Star.
London, England, 1815-10-05 00:00:00

tbabasiiiof its colonial system, .the hope 01 !hiding
both energy and ability to resist the attacks of the
Regency, and the .expectation that Fenatiann the
Seventh could not return to Spain, were the unitea
causes of this declaration, of which Don N. COAT*.
JARRIA availed himself, to keep in motion various
springs of rebellion that were already in preparation ;
and in consequence, on the 11th of July, a conspi-
racy burst out at Caraceas, that gave serious alarm
to the inhabitants. •

Inspired by patijotic zeal the people took up arms,
and the conspirators, who were chiefly Spaniards from
the Canary Islands, were attackcJ, routed, and taken
prisoners. At the same period of time the emissa-
ries of CORTABAWA succeeded at Valencia, which
was forty leagues distant from Caraccas. Valencia
declared far the Royalists, who fortified themselves
in the city, but General MIRANDA. with five thou-
sand men, besieged die city, and took it by storm.
It is necessary to observe that many other conspira-
cies had previously been stifled, and that Government
had generally contented itself with banishing the con-
spirators. Don N. USTARIS and Don N. Role*, re-
spectable persons in Caraccas, resolved by means of
publications, and by supporting a correspondence
with the interior of the country, to thew the advan-
tages that were to be derived from a Federal Go-
vernment. This seemed to interest every one. The
enthusiasm spread to New Grenada ; and the Con-
gress of Venezuela offered to the people a Constltu-
bon which resembled in fundamental principles that,
of the United States of America. These States flou-
rished under the fostering care or their Government,
and the hope of reaching an equal degree of perfec-
tion silenced every argument in favour of any other
Constitution, the only tine indeed of which the semi.
vent of America furnished any examplP.
All prospered at Venezuela in the beginning of
the year 1812. The Goverument was respected, the
military force sufficient to support it, and the public
, mind unanimous. Industrious foreigners flocked
from every part to fix their residence in a country,
where, under the protecting care of imild govern-
ment. they could enjoy their different religious opi-
nions unmolested. Commerce was flourishing : that
with England was particularly favoured and pro-
tec•ed ; to give it more eecouragernena a reduc-
don of four per cent. was made in the Custom-
house duties, in favour of English manufactures.
The departments of Merida and Truxillo were se-
para ed from the province of Maracaybo, and
united to the Confederation. and General MoahNo
was on the banks of the Onmooko, with three thou-
sand men. ready to invade Guayana, whose inhabi-
tants v desirous of being treed from the oppres-
sion of the Spanish troops—when. alas 1 this posses.
don, and seeming pros:,ect of continued prosperity,
was destroyed by an earthquake, w...ich happened on
the 26th of March, 1812.
Many cities were ruined; disorder and contention
again arose among the people, and a split of famed-
Itism but st out, which did more hurt at Venezuela
than could have been done had the country been in-
vaded by thirty thousand Spanish troops. As this
event has been the source of all the misery that has
oppressed Venezuela : and as its influence has ex-
tended even to New Grenada, I with to relate it more
at large than my first plan seemed to allow : bat the
imyretance of the subject will, I trust, excuse the
digression, especially as a detailed account of this
fatal catastrophe has not, I believe, yet ai•peared in
Europe. v. C.
Octobers,