, and to withdraw on fool lo .Monclova, exposed lo be attacked by the troops of this garrison senl to pursue us, and by those of Guerrero who would have attempted to cut off our passage! What material advantage could have resulted from the first alternative?-} have already answered this question when I stated that in case that the regulars should have been defeated, six days afterwards, if not sooner, they would have been reinforced, and retrieved their disgrace al our expense. The Government must know that we could not have contended against such odds. Under such circumstances, il was resolved that myself, \\ilh a committee, a privy council of six citizens should decide the hcst measure to be adopted, which decision should be acccpled by the people. It was, thercforc, ai!Teed in the same night, thal the r:,
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