succeed. On the 22d of the same month his arrestation was decreed. He was sentenced to be transported beyond the limits of France. In vain he endeavoured to effect a retraction of his sentence. He was delivered to a body of gens d'armes, who were charged to conduct him to the frontiers. He got away from his escort, and wrote to the directory, demanding a reversion of his sentence. This business was kept in train a long time, although the director Le Tourneur was his particular enemy. Finally, the 4th of September, 1797, finished his residence in France. He was included in the grand deportation. England afforded him refuge. He was among the number whom Bonaparte did not recal in 1799. After this period, he continued in London. Failing in various attempts to interest the British ministry in his project respecting South America, he embarked for New York,. under the assumed name of Moses Martin, of New Orleans. On the 2d of September, he sailed from England, and arrived in the United States on the 12th of November following. Here he commenced operations for carrying into effect his project of twenty years contemplation, to revolutionize his native country. A mercantile house in New York furnished him with the ship and armament, as has been described in this history. He gave Mr. Ogden three bills, one of five thousand, one of two thousand, and one of eight hundred pounds, sterling. The two last only were duly paid. The property taken by him from New York was all spent, dissipated, or remains in his hands. No part of the proceeds of the sale of the Leander was ever repaid to the original

owners.

Dumourier says of this personage, "that he was a man of capacity and extensive information. He was better versed in the theory of war than any other of the French Generals; but he was not equally versed in the practice." He had been of great service to him in the different attacks on the Prussians. But "he had a haughtiness of disposition and bluntness of manner, which begat him many enemies; and he was unfit to command the French, whose confidence it is impossible to gain, but by good humour, and conduct expressive of respect for them."

In the preceding history, Miranda's injudicious selection of his place of landing is mentioned as one cause of his failure. The reasons in favour of his choice were not stated. His principal inducement probably was, that from information or rumour he imagined he had friends

in Coro. In stating his grounds for expecting success, I might have placed them in a summary form by reciting four positions laid down by one of his advocates at the outset.

First, From the boundless extent of the coast of Spanish America, he can choose his point of landing.

Second, From the same circumstance, the whole military force, that is to say, the military force from the mother country, is distributed into small detachments, and these detachments are most remote from each other. In no single post in America, can there be more than one thousand men.

Third, The militia of the country are invariably in his cause.

Fourth, If he could, therefore, raise a sufficient force to withstand the attack of two or three of these detachments, for more could never join, he would be enabled to maintain his ground; and revolutionizing as he went, add his conquests to his force.

From this narrative, in connection with the prior history of General Miranda, you will receive an impression of his character not so favourable, as that entertained by many persons. I have related facts. They must be allowed to speak for themselves. His imagination and feelings were an overmatch for his judgment. He is more rash and presumptuous in projects, than dexterous in extricating himself from difficulties. In religion he is reputed skeptical; but in our hearing he never derided subjects of this nature. He used formerly to talk infidelity, to the offence of the serious; experience has taught him caution, or he has changed his sentiments. It is said upon good authority, that he partook the sacrament at Coro. He is too much of an enthusiast in his favourite objects to allow his means to be enfeebled by moral scruples. I am willing to believe he has as much conscience as the impetuous passions of such men generally admit.

I make a few remarks on his person, manners, and petty habits. He is about five feet ten inches high. His limbs are well proportioned; his whole frame is stout and active. His complexion is dark, florid, and healthy. His eyes are hazel-coloured, but not of the darkest hue. They are piercing, quick, and intelligent, expressing more of the severe than the mild feelings. He has good teeth, which he takes much care to keep clean. His nose is large and handsome, rather of the English than Roman cast. His chest is broad and flat. His hair is grey, and he wears it tied long behind, with powder. He has strong grey

whiskers, growing on the outer edges of his ears, as large as most Spaniards have on their cheeks. In the contour of his visage, you plainly perceive an expression of pertinaciousness and suspicion. Upon the whole, without saying he is an elegant, we may pronounce him a handsome man. He has a constant habit of picking his teeth. When sitting, he is never perfectly still; his foot or hand must be moving to keep time with his mind, which is always in exercise. He always sleeps a few moments after dinner, and then walks till bedtime, which with him is about midnight. He is an eminent example of temperance. A scanty or bad meal is never regarded by him as a subject of complaint. He uses no ardent spirits; seldom any wine. Sweetened water is his common beverage. Sweetness and warmth, says he, are the two greatest physical goods; and acid and cold are the greatest physical evils in the universe.

He is a courtier and gentleman in his manners. Dignity and grace preside in his movements. Unless when angry, he has a great command of his feelings; and can assume what looks and tones he pleases. His demeanour is often marked by hauteur and distance. When he is angry he loses discretion. He is impatient of contradiction. In discourse, he is logical in the arrangement of his thoughts. He appears conversant on all subjects. His iron memory prevents his ever being at a loss for names, dates, and authorities.

He used his mental resources and colloquial powers with great address to recommend himself to his followers. He assumed the manners of a father and instructor to the young men. He spoke of the prospect of success, and of the preparations made for him, with great confidence. The glory and advantages of the enterprize were described in glowing colours. At another time, he detailed his travels, his sufferings and escapes, in a manner to interest both their admiration and sympathy. He appeared the master of languages, of science and literature. In his conversations, he carried his hearers to the scenes of great actions, and introduced them to the distinguished characters of every age. He took excursions to Troy, Babylon, Jerusalem, Rome, Athens and Syracuse. Men famed as statesmen, heroes, patriots, conquerors, and tyrants, priests and scholars, he produced, and weighed their merits and defects. Modern history and biography afforded him abundant topics. He impressed an opinion of his comprehensive views, his inexhaustible fund of learning; his probity, his generosity, and patri

otism. After all, this man of blazoned fame, must, I fear, be considered as having more learning than wisdom; more theoretical knowledge than practical talent; too sanguine and too opinionated to distinguish between the vigour of enterprize and the hardiness of infatuation.

62. THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE OF VENEZUELA [Caracas, July 5, 1811. The Annual Register or View of the History, Politics, and Literature of the Year 1811 (1812), 331–335. Printed for W. Ortridge and Son, London.]

The provincial congress of Venezuela began its sessions early in March, 1811. It was composed of about fifty members, from the provinces of Caracas, Cumaná, Barinas, Margarita, Barcelona, Mérida, and Truxillo. After the congress had formally opened its sessions Francisco de Miranda became a member of it, as a delegate from Pao, in the province of Barcelona. Simón Bolívar was not a member. By his wide experience, ability, and assertiveness Miranda soon became a very influential member of the congress. He had been and was a very powerful figure in the Patriotic Society of Caracas, and early in the discussions of the congress he began to take a stand in favor of absolute and complete independence of the provinces of Venezuela. When the question came up for consideration he became its most powerful champion. He was not, however, a member of the committee to draw up the declaration of independence. That duty and honor fell to Juan G. Rosio of Calabozo, from the province of Caracas, and to Francisco Iznardi, secretary of the congress. The document as drawn up by them was adopted. The final act of declaring the independence was approved on July 7, 1811.

In the Name of the Most High

We, the representatives of the federal provinces of Caracas, Cumana, Barinas, Margalta, Barcelona, Merida, and Truxillo, constituting the confederation of Venezuela, on the southern continent of America, in Congress assembled; considering, that we have been in the full and entire possession of our natural rights since the 19th of

April, 1810, which was re-assumed in consequence of the transaction at Bayonne, the abdication of the Spanish throne, by the conquest of Spain, and the accession of a new dynasty, established without our consent: while we avail ourselves of the rights of men, and to which we are restored by the political revolutions in human affairs, think it becoming to state to the world the reasons by which we are called to the free exercise of the sovereign authority.

We deem it unnecessary to insist upon the unquestionable right which every conquered country holds to restore itself to liberty and independence: we pass over in a generous silence, the long series of inflictions, oppressions, and privations, in which the fatal law of conquest has indiscriminately involved the discoverers, conquerors, and settlers, of these countries; whose condition has been made wretched by the very means which should have promoted their felicity: throwing a veil over three centuries of Spanish dominion in America, we shall confine ourselves to the narration of recent and well-known facts, which prove how much we have been affected; and that we should not be involved in the commotions, disorders, and conquests which have divided Spain.

The disorders in Europe had increased the evils under which we have suffered, by obstructing complaints and frustrating the means of redress; by authorizing the governors placed over us by Spain, to insult and oppress us with impunity, leaving us without the protection or support of laws.

It is contrary to the order of nature, impracticable in relation to the government of Spain, and has been most afflicting to America, that territories so much more extensive, and a population incomparably more numerous, should be subjected and dependent on a peninsular corner of the European continent.

The cession and abdication made at Bayonne, the transactions1 at the Escurial and at Aranjuez, and the orders issued by the Imperial Lieutenant, the Marshal Duke Berg, in America, authorized the exercise of those rights, which till that period the Americans had sacrificed to the preservation and integrity of the Spanish nation.

1 It was by these transactions that the rule of Manuel Godoy, the Prince of Peace, came to an end. He was captured during the riot at Aranjuez in March, 1808. Charles IV abdicated on the 19th, and at Bayonne both he and his son Ferdinand VII abdicated at the demand of Napoleon I.