norance of general Fraser, respecting the state of provisions; the madness of general Wauchope in rushing into Rosetta, even without artillery; the smallness of the force sent from Messina, by Mr. Fox's ministry; and the neg ect to reinforce it by succours, on the part of that which succeeded it, safi. ciently explained, but did not di. minish, the effects of our disasters on the public mind, throughout the British empire, nor, it may be pre sumed, in other countries.

It

During theyears 1806, and 1807, and perhaps for some time before, there was an obvious want of system, connection, and dependency among some of the measures of the British government: an air of improvidence, unsteadiness, and vacillation. sufficiently appears from documents published in an edition of sir Home Popham's trial, authenticated by himself, that his design on Buenos Ayres was countenanced by Mr. Pitt and lord Melville. Yet the same ministers had very nearly at the same time, encouraged the design of general Miranda, as we have had occasion to notice above +, ceived in quite a different spirit; a spirit of conciliation, concord, and consociation.-Works that tread so hard, as Annual Registers, on the heels of time, are liable to many errors in the statement of facts and circumstances, as well as the secret springs of action. But, it is no small advantage in a continuous work of this kind, that the errors which creep into one, may be cor. rected in a subsequent volume. The account given of general Miranda's expedition to Caraccas, in our last volume, is in some respects de fective, in others erroneous. The following, after more recent, am. ple, and accurate information, is given as the true account. General Miranda, with the knowledge and a good understanding between him and the British government, set out from England for the purpose of carrying into execution, if possible. his long-cherished project of eman cipating Spanish America, He pro

ceeded to the United States of Ame. while at St. Domingo, that an ac. rica, for the purpose of procuring tion had been brought against the that assistance which, from the as parties just mentioned, absolutely surances he had received while in refused to proceed on its destination. this country, he had every reason It now became 'necessary to engage, to expect, particularly at a period, instead of the Emperour, two small when there was every prospect of a schooners. The general, however, war between the United States and though thus cruelly disappointed in Spain, on account of a dispute his expectation of being joined by about Louisiana.' But, on his arri. the armed ship Emperour, of about

, val, he had the mortification to find thirty guns, proceeded with his that the dispute about Louisiana was little squadron for the coast of Ca. compromised; and that, although raccas; where, as he supposed that the wishes of the American, like the Spanish government still conti. those of the British government, nued ignorant of his movements, he were for him,, he could not expect hoped to effect a landing without their avowed assistance. The gene. opposition. The Spanish ambassa. ral, however, animated by that perse, dor, however, haring obtained invering ardour which is inspired into formation of this enterprise, sent great minds by great designs, in. advice thereof to the governor of duced, on terms agreed on, Mr. Caraccas; where general Miranda, , Ogden, a merchant, of New York. instead of meeting, as he expected, to fit out a ship, the Leander, cap- with none but friends, apprised of tain Lewis, with two hundred young his approach, had the mortification men of great respectability, who to learn that the government of Ca. volunteered their services, and to raccas had given the necessary orproceed with her to St. Domingo, ders for taking measures of defence, for the purpose of being joined by and where his two schooners unfor. a second vessel, the Emperour, tunately fell into the hands of the commanded by another captain Spanish guarda-costas. In these Lewis, brother to the master of the circumstances, general Miranda Leander. Unfortunately, soon af. sailed directly for Trinidad, for the ter the departure of the Leander purpose of procuring a British from New York, the American go. auxiliary

force. Admiral Ce. vernment, giving way to the urgent chrane, then commanding on the solicitations of the French and Spa. windward station, assured the nish ambassadors, brought an action ral of support, in both ships and against Mr. Ogden, and a colonel men, and immediately ordered some Smith, a zealous friend to the cause sloops of war and gun-boats to pro. of general Miranda, on the plea, ceed with him on the expedition. that the equipment of the Leander Thus reinforced at Trinidad, the was unauthorized and illegal. The general set sail from thence on the parties prosecuted were honour. 24th of July, 1806, again for the ably acquitted. But the first coast of Caraccas, with his little consequences of the trial were fleet, now consisting of about fifteen of incalculable detriment to general vessels in all, and having on board Miranda's expedition ; for the mas

about five hundred officers and men, ter of the Emperour having heard, all volunteers. On the morning of

gene.

the 2d of August; his little army army, issued a proclamation to the effected its landing at a place called inhabitants of Columbian America, Vela-de-Coro. But, the disem. in which he says,

" Brave countrybarkation having been delayed by a men and friends! In obedience to gale of wind, and the ignorance, your wishes, and the repeated reperhaps the treachery, of the pilot, quests and calls of the country to for thirty-six hours, the agents of whose service we have cheerfully the Spanish government had time consecrated the greater part of our for spreading the alarm along the lives, we have disembarked in this coast, and preparing for defence. province of Caraccas. The oppor. The boats, with the troops on board, tunity, and the time, appear to us however, rowed boldly, in the dark, highly favourable for the completion for the shore ; where upwards of of our designs; and all persons 500 Spanish soldiers, and about 700 composing the army are your friends Indians, were drawn up to oppose and countrymen-all resolved to the landing. The Spaniards kept sacrifice their lives, if necessary, up a heavy but ineffectual fire on for your liberty and independence, the boats, as they approached; but, under the auspices of the British without returning the fire, they navy. The innocent Indians, and quickly gained the shore; when, on other men, will consider us all as general Miranda and his troops ad. brother citizens, and that prece. vancing on the enemy, and ex. dence belongs only to merit and changing a couple of vollies, which virtue; in which belief, they will wounded a few on both sides, the primarily obtain, most certainly, Spaniards fled in every direction, military and civil recompenses, the and the Indians, released from the reward of merit alone." presence of their late masters, rangement was announced for car. flocked in crowds around their new rying the plan of emancipation into visitors, and, learning the object of execution, with due security and their arrival, cried out, Success efficacy. The principles and views to general Miranda !” Two forts, with which the little Columbian ar. and upwards of twenty guns, in- my had landed on the shores of tended to protect the port of La South America, were also unfolded Vela, immediately surrendered, with in other proclamations, and in let. their stores and ammunition. And ters to the city council of Coro, and general Miranda, assured of the the bishop of Merida. friendly disposition of the inhabi. principal object was the indepen. tants of Vela de Coro, who amount. dence of the whole Columbian con. ed to upwards of 3,000, set out, a tinent, for the benefit of all its infew hours afterwards, on his march habitants, and the inhabitants of the for the city of Córo, situated about human race.” The members of this fifteen English miles up the country, council, who, on the approach of and containing a population of about general Miranda to Coro, had re. 12,000 persons. He entered Coro tired to Buena Vista, a few miles before day-break next morning. from town, kept up a secret corFrom Vela de Coro, general Mi. respondence with the general for randa, under the title of comman. several days; during which time, der in chief of the Columbian the most friendly civilities were in. terchanged between the general and But erroneous reports having reach all the respectable families of the ed the West Indies, that prelimi. place. But the smallness of his naries of peace between Great force prevented confidence in his Britain and France had been signed success. The people dreaded the by lord Lauderdale at Paris, and cruel rengeance of the Spanish go- these reports accompanied with an vernment, in the event of his defeat; intimation that admiral Cochrane, and as the captain-general of Carac. would consequently be obliged cas, was collecting troops, general entirely to withdraw the aid of the Miranda retired from Coro, and naval force, géneral Miranda found removed his head quarters to the himself under the necessity of aban. shore ; having previously assured doning all farther operations on the the people, in a proclamation, of Spanish main, and retired with his his just and friendly intentions, and companions in arms to Trinidad. that " it was not in the cities, but Had general Miranda been sea. in the field, that he and his army sonably supported by the co-operawished to fight with the oppressors tion of a British auxiliary force, as alone of the Columbian people.” he had reason to expect, his success From thence, general Miranda dis. would have been complete. The patched an officer (captain Ledlie) grand design in which he and his to our naval and military comman. worthy companions were engaged, ders on the Jamaica station, to re. was not marred and disgraced by present his prospects, the absolute any selfish and dishonourable con. necessity there was for a force suf. siderations of personal gain. On ficient to give confidence to the the contrary, his chief care was to South-American people, and to re- direct the views of his officers and quest that this aid might be sent to men to the grandeur and glory of him without delay. Sir Eyre Coote the object before them, and to inand admiral Dacres regretted that spire them with a sense of the nea they were precluded from giving the cessity of constantly observing a 'assistance which his views demande suitable conduct towards the people ed, as they had not received any of whom they had come to emancipate; ficial instructions from home on this wbile, at the same time, he used all subject. Admiral Dacres, however, possible means to convince his gave orders to his cruizers to afford countrymen of the beneficence of every possible protection. Captain his views, as well as of the equitable Ledlie immediately returned with and conciliatory measures by which this answer to general Miranda; he hoped to attain them. In short, who, after dispatching that officer the expedition to Caraccas, under to Jamaica, bad proceeded himself Miranda, conceived in a spirit the with his troops to Araba, a few most liberal and generous, formed a leagues from Vela de Coro, with an direct contrast with that which wasintent to seize the strong post of on foot about the same time, to the Rio de la Hache, and there wait the Rio de La Plata, which appears to arrival of succours.

Soon after, have originated in a spirit of rapa. admiral Cochrane sent him a ship city and plunder. The commander of the line, and two frigates, with of the land-troops, in this last expe. reiterated assurances of support. dition, (brigadier-general Beresford) Vou, XLIX.

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displayed

displayed, in his conduct, military skill, promptitude of decision, and cool courage; and also the noblest generosity and winning attability towards the inhabitants of Buenos Ayres, and all men And, although he was not authorized to have recourse to the conciliatory measures, by which he might have

united the interests of Great Britain with those of Spanish, America, the lives, the property, the prejudices of the people who had fallen under his power, were respected; and the attachment of the inhabitants of Buenos Ayres to his person, was won by many disinterested and generous acts of kindness. It was the

The general's whole deportment was calculated to conciliate attachment, and inspire confidence. On the march of the general with the troops, in violation of the convention, into the interior of the country, some of his officers were assassinated by the inhabitants. From general Linieres, to whom he wrote on this subject, be received a letter, of which the following is a translation. It was dated at Buenos Ayres, in January 1807.

"Among all the sad events that have excited my deepest regret and sorrow, since the peace of this Continent has been disturbed by the visitation of war, there is pone that has given me more exquisite pain than the two atrocious acts with which you have acquainted me. Be assured, sir, that there is not an individual, possessed of the common sentiments of humanity, that does not participate in the indignation I feel, at enormities of which no one could have been guilty but an abandoned wretch, inured to the perpetration of the most shocking crimes.

"That all the British officers may be placed in a state of security against such horrid outrages in future, I have given orders to the commandant of Hussars, Den Pedro de Lunez, with a strong detachment of troops, to pursue the assassins, and to concert with the commander on the (Indian) frontiers the proper measures for the prevention of the like horrid scenes; reprobated by honour, by humanity, and by the law of nations. I assure you, sir, that a conjoint memorial from all that is most respectable among the English chiefs, could not have had more weight with me than one from major-general Beresford; whose humanity, and other virtues, are held in the greater estimation in this colony, that they form a perfect contrast with the conduct of commodore Popham. The cannonading of Monte Video, though it could not serve any purpose; the sacking of such an open village as Maldonado; and, finally, the exposing of 200 Spanish prisoners to death, through sufferings, and want, without shelter, without water, and without sustenance, on the small island of Lobos: of whom forty, to escape too slow a death, ventured, in order to reach the Continent, to commit themselves to the waves of the ocean, on the skins of animals; an enterprise which, dangerous as it was, succeeded These things, sir, in rude and uncultivated minds, have not failed to produce irritation. But I hope that, by the means I have determined to employ, matters will yet be restored to a state of tranquillity. And, that you may be enabled to com municate to me whatever you think fit, in the most expeditious manner, I have given orders for the establishment of couriers at proper stations, all along the road from Luxom to this place (Buenos Ayres), which shall be at your service at all hours.

9.1

"I pray, make my compliments acceptable to colonel Pack, and to captain Ogilvie, whose misfortune I deplore. And be assured, sir, that there is no one who does greater justice to your merit than I do. You would make me happy by letting me know if I could do any thing for you; and if you would dispose of my purse as your own, with the frankness of a brother soldier, you would singularly oblige, sir, "Your very humble and obedient servant, (Signed) "CHEV. DE LINIERES,