The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-09-05
FROM BELTS (LoN.] WEEKLY MESSENGER.
GENERAL. MIRANDA.

IL
ciety that, regular in itfelf, renders every thing
which belongs TO it equally regular. Honor., re-
wards, Offices, in aword, ali its diiinaions linni-
ted to certain iphere,--to property, perhaps, in
popular governments and to the hereditary nobility
and their come ions III nionarches There is
pe6fation for any without this circle
But in ioeety, iii every thing ellie, the want not
only regulates the fupply, but the character of the
fupply. The mon OF binary talents, and mof vul-
gar acquiltions fuIioien the dilcharge of the
public duties. Hence little more than the ordinary
talents and vulgar aequftians found auonga the
privileged caCs to whom thefe honsurs are confined
II will be found i'll alrnoa every country that the
elas ofnobilty and the higher orders have pro-
duced their proportion of talent, even learning.
But what's the effect of this fy0em of govern
ment,-we fpeak of arbitrary gsve,n-r-ntI, and the
fundamental principle of the exclnon Of all but the
privileged elafs from the offices and houors Of the fate
what, fly, is the effect of this fyaeT upon the o.
Their orders of the people, Why finpy, that hav-
ing nothing look a reward, they have fpur
to any extraordinary exerton. There is ef,rt in
the abfence Of emulation, and excellence in the
SRbfenoe Of effort. The whole mind of the fate is
paled--the great remain i'll Incidence, becaufe they
can attain the ordinary obetas of deiire without
erton, and the lower clahes will not TOLL where their
toll will raiie them from their defined obieury.
Such is the cordton Of the Spanh monarchy at
this moment with regard to the prndu aiou OF thoe
eulluenr >,,...s@ H.
feafon Of need. Will it not appear aluof paradox
TO fav, that Spain only b. preerved by revelu-
ton , yet it is only by his chat her latent
powers can be called FORTH that the dormant and not
exringuihed fpark of her former national character
can he terminated The feafon of peril and high
ward will call this fprit forth. The neceity Of the
time will fhake off thofe who inferior to~+. de-
rriands. Rank aud place, the naves Of
miniaer, the generals Of parade, and aimirs's ev
o5feo ru0 then retire, and make room for Of
more efficiency.
There remarks are called forth by our p-efent fab
jeea, who, born in fone ohfcurity, and nader go.
any thing but popular, would have fore
remained in that obfcurity, had that civil peno
n,cron, the French revolution, called him forth into
actor, and thence Of ucccfiity into diGin6ton.
c. neral Miranda IS naive OF South America
He was horn in the Caracas, and was therefore
fuhiea Of the king Of Spain. His family linea
defendant of the frtt fe;ters and by his name, and
their original rank in their province, ihoud be
led to infer, THAI It Younger branch OF noble
family of the fame title and fnrnan,e in old Spain.
The grandfather of general Miranda had the Of
flee of governor of the province, and his father,
believe, looked TO the fame office but the eaoufv
OF the of Spain here interpofed-.he father of
Miranda ike hiuie!f, a native OF South Ameri-
ca, aad the policy OF Spain held il as an eGablihed
principle to commit no Office e. truit to native.
Hence, perhaps, the tirtt origin of the difcontent
OF Miranda. Bur we fly this by inference only
1t is the folly of hiGo.y 70 account for every thing
Perhaps the ngulr fpirs of Miranda is rather to be
inPuted to n4jrd naturally retefs--a diipoiition
foTTsed TOR at.senture. Indeed when call to our
minds love OF his peculiar traits, are led
clud that he would have been lefs adventurous
and intriguing, had he been born in England; howe
this may be, he had carcely attained the period
~f ,uth, when leaving his home and country, he
nenced his travels, rather adventures and this
a manner which sufficiently marked his ardent cha
raSfer EIe rPfoivpi n -raye! on foor nvsr rho
continent of America, North and South into theie
bondles regions did youth Of carcsly twenty years
OF age undaunied and almoi led to affert
with Purpoe, grear, though perhaps obfcure, then
forming in his mind, fearlefsly launch himfelf and
vifiting cities mountains and forefs, attained that
local knowledge upon which he has built hi,
prefent enterprise.
The mott ing1lar trait in this adventure, and what
ffeiently marks his character is, that he vovafari-
~ performed ii on foot. His family was very wealthy
and though no longer governors of the province,
they certainly, having within the memory
of many had that office, DILL more Respectable in rank
and oonfeqUsnce. Yet did the young Miranda in
the habit of peaiant thus voluntarily undertake
this painful labour of becoming acquainted with his
native continent.
We believe he had not yet returned home when
the American war broke out. This at lcsn know,
that he fought volunteer in that war,yee believe
in the lat years Of that conel 70 fertile Of great
with the French oficers--an intimacy which led to
the MOI prominent event of his life. Ee wa, nstu-
rally regarded in the army with aduirationhs cou-
rage his fpirit of adventure and above all his youth
threw air Of r6bsucc around him, which Gill far
ther augmented this genesai notice.
Upon the conclufon Of peace he followed the
French officers the of Verfaiiles, wher. he
introduced 20 the late King. After travelling O.
France, and 1--WE rtinue that the reader may
underiaud his peculiar chara acr) whiting every old
general; in word, discovering his peculiar bias he
tame England, from whence he pafed into Italy
He Gill preferred bis early praa.ce Of travelling oh
foot. Perhaps he thoughr thar the only efec-
tua way Of becoming acquainted with country.
It is fomewhat fingul1I that he viGted his Own
country, Old Spain, last. May it not be eoIeGied
from this tina; he had already ;n5bed that fprit of
dlieoutent aud difke which has led to his prefent
enterprise. Perhaps the principles of the American
war were At work ia his mind. We have nothing to
fay but to faas
From Old Spain he returned 70 South America,
where he rteontiled hin1fslf to his family or this
reconciliation we have indeed certain knowledge
but eolle8 it from the eirtVmRsnee, that upon his
fuhfequent rliutn to Europe I've evidently poTef-
fed ofa large property. Ills father, we believe died
Iome years back, in South America.
Upon his return to his home, he made fscond
tour through South America, the obea Of which it
is impolIlble to u1undernand. ifhe had fought no
thing in his ra travels but the qualification Of idle
Ipirt of adventure, twas psi0'this not the OBJ
n II