The National Register.
London, England, 1821-09-23 00:00:00

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Ow Ling, Con§titution, anti ILairsi.


No. I,S!3.—Vot. XIV.]

,eigate u. _
Collet, and the golctta l'llirondelle, . by
M. Ropert.
This squadron sailed in the direction of Margin ita,
and on the 30th of June anchored about a league
from the land, opposite the fort La Geier°. The
nest day two officers were sent on shore, where they
had leinaed that the inhabitants had refused to fur-
nish their contingent of 1,000 men, which had been
required by the President of the Republic, and that
their chief, Al ismendi, being desirous of acceding
to their demand, had been sent away from the
island, and had escaped to Barcelona on board the
indepetalent goletta Le Noureaux Congres, on the
5.h of May lost.
Tue squadron again set sail, and arrived on the 3d
of: July in sight of La Guayra, where the Spanish
flag was flying. Three French vessels were at this
anchorage, ic Sylene and rEgerie, commanded by
MM. Moricc end Duni:weir, k,nd a merchantman
:rem 11lartinique.
According. to orders from II•ron Duperre, com-
mandant of the station of the Leeward Islamic,
l'Egerte and. Sigcne immediately joined Rear M-
mirel Jorien's division. These two vessels remained
1 day at La Guayra, where the Spanish gail:son
was reduced to the last extremity.
To make tile narrative of the events which fol-
lowed the arrival of the French ships in the road-
s.cad intelligible, it is necessity to give a statement
~f the situ:llion of the republic of Columbia with
respect to the war at that period.
On the 27th of Muy last, after the taking of
'Cameras and La Guayra, Bi igadier Morales re
paired to Valencia to join Gen. La Torres, the
Commander-in-Chief of the Royal army, 'cavil),
Col. Pereyra with 1,500 men to defend the capital
against Bermudes, who was at the head of a divi-
sion of the Independent ataly.
After some engagements of no iTnportance, Pereyra
was constrained to fall back, and the inhabitants of
La Guyara, menaced with a new invasion, removed
on the 22d of June to Porto Cabello. On the 23d
Beimudes entered Caraceus to attack Pereyra's divi-
sion, but he was defeated and put to flight by the
latter, who forced him to a distance of seven or
eight leagues from the city. On the 240, Bolivar
and General Paea, gained the battle of Curabobo,
~gainst Gen. La Torre and Brigadier Morales, who
took refuge at Porto Cabello.
Col. Pereyra then gave up the pursuit at Bermu-
des for the purpose of moving again upon Caraccas,
but he was intercepted in his march by another
division of the victoriues suety, anti compelled to
retire to La Guayra, which Was then occupied by a
detachment of only 20 men belonging to the Inde-
pendent troops he arrived there on the 2,1 of July
unit 900 men, after a forced march of seversl days
la almost impassable ravines. Boliver,,,who entered
Caracas on the SOth of June, direct,d ha route on •
La Guayra, and surrounded the place on all sides
with a corps of about 4,000 men. Colonel Pereyra
was thus shut op in La Guayra, where not a single
inhabitant cemented; he was without provisions,
without stores, with a disisiun of 900 men, whose
sale nourishment for tn'o days past was the Juice of
some sugar canes, and who manifested their doter.
urination ()laying of starvation sooner than fall into
t he power of the besiegers the advanced posts of
the latter wen; in sight the very day the Spanish
ei%ision entered that place.
Such was the state of La Guayra on the 3d of
July at noon, when lteer.Admirol Juticn anchored
in the roadstead. Ile immediately sent M. Lalonde,
his first Adjutant, to Colonel Percy:a, This °facer,
reduced to the lest extremity, had resolved to die in
the place rather than surrender to Boliv.T ; he had
renewed the demands which he bad made the pr..-
cedints eveniog of the Captains of the .4.,Aste and the
Egerle to embark the Spanish gartison, and convey
it to Porto Cabello, adding, that tt was no succour
which lie then asked from the French; that he had
made up his mind to run.iin un shore n itit the blacks,

Rear-, iorien, judging
only course towards a reconciliation of the duties
and interests of all parties, engaged Col. Pereyra to
accept the capitulation which Bolivar had proposed
to lm, on condition that that General should con-
sent to the embarkation of the Spanish troops on
board the King's ships. This, which was the only
means of safety, was eagerly embraced by the officers
and by the soldiers of the Spanish &vision, and the
negotiations were instantly commenced.
In the course of the evening there appeared in the
offing a convoy of fifteen sail, under the escort of a
ship of war, which appeared to be steering for Porto
Cabello. The night was passed in tranquillity. On
the 4th July, at duy-break, the advanced posts of the
Independent army were within half cannon shot of
the town, several flags of truce passed to and fro,
and Bolivar in person pushed forward a reconnoitring
party up to the advanced guard; shortly afterwards
the Spanish colours which were flying wore struck
on the citadel, and the troops which occupied it de.
scended into the town.
At half-past seven in the morning a Field Officer
of the Spanish division, and an Aide-de-Camp of
• Bolivar, repaired on board the Colossus, to announce
to Rear-Admiral Julien that the capitulation had
taken place with the modifications pointed out, by
him, and to request, on the part of Gen. Bolivar and
Cul. Pcreyra, that he would be pleased to give orders
for the embarkation of the Sp.a.lalt troops, which
were to evacuate the place in two hours, with their.
arms and baggage.
After these arrangements, M. Lalande, lieutenant
of the navy, was again sent on shore, to communi-
cate wills Cul. Pcreyra on the means of forwarding
as much as possible the embarkation of the Spanish
troops, and with orders to visit General Bu:ivar,
who, with Isis staff, was in one of the first houses in
the subutki.
Lalonde was exceedingly well received, and
the General addressed hint as i011ows:—" I must
beg of you to give my thanks to the itear-Admiral
for the conduct tie has pursued in this affair: he has
preserved the strictest neutrality, and he has at the
same time given mean opportuuitj of proving to the
world, and to tlio Spaniards in particular, that we
do not make war like barbarians, Col. t'ercyra is
an excellent soldier, who defends with incredible
constancy the cause which has been confided to him:
I have granted him a capitulation which he could
not have expected; in fine, I have granted all that
he asked, because I know that he lies defended him
self to the last extremity; any longer perseverance.
would have been a useless waste of blood in a war
which has already cost so much; we are both of
us much 'idebted to the Admiral fur the opportunity
of sltaring it."
/11.1.,olande was likewise instructed to say to Gen.
Ilolivar that French ixuntneroo relied upon I'is jus.
tice and his protection in the case of any ship of our
nation touching at any of the ports, or on any part of
the coast subject to his command. " You may as-
sure the Admiral," lie rep“cal, " that the trade of
Franco shall no where be so well protected as in the
republic of Columbia. We have lately a second time
taken Caraccas, the town most attached to So-its,
and no disorder has been committed even against the
Spaniards: what then shall we do for u nation,
which, in the present instance, gives us so fine an
example of neutrality in this our ti mils querrel?"
At 10 o'clock in the forenoon M. Lalande returned
to the beach, *hero the Spanish troops were draw a
up; the boats of the squadron were ordered to re-
ceive them, and the embarkation was effected, not.
withstanding innumerable d'fficulties, the sea rolling
very heavily, and breaking pith great force on the
beach, which could not be aprrouched by the boats
without great risk of being clothed to pieces. The
officers and soldiers, exhausted with fittilre, pressed
with hanger, and with their clothes in rags, were
fined to wade up to their shoulders in the water to
Set into the boats; and even women, worn out and

ifrr ationalt

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1821.

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t

Pit wE Sid.

The unfortunate Spaniards, whom the cold had
seized after being thrown into the water, came on
deck almost dying, and had great difficulty in dra-
ging themselves up to the place destined to receive
them. But scarcely were they on board when every
one hastened to relieve them from the wet tatters
with which they were covered, and gave them cic.
thing more comfortable and decent. Captains Com-
mandant, Etat Majors, young officers of marines,
masters and seamen, disputed the pleasure of lavish-
ing their succours on the old soldiers, whose honour-
able wounds attested their valour.

About half an hour after the embarkation of the
Spanish troops, those of Columbia made repeated
discharges of musketry in the place in token of rc-
joicing, and the captain of the French craft, Le Pc-
tit Far, complained that he had been tired upon,and
that several balls had reached on board. M. La-
Linde was again sent to infinm General Bolivar of
this circumstance, and to demand the search for and
the punishment of the guilty ones. That General
replied, that he was in despair lest such an accident
should fall out, notwithstanding the orders for the
prewtion of it which he had the precaution to
issue. It. was known subsequently front information
which he caused to be taken, that some soldiers
having drank without inederation of strong liquors,
had directed their pieces towards the sea, without
the intent of firin,, on Le Petit Fox. _ _

M.. Paris, French vent, consi•;ner of this vessel,
having already several cargoes in the warehouses of
La Guayra, and fearing to see them carried off, had
entreated Rear Admiral Jurien to assist him in cm-
barking thcm, and he had been promised marines
and boats to effect the operation more promptly ;
but circumstances !lasing altered, M. Paris no
longer• deemed it neccssaty to remove them.
The day was far advanced when all the disposi-
tions relative to the embarkation of the Spaniards
were tertainated. The calm did not Fa mit the
squadron to set sail, and the departure from Ls
Guayra was postponed ti'l the following day. lhe
.sth July, the squadron hoisted sail. The c.tl•n and
the feebleness of the n•ind did not allow of r
their arrival at the anchorage at Porto Cabello till
the following evening. Rear Admiral Jurien itnin •
diately sent an uflicer to General La Torre, to
demand boats lar the disembarkment of the Spaui•'r
troops. The cOnsoy which had been descried front
La Guayra on the of July was fauna in th,..e
roads, together with the Ifia, of 6 & guns, lite
Viceroy of Mexico and of Grenada, and Plenipoten-
dries from Spain, had turived in this ship to treat
ler peace with the Independents of Columbia,
An Aide-de-Cutup of General La Torre came on
his pert to invite Rear Admirel Jurien and some
officers of the ilivisian to his house. They tound
there the Viceroys, the Plenipotentiaries, and the
principal Chiefs, who received them in the kindest
Planner.

A person sent flrom- the Republic of Columbia hod
entered the city to propose on armistice. Bolls% r
himself was to come in a few Buys feom Volencia,
which is only seven or eight Icogues distant, in the
intet:or. Evej thing seemed to announce the end
of Ws obstinate and unfortunate war.

On the Bth of July, Rear Adm;ral Juticu prt .
posed to WI, and continue b;s ct4ti,e, with the
(Otosse ship of the I;ne, and the Gelathee frigate—.
Before he quitted Porto Cabello he gave orders for
the captain of the 'n Syene, of the Egerie eta-
vttte, uud the liirmultik• riqott • to return to Mg+ -
tinique, rid put themselves under the flag of Rear
Aduairel Duperre.

It is a curious circumstance that King Charles I.
slept at the Prim)! in Brecknonk, on hii way t eitiN3!
North Wales from the Duke of Beaufort's, Au,• . (.I.'-`;...... -... -ne -
1642, and that his present itlajesty should Fle . p
..
5...,." N '
. , •
them also on his roadto the saute nobleman's lux
week.

Slit7ll AMERICA. and perish with them if it were necessary; but that suffering from privations of every kind, reduced to
—ep-- he besought the Admiral to receive on board the the same necessity, presented a scene the most
SURRENDER OF LA GUYRA. Europeans, who up to that day had shared in his touching and most afflicting.
We have reason to believe the following is an se- fortunes, attuning him, moreover, that they should The cares and activity of M. Ltlamle effected this
curate narrative:— leave their arms and baggage ou shore, and t...ke operation with the best possible order. This officer
On the 28th of June last, the vessel k Colosse, their departure as refugees. After having spoken exercised, under these circumstances, a teal the most
on Ward at' which Heise Admire Jurien hoisted his to this effect to Mr. Lalonde, Col. Pereyra sent on remarkable and most worthy of praise. Ahcart two
Eag,, and which it commanflettliy M. Rrontiwetlia ' Zees& the Coleman tiro #oen 0/442itaicoyitb in- o'clock there remained ashore only Col. Percy& and
the road- of St. Pietre at Martinique, in cempnny stiuctions to make an official statement -of the ditpo- •some atlas offinissorbikrapaired ouboaral in a sepa-
with the frigate In Gal'dlec, commanded by M. sitions of their Chief. , rate boat. All the soldiers embarked bad preserved
Collet, and the coletta 1' lliroluklle, commanded by Rear-Admiral Jurien, judging mediation to be the i their arms. "
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