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

England; and we, therefore, agreed to make this island, which would, of course, enable each party to follow their own inclinations."

On referring to these gentlemen for information relative to the estimation in which foreign aid was held by the Independents, and how far our services would be considered of value, they stated that the Patriots, in general, were decidedly adverse to the introduction of other than natives into their armies: arms and ammunition appeared the only supplies they were desirous of accepting; that the introduction of British officers, particularly, had already excited greater jealousy and dissen sion amongst the native troops, than their most zealous exertions could possibly make amends for; and to so violent a pitch had their jealous feelings carried them, as to subject foreigners, attached to the patriot service, to perpetual hazard of assassination; and rendered it prudentially necessary, that they should, on retiring to repose, place themselves under the protection of sentries on whose fidelity they could depend.

That similar sentiments were entertained by General Bolivar himself, was strongly manifested by the total indifference with which he treated a dispatch, which had been forwarded to him through his agent Mr. Guthrie, some time previous to our departure from Saint Bartholomew's ; apprizing him of our arrival in the West Indies; our strength, equipments, &c. This dispatch Mr. Guthrie assured us was personally delivered to General Bolivar, who, however, never condescended to return any answer. The letters of introduction with which numerous individuals had been furnished by Don Mendez, were treated with like indifference; and their bearers, instead of procuring the commissions for which they had stipulated, were compelled to accept whatever rank he thought proper to confer on them; and have, in numerous instances, been even degraded to the situation of common soldiers in his army.

Their obstinate hostility to the admission of foreign aid, can in a great measure be accounted for; from a confidence in their own numerical strength, and the obvious

weakness of the mother country. They encourage a probably well-grounded conviction, that, however the contest may be protracted, success must ultimately attach itself to their party; and an anxiety to enjoy the entire fruits of their triumph, has created this aversion to the admission of foreigners, whose services, they cannot but know, are proffered rather from motives of personal aggrandizement, than any particular solicitude for the emancipation of South America.

These particulars appeared to us in themselves conclusive, against both the policy and propriety of engaging in the Spanish American war; but they were further enforced by a consideration, which many will probably regard as entitled to most serious attention, although one which alone certainly would not in the slightest degree have influenced our determination. Few need be informed of the strength and peculiar character of constitution, which are requisite for enabling Europeans to resist the destructive effects of a tropical climate, even when enjoying every advantage which

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