A Statistical, Commercial, and Political Description of Venezuela, Trinidad, Margarita and Tobago ... From the French of M. Lavaysse: with an introduction and explanatory notes, by the editor

Introduction

AND EXPLANATORY NOTES, By THE EDITOR." Hie patet ingeniis campus : certusque merenti Stat favor : ornatur propriis industria donis ! — Claudian. " I leave to your sovereign authority the reform or repeal of all my ordinances, statutes, and decrees; b_t I implore you to confirm the com plete EMANCIPATION OF THE SLAVES, AS I WOULD BEG MY LIFE, OR THB SALVATION OF THE REPUBLIC!!!" Installation Speech of General Rolivar, Fe*. 15th, 1819. LONDON PRINTED FOR G. and W. B. WHITTAKER, 13, AVE-MARIA LANE. 1820. W. Sh«ckell, Printer, Johnson's-court, Fleet-street, London. TO MAJOR GENERAL D'EVEREUX, <J-c. 6fc My dear General, Had a personal visit to the wonderful regions of which the following pages treat, put it in my power to submit to the public the result of my inquiries, in an original work, the friendly regard with which you honour me, might, perhaps, dispose you to receive my humble efforts as an author with a more partial but less merited indul gence ; I feel persuaded, however, that in requesting your permission to inscribe the first English edition of M. Lavaysse's per formance with your name, I shall not only contribute, in a far greater degree, to the introduction among our countrymen of a just notion respecting the moral and nolirir»» VI DEDICATION. condition of Venezuela, but also lend a still more effectual aid to the great cause, to which you have so generously dedicated your splen did talents, and the whole of a considerable fortune.

It having been my object in the few re marks which are prefixed to the translation, to demonstrate, with what a capricious de viation from the true principles of a sound policv, and how little consonant with the characteristic liberality and well known feel ings of the British nation, is the suspicious neutrality to which ministers profess their determination to adhere, whilst the contest between the brave, but much enduring peo ple of Spanish America, and their imbecile though remorseless oppressors continues un decided ; I will not presume to detain you here with any, on a subject of such various and complicated bearings, but beg leave to tender you the tribute of my sincere and fervent admiration at your glorious reso lution to unite your political destiny to that of a Bolivar, who, in sacrificing a large patrimony on the altar of his country's freedom, and in spontaneously liberating fifteen DEDICATION.

VII hundred slaves on his own extensive estates, has held out a sublime example to the Patriots of every country, and transcended the illustrious Washington, not less in genuine philanthropy, than in disinterested patriotism ! In full confidence that the gallant and well appointed band which has recently left our shores, will, under your skilful auspices, insure to the standard ofthe Independents an increase to that long series of brilliant victories which has already crowned their arms ; and with every heartfelt wish that, in witnessing the early accomplishment of the benevolent designs of a gracious Providence in favour of the new world, you may reap the appropriate reward of your noble enthu siasm and magnanimous self-devotion, I have the honour to be Your very affectionate friend, And ever devoted servant, THE EDITOR. London, November 15th, 1819.

INTRODUCTION.

BY THE EDITOR. Amongst those who have described that portion of Spanish South America, which has recently become the theatre of such agitating and important scenes, few had better opportunities of prosecut ing inquiries connected with the political economy and commercial resources of Venezuela and the islands in its vicinity, than M. Lavaysse, who resided fifteen years in the West Indies, and was latterly a landed proprietor at Trinidad, whence he paid frequent visits to the opposite continent. A desire of rendering the work more accept able to his English readers, has induced the Edi tor to make some trifling change in the original arrangement, and also to omit those passages which were either irrelevant to the main object, or only calculated to swell out the volume to an unnecessary size.

Of these omissions, the author's account of the unfortunate transactions which occurred at Trinidad, from the period of its cap ture in 1797, until the removal of Sir Thomas Picton, is the only one worthy of being noticed in this place ; and of them it is scarcely requisite to say, that having been discussed to satiety in

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. X the united kingdom, it could have answered no useful purpose, to encumber the present edition with a recurrence to those painful and shocking details. In deploring events that will, it is sin cerely to be hoped, never disturb the peace or retard the prosperity of that valuable colony again, the Editor cannot well be charged with a disposition to suppress the author's statement on the subject ; as, according to an assertion of M. Lavaysse, they have been treated at much greater length, and with more pointed severity in the Annual Register, European Magazine, and daily journals of 1803, and the following year, than by himself. With respect to the persecution of which he occasionally complains, it is need less to remind the author, that the tribunals of this country were as open to him as they have been to others ; although in making the above remark, the present writer is fully aware of the extreme difficulty generally attendant on bringing such trials to a satisfactory issue, even under the most favourable circumstances.

A strong bias of national jealousy, aggravated by a sense of injuries, whether real or imaginary, has evidently stimulated our traveller's pen in some parts of his book, and hence it was no easy portion of the editorial task to qualify the author's expressions, by divesting them of that acrimonious turn, which is never essential to the support of truth. Anxiously intent upon elucidating his subject, the Editor trusts, that the manner in which he has

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. XI acquitted himself in this respect, will equally ex empt him from the charge of partiality or prejudice. Having thus briefly alluded to M. Lavaysse, and to his own views in undertaking the transla tion, the Editor feels that he would but imper fectly discharge the most important part of the obligations which he has imposed on himself, were he to suffer this occasion to pass without adverting to the momentous question of South American independence. True it is, he cannot dare to hope that any remarks he is capable of making, will give the faintest impulse to the grand efforts which are now accelerating the final emancipation of that immense continent from the tyranny of those, whom the blind and fatal policy of Europe still permits to prolong its desolation and wretch edness. Without going back to inquire how so large a portion of the new world could have remained subject to the galling yoke, and infuriate bigotry of Spain, during a period of three centuries, it will be sufficient for our present purpose to ob serve, that, no sooner had the sanguinary wars, and consequent calamities which visited Europe from the commencement of the revolution, pointed out the necessity of liberating the Spa nish colonies from the system of oppression and exclusion established by the mother country, than the ministers of Great Britain, with Mr. Pitt at their head, were the first to proclaim to the peo-

INTRODUCTION.

. pie of Venezuela, that the time had at length arrived for asserting those rights of which they were so cruelly deprived ; and moreover, that his majesty was prepared to afford them every assistance in shaking off the chains of tyranny ! As the solemn pledge then given, is still in force, for it was of a nature not to be superseded by any subsequent engagements, and calls more loudly than ever for fulfilment on our part; the Editor cannot do better than present it to his readers in the follow ing extract of a despatch from Mr. Dundas, the Secretary of State, addressed to Sir Thomas Picton, Governor of Trinidad, by whom it was most industriously circulated throughout Vene zuela and New Grenada. M \V_th REGARD TO THE HOPES YOU ENTERTAIN OF RAISING THE SPIRITS OF THOSE PERSONS WITH WHOM YOU ARE IN COR RHSPONDENCE, TOWARDS ANIMATING THE INHABITANTS TO RESIST THE OPPRES SIVE AUTHORITY OF THEIR GOVERNMENT, I have little more to say, than that they may be certain, that whenever they are in that disposition, they may receive at your hands all the succours to be expected from His Britannic Majesty ; be it with forces, or with arms and ammunition to any extent : with the assurance that the views of His Bri tanic Majesty go no further than to secure to them their without pretending to any sovereignty over their country, nor even to interfere in the privileges of the

INTRODUCTION.

. XIII people, nor in their political, civil, Or religious rights." — Had the just and beneficent design thus generously evinced been steadily followed up, it is more than probable that many of those embarrass ments which now weigh so heavily on the com mercial interests of the country would never have been created, while numerous and important ad vantages must have accrued from a maintenance of good faith with those whom we had so positively promised to support. Although the Editor is willing to draw a veil over the circumstances connected with the sad story of Miranda and his companions in arms, history will not be silent on the fate of that brave but unfortunate general. Suppressing those feel ings of regret or indignation to which a reference to such events irresistibly give rise, he trusts though late, a recollection of them may stimulate the friends and followers of Mr. Pitt, to adopt measures of atonement, while they are yet in office, and before the required succours proceed from others who are much less deeply interested in the existing struggle than ourselves.

Notwithstanding the disastrous result of our first feeble efforts in favour of the patriot cause in Venezuela, they were still anxious to avail themselves of British protection, and no greater * For the whole of this memorable document, which was signed Thomas Picton, and dated Port Spain, June 26th, 1797, see the official papers at the end of the volume.

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. XIV proof of this desire can be adduced, than the famous letter addressed to our venerable sovereign by the junta of Caraccas on the 1st of June, 1810, in which amongst other passages, those un acquainted with the secret springs and tortuous policy of modern statesmen, would naturally suppose that the following might have produced some effect. " Great Britain by her maritime power, by her political influence, and by the philanthropic views which direct her, is the nation that appears called upon to complete the grand work of confederating the scattered sections of America, and to cause order, concord and rational liberty, to reign therein ; and we may venture to say, that nothing would be more worthy of Great Britain, more worthy of the wise government, as wellas congenial to the character and personal virtues of your majesty ; and that amongst the many transcendent traits which already adorn the history of your memorable reign, none would render this era more brilliant to the eyes of pos terity, than the one to which we here allude."

To the above eloquent appeal, no answer what ever was returned ! We had already, in defiance of every previous engagement, coalesced with the selfish regency of Cadiz, and guaranteed the colonies to Spain. It is needless minutely to reca pitulate the results ; but how can the impartial observer who reflects on subsequent events, refrain from deploring that any circumstances, how ever urgent, could have induced us to abandon

INTRODUCTION.

. XV those ill-fated provinces. While, however, a war of extermination, scarcely equalled in the annals of mankind, and in which several hundred thousand human lives have been already sacrificed, has desolated them, we are gleaning the reward of our fatal policy, in the loss of innumerable advan tages on the one hand, and the basest ingratitude on the other, from a prince who has done more to render the kingly power odious and unpopular in Europe than two thirds of his imperial and royal contemporaries ! Without being insensible to the extreme deli cacy of our present situation, not only as it regards the cabinet of Madrid but that of Washington, a predicament which is most assuredly not the offspring of wisdom, or sound policy, it would be the height of folly to imagine that the indecisive and temporizing plans now pursued, can lead to any thing but still greater embarrassment.

The most superficial reasoner amongst us, will not maintain the probability of Venezuela or New Grenada ever returning to the Spanish yoke ; and yet, the project of occupying Cuba, is confidently said to be the secret cause of ministers adhering to the above ruinous system. Although he is far from presuming to be sufficiently versed in the arcana of diplomacy to offer a positive opinion on a subject necessarily so complicated, the Editor is by no means singular in his opinion, that govern ment will encounter more obstacles to the accom plishment of such a plan, if it really is contemplated

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. XVI than they anticipate ; whereas, should it ever be realized, we may be involved in an unprofitable contest, that will most probably terminate in disappointment, ultimately placing us in the awkward dilemma of adding not only Venezuela but New Grenada, and Mexico, to the number of our enemies! The necessity and importance of promoting a federal union between the provinces south of Panama and Mexico, is strenuously advocated by the most enlightened politicians of Venezuela and their friends in New Grenada, while the undeviating policy of the North American go vernment renders it self-evident. The whole sub ject of our interests in this part of the new world, is, in fact, pregnant with such vital con sequences to our colonial power and commercial interests, that nothing less than the cruellest fata lity, can prevent ministers from taking it into immediate consideration, and adopting those measures in favour of our real friends and natu ral allies, which every view of the question seems so imperiously to demand.* * Some days after the above cursory thoughts were committed to paper, the editor met the following curious passage (not a little corroborative of his opinions) in the communication of a Spaniard to the editor ofthe Espanol Constitucional, for May: it is dated Nov. 29th, 1818, from the capital of Mexico.

In addition to various strictures on the policy of Ferdinand, and an able ex position of the ambitious views of North America, he concludes by observing — " From my long experience and the knowledge I have of the plans projected in that country, (the United States)

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. XVII But though ministers should persevere in the present system, which they have so many mo tives for abandoning; surely there is nothing to prevent the British merchants, a body so often foremost in acts of liberality, from attending to the appeal made to their humanity on one side, and the prospect of immense advantages held out on the other ? Unhappily the policy of the cabinet and interests of the merchant are but too frequently separated, nor were they ever more at variance than in this instance. Will it, however, be denied that many capitalists of this country, are in I shall not be surprised, if four years pass over our heads with out seeing America dominate in Mexico, as she does in the Floridas. With respect to the other provinces which have risen, even if they are consolidated into small republics, the United States will exercise a terrible preponderance over them.

God grant that my political prophecy may not be fulfilled ; but I can not help thinking, ifyou have reflected a little on this grave mat ter, as I do not doubt you have, that you will agree with my opinion, except as to the period of time given, which is an ac cidental circumstance in the great problem." A little farther on he says, " After a forty years residence in America, I had hoped to have descended into the tomb, with the consolation of having left my children, the noble title of Spanish Citizens guaranteed by a constitution framed under the auspices of deputies from both worlds ; but, alas ! my aged and sorrowful eyes will yet see the great vice-royalty made a prize of, or what is still more degrading, sold like the Floridas to this proud republic, which exceeds that of Rome in ambition."

The reader is earnestly requested to compare the above with Com modore Perry's recent mission to Angostura, not to mention various other indications of a decided change in the policy ofthe Union^ I)

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. the daily habit of employing money less advan tageously, and with an infinitely smaller chance of a profitable return, than if appropriated to securing the independence of unexceptionably one of the most fertile and productive regions on earth ? Well might the Abbe de Pradt, to whom public gratitude is pre-eminently due for his meritorious efforts on the subject of South Ame rica during the last twenty years, exclaim ; " Let us not dispute the fact, but candidly con fess that, as yet, America is only discovered in name, and geographically. The treasures it contains are still buried riches, which its freedom alone can discover to the old world : when we yield to the contemplation of those blessings which the independence of this immense conti nent will overwhelm the universe ; the imagina tion is sterile to conceive, and language too weak for their description !"* When the present prosperous state of the Su preme Chiefs affairs, are compared with his heroic constancy during a period of ten years • The following account of the progressive advance in the revenue and produce of New Spain is not a little calculated to favour the above ingenious writer's flattering anticipations.

Total amount in 1712 - 1 6,000,000 francs. Do. in 1802 - - 100,000,000 Augmentation in ninety years 84,000,000 Crop of cocoa in 1735 65,000 quintals of 150 lbs. each. Do. do in 1763 110,650 do. During the interval between 1763 and 1783, the plains near Caraccas tripled the number of animals they had previously contained.

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. XIX incessant warfare, against the blood-thirsty Mo rillo, the Attila of South America, and his san« guinary satellites, the Editor is certainly justified in saying, that the independent governments of Venezuela and New Grenada, are not inferior as securities for the payment of a few millions, to some of the best guarantees held out in the dilapidated financial condition of more than one European nation ; particularly, should any of those events anticipated by many political econo mists ever take place. If, on the other hand, a few liberal-minded men are disposed to risk any part of their capital, surely there is quite as much consolation in doing so for the rescue of a great continent from tyranny and oppression, as if it were sacrificed in any of those private speculations which are daily absorbing the wealth of individuals ?* * A very well written communication that has appeared in the daily papers, and dated from Trinidad, September 2d, contains the following passage, which the Editor is induced to submit to those who entertain any doubts on the subject to which it alludes.

" Of the personal characters of the individuals composing the government I entertain the highest opinion, and every day's ex perience and observation confirm its correctness. Every debt that has been contracted, I am confident, will be fully, completely and faithfully discharged ; and every delay which may have occurred hitherto, however much to be deplored, cannot in the slight est degree be attributed to want of either inclination or exertion, but to circumstances over which there was no human contioul. The best proof which I can give of my perfect reliance on the b XX

INTRODUCTION.

. Such is the actual state of things, both as to the stability ofthe government in Venezuela, and the progress of its army, that were a few men of property to combine and take the subject of ad vancing a loan into their consideration, the Editor feels convinced they would not have to wait many months for a return either in specie or produce, while a comparatively small sum would enable the Supreme Chief to decide the contest duringthe present or ensuing campaign at farthest. In suggesting the propriety of an association like the above, it is superfluous to remind his generous countrymen, that the self-satisfaction arising out of thus removing an immense portion of human honour and good faith of the Government of Venezuela, is, the fact, that I and my friends are continuing our advances; and I declare most solemnly, that had I the power I would go almost any lengths.

The debts owing by this country are com paratively a mere bagatelle, and which the possession of New Grenada, and a short repose, will easily liquidate. " The patriotic cause never wore so favourable an aspect as at present, and the complete emancipation of these beautiful coun tries may be speedily anticipated. "What an act of philanthropy, were the British Government to interfere, and put an end to this inhuman warfare ; for whatever the result of this or any other campaign may be, America is lost for ever to Spain ! This beautiful country may be rendered a desert, but never, never will it be brought to submit to the yoke of Ferdinand: the continuation of the conflict can produce nothing but a useless shedding of human blood. The interference of Great Britain would rivet the chains of amity and attachment which already exist, while from the situation and nature of the two countries no rivalry can ever arise betwixt them."

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. XXI misery, liberating a continent, and securing con siderable pecuniary advantages, would far exceed that which springs from the success of an ordinary speculation. Here it is but performing a common act of justice to observe, that the persevering exertions of General D'Evereux, have produced the most salutary effects, not only as they regard the patriot cause, but also in favour of our commerce. By directing the attention of mercantile men to a most profitable market, he has at the same time snatched many a brave veteran from the evils of poverty and wretchedness, which have weighed so heavily on our disbanded soldiers and seamen since the peace of 1814. By a most fortunate coincidence, the period at which these laudable exertions are making, combined with the generous manner in which the nobility and gentry of Ire land, not excepting its women of rank and for tune, have seconded the general's views, a con siderable portion of that odium which naturally resulted from a late most impolitic act, has been removed.

With respect to those delays which have somewhat retarded the plans of the Major General in favour of humanity and our commercial prosperity, they have originated in causes over which he had no controul, and cannot be so acutely felt on the part of his brave followers as by himself. Having understood that those busy meddlers, who are ever ready to mar the best interests of society, without hesitating to depreciate private character,

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. XXII are not idle on the present occasion, the Editor pledges himself, that the most satisfactory expla nations will be given on the whole of General D'Evereux's patriotic proceedings, which have a for different and infinitely more exalted aim than have those of too many of his contemporaries in the same sacred cause.* These remarks, intended to convince those who have already made any advances to the independent government, that they have nothing to apprehend in the future, and with the hope of ex citing others to complete the work of humanity, cannot close more appropriately than by quoting the passage in the Supreme Chief's celebrated speech during the recent installation of Congress at Angostura, in which, alluding to the foreign creditors of the republic, he observes, " Those friends of mankind are the guardian geniuses of America, and to them we owe a debt of eternal gratitude, as well as a religious fulfilment of the * Amongst other ornaments of their country, Messrs. Phillips and Finlay, two ofthe most eloquent men at the Irish bar, or per haps any other in Europe, have been particularly distinguished in this generous emulation to second the Major General's benevolent and laborious efforts.

But the Editor cannot omit this opportunity of declaring, that the oratory of Mr. Curran's able biographer is in his humble opinion, infinitely more brilliant and persuasive' when contending for the emancipation of our Catholic countrymen* and asserting the liberties of Ireland and South America ; than while giving countenance or support to the pious members of Bible Societies in the British Metropolis !

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. XXIII several obligations contracted with them. The national debt, legislators, is the deposit of the good faith, the honour and the gratitude of Vene zuela : respect it as the holy ark which encloses not only the rights of our benefactors, but the glory of our fidelity. Let us perish rather than fail, in any the smallest point, connected with the completion of those engagements, which have been the salvation of our country, and ofthe lives of her children !" In having thus endeavoured, however ineffec tually, to persuade the ministers of this country into an act of common justice, and at the same time convince the mercantile interest of a measure that would ere long prove eminently advanta geous to both, let it not be imagined that the Editor supposes the cause of South American freedom depends altogether on either. — The trium phant manner in which the Supreme Chief may now be said to have almost terminated his glorious labours, would render such a belief exceedingly irrational.

Although so tardy in coming forward many years after they were bound to support the sister continent, our commercial rivals in North America seem to have at length awakened to a sense of their interest in this great cause. Here, the Editor is anxious to record, that he attributes no part of their conduct during the struggle either to national generosity or public virtue ! on the contrary, every part of it appears to have been the offspring of a cold calculating trading policy on

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. XXIV the one hand, not unmixed with an ill concealed sentiment of envy and jealousy on the other. But while there does not appear to be any motive for the latter feeling, the cabinet of Washing ton has certainly every reason to be envious of a neighbouring state, in which Universal Liberty is proclaimed, while slavery is tolerated through out the incessantly vaunted republic of North America! If the Editor has dwelt on this subject some what longer than he intended, it arises from a conviction that the recitals of disappointed ad ventures, and representations of those who are ever ready to palliate the errors of men in power, have had the effect of prejudicing many of our capitalists on the subject of Venezuela. Leaving those publications which draw so lamentable a picture of the hardships experienced by two or three isolated individuals and their companions, hardships which the Editor ventures to assert have been felt by thousands and tens of thousands, during the late disastrous wars in which this country was engaged, to that oblivion which awaits them, he takes this opportunity of noticing a wri ter in the last number of a well known Review, and of shortly replying to his strictures on the cause of independence.

In these, amongst other equally liberal remarks it is asserted that, " South America is nothing but an arena in which a set of needy and adventurous prize fighters are contending each for his own individual advantage." Upon such INTRODUCTION, XXV an assertion, and indirect mode of defending government, the Editor has no hesitation in observing that, so far from exonerating ministers from the charge of betraying the patriots, it is a gross exaggeration of the crimes laid to our account by the independent party in that long persecuted region. But this is not the only in stance wherein the advocates of a bad cause, in stead of justifying their patrons, only tend to bring them into still greater contempt, and hasten the accomplishment of those events they vainly endeavour to retard. Does the writer thus no ticed, merely because the above periodical work is not only patronized by ministers, but partly conducted by members of the administration, require to be informed that, if his assertion with respect to South America were even true, every honest mind could most easily trace the cause to those statesmen who, after having invited the colonists to shake off the yoke, and solemnly pro mised every assistance, abandoned them to their fate ! ! !

In answer to the absurd proposition that the great mass of the inhabitants take little or no interest in the struggle, and which not only past experience, but these events daily announced most effectually controvert, the Editor begs to quote a passage from M. de Humboldt's Essay on New Spain, which accounts in a great measure for many of those difficulties that have impeded the termi nation of this terrible contest.

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. " Notwithstanding the tranquil character and extreme docility of the people in the Spanish colonies," says that intelligent traveller ; " in spite of their peculiar situation, dispersed over a vast extent of country, enjoying that species of individual liberty which always arises from great liveliness, political agitations would have been more frequent after the peace of Versailles, and above all since 1789, if the mutual hatred ofthe casts, and the fears with which the great number of blacks and Indians inspire the whites, had not arrested the progress of popular discontent. These motives have become still more powerful, sub sequent to the events that have taken place in St. Domingo ; and it cannot be for a moment doubted, that they have contributed more to preserve peace in the Spanish colonies, than mea sures of rigour or the formation of militias." — When to the foregoing causes we add the influence of the priesthood, and power of the inquisition ; the superstitious and unenlightened state of the people, not to mention the efforts those in power are ever ready to make for the preservation of their patronage, emoluments and places, the wonder will greatly diminish if it be not entirely removed.