so as to preserve a communication with Corora, his provisions for the army failed. Being disappointed also in the co-operation of the ships of war which sailed from Porto Cavello for that purpose, the marquis del Toro was compelled to retreat, and relinquish the object of the expedition. But as the retreat was not effected without difficulty and hard fighting, something was gained by the expedition, as it tended to increase the confidence of the government and the people in the army.

At the close of the year 1810, general Miranda arrived at Caraccas from England, contrary to the wishes of the government, which had instructed its deputy sent to London to oppose his return to his native country at present. The reason of this was, the junta of Caraccas believed that the return of Miranda to Venezuela, which would be presumed to be in pursuance of the desire of the government, would have an unfavourable influence on the cause, in consequence of the known revolutionary designs of Miranda, and his repeated attempts to free Venezuela from the dominion of Spain. As the ostensible views of the new government did not go so far as those of general Miranda, they could not consistently invite him into the country, or entrust him with any employment.

The general congress for all the provinces of Venezuela convened for its first session on the 2d of March, 1811, and was constituted according to the regulations adopted by the supreme junta of Caraccas; which provided for taking a census of the population, for forming the electoral colleges; and which fixed the ratio of representation, and the mode of election. One representative was allowed for every twenty thousand persons; about fifty deputies were elected, and took their seats in the congress. The junta, to expedite the business of the congress, had, previous to their meeting, appointed a committee, consisting of Don F. X. Ustariz, Don Fermin Paul, general Miranda, Don J. Roscio and others, to frame a constitution, to be submitted to the congress. The committee, after several conferences, with the exception of Miranda, united in the opinion that a confederation was the best form of government for Venezuela. General Miranda's opinion was widely different; he laid before the committee a plan of a constitution, the same he had intended presenting to the people, had he succeeded in his attempt to revolutionize Terra Firma in 1806. It was designed for a more extensive territory than Venezuela, and did not essentially differ from the Spanish colonial system. Miranda, who had been received at first with jealousy, greatly increased the fears which prevailed of his entertaining ambitions views, by his constitutional project. And although the most distinguished advocates of independence had full confidence in his integrity, and highly venerated his talents and patriotism,

his friends could not obtain an election for him to the congress, except in the insignificant department of Araguita, in Barcelona. As is usual with a state which has just emerged from oppression, the congress disclosed much jealousy, and experienced much difficulty in disposing of the executive power. At length, however, in the month of April, they entrusted it to three persons, named by the congress, but so limited and restricted, as evinced their fears of its subverting the other branches of the government.

The congress was not united, even on the main question; a party existed in favour of a re-union with Spain; but a decided majority were advocates for independence, and the minority were afraid to declare their sentiments, in consequence of the enthusi asm of the people of Caraccas in the revolutionary cause. General Miranda, sensible that intelligence was all that was necessary to increase the partisans of the revolution, in conjunction with Don Francisco Espejo, a distinguished lawyer, established a club, called the Patriotic Society, for the discussion of political questions, and all topics relating to the general welfare of the

state.

The 19th of April, the anniversary of the revolution was celebrated by the inhabitants of Caraccas, with an enthusiasm which nothing but the spirit of liberty could inspire. After service in the churches, all the inhabitants appeared in the streets, richly and appropriately dressed, wearing cockades on their hats, composed of blue, red, and yellow ribands. The city was filled with rejoicing, the streets were lined with crowds of all classes, with countenances beaming with joy; even many parties of Indians collected in the environs of the town, and by dancing, and various sports, according to their customs, evinced that three hundred years of slavery and oppression had not extinguished from their race the sacred spark of liberty, or rendered them insensible to its blessings. The patriotic society moved in procession through the principal streets, adorned with badges of liberty, and bearing appropriate ensigns. At night, the scene became more deeply interesting and sublime; the general joy seemed to increase; the city was illuminated throughout, and in the public and many of the private buildings, the transparencies displayed with good taste, appropriate and patriotic mottos and inscriptions. Bands of music paraded the streets, which, with numerous parties of singers, filled the air with melody and song, which tended to diffuse the joyous and patriotic feelings that universally prevailed.

But the congress wanted courage and energy to profit from the enthusiasm of the people; by a temporizing and indecisive conduct, the confidence of the inhabitants in the government began to be weakened, and their enthusiasm declined. Several attempts to overthrow the government were detected, and the conspirators

out.

were only banished or imprisoned. In June, 1811, a most alarming plot was discovered, just as it was on the point of breaking This convinced the government and the people, that it was necessary to adopt more decisive measures. Their condition, however, was critical and embarrassing; they had established a government, disavowed the existing authorities of Spain, and by these steps occasioned the parent country to make war upon them, although they had not declared themselves independent. They had brought on their country the evils of war, and were exposed to be punished as rebels; yet, unless they declared the country independent of Spain, they had no object in view, in any degree corresponding with such sacrifices. This subject was taken up and discussed in the patriotic society, and the prevailing opinion seemed to be, that nothing but a declaration of entire independence could save the country from ruin. Encouraged by these favourable sentiments among the people, a declaration of independence was proposed in the congress, and after being debated at great length, and with much earnestness, was finally adopted on the 5th of July, 1811.*

The good effects of the measure were immediately perceived; it gave energy to the government, and the principal conspirators were arrested. Their plan was to have secured the main barrack, by means of the treachery of a Spanish serjeant, in the employ of the new government, which would have supplied them with ammunition and arms, and then to have attacked the town, in which several hundred of the conspirators were concealed, who would have joined in the assault the moment the first cannon was fired from the barracks. Had it succeeded, the three members of the executive, and the leading members of congress, were to have been instantly executed, and the remaining members sent to Spain. Notwithstanding the arrest of the leaders, the conspirators began to assemble at about three o'clock in the morning on the 11th of July, in that part of the city called Las-tegues; but the people who were apprised of the danger, were prepared to meet them, and after some resistance they were captured and thrown into priThe day preceding this event, an insurrection broke out at Valencia, situated in the interior, more than 100 miles from Caraccas.-The Spaniards residing in the town surprised and took possession of the barracks, garrisoned by a few soldiers, and were joined by many of the other inhabitants who were disaffected with the congress in consequence of its having opposed their plan of separating themselves from Caraccas, and forming a new province. Arms had been privately introduced into the town by the Spa

son.

The length of this document prevents its being embodied in this work It is drawn up in imitation of the declaration by the North American con gress, and may be found in the outline of the Revolution, page 45.

niards, which being put into the hands of the insurgents, they prepared to defend the town against the government.

The appearance of a new and unexpected enemy, the offspring of disaffection, greatly embarrassed and perplexed the government; they knew not how far the disaffection extended, nor scarcely whom to trust. Besides, the conspirators arrested, refused to disclose their accomplices, from an expectation that their numbers were such, that with the assistance of the Spanish troops they should prevail, by which means they would be released. It was thought expedient to crush the insurrection in the germ, and immediately to attack the conspirators at Valencia; but the troops were required at Caraccas for the protection of the town and the government. In this dilemma, the government appealed to the inhabitants, and a sufficient number appeared in arms for the defence of the place. General To:o was then sent against Valencia. In the meantime, ten of the conspirators were tried, condemned, and executed, and their heads placed on poles, according to a barbarous custom of the inhabitants, at the entrance of the city. Distrusting the military talents of the marquis del Toro, the congress ordered general Miranda to take command of the army sent against Valencia. The insurgents had fortified two hills near the town, which commanded the road leading into it; one of which had been attacked and carried by general Toro, before the arrival of Miranda, but with a very heavy loss to the patriots. Miranda, who by his appointment regained some part of his lost popularity, forced the other pass, stormed and entered the town, and drove a party of the royalists into the barrack called de los pardas. There they were attacked; but with such determination did they defend the position, that the patriots were several times repulsed with great loss. This encouraged the royalists in the town, who, from the windows and roofs of the houses, and from the towers of the churches and monasteries, poured showers of musketry on the troops with such destructive effect, that Miranda was obliged to retire from the town. He retreated to Mariara, twelve miles from Valencia, one of the hills that had been fortified by the royalists, where he remained until the next month, when, being re-enforced, he assaulted and took possession of the town, and dispersed the royalists. Miranda was now at the head of four thousand troops, with which he proposed to invade the department of Coro; and although the executive was in favour of the proposal, it was defeated by the jealousy of the congress, and the opposition of his enemies, whose animosity was revived by his recent success.

The formation of a constitution had attracted the public attention since the publication of the declaration of Independence. A correspondence on the subject was carried on between Don F.

X. Ustariz and Don J. Roscio, two of the committee to whom the subject had been referred, with several individuals in Santa Fe de Bogota, and others in the interior of Venezuela, which, being published, seemed to interest every one. A series of essays also were published in the Caraccas Gazette, written by one Burk, an Irishman, which, as well as the correspondence, was designed to convince the people that a federative republic, like that of the United States, was the best form of government for Venezuela. Burk was patronised by Ustariz, Roscio, and others, who were warm advocates of the federative system; and being well acquainted with the principles of the British and American constitutions, he exhibited the advantages of the plan proposed, confirmed and illustrated by the happy experience of the United States, in so striking a manner as to produce an enthusiastic admiration of a federal republic, which was almost universal. This sentiment prevailed also extensively in New Granada. The subject was entered upon in congress, and after debating the question several months, a constitution was prepared, approved of by that body, and offered to the people for their sanction on the 23d of December. Its outlines were similar to those of the constitution of the United States, in respect to the form or frame of the government, but in two particulars, at least, it differed very materially; it established the Roman Catholic religion as that of the state, and did not preserve a unity of power in the executive branch, that being confined to three persons, to be chosen by the electoral colleges. The legislative power was reposed in a congress consisting of a house of representatives, and a senate, the former chosen by the electoral colleges, and the latter by the provincial legislatures; its authority was defined and limited, and the powers of the legislatures of the several states or provinces were limited. A judiciary was to be organized, with a jurisdiction as to matters relating to the federal compact and national concerns. It recognised the sovereignty of the people, declared the mulattoes and other casts eligible to any employment in the state; abolished the use of the torture, the trade in slaves, the tribute of the Indians, and provided for their civilization. Maracaibo and Guiana were to be admitted into the confederacy as soon as they should be free from the dominion of Spain. A federal territory was, acquired where the government was to be established, in imitation of the United States; the town of Valencia was ceded to the confederacy, and the congress opened its first session there under the new constitution, in March, 1812.

The territory comprising the present republic of Colombia, consisted, whilst under Spain, it will be remembered, of two distinct governments; Venezuela and New Granada, each com