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NARRATIVE

OF THE

EXPEDITION

WHICH

SAILED FROM ENGLAND IN 1817,

TO JOIN THE

SOUTH AMERICAN PATRIOTS;

COMPRISING

EVERY

PARTICULAR CONNECTED WITH ITS FORMATION, HISTORY,
AND FATE; WITH OBSERVATIONS AND AUTHENTIC INFORMATION
ELUCIDATING THE REAL CHARACTER OF THE CONTEST,
MODE OF WARFARE, STATE OF THE ARMIES, &c.

BY JAMES HACKETT,

First Lieutenant of the late Venezuela Artillery Brigade.

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Printed by W. CLOWES,, Northumberland-court, Strand, London.

INTRODUCTION.

IN submitting the following Narrative to the public attention, I should feel myself liable to the charge of presumption, were not the occurrences to which it refers immediately connected with an enterprise deeply involving the welfare and safety of a large number of my countrymen.

Already enthusiasm, seductive promises, or disappointed hopes, have induced a considerable number to embark for the purpose of attaching their fortunes to that of the South American Independents; and of those a great proportion have either actually perished, or, unable to procure the

A

means of returning to their native land, are probably at this moment wandering friendless and destitute amongst the West India Islands, dependent upon the bounty of the humane and charitable. A few, indeed, not equally devoid of resources, or to whom sympathy for their sufferings induced some kind-hearted seaman to afford a gratuitous passage, have returned to Europe,—warning examples to those who may at this moment be preparing, under a similar delusion, to engage in the same hopeless speculation.

Of the few thus rescued from impending misery, it was my good fortune to be one; and I now submit the following Narrative to the Public, in the sincere hope, that a knowledge of the circumstances it records, and the hopes and anxiety I and my associates experienced, may preserve others not only from similar disappointments, but even the hazard of encountering sufferings

and afflictions ten-fold greater and more difficult to surmount.

Having thus explained my object in publishing the following Journal, I will proceed shortly to state the motives which prompted me to embark for the Spanish Main, as also the hopes excited, and the positive promises made by the Independent Agents and their partisans in this country, for the purpose of enticing British officers and others into the service of the South American Patriots; and I trust this statement will not be considered irrelevant, as, by comparing it with the ensuing Journal, the Public will be enabled to judge how far these hopes have been realized, and to what extent good faith has been kept with those who, placing implicit confidence in the honourable performance of stipulated engagements, had consented to unite their fortunes to that of the Independent cause.

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