Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-09-30

Lsguira ou the MAN, Gen. ff,y;t,. with tae
Royal Aeniy, had left pampatar tor Cu,naiis,
four day, peev'onsio the arrival of the Con.
gress, ~ thout having elected the reduction Of
the islsod. lie had however, DESTROYED rear
y all ,l;c cultivation and most Of the useful a.
niuiais, having fought five battles, and ap-
preached ~ d;heren; directions very near 10
Assumption. the Capital Of the Island. The
isianu,rs defended themselves with the great
est bravery, but attributed the 6eparinre OF
s.oriup To the progress OF Boirdr and the Pa
iTiots ~ Guaya,a, rather than 20 their own
stre1g th.- i'i0ITNO took with him 10 fiargarit-
1t about3,530 Spanish troops, and from the ac.
counts lost tDoo killed, wounded and SICK. The
Inhabitants Of Tie Island, appear determined
10 defend themselves TO the last extremity a
gainst Spain, but are very deficient In muniti.
ons of war. The Spanish royal force in Vene.
zaela aud its dependencies, and IN New-Grena-
da, arc supposed to be about 5000, besides from
1000 TO 5000 Creole and Indian troops. Dior;i-
10 is drawing all the forces that can he spared
from the different Sairis0ns TO the city OF Ca
raccas, aud II is thought intends proceeding
South 10 meet the Patriots before they enter
the province &; Caraccas-His effective force
tor the field, which is composed of fine troops
and well officercd. may be about 1905, besides
Creoies aid indians. say 1000 more. The force
OF the Patriots ~ not we'll known, and WAS va
riously estimated, from 4 tn 5000 men.--It is not
probable they will hazard a general action, as
they are very Inferior in point of arms, disci
cip!inc and skill to the Spaniaris, bat superior
in tAcr ability 10 carry ona predatory warfare,
anG manage attacks IN small parties.
The provinces of Cumana aud Barcelona are
nearly desola.ed: Their population is suppos-
Ell not TO equal one half is former numbers
In the cities of Cuniana and Barcelona, il dOes
not amount tn onc fourth, and these i'm the
greatest misery and d,stress.-The Congress
was not able to procure fresh meat vegeta-
Dies otany description, at either place, * al La
gnayra few vegetables and a little fresh meat
was obtained with difficulty. The provinces
ct Narinas and Caracas have suffered less than
others, though theirpopuation is very greatly
diminished. tlic city OF Caracas does not con.
tain one half its former numbers.-The war is
conducted by both parties oil the most harba-
rous principle il is the war of Death. priso-
n.rs are rot made except TO suffer death in a
ilifiercut form, and not even women chi
dren are exempted from the general destructi-
on, when in any manner connected with the
contcnding parties.
The Congress was visited by the Governor
OF Margaritta, by Gen. IloriiiO, and by mast at
Ike principal officers of his army and in MI
their ports where she touched, every civiiity-
was shcwn, aud every accommodation offered
la their power TO grant.
Tie very unsettled state of the country, and
the ravagcs of the war have nearly suspended
ali commercial peratIors.--EXcept in the pro-
viDces west Of Barcelona. there is no cultiVati-
ON, and the products of the others are bet
SNAIL 40 what they were formerly.