The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-10-16 00:00:00

GENEJIIL P. 142-.

This extraordinary man is a IJanero, or a native of the elevated
plains of Various, in Vennuel I. He was the owner of lartls of
half-wild cattle, which he attended himself—in fact, an illuerat
herdsman. Naturally of a bold impetuous temper, and fingered
of strength and activity of body, al•ogether surpriaing in a from
raft], r under the common sire, he early distinguished himse!fia
those feats of hardihood and dexterity, rendered more frequent by
being almost continually on horseback, which, in a rude society,
earlier a tide to supetiaity. Erjoying these personal advantages,
united to a quick penetrating mind, and much native sagacity, be
11E3 elevated himself, about the time of the Revolution. to a sort cf
ehieftaihship, possessing great influence over the roving beads cf
half-aavage herdsmen in his immediate vicinity. His ratios am-
bition prompted him to collect a band of his most daring kneeler..
and, placing himself at their bead, he commenced apartisin pads.
tory warfare on his own account. Bring an American, his naturel
prepossessions inclined him to the Patriot cause ; but when In wart
of provisions or necessaries for his !inane money for himself, to
I enable hint to indulge in that strongest of all the passions in on no.
Militated mind•—•mening—the cause of his country was often lett
sight of, nd the firm patriot then received the treatment mist
usually inflicted upon the Royalist. Bolivar, attentive toms
growing influence of the lawless chief, determined at ones to
fix his principles, and enlist his good qualities for the beret
of their common country, by appointing hint to the regular army.
This step had the desired eifect. The cause of the country an
strengthened by a chief of the most heroic intrepidity; softening a
genius for war, which dispensed with the rules of art ; having an.
der his command a body cf dauntless cavalry, whose charge, when
led by their favourite chief, was irresisillile. These men,
toned to the horse front early infancy, resemble in appearance and
equipment the Russian Cossack., and, like them, do not owe the
effect of their onset to the shock of a mass, but charge separately,
or two or three together, depending uyon individual attire.% and
prawest; upon the dexterous management of the horse, the later,
and the example of their leader.

Paez has been engaged in many battles, and numerous minar
conflicts, but lie more especially owes his distinction to his conduct
at the battle of Carabobo. The contending armies were each about
6,000 men, the had an extensive plain traversed by a road, and on
one sale, et some distance from the road, by a concealed ravine.
The contending parties, although numerically equal, were not SO
in force; the Spaniards were better disciplined, and had a beautiful
battery of artillery in position upon the road, contrn :Ming the
whole plain, the Colombians being without this arm. Bolivar, know.
ing how touch depended upon the event of the day, disposed his force
in two divisions, giving the right to 3lontitla. the senior, and the
left to Paez, with orders to attack with his two battalions and about
1,200 cavalry by the ravine. The President knew it was a despe-
rate game, and had chosen his ag:nt accordingly. Paez, delighted
at the distinction conferred upon him by the mansion, joyfully lal
on his men ; at first concealed by the indicated ravine, but issuing
soon upon the genera Lvel of the plain, the Spanish commander,
La Turre, saw the quarter of attack, and endeavoured by a corm.
sponding change in the position of his troops and battery to oppose
it. But Paez, branclishirg his lance, fell upon them with such ra-
pidity and resolution, that althea34 lie lost hall his division, he
coinaletelly rooted the whole Spanish army, and captured their am
tillay. The carnage of the flying was terrible, and if it bad tot
been for the fatigue of the horses, broken down by long marches,
and the intrepidity of Illorales, the second in command, who has.
tily tbrmed a small square, and retired in that order, not a man
would have escaped.
About the close of the action, Pus gave an instance of an in.
finality, 'which seizes him when violently excited. It is said to
'alterable an epileptic tit. If force be not used to prevent him,
which was obliged to be used at Caraboho, his propensity is to
charge singledianded agairat whole battalions of the enemy.
The results of thin hatnecs battle were the occupaticn of Valencia
the next slay, and of Caraccas three days after. Pan was made a
Captain-Geteral in the field, by Bolivar, and intrusted with the
chief command. This promotion was shortly after sanctioned by s
resolution of Congress, in which the General is characterized as die
bizzaropeneral Patty.

The lelanero I:1;17o. w, by the assistance of the English officers of
I his staff, made some progress in the elements of edUCaliOr. Such
is his quickness of apprehension, that he learns whithout nifficeity
what in others would require years of application. It is to be re-
grated that the models before his eyes, and upon which lie has
formed hienself, were not more worthy of imitation. Ile has leFra
every thing presented to hint ; and if he pleases the easy carriage
and polite manners of polished society, he has also acquired tie
vices. lie is not habitually intemperate, but is frequently eon:ma-
ted by the conviviality of his disposition. lie carries his pa,,sien
for gaining to such an extent as always to keep himself poor, al-
though lie possesses some of the richest confiscated mtatea in the
country. This propensity prompts him likewise to borrow, with
little eerupuloueneis, front whomsoever will lend, without treublirg
himself about repayment.
Formerly, when the minds of the contending parties were heated
by mutual barbarities, the character of the General had been snored
with acts of cruelty; not merely against the enemy, who, at one
period, were put to death when taken, as a matter of course. hut
to his own troops. Like other men of great geuius and violent
passions, he is a warm friend and a deadly foe.
Many aneedtacs are related of the General's fool-hardy intrepi.
dity and feats of address Hi • d activity, some merely undertaker by
way of bravado, while others had a more laudable object. Amens
the first are his feats in leaping and swimming horse!, ; his attacks
of furious bulls ; and partieularly his singular amusement of en-
countering the caiman, eve alligator, in his own element. An in.
$ ance of a more praiseworthy exertion of courage was in the cap-
ture, bj hint and his officers, of a Spanish armed schooner, lying at
anchor in the Orinoco. This was effected by swimming from the
shore, each of the party halding his sword in his mouth.
23) The General is now (13 about 35 years old. Besides his rei.
Maly rank, he is a senator of the Republic. Although clothed
with these high civil and military employments, he does not hest.
tate to engtge in the most boyish pranks. On the expiration of the
armistice of Santa Anna, to show his joy at the event, he set fire to
the soldiers barracks. Daring are 11;:r interval of inactivity, fe
amused himself by taking his officers to the houses of theg 'rest
wealthy inhabitants of Angostura, about the time of dinner, as if
in compliance with an invitation. Those who knew the General
put cm the hest face, and produced every thing the house abided.
or that could be procured on so uneeremonious a no:ice. o:hera
who were more sparing of their wine and previsions, or attempted
to make excuses, were sure to have their !mutes sacked, for the pre-
tended indignity of inviting gentlemen to dinner, without suitable
prettaratione. After this round of dissipation had lasted a fortnight.
and broken down the health of those engaged, the Geiteral ordered
his officers to meet at a designated house, and detached a
guard, as if to attend a military funeral. Tee best drinker was
acted and placed upon a bier, with empty bottles, tletnijchna, &c.
The guard, wilt reversed arms, followed by the efficers, each ear-
eying an empty bottle, proceeded to the place of' interment, every
citizen they met being obliged to aMst at the ceremony, which was
conducted with all the formalities practised oa such occasions. A
funeral sermon WAS preached, setting forth the convivial mon -
plisinnents of the defunct. On the third day, becoming weary • t
the absence of amusement, the General announced that a recur-.•
nod was abut to take place. 'l'llis was aciowanied by the ri:•s
usually observed is Catholic countries on Easter Sunray. The
bottles were all fel,d ; nothing but rejoicing was heard ; and the
revived totter, plac.el in honour at the head of the table, was ap-
pointed master of the revels.

Mr. Charles Grindell, who is now in Cold !lath Fields
Prison, is said to be ins complete state of insaniiy.
G. Pennicott, of Chichester, has been committed to Pet-
worth liritlewell, for non-payment of a tine and attendant
law expenses of :Is. titl. for firing cif a gun, net beiiG
era al d 1.—B! I! cru'Ll.