and two fiscals, and they took command of everything but of declaring war.
The functions of subdelegates (corregidores) were the same as in the peninsula. The institution of municipalities was the best guarantee against abuses, and these are still existent and of great import. Although the individuals of these corporations wre not elected popularly, they were considered by the people as their own representatives.
The ecclesiastical hierarchy formed another part of the colonial system. Ten viceroys in succession occupied Buenos Ayres from 1777 to 1806. The Marquis of Sobremonte was the King's representative in 1806, when the English invaded La Plata. The viceroy abandoned the capital on the 27th of June that year, leaving it to the occupation of General Beresford, and fled to Cordova, where he obliged the people to receive him with all the pomp due to his rank. The Governor of Montevideo, Ruiz Huidobro, and the cabildo[1] and population of that city, prepared to reconquer Buenos Ayres. While the expedition was in
- ↑ The cabildo was a popular assembly with officials answering to mayors and aldermen; their attributes and prerogatives were very great, especially after the downfall of the viceroyalty. This form of government was originally taken from the peninsular government, with the idea of opposing a barrier to the exactions of the territorial lords. Rivadavia, when President in 1825, suppressed this body and substituted for it the municipality which still exists.
