rish churches and all publick buildings, in order that it may be speedily notified to all the inhabitants. They shall also read in the churches and all the civil courts, once a day at least, the pamphlet formerly mentioned, written by J. Viscardo, which accompanies this edict.

X. Whoever shall hinder, retard or neglect the observance of the nine preceding articles, shall be considered a publick offender, and punished immediately with exemplary severity. The publick good is the supreme law. Done at Head Quarters at

Coro, 3d of August, 1806.

(Signed)

FRAN: DE MIRANDA.

THOMAS MOLINI, Secretary.

It

The pamphlet alluded to, was in Spanish, written twelve years ago, answering to the character given to it in the proclamation. was designed to enlighten the people and to inspire them with a hatred of kings and love of liberty. It attempts to show how happy other countries were in self-government and how easily the South Americans night possess themselves of this same blessing.

LETTER XIX.

Other events previous to the evacuation of the Main.-Col. Hall's embarrassment.-Threat of M. concerning his wounded men.-Capt. Johnson's misfortune.

Aruba, August 17th, 1806.

IMMEDIATELY on our return to La Vela de Coro, I learned what had happened there during our absence. No advices were sent to the commanding officer of La Vela, to acquaint him and the squadron of our having taken possession of the city, or apprise him of our situation. They were four days in a state of anxious suspense, without hearing a syllable of our fate.

At the same time they were in constant apprehension of an attack from the Spaniards who were assembled in large bodies within a short distance of the town. Whether this neglect in Miranda, so vexatious to the detachment left in the rear be military or not, let military men decide.

Col. Hall, who commanded at La Vela, grew impatient to hear from the army which had gone to Coro and to put an end to his

doubts, was at last, obliged to send a messenger to his excellency. It was with the greatest difficulty, and not without ample pecuniary promises, that a native could be found who would undertake the office. For some strange reason Miranda detained this messenger so long after he was prepared to return with an answer to col. Hall, that the latter, with the remnant of our troops guarding La Vela, concluded that we were all taken prisoners, or had been put to the sword by the Spaniards. Under this impression, col. Hall thought it expedient, for the time being, to plant several pieces of cannon round the house in which he resided; and took the precaution of having boats in waiting on shore every night, to carry himself and the guard consisting of twenty five men, off to the squadron, in case they should be under the necessity of flying.

Col. Hall, who had it in charge from Miranda, to entice his countrymen back to their homes, finding his personal efforts ineffectual, addressed the following letter to the priest of that district, in hopes, by gaining the pastor to gain his flock.

"Reverend Father,

"I take the liberty to enclose you one of

N

general Miranda's proclamations and pamphlets, and to inform you, that I intended myself the honor of waiting on you tomorrow, to request that you will be so good as to come into town. on Sunday next to celebrate mass. You may rely on the assurance of not being disturbed in any manner in the exercise of your holy functions. In the interval, I beg God to grant you long life and health. I kiss your hands." This letter was written in Spanish, by lieut. Adrien, the colonel's secretary. The day after it was delivered, this officer accompanied by lt. Spearing and dr. Davie, both of the British navy, waited on the curate. He replied in answer to the letter, that he could not officiate out of the district to which he belonged; but his conduct and manners, proved that this was only an excuse. He was surrounded by a multitude of people, who testified no inconsiderable alarm at the presence of our ambassadors; and hovered under the wings of his reverence, as their only safeguard from heretical contamination. The truth was, that the priest wished to have no communication with any of Miranda's followers; he knew, if he came into town, that he should be followed by

his flock; and he therefore declined the invita tion, with a plausible excuse, lest the people should attach themselves to Miranda when they had more thoroughly discovered his intentions with respect to their country. It is very evident from this, and other circumstances, that the inhabitants of this country will never listen to the proposals of our commander in chief, unless they are led on and countenanced by their priests; and without the con. currence of the priests his cause could not suc ceed. These ecclesiastics have too much wis. dom to give up a certainty for an uncertainty; to espouse an adventurer and revolutionist against the reigning government, which protects their endowments and immunities, and builds up their influence their influence; and they have pro

bably as a body too much loyalty of feeling and principle to be seduced by ordinary prospects into a renunciation of their allegiance.

Aruba, August 20th 1806.—Before we proceed to speak of our situation and prospects, I will finish the narrative of events previous to our final evacuation of the Main, which took place on the night of the 13th of this month. Before we occupied La Vela de Coro it was understood that col. Hall was to be command