Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-12-08
LITERARY CADET
PROVIDENCE. SATURDAY DEC. 8.
BOLIVAR.


Tic Pacific, 10 tue Atlantic ocean, hes publish.
Cd all interesting Journal Of bis travels. which
is richly worthy Of perusal. VIC io1k it up,
without any great prcpossossions in its favour,
aud instead of finding it. what it really IS, an
fa!ell gent narrative, wo expected 10 end IL
one Of those catch-ocnny productions, which
arc daily issued from tho press, to deceive the
people and tognin..for their authors an cphemc
p. rai literary reputation.
EIt it certainly is n work Of sterling merit,
AMI gives a better view Of the habits manners,
aal customs of the 9,uth Americans, than VIC
have heretofore found in the productions Of
other authors.
4. Captain Andrews, seems 10 have noted
things precisely as thoy were, and TO have
stated facts, without the least cxaegcration or
false colouring. Ills Gclincations of,he scenery
Of the country, are happy, and drawn with the
pencil Of a master; and, the work, taken as a
whole, is crodi,abla 10 its very intelligent au-
thor
Whilst %pcrusing the book, VIC found the an-
ncxed article, relative 10 the character, man.
ners, and habits of Bolivar, which in the abb
.s,acc of other matter, we present 10 our read.
ers:
at was on the 18th Of October, that I W s
introduced to Bolivar. cannot say thnt ]
felt not ut the moment Of Introduction, the
peculiar sensation which the presence Of one
who had filled the world with his deeds, nat
urally inspired. II l had any sentiment ap-
preaching 10 humility on the occasion, arising
from awe Inspired by the moral influence Of
the man, it was dissipatcd with the mode in
which lac received mo. with a cordial, down.
right English shake Of the hand II is the
historians business TO do Justice to his general
character: l can only describe how l saw him
at a short interview, when not under the inllu-
encc Of excitement Of any kind. AS q man., he
had, in my view, achieved more than WASH
inc.on. He had delivered his country without
foreign assistance, and under every possible
disadvantage No France had rendered her
armies and her wealth TO aid him. No Frank
Inns, and Henrys, and Jcficrsons were at his
right hand, nor the stern, uncompionising
virtue of u New England race. The ignorance
und utter want Of experience Of those around
him, both in civil ana military affairs, threw
every thing upon his genius; lie dared nobly
and succeeded. His talents in the field, and
his invinciblc perseverance in spite OF every
obstacle, do not surpass his skill III raIsing re-
source far war, and mpressing his fellow Gill
Gems with confidence in his ability and respect
fDr his government as II chief Of the people,
How no kept down aud controlled faction,
euclled mdiinous dispositions, and having sac
rifced cvory shilling of his fortune in the cause
Of his country, persuaded others to follow his
example, is a problem difficult to solve.
In these respects no one ever surpassed him.
In the movement of large armies, with better
formed m ,~torials, no may have been excelled
but in the passive qualities Of the soldier, the
raj, est found united in the military character,
fow, or mono have excclled him. Hunger,
thirst, torrid heat, mountains cold, fatigue,
long marches lin respect OF distance from Ca
raccas to Potosi, from the centre Of the north
cru half Of tho the ,orrid zone almost to the
extreme limit on one occasion,) in deser and
burning sands, all were borne by him and his
followers with a patience never outd0ne by
similar, or any other means, and crowned with
complete success. He has been accused Of
ambitious views towards absolute power; time
only can settle this point. He has yet shown
no such disposition but rather the reverse.
. The person Of this extraordinary man has
parhap, been before described; he is in make,
slender, but of an active and enduring frame,
abou, i've feet seven inches ia height: his fea-
lures rather sharp, nose aqnllinc and express
ion firm but not striking in the way OF intellect;
moreover, his face generally bears marks Of
hardship, and is care worn. His eyes are pen
~etra.ine rather than intelligent, and he seldom
safcrs a stranger to get a view OF them; at
least I fouud in the intervie VS. l had the honour
TO hold with him, that this was tho case 80 much,
that it even Il ,sened him in my estimation ms
the habit Of any Oh, not looking you fairly in
- = .~x.xx, q. at IA do His hrnW lie
wrinkl,d by thought and anxiety. so much that
n scoyl seems almost always TO dwell upon it.
In giving an audience, sittin :, as was his GUS
tom, he seemed TO want tae easy carriagc OF a
person in such a situation, and bad an awk-
ward custom Of passing his hands backwards
and forwards over his. knees. His delivery
was very rapid, but in tone monotonous, and
he BY no n,eaus gave n stranger an opinion Ia
ysurabls 70 his urbani'y. Tho quail ties Of a
Stern republican soldier must, however, DO
expected to differ from those Of the %courticr Of
rhs European school, who is seldom q hero;
and il would BIO strange enough, il the person
Of Bolivar should not have been in any way
tim ,twed with the stormy, warlike and singu-
Tar character Of the chcqucred scenes he had
encountered.
Notwithstanding appearances are as | stat
"A and cha disapPointwent as to air and as
80, which { experienced on seeing him for the
Erss lime, his shake Of tho hand was cordial
"a csank AZ a soldiers should he, and ia mat
a.. Of business I found him without etiquette
- ~ foreigner, easy o faccess and very prompt
- Sec siou. Hs was rsmarksbly quick In his
c.ro.psos e any subject laid before him, an:
P.S.s;~ shs narrator in the circumstances and
coming ssr;dlyfo the Intended conc'''''n' Oh