I believe many besides him would be very willing to earn a similar sentence, if they were certain the doing it would not expose them to something more. But the spirit of Miranda is chafed, and the consciousness of being disliked and distrusted, makes him suspicious and revengeful. He has some degree of that species of cowardice which resents the pang it feels; and the animosities among some of the officers are rancorous. It would not be sur-. prising, if a man were to avow his disgust with the service, or his want of respect for its lead-' er, that the latter should pack a court, who be ing governed by his will, instead of contenting themselves with taking away the offender's commission, should make him feel concern for his liberty or even life. The apprehension of becoming victims to malice is enough to make the officers guarded in their conversation, except among those who are confidential.

LETTER XXI.

Animadversions of officers on the ExpeditionCuracoa scheme.

Aruba, Sept. 21st, 1806.

YOU will naturally ask, what is the purport of the conversations which these persons hold? They express their sense of disappointment in all their expectations concerning Miranda and his schemes.

"He lured us," say they "from our country and homes by promises and declarations entirely unfounded. Why did he not tell us of the chances against his success, which he must have known to exist, instead of saying, that his adventure was infallible, setting aside the dangers of the seas. Through his delusive representations, seventy of our countrymen are dragging out their miserable existence in the Spanish mines; and ten are reported to have come to an ignominious end on the scaffold. The groans and tears of their widows, children, brothers, sisters and friends accuse him before high heaven as the immediate author of their afflictions."

On the subject of the loss of our schooners,
Q

the following is extracted from the journal of one of our principal officers, whose station necessarily gave him frequent access to the general; though it differs in some respects from the account given in my letter of May 6th, I think it proper to be communicated in this place. His remarks are couched in these terms:-"When the Leander bore away from the land to avoid falling between the two Spanish vessels, which appeared to be the object of their commanders, the brig being upon the larboard, and the schooner on the starboard quarter, the Bee came within hail of the Leander; capt. Huddle informed capt. Lewis from his speaking trumpet, that he was out of ammunition. Lewis replied that he could not then send the boat with a supply, but he must keep near the Leander and be ready to board. This undoubtedly prevented the capt. of the Bee from pressing sail as he otherwise would have done. The Leander, however, receded from the guarda costas, while the latter gained upon our schooners. At length the Bacchus bore away wing and wing before the wind. The Spanish brig instantly pursued. Previous to this Miranda had gone below, and had sent for capt. Lewis; what passed between them

we shall never learn except from their own declarations; for in this case as in all others of importance, Miranda did not permit a third person to be present. When Lewis came upon deck, it was supposed we should, if possible, engage the Spanish schooner, still in pursuit of us, and bearing on our starbord quarter, the Bee having fallen on our larboard.

No orders

Lewis told

to this effect were however given. me that the general wished to see me below. When I entered his state room I found the general with a chart in his hand and pointing to the islands of Trinidad and Margaritta, he said "we must go first to the island of Aves or Bonair for water, and I think we had then best shape our course for Trinidad, where I have resources and shall receive assistance from the English; here is Margaritta which we can take if we think proper with the force we now have; the pilot tells me we can beat up in ten or fifteen days.-What is your opinion?" I said in reply, "I concurred with him both in the feasibility and expediency of this measure;" but added, "let us endeavour to save our schooners, general. The Bacchus has borne away before the wind and is pursued by the Spanish brig; I believe it is the opinion of

those who are skilled in naval tacticks, that we can now put about, engage and carry the Span. ish schooner unless she outsails us; by this attempt we shall probably divert the brig from chasing the Bacchus, as she will be under ap. prehensions for her consort, and the Bee will be again protected by our ship and ready to assist in boarding. At all events sir, and upon every calculation we shall save our comrades. It is the desire of us all upon deck, general, to perish with our companions rather than become eye. witnesses to their capture." "Well then❞— was Miranda's reply to this representation; the meaning of which I thus interpreted

if you will make the attempt, I shall not or will not, or most likely cannot prevent you; but I have given my private orders to capt. Lewis. For Lewis declared the next day and always afterwards, "that Miranda had ordered him to bear away and escape." This the general never denied: but said in a conversation with me the following morning, that "Lewis undoubtedly would endeavour to throw all the blame upon him," thus intimating a consciousness that he was responsible. Every circumstancc attend. ing this affair tallies with the foregoing remarks, whatever Miranda may choose to say to the