Travels in various parts of Peru including a year's residence in Potosi

Front matter

TRAVELS IN PERU.

LONDON : PRINTED BY SAMUEL BENTLEY, Dorset Street, Fleet Street.

TRAVELS

Chapter I

Journey to Oruro. — The Devil and Saint Anthony. — Desolations of civil war. — " All for the best." — Hail-storm. — Ancient structures of the Indians. — Ruins of towns and villages. — Reflections on the conquest of Peru. — A nocturnal journey. — Misery. — Oruro. — Its former wealth. — Pleasing, interesting, and curious occurrence. Page 1

Chapter II

Departure from Oruro. — Perplexity. — Sudden flash of thought. — Welcome in the houses of the Clergy. — Chicha. Certain prejudices. — Scene in a dormitory. — Bloom of youth and decrepitude of age. — A splendid and imposing scene at sunrise. — Chimborazo not the highest of the Andes. . . . . .. 34

Chapter III

Immense space without a single tree. — An enigma. — Representation of a strange and wonderful scene. — Arrival in the city of La Paz — Hospitality of the Natives fairly put to the test. — Rather unusual and somewhat difficult experiment. — Don Manuel. — Dress of the peasant girls of La Paz. — Carne con cuero. — The Tordo. — Apology for ao-

VI CONTENTS.

cusations made against the good faith of South Americans. — Disagreeable feeling in shamming the agreeable. Page 59

Chapter IV

Preliminary Observations. — Insurrection of Tupac Amaro. — Extracts from a Journal kept by Don Sebastian de Segurola, Military Commandant of La Paz, during two sieges of that citv by the Peruvian Indians, in the years 1781 And 1782. ... 103

Chapter V

Continuation of the Journal of Don Sebastian de Segurola. . . . . .142

Chapter VI

Departure from La Paz. — Personal alarm and momentary despair. — Confidence and consolation. — ' The very best thing in the world' is, in some cases, ' the very worst.' — Kindness of manner frequently of more avail than a full purse. — Return to Potosi. — Downfall of the Association. — Cheerless society. — Extracts of letters. . 178

Chapter VII

Negotiation of a loan. — Irritability of temper rudely evinced. — Unquestionable security for money lent. — Native iron. — " Nature hath framed strange fellows in her time." — True spirit of independence. — Festival of el Nacimienia. — Friar Alonzo Ovalle — Proof of increase of revenue by a reduction of duties. — Meteorological observations. 212

Chapter VIII

Exertions of men in the cause of others, however zealous, condemned when unsuccessful. — Dissolution of the Potosi Mining Establishment. — A card of excuse. — Stagnant state of existence. — Unceasing change in the government of the South American States. — Fanciful picture of an idealist. — A regular life.— Domestic concerns. . 263

CONTENTS. Vll

Chapter IX

All's well that ends well. — Dead asleep. — Carnival merriment.— Costume of the Cholas. — An interesting display of science. — Consequence of taking out a passport. — Discovery of a conspiracy. — Thunder-storm. — Singular superstitions of the Indians. — A dinner party. Page 288

Chapter X

A last letter. — Bones of ancient giants of Tarija. — Horse grenadier- guards of Colombia. — A bold scheme boldly executed. — Military rencounter. — Province of Tarija. 318

Chapter XI

Adieu to Potosi. — Unexpected welcome at the village of Otavi. — Diamonds and pearls in abundance, but no bread. — Valley of Cinti. — Judge Advocate of the High Court of Judicature and his three daughters. — A wearisome journey. — Village of San Lorenzo. — Hospitable reception at Tarija. — Robert de Vere Earl of Oxford and the Conde de Toxo Marquis of Yavi. . . . 336

Chapter XII

An excursion to the Mission of Salinas. — A peep into a tent. — Reception at the village of San Luis. — A pasanga. — A secluded beauty. — Arrival at the Convent of Salinas. — Chiriguano Indians. — Province of Tarija, its climate and fertility. — Apology of an unsatisfactory writer. — An address, proclamation, and invitation. — Discovery of a skeleton. — Carnivorous elephant. . . 365

Chapter XIII

Departure from Tarija. — Serious catastrophe. — Guide loses his way in a snow-storm. — Bivouac on the desert of Yavi. — Good effect of example when in difficulty. — Strange term of insult to a horse. — Heartfelt farewell to an old and trusty friend. — Condor. • . 398

Vlll CONTENTS.

Chapter XIV

Wonderful valley.— Abundance of wild fowl.— Situation of the town of Jujui.— Receipt of cash. — Loss of cash. — Desertion. — Trait of integrity. — Unworthy consequence. — Don Carlos Paulo. — Reverse of fortune. — Happy meeting with an old friend. — Purchase of a birlocho. — Recognition of an old brother officer. — An estate in the neighbourhood of Jujui.— Strange request of a mother anddaughter. Page 419

Chapter XV

Departure from Jujui. — Terror of travelling in a coach. — Adieu la voiture ! adieu la boutique !— Unexpected return to Jujui. — An important " If."— Friends threaten a separation.— Estate of Monte Rico. — Cross the Rio Passage. Village of Conchas. — Meeting with a notorious character. — His ultimate fate. . . , 455

Chapter XVI

Treasure that formerly passed through Tucuman from the mines of Peru. — Extreme heat in Santiago del Estero. — Barbarous Indians.— A Cordovese beauty. — Recent discovery of silver mines in Cordova — A great man. — Arrival at Buenos Ayres. — Depression of the paper currency. — Embark in H. M. Packet Zephyr. — Touch at Rio Janeiro. — Arrival in England. . . . 480

ERRATA.

Page 13, sixth line from bottom, for " Auto da," read Autos de.

21, Note, for " Garcillaso," read Garcillaso luca.

82, sixteenth line, dele " of" after disprove.

85, ninth line from bottom, for " can-," read cannot. 123, seventeenth line, dele " them." 184, third line, for " hagame" read haganme. 189, seventeenth line, for *' the state," read our state. 254, seventeenth line, for " six," read eight. 273, Note, for " iiccessario o," read nccessario iiegar 3 281, ninth line from bottom, for " esa," read eso. 328, third line from bottom, for " mira," read mire.

330, eighteenth line, for *' esta," read csto. — for " permitese," read permitere.- 330, second line from bottom, for " quitar le," read quitane.

TRAVELS IN PERU.

Chapter I

Journey to Oruro. — The Devil and Saint Anthony. — Desolations of civil war. — " All for the best." — Hail-storm. — Ancient structures of the Indians. — Ruins of towns and villages. — Reflections on the conquest of Peru. — A nocturnal journey. — Misery. — Oruro. — Its former wealth. — Pleasing, interesting, and curious occurrence.

September 9th. By the arrival of a person froiri Oruro, I was informed that our agent in that town, to whom I had sent the late packet from the Directors, to be forwarded thence to General Paroissien, had been absent for some time, and that his return was uncertain. As it was of the utmost importance that no delay should attend the delivery of that packet to our chief

VOL. II. B

2 JOURNEY TO ORURO.

commissioner, I endeavoured to procure a propio (special messenger), but this being a stormy, inclement season of the year, I was unable to do so under the sum of 250 dollars, which in the existing state of our affairs I was unwilling, and indeed unable, to disburse. Independently of this circumstance, I held it to be a good maxim, never to do that by another which I could do myself. Moreover, I was determined that the Directors should not be deceived in their expectation, that every effort would be exerted in their cause. I therefore left Mr. Scriviner in charge of our concerns, and, mounting my sturdy Tortuga, accompanied by my servant on el Cura de Tucuman, and a peon upon Marquesas a good old mule, with alforjas containing bread and cheese, and chifles filled with aguardiente, I left Potosi in the afternoon, on the journey to Oruro, about two hundred miles distant, which in this country is thought as little of as a ride from Edmonton to Ware.

About a league and a half from Potosi is a very narrow pass, called the puerto ; the solid rocks rising abruptly on each side to the height of between two and three hundred feet, and in some places inclining so as nearly to touch at the top. The converters to Christianity have

THE DEVIL AND ST. ANTHONY. 8

induced the Indians to believe that this extraordinary fissure was occasioned by the Devil in a contest with Saint Anthony, who, of course, vanquished the former ; but the pleasantry of the tale is in accusing the " fallen angel" of a breach of decorum, startling to the Indians themselves even in their unpolished state of society. The arch-fiend, say the monks, vexed at finding himself outwitted by the saint, and, when retiring discomfited from his presence, slapped his hand indecorously behind, and gave vent to his rage with so much violence, as to rend the surrounding mountains and form the existing chasm ! To record this event, the image of the offended Anthony is placed in a niche in the rock on one side of the road, where none pass it without a becoming reverence, and doubtless a due feeling of indignation at the uncourteous insult, for which the downcast look of humility in the countenance of the saint plainly evinces his shame even to this day. Such are the legends of religionists, who at one time held the sway over these people and over all the civilized world !

I had imagined that, in the distance I had already travelled in Peru, I must have seen every description and shape of rock and mountain in existence ; but, as I journeyed on, the new and

b 2

4 MOUNTAIN SCENERY.

extraordinary scenery that displayed itself at every turn reminded me that the variety of Nature's marvellous works is endless, and the fund of her invention inexhaustible. On this day's journey, of ten leagues, to the romantically situated Indian village of Yocalla, I saw rocks and mountains of more curious appearance and of more fantastic form than any I had yet observed. Upon the sides of some of the mountains were the remains of wralls, built in regular stages round them from their base to their summits, forming terraces on which, or between which, the Indians in days of yore cultivated their crops ; but where these signs of former population and industry are to be seen, all is now desolate, and no human habitation exists in their neighbourhood.

10th. On the plains and in the valleys I saw immense flocks of llamas with their young : these animals, as you pass near them, face towards you, raise their stately necks, point their ears, and examine you with their fine large eyes in a most inquisitive manner ; but if you approach them they retreat, the sudden movement of one setting the whole flock in motion, as is usual with sheep. I also saw vicunas and »ua?iacos, (a variety of the llama, approaching

VILLAGE OF LAGUNILLAS. 5

to the deer,) in greater numbers than heretofore ; the wild shrill bleat or neighing of these handsome animals, when they perceive a stranger, has a peculiarly striking effect in these vast regions of solitude and silence. During the whole of this day's journey, which, from the time it occupied, could not be less than forty-five miles, I did not meet with a single human being, but occasionally I saw to the right and left of my road many deserted dwellings of Indians. The ride was extremely wearisome, owing to the continual ascent and descent of rugged mountains, and where I stopped for the night, which set in very cold, I considered myself fortunate in finding a cover from the weather in the hut of a family of Indians, who had recently returned to their ruined village, and were now actually its only inhabitants.

Lagunillas, situated in a valley under rocky mountains of colossal magnitude, was lately a village of sufficient consideration to possess a church. But neither church nor cottage is spared in the undiscriminating ravages of civil war. Here every thing was utterly destroyed, every house unroofed and pulled down by troops in their passage, either from a diabolical pleasure in mischief, or for the convenience of

6 MISERIES OF CIVIL WAR.

fuel, into which all the combustible materials had been converted. In civil war, it must be observed, a country suffers nearly as much from friends as foes. Fire and sword, it is true, do not accompany the acts of the former, but still many injuries are inflicted by the troops even of the best disciplined armies ; besides this, provisions, necessaries, and contributions, are sometimes levied upon the inhabitants in as unsparing, and often in as summary, a manner by friends as by enemies.

The following I insert, not on account of its historical accuracy, to which the author owes little of his fame ; but on account of its whimsicality, for which, indeed, he was at all times distinguished. In his facetious remarks upon " optimisme," Voltaire mentions, that according to calculation, 555,650,000 men have been slain in battle from the Trojan war to that of Acadia.* But here are his own words in his own style, which it would be barbarous to mangle by

* Perhaps every body in the world is not aware that Nova Scotia was first called Acadia (L'Acadie) by the French* and afterwards received its present name from our James the First. It was long a bone of contention between France and England, and was not secured to the latter till the peace of Utrecht.

VOL.TAIKE. 7

translation. It must be remembered that " le vieux philosophe" is ridiculing the doctrine of " All for the best." — // est bien vral que les hommes se pillent et s'igorgent, mais c'est toujours en faisant Veloge de Cequite et de la douceur. On masmcra autrefois une douzaine de millions d'Americains, mais cetait pour rendre les autres raisonnables. Un calculateur a verijie que depuis la guerre de Troye, jusqua celle de fAcadie, on a tue au moins en batailles ra?igees, cinq-cent-cinquante-cinq millions, six-cent-cinquante mille kommes, sans compter les petits enfans et les femmes ecrasees dans des villes en cendres ; mais, cest pour le bien public : vous voyez que tout cela va le mieux du monde !*

It may be unnecessary to remark, that " good entertainment for man and horse " was not to be had at Lagunillas ; though, to my very agreeable surprise, an Indian procured some barley-straw for my animals, a luxury not always to be obtained for them among the mountains of Peru. I know not how some English amateurs would like to perform forty or fifty miles a day, with their own horses, upon such provender ; and yet, indifferent as it is, it

* Les Pensees de Voltaire.

8 HAIL-STORM.

occasions to us here a feeling of true delight when we find that it can be had where we stop to rest.

For the sake of celerity on my journey, I had not encumbered myself with bed or bedding : I therefore spread my saddle-cloths a la G audio upon the floor of the hut, on which the family, consisting of two or three generations, had no little difficulty in finding space when stowing themselves in bulk for the night.

11th. In consequence of feeling it extremely cold, I disturbed my peon earlier than he wished, and on mounting my horse, found the country covered with snow, which had fallen heavily during the night. I procured a guide, who, for three-pence per league, the established rate, trotted before the horses, and performed a post of thirteen or fourteen miles with great ease under three hours. After baiting, I continued my journey, the road being considerably better than usual, from its lying through a valley, which, according to Helms, extends with little variation above six hundred miles to Cusco. The day. besides being piercingly cold, was dismally unpleasant, and ended in a violent hail-storm, which overtook me when about ten miles from the post of Ancacato. The thunder was tremendous, and, in reverberating from the

ANCIENT STRUCTURES. 9

mountains, the effects were such as to frighten even the native condor from his aerial abode ; for several of those gigantic birds descended into the valley, as if cowering from the storm, and, in their impetuous sweep along the surface of the earth, approached much nearer to us than is usual to their naturally wary disposition.

I observed for the first time flocks of alpacos, another species of the llama, but somewhat smaller, and with longer and infinitely finer wool ; they are of various colours, but chiefly jet black.

I arrived at the post-hut of Ancacato just as night came on, bringing with it increase of hail, snow, and storm. Here I procured good barley-straw for my animals, which reconciled me to finding; nothing for mvself.

12th. I was on horseback long before daylight, and rode ten leagues before breakfast. The morning was bitterlv cold, the road not very bad, but intersected by several streams.

On an immense plain, bounded on my left by the Cordilleras, I passed a row of ancient, mud-built structures, which at a distance had the appearance of Martello towers. They are said to have been the sepulchres of Indian chiefs before the conquest : the walls of some of them

10 RUINS OF VILLAGES.

were nearly perfect, which may convey an idea of the durability of the adobes, a sun-dried compost of mud and strong grass, with which they are constructed, having stood for centuries without any symptom of decay from the injuries of time or weather. The only aperture in the walls is a very small door-way, made low, in order, it is recorded, that the abode might never be entered but in the posture of humility or veneration. Rings and sundry other articles of gold, also pottery of very curious and ingenious workmanship, have frequently been discovered buried within these structures.

In the course of this day's journey were to be seen, in well-chosen spots, many Indian villages and detached dwellings, for the most part in ruins. Up even to the very tops of the mountains, that line the valleys through which I have passed, I observed many ancient ruins, attesting a former population where now all is desolate. Remains of a similar kind are to be seen in Spain, in proof of a vast and industrious population in the time of the Moors, when that fine country rivalled in prosperity the most flourishing in Europe.

In flying before the patriots of South America, the royal armies consumed by fire what-

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DESOLATION OF THE COUNTRY. 1]

ever they could not destroy by the sword. The unoffending inhabitants who escaped deatli fled from their villages to distant parts of the country, and did not again return ; leaving their dismantled abodes to record the downfall of the dominion of Spain, as their ancestors had been compelled to do, on occasion of their conquest, under similar calamities, three centuries before. The Spaniards have taken their leave of Peru, in repeating that tragedy of desolation which, as historians, tradition, and remains, assure us, was every where performed on their taking possession of it. Unrelenting slaughter and indiscriminate destruction marked the progress of Spanish conquest, and the ruins of towns and villages in the present day are mournful evidence that similar acts have signalized their defeat.

The traveller, as he journeys along, may imagine, in combining the past with the present, that he is pursuing the track of an Attila, a Zingis, or a Tamerlane, who have been represented, like the deluge, the tornado, and the hurricane, to have involved every thing in one sweeping ruin. " Before them, the land was as the garden of Eden ; behind them, as the desolate wilderness.'"

It would be an endless task to record the va-

12 CONQUEST OF PERU.

rious relations I have heard from these people on the subject of their disasters at different periods of the war of independence. Often, after a day's journey, have I joined the circle round a fire, in the middle of some remaining apartment of a ruined dwelling, and there, seated upon the skull of an ox, listened with infinite interest to the descriptions of scenes of woe which the parties present had witnessed or suffered in. So naturally do they relate their plain unvarnished tale, as to excite in the listener a sympathy deeply partaking of the secret pleasure which they themselves evidently feel in recording the evils they have endured : so true it is, that a secret pleasure does attend the reflection upon days of sorrow that are past.

With respect to the histories of the early period of this country, the traveller meets with many circumstances to induce him to forego the doubts, which he naturally feels disposed to entertain upon those revolting accounts of rapine and cruelty given by every writer, of whatever country he may have been, on the subject of the conquest of the New World. It is difficult to suppose, and repugnant to the feelings of humanity to believe, that the subjection of the empires of Mexico and Peru was achieved by the sacrifice of thirty millions of

COUNCIL OF BLOOD. 13

the natives ! But our incredulity is overcome, when we reflect on the numberless instances of persecution, atrocity, and bloodshed, perpetrated in that same age by the authorities of Spain in her dominions at home, surrounded by Christian kings, princes, and potentates ; — when we consider the number of victims that were sacrificed in Spain alone to the iniquitous decrees of that tribunal, termed the " Council of Blood," which exceeded in cruelty the most barbarous institutions of the most savage tyrants in the heathen world, and the acts of which would be incredible, if the many circumstances recorded by contemporary historians, and supported by subsequent Spanish writers, did not place them beyond all doubt. It is from them we learn that more than five millions of inhabitants, including the expelled Jews and Moors, were swept from the soil of Spain during the terrible ministry of the " Holy Office." In the reigns of Charles V. and his son Philip II. five thousand three hundred and ten persons were burned alive in Auto clafe, and those condemned to the galleys and to prison within the same period, exceeded twenty -five thousand. These were the number condemned in the Peninsula alone, but, as the historian remarks, if we add those of other countries sub-

14 DUKE OF ALVA.

ject to the Inquisition of Spain, such as Sicily, Sardinia, Flanders, America, and the Indies, we must feel absolutely horror-struck at the number of victims.*

But, being more to our immediate purpose to show the conduct of the generals and armies of Spain in her distant possessions, in that same age of which we are speaking, let us turn our view to the Netherlands under the government of the atrocious duke of Alva, and we shall there behold one continued scene of confiscation, imprisonment and death ; we shall find, that within the space of a few months, upwards of eighteen hundred persons, without distinction of age, sex, or condition, suffered by the hand of the executioner alone : yet the duke of Alva's thirst of blood was not satiated. His soldiers, like so many wolves, were let loose among the people, who saw that nothing less would satisfy their governor than their utter ruin ; and, under this consideration, some historians relate, that no less than a hundred thousand houses were forsaken by the inhabitants. It is however certain, that several of the principalities were sensibly thinner,

' See Historia de la Inquisition d'Espana, by Don Juan Antonio Llorente, considered as a fair and impartial docunient.

EXTERMINATION OF THE NATIVES. 15

and some whole villages and smaller towns were rendered almost desolate .*

These circumstances too strongly corroborate the deeds which have fixed an everlasting stain on the conquerors of Peru, and lead the mind to picture to itself, what may have been the sanguinary excesses of a licentious and undisciplined army, pursuing to destruction a vanquished and defenceless people, who had no power to appeal to for assistance, no neighbouring state to flee to for protection, none to reproach their persecutors with their iniquities, nay, to whom even a tear of pity, that poor comfort of calamity, was obdurately denied. Whole tribes, districts, towns, and cities, were destroyed ; pillage and murder lost all their horrors in their frequency, and every feeling of mercy was blunted in the multitude of victims ; extermination was the cry, and under the relentless mandate millions perished. Some say, twenty-seven millions of the inhabitants of Peru have ultimately fallen by violence under the cruelty and oppression of Spain.j- Even the spiritual conquests were commenced, and for a

* See Watson's Hist. Philip II. Vol. i. B. VIII. and X.

f It has been already mentioned that by the mita conscription alone, upwards of eight millions of the natives have perished in the mines.

16 RELIGIOUS PERSECUTIONS.

length of time continued by the aid of bayonets, and boasted of, observes Humboldt, as being useful to the advancement of religion, and to the aggrandizement of the missions from Europe. " The voice of the Gospel is not listened to," said a Jesuit, " except where the Indians have heard the thunder of fire-arms ; persuasion is too slow in its operation ; by chastening the natives you facilitate their conversion." Is not this in strict truth —

" Hell's work performing in the name of God 1"

And is it not a lamentable reflection, that of all the persecutions, all the causes of contention among mankind, there is not one which has excited so much uncharitableness, animosity, and cruelty, as religion ! In the strifes that have had religion for their basis, mercy and conciliation seem to have been looked upon as blemishes on the character of piety, and considered by each party as evidence of lukewarmness and indifference in their own great cause of truth ! With them, it may indeed be exclaimed, vengeance has been deemed a virtue, clemency a crime ! But it is consoling now to know that the reign of fanaticism has passed, that the sacred figure of the cross can no longer be the banner under which men may triumphantly assemble to persecute their fellows

CONQUEST OF AMERICA. 17

and sprinkle the world with blood, nor can such acts now be boasted of as being the truest and most acceptable mode of promoting the doctrine of a merciful Redeemer.

Spaniards of the present day maintain, in the face of history, that the accusations against their country on the subject of her conquest and government of America are unfounded, and that foreigners descant upon them in a spirit of rancour — both, I believe, untenable positions. But, when allegations of an injurious tendency are made against nations, they ought, as in the case of individuals, to be well supported, and probably the most unquestionable mode of doing so is to bring forward the authority of those, who, as friends or countrymen of the accused, are presumed to be less prejudiced against them, and consequently less disposed to magnify statements in which their own character and honour may be fairly said to be involved. This induces me to mention, on the moment, the name of a Spaniard of noble birth, and a distinguished soldier — Don Alonzo de Ercilla y Zuniga, who was present at the scenes he paints ; and though he writes in poetry, he expressly observes " in prose," that its strict conformity to truth is the chief merit of his work, " The Araucana." Jn that work is the follow-

VOL. II. c

18 AKAUCANA.

ing stanza, on the conduct of his countrymen towards the native Americans, which, by those who have investigated the subject, will be admitted to correspond with the statements of historians, and to exhibit in eight lines what they dilate upon in volumes.

" The seas of blood in these new countries spilt, If that my judgment be in aught of worth, Have hopes o'erthrown on conquest that were built, Drowning the harvests of this golden earth. For Spanish inhumanity and guilt, Transgressing all the laws of war, gave birth To such atrocities as ne'er before Deluged a conquered land with native gore."*

In the Spanish edition of General Miller's Memoirs, lately published, there is a preface written by a distinguished Spanish officer, whose political conduct and liberal principles have caused his exile from his native land and compel him, as well as many others of his countrymen, to reside in England, where happily his

* The reader who, like myself, knows but little of Spanish literature, will probably not take it amiss if I inform him, that " The Araucana" is a celebrated Spanish Epic poem, on the subject of a long and sanguinary contest in the reign of Philip II. between the Spaniards and a warlike race of Indians called Aiaucanians, who never were subdued to the Spanish yoke, and who still possess the unconquered province of Arauco, in South America. The stanza as above translated, together with an able critique on Ercilla's poem, may be seen in the Foreign Quart. Rev. Aug. 1829.

DEFENCE OF THE SPANIARDS. 19

meritorious services during the Peninsular war are well known, and have ensured him the friendship and esteem which he deserves.

This gallant officer, with feelings as honourable as they are natural to the mind of man, has undertaken in his preface, to defend the cause of his country from those grievous charges which are recorded against her on the subject of the conquest and government of America. But there are few persons, I imagine, who will be induced by his arguments to concur in a verdict in his favour. The writer asks — " Would not those who advance these revolting accusations against Spain be better employed in censuring the numerous acts of injustice committed by their own governments upon their present colonial possessions ?" And suppose they did? would that circumstance tend to palliate or diminish the aggressions which America has suffered? Again, he asks — " Did the colonies established by the republics of antiquity, or the nations they conquered, enjoy greater liberty ? Do the colonies, from the Indies to Canada, now under the European yoke, enjoy greater happiness?" I leave it to the reader to frame his answer to the foregoing queries, from the evidence of history and other uncontradicted testimony, and pro-