wants.

ble to their sufferings, and careless of their If he could not give them good fare, they would naturally expect good words; or some attempt to soothe and encourage their disappointed and dejected minds. They know and feel that he has been false; though all of us, who reflect, are sensible that his sanguine temper has deceived him. We are just on the point of sailing for the land of promise; yet many of us, I am persuaded, would be glad to wash our hands of this business. But we are among strangers without resources. We have engaged ourselves to Miranda for two cam-paigns, let what will happen ;-we are not permitted to resign; though really we are absolv ed by his neglect to fulfill his part of the con

tract.

The young man, who I sometime ago told you commanded the Leander, has been removed; and is succeeded by a captain Johnson, who came to this island from Barbadoes on 'purpose to obtain the place he now holds. This man was exceedingly ambitious of his present situation. He expressed a willingness to hazard some of his cash to aid the enterprise, if it would procure him a command. By some means these glad tidings came to the general,

whose funds are quite low, and Johnson did not long wait for the appointment, to which he aspired.

July 21st. With a view to induce people to join us, the general, or some one about him has issued the following curious and foolish hand bill, which has been circulated through the town and stuck up in all publiek places. It purports to be an address from Miranda to the Spanish people here.

"Friends and countrymen,

"The glorious opportunity now presents itself, of relieving from oppression and arbitrary government, a people who are worthy of a better fate; who ought to enjoy the blessing of the finest country in the universe, which bountiful providence has given them; but who are shackled by a despotism too cruel for human nature longer to endure. Groaning under their present afflictions, they hail with extended arms the noble cause of freedom and independence, and call upon you to share with them in the god-like action of relieving your distressed fellow creatures. Hasten then to join, the standard of one, who has the happiness to call himself your countryman, and is determined to rescue his country, and to shed the last drop

of his blood in promoting its happiness: An object, of which he has never lost sight for a moment of his life."

"There will be made a liberal distribution of land at the expiration of a twelve month, according to rank; and privates, from the instant of enrolment, will be entitled to provision and clothing, with a quarter dollar per day as pay, not subject to any deductions.

"And you, brave volunteers of the island, who have nobly come forward to partake with us our honours, and to share with us our prosperity, hasten to follow those officers, under whose care you have been already trained, and who are impatient to lead you on to victory and wealth.

The gulf that Columbus first discovered and honoured with his presence, will now witness the illustrous actions of your gallant efforts."

This thing excites nothing but ridicule, and the officers are disgusted with it. The general disowns the sublime production. There can be no doubt, I think, it was issued with his knowledge and sanction. He recollects, perhaps, that he has already promised the men in the service thirty dollars per month, which is four times more than is now offered to new re

1

The Spaniards would have nothing to say to us. They had no thoughts of accepting our proffer of liberty; and we could not oblige them to take it. Miranda, so long the idol of his foolish followers, is not known by them. They wondered who he was; and what brought him in such guise into their country. They viewed him as a marauder whom they were to fly from, or destroy, instead of a deliverer to be made welcome. There was no sign of any partisans of his in force or likely to be so; and not a shadow of probability that any one of the leading officers of government civil or military had thought or would think of adopting his plans or joining his standard. Having left the country, we are going-I know not whither but wherever the prince of visionary schemers chooses to say. You will imagine my disgust and mortification; perhaps repentance. For I assure you, it is not without compunction that I reflect how we have terrified and harrassed the unoffending people of this region, as the event has proved, without sufficient pretence, and to no good purpose. I should pity our fanatical leader more than all, but he has an admirable constitution for bearing mortifications. His blunders do by no means put him out of

countenance.

I dare say he will soon talk of beginning again without any confusion of face. Indeed he has reason to believe he may go any length in amusing our expectations, considering how fond of being deceived we have appeared. It is said we are going to the island of Aruba. Under the next date, you shall have the history of our recent performances and mishaps.

LETTER XVIII.

At Aruba.-Events after leaving Trinidad.Army disembark.-Gain Le Vela de Coro.-March to Gord.-Disaster at that place.Return, and evacuation of the Main.

Aruba, August 15th, 1806.

WE anchored at this place yesterday; and I now proceed to the relation of what has happened from the time of leaving Trinidad.

On the 23d and 24th of July, all the officers and men belonging to the Columbian Army embarked on board the vessels mentioned before. The Sunday following passing by the island of Margaritta -the people forsook the church, and manning the batteries of the place