tion of their resources; and, however successful they might eventually be, there existed no probability whatever, that they would even then possess the means of affording pecuniary compensation to those who may have participated in the struggle.

As confirmatory of the foregoing information, I shall refer the reader to an extract of a letter from Trinidad, written by a most intelligent officer, with whom I am intimately acquainted, and addressed to our particular friend in London, some time. previous to my return from the West Indies. This gentleman proceeded. from England under the auspices of Don Mendez, on board the Gladwin, about two months prior to my departure to join the patriot standard in South America. No man left this country for that purpose possessing greater spirit, and few more scientific military talent; with a mind more enthusiastic in favour of the cause, or a firmer determination of meeting and encountering every attendant difficulty and hazard. Yet notwithstanding this ardent prepossession, he was so forcibly struck on his arrival at Marga

ritta, with the barbarous and inhuman proceedings of the contending parties, the lawless and despotic characters of the patriot chiefs, and the state of indescribable misery and desolation to which that island had been reduced, that he turned in disgust from the enterprise, and proceeded to Trinidad; trusting to his natural abilities, and the kindness of the inhabitants for support, rather than become an accomplice in acts so repugnant to every feeling of honourable warfare.

"On our ar

Trinidad, Dec. 18th, 1817. rival at Margaritta, we were struck with the desolate appearance of the place, which is wretched and barren beyond description, the earth totally parched, not having any rain for the last eight months. The Royalists had been there about a month previous to our arrival, and had destroyed every thing in their progress through the island. There was not a single house with an entire roof, and but two or three with bare walls, the rest had been totally destroyed, together with every human being they discovered. Women and infants, all

shared the same indiscriminate fate; and many by the severest tortures. The priests were cut to pieces at the altars, to which they had fled for protection, and the churches stripped of every thing valuable. The convents were in like manner destroyed, and such of the nuns as were reserved from slaughter, were carried away with them as victims of their brutality. In several places the remains of carnage were distinguishable by the bleached bones of the sufferers. Some few miserable wretches who had by a timely flight to the mountains escaped slaughter, were observed nearly starved, and half naked, sitting amongst the ruins of their former houses. In every occurrence a total want of system in the leaders was evident; each merely made the cause a pretext or cloak for his own private views: there are no laws or regulations to bind them, or even to control their inclinations, each possessing absolute, arbitrary power, without a sentiment of honour, justice, or humanity. An instance of this was related to me by a black ruffian, who is the interpreter to

General Arismendi :-he said, that a few days before we arrived, the general sent for one of the Royalists who had been taken prisoner, and amused himself by thrusting his sword into various parts of his body; the black, who longed to have his share of blood, at length lopped off the poor fellow's head, and appeared to take the most savage pleasure in reflecting on the jump which the headless carcase gave before it fell to the ground.

"The ship, called the Two Friends, arrived about three weeks previous to us, on the same unlucky errand. She left England with about 100 passengers, all except thirty quitted her at Saint Thomas's; these thirty were in the most miserable condition, having been under the necessity of selling their clothes and every valuable to procure food, being only allowed a bit each per day, (about five pence), which would not purchase three ounces of bad bread. Meat is totally out of the question, there not being any cattle whatever on the island; their fish is, however, tolerably good but extremely dear.

"I dined several times with the General,

(he is second in command to Bolivar;) there were usually several of the chief officers at table. The dinner always consisted of bread, fish, and execrable rum and water, (there was not a bottle of wine in the island). The table was set out under a shed at the back of the remains of a house; they never in general are able to muster a plate between two; if not, a saucer or earthen pan answers the purpose. We were at no loss for knives and forks as they generally make use of their fingers in preference. The General appeared to be a bold determined character, well suited for a captain of banditti; the rest appeared equally well qualified to hold their subordinate situations; nor could they be distinguished from such a gang by any other means than the want of the luxuries, or even necessaries which those gentry usually possess. We understood at Margaritta, that the Independents had lost the whole of Venezuela, and that Bolivar was in the Oroonoco. Some few, who, I believe, have no other resource, still continued resolved to join the cause-others determined to return to

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