The Sun.
London, England, 1826-08-18 00:00:00

'HE COLOMBIAN GENERALS.

'Bolivar it 12 years old; his disinterestedness is univer-
sally extolled, and he frequently disposes of part of his
Ineornt in pensions to the Nvidows and children of the men
!Om fell in battle. His education has, indeed, been great-
1Y neglected, but a residence of considerable duration in
Europe has given him a taste for the languages and read-
ing, abd iii both he has made uncommon progress. He
may be compared with Sertorins, whoosalso, though with
lass success, laid the foinitlation of a republic in the hap-
py islandS of the west. We might be apt to conclude,
from his mode of wiirferei his long marches' in order to
come unexpectedly upon the enemy, and the, celerity with
Which he ttaverses.immense,distances in search of them,
that he is rather a bold skirmisher, than fitted to be the
leader' of a large artnY:—With a great deal of pains, lie
has established a government which is :framed,.though.
Bit an Imperfect manner, upon the model of that of the
United Stott ; and which, in the first years of its exist-
*het, wasionly kept ill order by the influence of his sol-
diery. , This last is for the most part composed of herds-
men, whom he broUght with him from the Plain of Bogota,
and as the greater proportion of them belong to the race of
941Pulattoeii, it became-necessary to treat that dais with
greatsonsidOLtion, and to reward them liberally. Throilih
a singular good 'fortune, he has never once been wounded;
lietiCeitistenerniee take occasion to say, though un-
justly, that he is deficient in bravery. He does not
want eloqueneei. his language is full of fire, but often dif-
fuse ; and he finds great difficulty 'in expressing himself
succinctly in Spanish. In his youth he married in Spain ;
bnt his wife died a few years afterwards and he seems to
hasce resolved to live the rest of his life as a widower.
All his kinsmen fell in the war, and he has only 'an
old uncle remaining,.
who is living in' A throne
lies no temptation for him. Miranda says America is now
tell fitted for the republican form of Government, but
Bolivar, him resolved that that Government shall not
become, monarchical. The title, of Libertador which has
"en- decreed to him, is a new term in all languages.
No one has ever had any cause to accuse him of tyranny;
arid if we except the exile of the disaffected, and the
sequestration of their properties (a measure, perhaps;
Justified by its necessity), nothing worse can be said
vif him than that he has sometimes had recourse to re-
prisals in war.
The Spanish monarchy in South America received the
severest blows from a sort of Martar or Arabian Scheikh,
namely, the mulatto Pees. At the head of some thousands
of his wild cavalry hussars he has often put to the
.route the disciplined squadrons, especially the hussars, of
Ferdinand VII. This man might. easily have played on
the haulm of the Orinoco the same game that Artigas
played on the banks of the Plata ; l remained true
to Bolivar, (till lately) whose excellent conduct had won
him to his party. Paez shows muchness,
certain degree of polish . but notwithstanding his natural
a
'
inclinatien for ease andlives
idleness, he - entirely upon a
footing with his followers. When amongthere,he ihares
this meals, sports, and exercises; no one rides better than
b!,or manages .th'e
lance with it surer hand, or assaults
the enemy with greater fury. Thus his power is unlimited
among his undisciplined soldiery, who comply in all things
with $ commander 'who sets them an example of personal
bravery, andsame execute his orders with the See p-rornpti-
. tude•as #laves. His fortune was increases by numerous
presents,: and Spaip deprived of a man who became the
terror of her troops.
Nontilla is
,ibe rival of this commander in the plains.
Originally in the Spanish bcdi
, he' thought to find
the means of bettering his fortiutilrd
iii the revolution. The
influence he possessed is looked uin,oanwitohra jealous eye by
the government ; and although by
in. Cartbagena, • it was always coirsiitres he
was
placed
too near Caraccas, where tho nobility would that
whey"' up a leader in opposition to Bolivar, and willin)" set
wanted to se-
lect • Montilla for that purpose. He excels
iii can-
venation. . Educated its
with ease, Which the partPe
Colombiansohfetheetelnecab himself
only
do with difficulty. He is charged with 'deceit; 1 his
Main silence On some occasions, and and ---
ons, apparent discon-
tent, Wive, been interpreted into proofs that ha, wears leis
mantle upon hoth.ahoulders; but this is only
ambitioa
which lie wishes to conceal, and which he is afraid of
traying to discovery. And, moreover, it is known that he
has euesnise for hate, such as 'is never easily forgotten. lie
eantiotbut remember that, in 1811, Bolivar swore, i
moment of pension, that he would cause hi to be shot
a
the moment he fell into his hands; and, when :hebmistook
General Miranda and the party of patriots for ins, de-
clued he, wntikl expose him ,four...and-twenty hours to the
tic: of the people in an. iron cage.
pirr'
- r .
Thikii men are subordinate to Boliiiir;
rather as his under-generals than his equate.
might, after his death, in the event Of his defeat, the
• Place bull %elf st the head of a party, of which each lois-
aniter4c ,kt:Ckt44ll4lielf. Were tins to. take place Bolivar
gr;:. `',,v,,iil44P)pfatti with Alexander.. Paez, with sus
the kolf!leell himself of the plains, Montilla of
tit 2f7l,ficeteccas, Padilla of the coasts, and Suers of
friAlleil of Quito.--.Ettitiburah .06seiver.