Beresford’s correspondence with both London and the Cape reveals his anxiety regarding his position. Indeed, even while in Saint Helena he had written home to the government stating that in the event of success he would require reinforcements and additional instructions.28 He clearly felt that the best he could try and do was to hold Buenos Aires, and he indicated that he would not be undertaking further operations until reinforcements were received. In early July he requested an additional 2,000 infantry and 600 cavalry. Beresford must have received some degree of intelligence from the local community because he knew that Viceroy Sobremonte was trying to collect a large force from the towns of Córdoba in order to attempt the recovery of Buenos Aires.29
It was immediately evident that to have any prospect of retaining the city and its surrounding area would require additional troops. Popham’s first letters after the capture of Buenos Aires were to Baird in Capetown advising him of the success and seeking reinforcements. Similar reports and requests were sent to London.30 By way of response, Baird advised on 13 August that he was sending 2,000 men as soon as possible, a force that would include 350 cavalry. Understandably, given the length of time it took to communicate with England, a response from the government was somewhat slower.31
Beresford set up his headquarters in the fortress of Buenos Aires. He moved quickly in an effort to consolidate the tenuous hold he had on the city and with a view to garner support for British rule. While he secured the city, he sought to conciliate those accustomed to exercise power, the merchants and indeed other groups. In essence, he left in place the existing legal, administrative and ecclesiastical structures making just one major change in that he proclaimed the sovereignty of George III and assumed the position of Lieutenant-Governor in place of Viceroy Sobremonte.32 He made a series of proclamations designed to reassure the population, which reduced many commercial tariffs. As late as 4 August 1806 he issued a proclamation containing sixteen commercial regulations designed to break the system of ‘monopolies, restriction and oppression’.33 Free trade was established subject to the payment of certain taxes to the British Crown and to the Consulate. The amount of these taxes depended on the origin of the goods, with lesser rates appertaining to trade with Great Britain, Ireland and the colonies of the British crown. There were specific taxes in respect of tobacco, Chilean wine, whiskey, Paraguayan herbs, horse hides and other skins as well as for gold and silver.
Beresford moved also to establish his supply lines, appointing an Irish merchant resident in Buenos Aires, Thomas O’Gorman, as purveyor of provisions to the army. Some funds were available for this purpose, as over 600,000 pesos was sequestered from government coffers in the fort and on the quayside.34 In parallel with securing the city and encouraging commerce, he sought to recover the ‘treasure’ which it will be recalled had been sent inland with the Viceroy and an escort. To this end Beresford sent a party under Captain Robert Arbuthnot to attempt to retrieve the treasure, which had been sent to Luján, some fifty kilometres in the interior.35
Arbuthnot took with him seven dragoons, twenty infantry and two other officers from the 71st Regiment. They set out by horse on 3 July and remarkably returned with an immense sum one week later.36 The total sum recovered from Luján was $1,291,323. Of this $1,086,208 (perhaps $70–77,000,000 in current value) was sent back to England on 17 July on a frigate, HMS Narcissus, while Beresford kept back $205,115 for the Buenos Aires treasury and the needs of the expeditionary force.37 At the same time, over $100,000 worth of valuables was reportedly returned to Portenos (as the inhabitants of Buenos Aires were and are still known) in keeping with Beresford’s promise of security of property.
The Narcissus, commanded by Captain Ross Donnelly, arrived at Portsmouth, England, on 12 September after a 57-day voyage, and the news was forwarded to London. Letters had been despatched by Popham to the City of London, the chambers of commerce of other towns and even Lloyds Coffee House extolling the potential of trade with South America. In what appears to have been a well-engineered propaganda occasion, the treasure was transported on wagons from Portsmouth to London escorted by a picket of cavalry. The convoy arrived in London on 21 September to a rapturous reception, as reported in The Times and other publications. Each wagon bore a large sign stating ‘Treasure’ and when the convoy reached St James’s Square silk banners stating ‘Buenos Aires, Popham, Beresford, Victory’ were presented to the convoy as it made its way to the Bank of England.38
The lion’s share of the proceeds seized in what is now Argentina went to the state, but each officer, soldier and sailor received a share. Baird, who had authorised but not participated in the expedition, was awarded £23,990-5-8d, the largest sum; but even the lowly soldier or sailor received £18-6-0d. Beresford’s share at £11,995-2-10½d was deemed to be double that of Popham (£5,997-11-5d), notwithstanding the latter’s angry representations.39
A grateful City of London, with an eye on future trade at least as much as the benefit accruing from the capture of the treasure, voted Beresford and Popham the Freedom of the City; the Court of Common Council resolving unanimously:
that the thanks of this Court be given to Major-General Beresford and Commodore Sir Home Popham, and the officers and men under their respective commands, for their very gallant conduct and the very important services rendered by them to their country in the capture of Buenos Ayres, at once opening a new source of commerce to the manufacturers of Great Britain, and depriving her enemy of one of the richest and most extensive colonies in her possession.40
In addition to the Freedom of the City, Beresford and Popham were awarded jewelled freedom boxes and beautiful dress swords to the value of 200 guineas each, though they were not to collect these until after the abdication of Napoleon in 1814.41
Back in Buenos Aires, the situation – unbeknownst to the government in London – had changed dramatically. While Lord Grenville’s administration prepared to send out a relieving force under Brigadier General Samuel Auchmuty, and indeed even before the Narcissus had arrived at Portsmouth with its cargo of precious metal, the British forces in Buenos Aires had suffered defeat and capture.42 Though some Portenos took the oath of allegiance, by mid July 1806 Beresford was conscious of growing opposition to British rule. He observed that while people were desirous of change they were (quite wisely as it turned out) concerned that Spain would recover the conquered land and that factor inhibited people from coming forward to declare their support. Notwithstanding this difficulty, he seems personally to have developed a good relationship with some of the important families and individuals in Buenos Aires.43 Later, after his return to England, Beresford was to send presents to a number of these. Furthermore, in light of later events, it is possible that Beresford sympathised with the ambitions of some Portenos to achieve independence, though he trod a very careful line in the absence of instructions from London. There were also rumours of masonic connections between erstwhile opponents, and the ‘Southern Cross’ masonic lodge may have been established at this time.
The population of the Spanish colony (the Virreinato) was made up of four components; the Spanish, the creoles, the native Indians and slaves. Those of political consequence were the Spanish and the creoles. While Beresford reportedly met a number of proponents of independence, including Juan Martin de Pueyrredón and J.J. Castelli, both of whom later pursued independence from Spain, neither the Spanish settlers nor the creoles were interested (with possibly a few exceptions) in exchanging one colonial power for another. The resistance and number of deaths arising from subsequent assaults by other British forces on Montevideo and Buenos Aires make this clear. Whether they were long-term residents, recent arrivals, Spanish or Creole, they realised quickly that the British force under Beresford was too weak to guarantee their independence.44
With the growth of opposition