presence of a traitor among his most confidential associates, whose intention was to deliver him to the viceroy.[1] Morelos received these unpleasant communications with extreme indifference.
The rapid extension of the rebellion, despite his utmost efforts to arrest its progress, kept Venegas in embarrassment; and to add to his perplexity, the popularity of the cause was daily gaining ground in the capital and other large cities in possession of the Spaniards. Fostered by the circulation of periodicals and publications—the distributors of which the government in vain endeavored to discover—the principles of independence were being more widely disseminated and better understood. Prominent among the authors of these sheets was Doctor Cos, whom the imprudent action of the viceroy had driven to the ranks of the insurgents. Cos, as the reader will remember, on his departure from Aguascalientes had been detained in confinement at Querétaro. Having addressed a representation to the viceroy giving an account of the occurrences at Aguascalientes, and informing him of the instructions which he had received from Calleja to proceed to Mexico, Cos was released by order of Venegas and presented himself at the vice regal palace. The viceroy expressed himself satisfied with his explanations; but after a delay of many days, during which no notice was taken of him, Cos was peremptorily ordered to return immediately to his parish. Such a journey could not be undertaken by him at that time without imminent risk; two days after his departure he was captured by Correa's band and conducted to Zitácuaro, where, disgusted with the treatment he had received and the want of confidence in him shown by the viceroy, he offered his
- ↑ Rayon described the man as stout and big-bellied. Morelos' reply was 'no hay aquí otro barrigon que yo, la que en mi enfermedad queda desbastada.' Id., ii. 425-6.
del virey Calleja se le tomó en su causa, sobre otro conato posterior de envenenamiento, que da idea que Calleja tenia noticia previa del hecho.' Hist. Mej., ii. 425.
