Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-09-05
CORRECTED rEExLr)
SOUTH AMERICA.


E1traets Of iesssrs Cram G sensicmari in Car
nceaa;z0 his friend in PhiadeiaAia, dated
July S, 1911.
+ <'Onr politics here are not particularly in
tercsting. Irepcat, however, (notwithstand-
ing the many lies in both the English and
American papers) since we have been here
not a man has been put to death, either by
law or the mob; that every thing has been
and is quiet. But the latest news can give
IS, that General Miranda is now member
OF Congress, elected by a town almost un-
heard ofbefore in Barcelona.
The eyes of all Caracas are fixed on his
motions, as it can by nomeansbe said he pos
.sesses the general confidence of his fellow
citizens. You have heard long since of the
failure of what seems to me the unprovoked
attack upon Coro. The little Corian army
are in their turn the attackers, and actually
arrived to within 90 leagues of this capital,
at place called San Felipe whilst the e.
qually wanton aggression on the people of
Guyana has provoked them to send fnraging
parties to within league or two of the ex-
tent of my excursion into the interior. Har-
raised thus on both sides, one is surprised
that no impotence or alarm seems visible a
mong the patriots. Nothing but people with
fantastic uniforms arc to be seen in our
streets; yet these epuletted gentlemen hear
of the near approach of the enemy with the
ntnost tranquility, nor evince the least wish
to march to disturb their operations. In
these times, when unanimity seems SO abso-
lutely necessary forthe preservation of their
new government, the principal cities and
provinces seem DESTROYS OF humbling the ca
pital and forming independent states of their
own. The city OF Nalentia, has publickly in
the Gazette and in Congress claimed to be
one OF four independent districts into which
she afhrms the province of Caracas Tin it's
most confined sense) should be divided and
thus are seeds of present and future dissen-
tons already sown. 1t is still debating in the
Congress; where, if one of the members
would remind them of the fable of the old
man and the bundle of sticks, it would be,
think, extremely apropos. Within these
three days, most veXatious affair happen
ed to government In January last, sloop
of war arrived from Cadiz with proposals
for accommodating matters, from the regen-
cy: the bearer of the dispatches being a ma
tive of this phsce, the heads of government
offered HIM IT he Would change sides, to make
him a full colonel in the army, with all the
appointments belonging to that rank by this
offer he was tempted to desert his trust, and
suffered the sloop of war to sail without him.
When she was gone, the government, instead
of a colonel's, offered him captains COM
mission, which he (who was one ofthe oldest
captains in the Spanish army rejected with
disdain, and demanded his passport. They
soothed him by assuring him they would gle
him goodpost under government, and finally
made him secretary of the war department.
But MIR. Montenegro never forgot their first
breach of promise; and observing that from
the great number of papers presented to the
secretary of state for his signature, he put
his name to them generally without examin-
ing their Purport, Mr.. Montenegro conceived
and carried into execution a very pretty
prank. He drew out an order to the COM
mandant at LaGuira, that immediately on
Mr.. Montenegro's arrival there, who was
charged with secret dispatches ofthc utmost
importance, he (the comnandant) should in
stantly order the sloop of war then at anchor
there, get under weigh without moments
loss of time, and repair wherever Mr.. M.
should direct. This the secretary signed as
usual and the honorable secretary of war
has taken himself off no one knows where,
with all the papers and documents of consc-
quence that were TO be found in his depart
mcnt."
"JULY s.
"The Congress yesterday came to the re-
solution Of declaring complete Lidehendence
---rcnouncing Ferdinand VII. and every other
tic TO Old Spain. IT was said it would be de-
clared to-day, but this do not believe. One
thing is certain, it is completely flying in the
face OF the British government, who (if / do
not completely mistake Lord Liyerpool's
meaning) promised neutrality and friendship,
whether they acknowledged the regency or
not, but only as they remained subjects of
cur ally FerdinaHd--What will follow know
not. believe It is fear of the consequences
that makes the most prudent wish to defer
the proclamation. II is rumored about, but
do not answer for the truth, that the loyal
colonies have effected landing in consdera-
bic force at point Hicacos, little leeward
Of Puerto Cabello."
Up. S. This instant Independence is pro-
claimed"