The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-10-09 00:00:00

VENEZUELA.

JULY 29, 1818.
enclose you an account of the manner of the death of
Lieutenants Harris and Watson, of the navy, who left Ibis
lately, with a black boy, ins boat bound to Angostura.—
The boat belonged to Lieut. Watson, and with only the buy
in question they proceeded along the south side of this
and had entered the Mscaree Creek (one of the
mouths of the Orinoco), when they were taken by a Spanish
armed canoe, and pat In death, as stated in the copy of an
affidavit, made here before an Aleut& de Barrio. It was
at Arm reported that they were killed defending themselves,
and 'her killing four and wounding three of their as-
sailants; but it now appears ail three individuals were not
rash enough to oppose twenty or thirty, bat submitted, not
couceivltag, of course, that worse would follow for breaking
the blockade, than the loss of their boat and what goods
they aught have on board.
- - - - -

Lieut. Muria had newer been employed in the service of
Year ambit bat had made several voyages with great success,
as Captain of as gaglielischomer, employed by Mr. Little.
page, of this Weird, in bringing mules from Guayana, for
supplying the planters. Li this trade he had picked up, by
his owe little adventures, a few hundred dollars, and ac.
quired a knowledge of the navigation of the Orinoco, and
the commerce it led to with the interior, of which he was
anxious to profit, and associated Lieut. Watson in hi. plaits.
His view was to proceed op as far as Sau Fernando& Apure,
and thereby obtain the best market, and rehires at the first
hand, awl for this purpose Watson's boat was • very handy
conveyance. By the unfortunate and premature fate of
these active, intelligent young men, their country bee lost
much useful commercial information, which they would
have acquired bad they been able to realise their plan,
and fur which they were peculiarly well adapted by their
nautical still, habits, and entertaining dispositions. Under
existing circumstance% they would have possessed the facility
of exploring the extensive inland navigation of the Apure,
Meta, &c. But all this was blasted by the hand of ail as-
sassin, whom very crew, all &imbue, it appears, refused to
execute the execrable mandate. It is thus that the best
blood of Venezuela has bees shed by the vilest roffiansduriog
the whole coarse of the Revolution, assumiag the right,
wherever they possessed the mesas, and thereby giving rise
to a war of retaliatior sod extermination, at which human
Nature revolts! Bat to murder Englishmen, in the pursuits of
rude, was reserved to the agonizing efforts of nsouopoly
This horrid example may prevent others from exposing
themselves in so defeuceless a manlier, hut will cheek
our intercourse with any of the free Governmente of South
America. It was the worst way in the world to cure English-
men of their curiosity to explore the recesses of commerce;
but when every barbarian is a licensed assassin, it behoves
them to be better prepared.
PORT SPAIN, Jl/I.ll' 30, 111111.
To those rho have laboured in supporting the cause of
freedom in South America it is truly grateful to see the
triumph of truth over the fabrications of calumny, and all
the stale arguments against a chance to the political state of
tint country, though reproduced in a thousand shapes,
yielding to the plain dictates of good same and political ex-
pertierry, both in Europe sad America. The spirit of trade,
which has carried civilisation to the remotes censers of the
globe, claims • great part of the merit of having 'conveyed
the iteloral priaciples of our Coostitutio• to the grateful
soil of Columbia, and of having fostered the tender plant of
rational liberty, with • protecting band, sexiest the rude
blasts of despotic power. To the commerce of Greet
Britain the world is highly indebted for afford:Dl the means
of saving Europe, of liberating America, and probably of
civilizing Africa. It is the great engine of our natimal
prosperity, and diffuses its advantages wherever it goes, by
calling into action and giving value to the productions of
every soil. Such are Its tildes to the proud eminence on
which it steads:

rival experience and conviction, South America halls our
commerce, and invites us to augment her comforts and con-
veniences, and to receive iu returu her verioni valuable pro-
ductions. She offers a participation of her rich land. and
mild climate to our surplus population, under the most li-
beral institutions. %Valium the expense of garrisons, she
offers all the rich exports of our Colonel suit a greater va-
rimy, fur our national manufactures: and, in sheet. she
offers to the trade of the world such fair direct competition
in her markets, 1.3 the national industry of each 'may entitle
them to. This is the broad basis of reciprocity South Anse.
tics offers to Europe, in lieu of the monopolising and ex-
clusive system of Spain; but to the spirit nod capital of
111 i sh merchants•the Continental Powers will chicly, if not
solely, owe these advantaps.
With the increase of European population, a greater neit-
her of those wants will tie crested, which we denominate she
conveniences and comforts of life; and of coarse the toss-
wiempltun will increase, aol may in I mil, to the new comers,
but an proportion to the diffusion of knowledge and example
among all classes albs present ink ibitants, and die facility
of supplying those wants. At pri seat many persons are
art real on plate in Mexico, who do nut know the eUlleetliellee
of good knives and forks, nor a thousand whir necessaries,
*huh the moat moderate circnuastaticrs afford SO English-
man. Indeed the consequence of monopoly and want of in-
tercourse desliiiyed industry, for waist of the stimulus of
bade i mid all the conducts bf life (..f which Faris•. Iwo self

As distinct and independent Governments, the various
pendencies of Spain can cause 110 disquiet to Europe by
augmenting their populatios and resources, since the Euro-
peau family in general will profit hy their trade without lie.
ai Lag exposed to the prepusderating means plarLl at the dis-
posal of a single rower, particularly governed by as abso-
lute Sovereign.
The wants of America are a better guarantee to Europe
for maintainiag those useful relations than a thousand
Treaties with Spain. Her independence binds ber to Ell-
rope in gesteral, instead of Spout alone. From the greet
its of European knowledge all the awful arts will flaw
tato those highly-favoured regions, and dissipate the gluons
of abject superstition and intolerance which hare been trans-
planted from the mothr-sossestry sad propagated wale** ti
zeal by the same means, with • view to bar all intercourse
with straagers, who would encourage their industry by
teaching them the value of it.
But the South Americans are fully aware of the value of
civil and religious freedom from haviK experleueeil the
waist of it. and shew themselves worthy of it by the valour
with which theydefeod their independence. Good order and
subordination to the new Government shew every where the
progress of the cause, and its useful influence on the minds
of the people. Strangers are received by them with open
anus, particularly the British and North Americas's.--
Owing to the nature of their Governments they are cousi-
amid friends primes
,fuels. Bat the Americans have lately
taken measures to cement their political relations by seta.
lug Envoys to Buenos Ayres and Venezuela; and probably
they will be the first to sekuoviledge the independence of the
new Republics. In the sums time, these usesisures have
produced to the indepeadeuts great political advantages iu
the public uphrion.