]42 MEXICO. resistance. The Junta escaped to Sultepec, where it esta- blished a new seat of Government ; but the honour of having been selected for its first residence proved fatal to Zitaciiaro. Calleja, after having passed a fortnight there, which he em- ployed principally in examining Rayon's papers, decimated the inhabitants, ordered the walls to be rased, and burnt the town on his departure, sparing only the churches and convents.* From Zitacuaro, he proceeded, by forced marches, to Mexico, where Venegas most anxiously expected him, in order to check the progress of Morelos. The army made a triumphal entry into the Capital, on the 6th of February, 1812 ; they were received with salutes, and a grand Te Deiim in the Cathedral, and a general promotion took place. But this important point was no sooner arranged, than V enegas became as impatient for the departure of his guests, as he had been for their arrival. He had always been jealous of Calleja; but now, when brought into contact, the misunderstanding rose to such a height, that they would have kept no terms, had the stay of the army been prolonged. Fortunately, the vicinity of Morelos afforded a pretext for a speedy separation ; and on the 14th of February, 1812, Calleja began his march towards Cuaiitla Amilpas, which he threatened with the fate of Zitacuaro. Morelos, on the approach of the Royalists, (February 18th,) went out, with a small escort, to reconnoitre them, and had the imprudence to advance so far, that he was charged by a party of cavalry, lost several of his men, and would, probably, have been made prisoner himself, had not Galeana, who was afraid of his exposing himself too much, kept a party in rea- diness, with which he sallied out in person to his rescue. It was upon this occasion that Don Jose Maria Firnandez^ now General Victoria, first distinguished himself : his father was
- I saw this unfortunate town in 1826. The situation is lovely, but
the place is still in ruins. ^
