barbarous Morillo, broke the spell of invincibility which had been attached to his name, so that it no longer spread terror and dismay through the ranks of the patriots.

Hitherto the independents had sustained the unequal contest unaided and alone; the friends of liberty, both in Europe and the United States, had contented themselves with extending to them their good wishes, a succour not very efficacious, in the struggles of war. The revolutionists at first looked with great expectations to Great Britain, in consequence of the disposition she had long manifested, to favour the independence of Venezuela, to promote her commerce with South America. After the establishment of the junta in Caraccas in 1810, L. L. Mendez, and Simon Bolivar were appointed to solicit the countenance and support of the British government, in favour of the revolution. But the policy of the British cabinet was now changed, as it was engaged in supporting the Spanish patriots in the peninsula, against the French; and the only effect of this mission, was a decree ordering the governors of their West India islands to maintain a strict neutrality, in the contest between Spain and her colonies, provided the new governments continued to act in the name of Ferdinand the VII. This decree seemed to imply, that if the patriots declared the country independent, the British government might favour Spain in reducing them to obedience. And in a treaty concluded with Ferdinand, after his restoration, it was stated the Prince Regent hoped that Ferdinand would restore peace in his American colonies; and that entertaining this hope, he would engage not to assist the insurgents, and would even endeavour to prevent his subjects from affording them any assistance."

In the year 1810 the junta of Caraccas deputed Telesfero Orea, and John Vincente Bolivar, to the government of the United States, and in 1815, the congress of New Granada sent Don Pedro Gaul, now secretary of foreign affairs in Colombia, on a mission to this country; the following year Bolivar despatched to Washington, Don Lino de Clemente, and in 1817, the congress of Venezuela, soon after it was re-established, commissioned Joseph Cortes Madariaga, as minister to the United States. The policy of our government as it regards its foreign relations, adopted by Washington, and followed by all his successors, did not admit of the government affording assistance to the patriots, or even of its departing from a strict line of neutrality, however much the executive might desire, in common with all our citizens, success to their cause.

It is a curious fact, and strongly illustrative of the selfish policy which governs the conduct of nations, that France was the only power that manifested any intention of assisting the patriots

in their arduous struggle. In 1812, after the royalists had reconquered and laid waste Venezuela, and the same dreadful fate impended over New Granada, the congress of that country resolved to apply for succour to some foreign power. It was in vain to apply to England; little hope remained of assistance from the United States, and France, under the despotism of Bonaparte, was the only power of which there was any prospect of obtaining assistance to the sacred cause of liberty and independence. It was determined, however, that application should be renewed to the United States; and if unsuccessful, then to be made to Bonaparte, who had twice declared that he would assist the new world in obtaining their independence. Accordingly, Don M. Placio Faxar was sent on a double mission to Washington. Having made known the object of his mission to Mr. Madison, and informed him that the people of New Granada were unable without assistance to support the contest necessary to maintain their freedom, he was answered by the president, that, "though the United States were not in alliance, they were at peace with Spain, and could not, therefore, assist the independents; still, as inhabitants of the same continent, they wished well to their exertions." The commissioner then addressed himself to M. Serrurier, the French minister, resident at Washington, who encouraged him to apply to Napoleon, which he did, with every prospect of success. The arrangements were actually making to give effective assistance to the South Americans, when the battle of Leipsic took place, which threatened the invasion of France, and left the Emperor no opportunity to attend to any thing but the maintenance of his own power.*

During nine years, the patriots of Venezuela and New Granada, unaided and alone, without allies and without assistance, sustained the most desperate and sanguinary struggle in defence of their independence, with a firmness and perseverance almost unexampled, under sufferings and sacrifices truly incredible; a large proportion of the white population in Venezuela having been destroyed, and both countries devastated with fire and sword. But the time had now arrived, that the South American patriots were to receive a more efficient support from abroad, than the sympathies of the friends of liberty. Their sufferings and sacrifices; their bravery, firmness, and perseverance; their patriotic devotion to the sacred cause of liberty, under the most appalling circumstances, awakened the attention of the world, and inspired the confidence, and excited the highest &dmiration of the friends of liberty in the United States and in Europe, particularly in the British Isles. The cries of liberty, the voice of struggling freedom, were heard across the waters, and excited * Outline of the Revolution of South America. 9

VOL. II.

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the most lively sympathy in kindred breasts.* Notwithstanding the policy of the government founded on the dictates of prudence and caution, the people of the United States almost universally felt a deep and lively interest in the success of their brethren in South America, engaged in the same desperate struggle for liberty as they themselves had gone through; not, however, without foreign succour, which the South Americans had not hitherto been so fortunate as to obtain. Near the close of the year 1817, the president of the United States appointed three commissioners, Messrs. Rodney, Bland, and Graham, to visit the independent states in South America, to ascertain their political condition, and their means and prospects of securing their independence ; and early in 1818, the legislature of Kentucky adopted resolutions expressing their sense of the propriety and expediency of the national government, acknowledging the independence of the South American republics. These resolutions probably emanated from the influence of Mr. Clay, now secretary of state, who, from the first, has been a zealous and steadfast friend of the South American patriots. Some individuals from the United States joined the patriots, and some supplies of ammunition and muskets were furnished them from this country.

It was from the British Isles, however, that they received the greatest assistance, both in men and munitions of war. Both in England and Ireland, a number of patriotic individuals espoused the cause of the South American patriots with zeal and disinterested devotion. Such was the success of the exertions of these disinterested patriots in England and Ireland, that, in the summer of 1818, and early in the year of 1819, not only large supplies of arms and munitions of war were sent to the Oronoco, but a considerable auxiliary force, consisting of several

*The history of the revolution in South America abounds not only in deeds of desperate bravery, but affords instances of the truly Roman spirit of liberty and of self-devotion. In 1817, Morillo having got into his power a son of the patriot general Zaraza, conferred on him the commission of ensign, by which means he was in hopes to induce the patriot chief to embrace the advantages offered in the Indulto, or act of oblivion, and join the royal standard. Accordingly, Morillo sent a priest of the name of Sutil, accompanied by the young Zaraza, to the patriot general, who was informed, by the clerical messenger, that Morillo would make him a brigadier, if he would go over with his troops to the royal standard. To this proposal Zaraza made the following noble reply; "Not until I behold my wife and unfortunate children, cruelly murdered by the legions of general Morillo, restored to life again, shall I desist from the noble undertaking and glorious strife in which I am now engaged against the tyrants of their country, and the assassins of their innocent posterity." Having said these words, he handed a sword to his son, who scorning a rank which was given him merely for the sake of necessity or convenience, grasped the weapon; when his father added, "with this you must defend the rights of your country, and avenge the death of your mother and brethren."

hundred volunteers, arrived at the island of Margarita, from whence they were forwarded to the Öronoco in season for the next campaign. A number of experienced English and Irish officers either accompanied or followed these troops, which was an invaluable acquisition to the patriots; being extremely useful in imparting military knowledge and skill to the officers, and discipline to the troops, in the patriot service. The troops, too, were veteran soldiers, who had seen much service; and the foreign officers and soldiers probably contributed in no small degree to the glorious successes of the ensuing campaign.

The indefatigable Bolivar, whose extraordinary exertions for the emancipation of his country, have, by the unanimous voice of America and Europe, justly entitled him to the illustrious appellation of the Washington of South America, now conceived the bold project of emancipating New Granada, when Morillo supposed that the whole efforts of the patriots would be required in Venezuela. In opening a campaign in New Granada, numerous difficulties were to be overcome; unexplored tracts of wilderness were to be traversed; rapid and dangerous rivers, swelled into lakes by the rains, were to be crossed, and mountains, apparently inaccessible, to be passed; and with an army hastily collected, a considerable part of which were destitute of discipline, and unaccustomed to the hardships of service; badly equipped and clothed, and scantily provided with the means of subsistence. Formidable as were these difficulties, they did not surpass the resolution of the chief of the republic, or shake the firmness of his purpose. The liberation of New Granada, whether regarded with reference to the relief it would afford to the oppressed inhabitants, the importance of the acquisition, or the influence it would have on the revolutionary cause, was an object demanding the utmost efforts of the republic. The cause of Venezuela and New Granada were essentially identified, and reciprocally influenced each other. Animated by the magnitude, and even by the difficulties of the enterprise, Bolivar made every possible effort his situation and resources would admit of, in preparing for this important campaign.

But the preparations for the approaching campaign did not engross the entire attention of Bolivar, who was not only the liberator, but the legislator of his country; not only the commander in chief of her armies, but the head of the government, and the founder of her institutions. The congress of Venezuela was installed at Angostura in February or March, 1819, to deliberate on the form of a constitution for the republic. The session was opened by a long and elaborate speech by the president, exhibit

ing his views of the most suitable government for Venezuela, under existing circumstances. This speech comprises twentyfive printed folio pages, and evinces a profound acquaintance with the history, principles, and practical operations of various forms of government, and a heart warmed with the holy fire of patriotism, deeply anxious to secure to his country wise institutions, affording the surest pledge of preserving its liberty, and securing its prosperity and happiness. It concludes in the following glowing language:

"Legislators! Condescend to receive, with indulgence, the declaration of any political creed, the highest wishes of my heart, and earnest petition, which, in the name of the people, I have dared to address you.

"Vouchsafe to grant to Venezuela a government purely popu lar, purely just, and purely moral, which will enchain oppression, anarchy, and crime-a government which will cause innocency, philanthropy, and peace to reign-a government which, under the dominion of inexorable laws, will cause equality and liberty to triumph.

In

"Gentlemen! Commence your duties. I have finished mine. "The congress of the republic of Venezuela is installed. it, from this moment, is centered the national sovereignty. We all owe to it obedience and fidelity. My sword, and those of my fellows in arms, will maintain its august authority."

Having discharged this responsible duty respecting the establishment of a system of government for the republic, Bolivar directed his whole attention to preparations for the liberation of New Granada. He organized a select corps composed of Irish and English foreign auxiliaries, and some of his best troops. General Paez, whose name had become a terror to the royalists, was to remain behind, entrusted with the important duty of watching the motions of Morillo, and defending Guiana and the territories of Venezuela in the possession of the republicans. Every thing being in readiness, taking advantage of the rainy season when the royalists had abandoned the plains, and were reposing in security, the army commenced its march in the month of April, on an enterprise, the importance of which was only surpassed by its intrinsic difficulties. The constancy and fortitude of this army, in sustaining the fatigues and hardships which it had to endure, and surmounting the numerous obstacles that opposed its progress, will not suffer from a comparison with the army with which the Carthagenian hero conquered the Alps. "The rainy season,' says Bolivar," had commenced, and the plains presented only vast sheets of inundations; the frozen summits of the Andes lay in our route; the sudden mutations of adverse climates were to