The National Register.
London, England, 1818-09-13 00:00:00

SOUTH AMERICAN PATRIOTS.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER DATED ANGESTERA, LATTER END

OF JUNE.

" General Bolivar arrived here near three weeks ago. and
is likely to remain here for some time. I have had many in.
terviews with him.and like him much. He is frank. affable,
well-bred, and tolerably well informed, but by no means, in
my opinion, possesses those transcendant abilities which many
give him credit for. He is disinterested, devoted to the cause
of independence. and is represented by all to be punctiliously
honourable ; but either as a Statesman or a General, I am
much mistaken if his talents are not of a very medioce class.
Fortunately for himself and for his country, his opponents are
still inferior, and I am firmly !serenaded that 2,000 British
would clear the country, and subdue Royalists and Patriots
united.

" I do most conseientionslv believe that the Patriot Govern-
ment intends to act honourably towards us, and that every
thing will be eventually paid, hut their means and resource*
have been grossly exaggerated and overrated, whether
fully or ignorantly I know not : but the fact is, that the exe.
cutive have comparatively nothing at their immediate com-
mand, and however honest and honourable their intentions
may be, it is quite clear that where funds do not exist, they
cannot be had. Many of the British officers in this country
are highly dissatisfied, and no wonder: they were assured
that each, on arriving, should receive 200 dollars fur his pas.
sage-money, lint in no one instance has that assurance been
fulfilled. Many of them, therefore, are without a farthing,
even to pay their washing, for no pay has yet been
There are rations of beef, but nothing except beef, beef, beef;
and every animal eats beef in this country, even the little
birds. The deceit practised ota our countrymen, whether
wiltUl or otherwise, cannot but injure the cause of American
emancipation in a most material degree, sand Bolivar feels it
exceedingly. He ha, repeatedly expressed himself to me in
the strongest terms on the tubject, and it was-quite evident
he felt what he said. It would realty appear that no attention
has been paid to the situation a affairs here ; perhaps fees
on military conimissions were exacted as well as on commer.
vial speculations ; on the latter subject the government has
received a broad hint. Since the commencemeot of the
rainy season, fevers, dirrihosas, and other disorders, have
become frequent, and in several instances fatal. One of the
English surgeons was called in to seven fresh cases this morn-
ing.
" When Bolivar arrived here, his wardrobe was reduced to
a most miserable state. Net a stitch but what was on his
back, having lost all dis baggaize when so disgracefully sur-
prised by Lopez. Every one lives bear in a miserable way—
eternal carat, cerise —no vegetables, though ni so rich a country.
The leading people are ashamed to ask one to dine, for they
have no furniture for the table, and nothing to offer to cat or
drink, but eerie and horribly hal siiira is; and therefore, al-
though intimate and on excellent teen, with them all, all
hospitalities are bounded to a segar and a glass of water.—
There is no ainusement earthly, and, of course, no books, as
few can read iu this part of the world the heat or rain which
now falls in inconceivable torrents, confines one almost en-
tirely to the house. Au Leelish newspaper would pesitively
be a luxury beyond idea. Many is the time and oft it would
be read from the counezecement, price Id., to the name of
the printer."
EXTRACT OF A LZTTUR FROM TRINIDAD, JULY 16.

" By the best information I have been Able to procure
since my arrival here, the Patriots are getting on in a very
nucertain way, and seem destitute of those funds and re.
sources which are really requisite for carrying on the contest ;
they have been partially successful, but at present want arms,
men,ammnnition, and money. Bolivar has been appointedto the
civil administration of affairs, and has been succeeded by
Paez, a men of tried courage and some abilitits, but of no
education. They wish• to hold e hat they have, hut the native
Spaniards are .not to be depended on. The follow ers of the
army are three times more numerous than those actually fight_
ing, a circums!anee that may give you some idea of their
patriotism, and plunder seems their chief object. Poor
NPllonald fell u sacrifice from foolishly exposing his baggage ;
although some people say he was killed by the Indians ; many
here know that some straggling Patriuti took his life, tempted
by his baggage. An officer• is going to England to raise a
regiment at 500 dollars each man, a measure that probably
will not be .permittod by the English eleven-Anent. If the
nations of South 'tine' lea are not able to cope fur their in-
dependence against tile miserable face opposed to them,
they are not deserving of the blessings attending a free go-
vernment. The• Patriot army is at present composed of blacks
and people of colour, but it is reported that 2,500 whites are
on their way from New Granada; my opinion is that 2000
Bt it ish troops would march from one end of the country to
the other. There never was a cause where so much depended
on the natives, and so little exertion was made by them; there
are many turn of ambition among them, but none of them of
abilities sufficieut to govern ; they
,wish to make every de-
partment English, and that in the end may injure the cause.
NPGregor is much wanted, and might be of great service.
The British officers engaged in their last two battles lost no.
thing of their character as soldiers. I wish to join the patriot
cause, but am told it is of no use going for tile Main unless I
take men !! How is an officer coming from England to pro-
cure men ? The idea is absurd. It appears, therefore, that
if the independence of South America is not obtained .by
themselves, they must return to their original subjectiun."

Recent accounts from Angostura state, that CclonelWilson,
a British officer, and native of. Ireland, wile some time ago
joined the cause of the patriots in South America, had become
iiivelved in an affair likely to terminate in disagreeable conse-
quences. This officer, having frequent occasion in the course
of the campaign to remark the military blunders committed
by Bolivar, and indignant at their fatal consequences to the
army tinder his command, and to the cause in which lie had
etnliat keil,w as indiscrete enough to ezpi est hisenniments on
that head to General P.rt, the second in command, and even
to propose to him that they should remove General Bolivar
from his situation at the head of the arm). Paez gave an at•
tentive ear to the stiggestiuns of Colonel Wtlsun, bleated the
conduct of his colleague, mid appeared to acquiesce in the
pr, jest for displacing him, until the design was fully revealed.
He then gave information ot• the whole proceeding to Bolivar.
Colonel Wilson was.. plur.•d wider arrest ; mnd when the ad-
vices Caine away, %las about to be tried by a Court-martial.
An iron sloop oas lately launched from the woo ks of Mr.
Joseph Shaw, at fittnAet, which, a few dais ago, t caught up
to Leeds 3z ions-of coals colliery. This ves-
sel, which measures 66 feet in length, by 9 fret 6 isirlits in
eantli, draws maly•S feet'd inches of water, and would, if
solar geri to the same size, carry IS tons more than a common
sloop built of wood.