The National Register.
London, England, 1821-09-24 00:00:00

TIM NATIONAL REGISTER

to him, 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 cagorly embraced by the officers
and by the soldiers of the Spanish division, and the
negotiations tvcre instantly commenced.
In the course of the evening there appeared in the
offing a convoy of fifteen nail, 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 day-break, the advanced posts of the
lodependont army were within half cannon shot of
the town, several flags of trate passed to and fm,
and Bolivar in person pitAied 'Omani a recommitting
party up to the advanced guard ; shortly afterwards
the Spanish colours which were flying were 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_tic•Cump of
Bolivar, repaired on board the Colossus, to announce
to Rear-Admiral Juricn that the capitulation had
taken place with the modifications pointed out by
him, and to request, on the p..rt of Gen. Bolivar and
Col. Percyra, that he would be pleased to give orders
for the embarkation of the Spanish troops, which
were to evacuate the place in two hours, with their
orals and baggage.
After these arrangements, M. Lalande, lieutenant
of the navy, was again sent on shore, to communi-
cate with Col. Percyra on the means of forwarding
as much as possible the embarkation of the Spanish
troops, and with orders to visit General Bolivar,
who, with his staff, was in one of the first houses in
the suburbs.

M. Lalande was exceedingly well received, and
the General addressed him as follows:—" I must
beg of you to give my thanks to the Rear-Admiral
fir the conduct he has pursued in this affair: he has
preserved the strictest neutrality, and he has at the
same time given me an opportunit) of playing to the
world, and to the Spaniards in particular, that we
do not make war like barbarians. Col. Pereyra is
an excellent soldier, who defends with incredible
constancy the cause which has been confided to him:
I have grunted him a capitulation which he could
not have expected; in line, I have grunted all that
he asked, because I know that he has 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 ; and we are both of
us much indebted to the Admiral for the opportunity
of sparing it."
M. Lalande was likewise instructed to say to Gen.
13olivar that French commerce relied upon his 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," he replied, " that the trade of
France shall no where he so well protected as in the
republic of Columbia. We have lately a second time
taken Caraccas, the town most attached to Spain,
and no disorder has been committed even against the
Spaniards: what then shall we do for a nation,
which, in the present instance, gives us so fine an
example of neutrality in this our family quarrel?"
At 10 o'clock in the forenoon M. Lalande returned
to the beach, where the Spanish troops were drawn
up; the boats of the squadron were ordered to re-
ceive them, and the embarkation was effected, not-
withstanding innumerable difficulties, the sea rolling
very heavily, and breaking with great force on the
beach, which could not be approached by the boats
without great risk of being dashed to pieces. The
officers and withers, exhausted with hitigue, pressed
with hunger, and with their clothes in rags, were
forced to wade up to their shoulders in the water to
get into the boats ; and even women, worn out and
suffering from privations of every kind, reduced to
the saute necessity, presented a scene the most
touching and most afflicting.
The cares and activity of M. Lalande effected this
operation with the best possible order. This officer
exercised, under these circumstances, a zeal the most
remarkable and most worthy of praise. About two
o'clock there remained ashore only Col. Pereyra and
some other officers, who repaired on board in a sepa-
rate boat. All the soldiers embarked had preserved
their arms.

The unfortunate Spaniards, whom the cold had
seised after being thrown into the water, came on
deck almost dying, and had great difficulty in drag-
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 coveted, and gave them clo-
thing more comfortable anti decent. Captains Com-
mandant, Etat Majors, young officers of marines,
masters and seamen, disputed the pleasure of laviA-
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 re-
joicing, and the captain of the French craft, Le Pe-
tit Fox, complained that he had b.en fired upon, and

that several balls had reached on board. M. La-
lande was again sent to inform 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
sliould fall out, notwithstanding the orders for the
prevention of it which he had the precaution to
issue. It was known subsequently from information
which he causal to be taken, that some soldiers
having drank without moderation of strong liquors,
hail air:a:till their pieces towards the sea, without
the intent of firing on Le Petit fur.
M. Paris, French agent, consigner 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 em-
barking them, and he bad been promised marines
and boats to effect the operation more promptly ;
but circumstanws having altered, M. Paris no
longer deemed it necessary to remove them.
The day was far advanced when all the disposi-
tions relative to the embarkation of the Spaniards
were terminated. The calm did not permit the
squadron to set sail, and the departure from La
Guayra was postponed till the following day. The
sth July, the squadron hoisted sail. The calm and
the feebleness of the wind did not allow of their
their arrival at the anchorage at Porto Cabello till
the following evening. Rear Admiral Jurien imme-
diately sent an officer to General La Torre, to
demand boats for the disembarkment of the Spanish
troops. The convoy which had been descried front
La Guayra on the 3d of July was tinind in these
roads, together with the Asia, of 6t guns, The
Viceroy of Mexico and of Grenada, and Plenipoten-
tiaries from Spain, had arrived in this ship to treat
for peace with the Independents of Columbia,
An Aide-dc-Camp of General La Torre came on
his part to invite Rear Admiral Jurien and some
officers of the divisian to his house. They found
there the Viceroys, the Plenipotentiaries, and the
principal Chiefs, who received them in the kindest
manner.

A person sent from the Bepublic of Columbia had
entered the city to propose an armistice. Bolivar
himself was to come in a few days from Valencia,
which is only seven or eight leagues distant, in the
interior. Every thing seemed to announce the end
of this obstinate and untbrtimate war.

On the Bth of July, Rear Admiral Juricit pro-
posed to sail, and continue his cruise, with the
Colosse ship of the line, and the Galathee frigate
Before he quitted Porto Cabello he gave orders for
the captain of the brig S:ylene, of the Egerie cor-
vette, and the Iliroadelle galliott, to return to Nlar-
aniline, and put themselves under the flag of Rear
Admiral Duperre.