for those who actually engage in the struggle to divest their minds of every feeling of humanity, and prepare themselves to be not only witnesses of, but participators in, acts of the most revolting and indiscriminate brutality.

I will now conclude, referring for a confirmation of the preceding statement, not only to the occurrences narrated in the ensuing Narrative, but likewise to the united testimony of those officers who were either my associates in the expedition to which I was particularly attached, or who, having actually landed on the Spanish Main, have had the good fortune to return in safety to their native country.

PRELIMINARY

OBSERVATIONS.

AS the occurrences detailed in the following pages, relate not exclusively to that particular corps to which I was personally attached, but have likewise frequent reference to various other brigades, raised in England for the same remote service; an account of their respective commanders, strength, equipments, character of service, fc., will not, I trust, be considered superfluous, previous to entering upon the Journal.

Five distinct corps embarked at nearly the same period, for that part of the seat of war in South America, occupied by the Independent General Bolivar.

1st. A Brigade of Artillery under the command of Colonel J. A. Gilmore, consisting of five light six-pounders, and one five-and-half-inch howitzer, ten officers and about eighty non-commissioned officers and men. This corps embarked on board the Britannia, a fine ship of about four hundred tons burden, commanded by Captain Sharpe, with a crew of twenty-one able and well-conducted seamen. An immense quantity of every description of military stores had been stowed on board this vessel, comprising arms, ammunition, clothing, waggons, and, in fact, every requisite for enabling the brigade to enter upon active service immediately on arriving at its place of destination.

The uniforms and equipments of the officers were extremely rich, very similar to those of the British Artillery, and provided altogether at the expense of the individuals who had accepted commissions in

this ill-fated expedition.

The equipments

of the other corps were likewise in every respect extensive and complete, and the uniforms remarkably rich and costly, more especially in the regiment commanded by Colonel Wilson, one of whose officers informed me that his outfit amounted to upwards of two hundred guineas.

a 2d. A corps of hussars (called the First Venezuelan Hussars) under the command of Colonel Hippesley, consisting of about thirty officers, and one hundred and sixty non-commissioned officers and men; uniform dark-green faced with red. This embarked on board the Emerald, a beautiful ship of about five hundred tons, commanded by Captain Weatherly, with a crew of upwards of thirty men and boys.

corps

3d. A regiment of cavalry (called the Red Hussars) under the command of Colonel Wilson, consisting of about twenty officers,

and one hundred non-commissioned officers and men. Uniform-full-dress, red and gold; undress, blue and gold. This corps proceeded in the Prince, a vessel of about four hundred tons burden, commanded by Captain Nightingale.

4th. A rifle corps (named the First Venezuelan Rifle Regiment) commanded by Colonel Campbell, consisting of about thirty-seven officers, and nearly two hundred non-commissioned officers and men. Uniform similar to that of the Riflet Brigade in the British service. This corps embarked on board the Dowson, Captain Dormor, a fine ship about the size of the Britannia.

5th. A corps of Lancers, under the command of Colonel Skeene, comprising, in officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates, about two hundred and twenty men; who embarked on board the unfortunate ship Indian, and the whole of whom,