Narrative of the expedition which sailed from England in 1817, to join the South American patriots; comprising every particular connected with its formation, history, and fate; with observations and authentic information elucidating the real character of the contest, mode of warfare, state of the armies, &c

LIBRARY

OF THK

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.

Class

~\

NARRATIVE

OF THB

EXPEDITION

WHICH

SAILED FROM ENGLAND IN 1817,

TO JOIN THE

SOUTH AMERICAN PATRIOTS;

COMPRISING

fcVERY PARTICULAR CONNECTED WITH ITS FORMATION, HISTORY,
AND FATE; WITH OBSERVATIONS AND AUTHENTIC INFORMATION
ELUCIDATING THE REAL CHARACTER OF THE CONTEST,
MODE OF WARFARE, STATE OF THE ARMIES, SfC*

BY JAMES HACKETT,

first Lieutenant of the late Venezuela Artillery Brigade.

OF THE %\

UNIVERSITY )

OE /

LONDON:
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE-STREET.

1818.

35

Printed by W. CLOWES, Northumberland-court, Strand, London.

INTRODUCTION.

IN submitting the following Narrative to
the public attention, I should feel myself
liable to the charge of presumption, were
not the occurrences to which it refers im
mediately connected with an enterprise
deeply involving the welfare and safety of
a large number of my countrymen.

Already enthusiasm, seductive promises,
or disappointed hopes, have induced a
considerable number to embark for the
purpose of attaching their fortunes to that
of the South American Independents ; and
of those a great proportion have either ac
tually perished, or, unable to procure the

169770

11 INTRODUCTION.

means of returning to their native land, are
probably at this moment wandering friend
less and destitute amongst the West India
Islands, dependent upon the bounty of the
humane and charitable. A few, indeed,
not equally devoid of resources, or to whom
sympathy for their sufferings induced some
kind-hearted seaman to afford a gratuitous
passage,, have returned to Europe, — warn
ing examples to those who may at this mo
ment be preparing, under a similar delu
sion, to engage in the same hopeless specu
lation.

Of the few thus rescued from impend
ing misery,, it was, my good fortune to be,
one; andjl now submit the following Nar
rative to the public,, itt ;the. sincere hope,
that a knowledge of thq circumstances itre-
cords, and the hopes and; anxiety Land my
associates experienced, jnay preserve others
not only from similar! disappointments, but
even thehazard.of encountering sufferings

INTRODUCTION. Ill

and afflictions ten-fold greater and more
difficult to surmount.

Having thus explained my object in
publishing the following Journal, I will
proceed shortly to state the motives
which prompted me to embark for the
Spanish Main, as also the hopes excited,
and the positive promises made by the
Independent Agents and their partisans in
this country, for the purpose of enticing
British officers and others into the service
of the South American Patriots ; and I
trust this statement will not be considered
irrelevant, as, by comparing it with the en
suing Journal, the Public will be enabled
to judge how far these hopes have been
realized, and to what extent good faith has
been kept with those who, placing implicit
confidence in the honourable performance
of stipulated engagements, had consented
to unite their fortunes to that of the Inde
pendent cause.

IV INTRODUCTION.

It would be absurd to suppose that mo
tives of a nature purely disinterested in
duced individuals to engage in an enter
prise so hazardous and remote ; but al
though my principal reason for accepting a
commission in the service of the South Ame
rican Patriots, was a sanguine hope of pro
moting that worldly prosperity in a foreign
country, which my utmost exertions in my
own had failed to procure ; yet no consider
ation would have prevailed on me to adopt
that course, had I conceived it to be one in
which a gentleman, a man of honour, and
a British subject, could not with consistency
engage.

The termination of the late war, and
consequent reduction of the British army,
compelled me to resign the hopes I had
entertained of procuring a commission in
the military service of my own country ;
and the kind and earnest exertions of my
friends having failed to promote my inte-

INTRODUCTION. V

rests in any other capacity, I was led, in
the month of September, 1817, seriously to
turn my attention towards the contest in
South America, as presenting a fertile field
for honourable enterprise. At that time
the public feeling was warmly interested
in the dispute between the Spanish Ame
rican Provinces, and the mother country ;
and the enthusiasm was so general and
strong in favour of the Patriot cause, that,
exclusive of numerous individuals daily
crossing the Atlantic for the avowed pur
pose of joining their armies, several expe
rienced British officers were actively en
gaged in the formation of regiments for
the same service, who had received from
Don Mendez (the accredited Agent of the
Independents, in London) the rank of Co
lonel, and full authority to grant commis
sions to such gentlemen as they might con
sider qualified to hold the subordinate
ranks in their respective regiments; the

VI INTRODUCTION.

officers to whom J have alluded, acting
altogether under the authority, sanction,
and guarantee, of Don Mendez, and in
every respect governed by his directions.

£)n learning these particulars, and being
personally acquainted with several gentle
men who proposed engaging in the same
enterprise, I readily accepted the offer of
a friend to procure me an introduction to
Colonel Gilmore, who had been appointed
by Don Mendez to the command of an in
tended Artillery Brigade ; and my wishes
were speedily gratified by receiving from
the Colonel a nomination to a First- Lieute
nancy in his own corps, with his positive
assurance and engagement for the faithful
performance of the following conditions: —

1st. That on arriving in South America
I should retain the rank to which he had
thus appointed me.

2dly. That I should from thence re
ceive the full pay and allowances enjoyed

INTRODUCTION. Vll

by officers of similar rank in the British
service.

Sdly. That the expenses of outfit (with
the exception of the passage to the Spanish
Main) should be, in the first instance, borne
by myself; but,

4thly. That I should, immediately on
arriving in South America, receive the sum
of two hundred dollars, towards defraying
these expenses.

Such were the promises held out to me,
in common with the other officers, by
Colonel Gilmore, against whom, however,
I do not in the most remote degree insinu
ate the charge of delusion or deceit ; for
he and the other commanding officers had
received from Don Mendez, his guarantee
for the faithful performance of the stipu
lated conditions. It is upon the latter gen
tleman, therefore, exclusively, that the re
sponsibility must rest, of having excited
hopes which he must have known would

Vlll INTRODUCTION.

never be realized ; of having guaranteed
the performance of conditions, the fulfil
ment whereof he must have been aware
was impracticable ; and of having induced
those desirous of embarking in this destruc
tive enterprise, to believe that their services
would be joyfully and gratefully accepted
by the Independent Generals and their
Armies ; whilst he, at the same time, could
scarcely have been ignorant, that the
strongest hostility was manifested by the
Patriots to the admission of foreign assist
ance ; and that the jealousy of the native
troops of those few British officers who had
been tempted actually to join their armies
was so rancorous, as to subject them to the
perpetual hazard of assassination.

The preceding observations originate
in no hostility to the South American Pa
triots ; on the contrary, I am at this moment
animated with the same warm feelings in
their favour, and sincere good wishes for

» INTRODUCTION. IX

their success, which induced me to proceed
from this country for the purpose of sharing
their dangers and fortune; but it will be
obvious that the abstract justice of the
Independent cause, or probability, if not
certainty, of its ultimate triumph, are ut
terly distinct from the question ; — how far
it is judicious for British subjects to take
an active part in this sanguinary contest ?
My anxiety is to warn my countrymen of
the fallacy of those hopes they have been
led to entertain; to explain to them the
true character of the enterprise, the estima
tion in which their services will be held,
and the imminent hazard they must inevi
tably encounter from the jealousy of the
natives. Nor should I omit referring to
the exterminating and ferocious principle
on which the war is carried on ; each side
being so infuriated against the other by a
long train of barbarities and cold-blooded
slaughter, as to render it almost necessary

X INTRODUCTION.

for those who actually engage in the
struggle to divest their minds of every
feeling of humanity, and prepare them
selves to be not only witnesses of, but
participators in, acts of the most revolting
and indiscriminate brutality.

I will now conclude, referring for a con
firmation of the preceding statement, not
only to the occurrences narrated in the en
suing Narrative, but likewise to the united
testimony of those officers who were either
my associates in the expedition to which I
was particularly attached, or who, having
actually landed on the Spanish Main, have
had the good fortune to return in safety to
their native country.

PRELIMINARY

j _ ^.'f 0 P i !Uo(] -/-••••• j*>'»'x- : •• ^ *••» ir*

OBSER VA TIONS.

AS the occurrences detailed in the fol
lowing pages, relate not exclusively to that
particular corps to which I was personally
attached, but have likewise frequent refer
ence to various other brigades, raised in
England for the same remote service; an ac
count of their respective commanders,
strength, equipments, character of service,
$c., will not, I trust, be considered super
fluous, previous to entering upon the
Journal.

Five distinct corps embarked at nearly
the same period, for that part of the seat
of war in South America, occupied by the
Independent General Bolivar.

Xll PRELIMINARY

1st. A Brigade of Artillery under the
command of Colonel J. A. Gilmore, con
sisting of five light six-pounders, and one
five-and-half-inch howitzer, ten officers and
about eighty non-commissioned officers and
men. This corps embarked on board the
Britannia, a fine ship of about four hundred
tons burden, commanded by Captain
Sharpe, with a crew of twenty -one able and
well-conducted seamen. An immense quan
tity of every description of military stores
had been stowed on board this vessel, com
prising arms, ammunition, clothing, wag
gons, and, in fact, every requisite for ena
bling the brigade to enter upon active ser
vice immediately on arriving at its place of
destination.

The uniforms and equipments of the
officers were extremely rich, very similar
to those of the British Artillery, and pro
vided altogether at the expense of the indi
viduals who had accepted commissions in

OBSERVATIONS. Xlll

this ill-fated expedition. The equipments
of the other corps were likewise in every
respect extensive and complete, and the
uniforms remarkably rich and costly, more
especially in the regiment commanded by
Colonel Wilson, one of whose officers in
formed me that his outfit amounted to up
wards of two hundred guineas.

2d. A corps of hussars (called the First
Venezuelan Hussars) under the command
of Colonel Hippesley, consisting of about
thirty officers, and one hundred and sixty
non-commissioned vofficers and men ; uni
form dark-green faced with red. This
corps embarked on board the Emerald, a
beautiful ship of about five hundred tons,
commanded by Captain Weatherly, with
a crew of upwards of thirty men and
boys. iO;h:

3d. A regiment of cavalry (called the Red
Hussars) under the command of Colonel
Wilson, consisting of about twenty officers,

PREEIMIKARY

and one hundred non-commissioned officers
and men. Uniform — full-dress, red and
gold; undress, blue and gold. This corps
proceeded in the Prince, a vessel of about
four hundred tons burden, commanded by
Captain Nightingale.

4th. A rifle corps (named the First Vene
zuelan Rifle Regiment) commanded by
Colonel Campbell, consisting of about
thirty-seven officers, and nearly two hun
dred non-commissioned officers and men.
Uniform similar to that of the Rifle
Brigade in the British service. This corps
embarked on board the Dowson, Captain
Dormor, a fine ship about the size of the
Britannia.

5th. A corps of Lancers, under the
command of Colonel Skeene, comprising,
in officers, non-commissioned officers, and
privates, about two hundred and twenty
men ; who- embarked on board the unfor
tunate ship Indian, and the whole of whom,

OBSERVATIONS. XV

together with the crew, perished miserably
at sea, being wrecked on the island of
Ushant shortly after their departure from
England.

These several corps sailed from England
at nearly the same time, with the intention
of acting conjointly on arriving in South
America, and having previous to their de
parture appointed the islands of Saint Bar
tholomew and Saint Thomas, as places
of general rendezvous, for the purpose of
ascertaining the state of affairs on the
Spanish Main, and determining the point
at which it would be most judicious the dis
embarkation should take place.

IJ 9IU&& 'ill

> • VA

Or

NiVE

NARRATIVE,

THE various preparatory arrangements
being completed ; the stores, $c., of every
description embarked; and the ship ready
for sea, peremptory orders were issued for
the officers to proceed on board without
further delay.

Dec. 2d, 1817- I accordingly on this
day departed from London for Gravesend,
and there embarked on board the Britan
nia, which was in every respect prepared
for sailing at an hour's notice. The Eme
rald, destined for the transport of Colonel
Hippesley's corps, lay at anchor about
half a mile lower down the river, and was
likewise in momentary expectation of re
ceiving orders for finally proceeding for
our common destination. All the other
vessels, appointed for the conveyance of

EXPEDITION TO

the before-mentioned corps to South Ame
rica, had put to sea a few days previously.
The Britannia was a beautiful ship, and
appeared to have been fitted up in every
respect, with an anxiety for the comfort
and ease of her passengers. She was com
manded by Captain Thomas Sharpe, who,
on several trying occasions, evinced the
most perfect knowledge of his hazardous
profession. Her freight consisted exclu
sively of an immense quantity of military
stores, the property of a great mercantile
firm in London, by whom they had been
embarked, partly on speculation, but prin
cipally as I was informed, in consequence
of a previous understanding with Don
Mendez, that the entire cargo would be
purchased by the Independents immedi
ately on the Britannia's arrival at the main.
This property was intrusted to the care of
Mr. John Ritchie as supercargo, a gentle
man of whom I shall hereafter have occa
sion to speak in terms of grateful eulogy ;
and whose conduct throughout the voyage
secured the esteem and respect of every in
dividual on board. His anxious exertions

SOUTH AMERICA. 3

were at all times contributed towards pre
serving good humour, contentment, and
cheerfulness, whilst his generous and feeling
heart, ever sympathized with those who
suffered under the pressure of disappoint
ment or distress.

A printer, armourer, and several other
artificers and mechanics, likewise embarked
on board the Britannia, for the purpose
of exercising their respective arts in the
service of the South American Patriots.
Some of these individuals had been furnished
by Don Mendez with letters of introduc
tion to General Bolivar, and the Indepen
dent Government ; and the printer was pro
ceeding for the especial purpose of being at
tached to Bolivar's army, for whose use a
most valuable and extensive printing ap
paratus was sent out in the Britannia, by
the merchants to whom the cargo belonged,
under an assurance of being in like manner
immediately purchased on the vessel arriving
at her destination. The armourer had on
board averylarge quantity of fire-arms of va
rious descriptions, for which he anticipated
a ready sal eon reaching the Spanish main.

4 EXPEDITION TO

These facts are no otherwise important,
than as tending further to exemplify the
extraordinary delusion at this time prac
tised by the Patriot agents, and the strange
misconception which generally existed as
to the state of affairs in Spanish America.

There were, besides myself, nine com
missioned officers on board, viz., Colonel
Gilmore, one captain, one first lieutenant,
four second lieutenants, and two surgeons;
all of whom appeared in the highest spirits,
confidently anticipating an honourable and
successful termination to the extraordinary
enterprise in which they had embarked. To
me the situation was both novel and interest
ing. I now for the first time found myself
cast on the wide and stormy sea of life, on
the eve of being far removed from those who
were endeared to me by the ties of kindred
and friendship. My sphere of action had
heretofore been confined within the limits
of my native land ; for although my natu
ral feelings induced a prejudice in favour
of the military, profession, until now my
inclination in this respect had never been
gratified. All these circumstances tended

SOUTH AMERICA. 5

to produce thoughtfulness, and mental
anxiety ; nor could I, for a considerable
time, shake off the feelings of melancholy
with which I was oppressed, by having so
recently undergone the distressing cere
mony of bidding farewell to friends for
whom I entertained the most affectionate
esteem, and whose reciprocal regard I felt
confident of possessing. The bustle, how
ever, of the surrounding scene; the diffu
sion of mirth ; and the hope which I fondly
entertained of being ere long enabled to
revisit my native country, gradually dis
pelled every gloomy sentiment, and quali
fied me to partake of the general happiness.
The mild and gentlemanly manners of

my immediate senior officer, Captain ,

and his anxiety to afford me that advice
and information for which his experience
so well qualified him, induced me to form
the highest opinion of his character and
military talent ; and the closest subsequent
intimacy and friendship fully justified my
original prepossession. In all the vicissi
tudes of fortune to which we were after
wards subjected, our destiny was the same,

O EXPEDITION TO

our hopes and fears mutual, and our suf
ferings and privations similar ; nor were
our fates disunited, until having triumphed
over every difficulty, we at length suc
ceeded in effecting, what we had often
nearly despaired of ever accomplishing, —
a return to our native shores.

Dec. 3rd. On the afternoon of this day
sailed from Gravesend, and anchored for
the night about one mile and a half lower
down the river.

Dec. 4>th. Again weighed anchor, and
proceeded as far as Faversham, where we
remained for the night, the wind blowing
hard from the S. E.

5th. Arrived in the Downs about six
o'clock in the afternoon, and anchored.
Four officers went ashore.

6th. The officers who went ashore yes
terday returned this morning with the co-
loners baggage, preparatory to his em
barkation, which took place in the after
noon.

7th. Remained at anchor in the Downs,
the wind blowing hard and adverse.

8th Weighed anchor about two o'clock

SOUTH AMERICA. 7

in the afternoon, with the wind from the
N. E. and had nearly weathered Beachy
Head, when it commenced blowing hard
from the S.E., which obliged us to continue
beating about during the whole night.

9th. Still beating about without mak
ing any material way ; again in sight of
Beachy Head, with the wind fresh from
the S. W.

10th. During the greater part of this
day becalmed within view of the Isle of
Wight.

Dec. llth. Made little progress, wind
still adverse, and blowing hard from the
S. W. by W.

12th. Blowing a stiff gale from the
S. E. by E.

13th. Captain Sharpe on this day seri
ously contemplated putting into Plymouth,
in consequence of the severity of the
weather, adverse winds, and the little way
we were making in our course.

l^th. Arrived at Falmouth Harbour about
ten o'clock in the morning, after beating
about all night close on the Lizard shore,
with the wind blowing hard from the S.W.

8 EXPEDITION TO

Went ashore with Colonel Gilmore, and
accompanied him to the village of Saint
Mawes, where we remained for the night.
The most distressing reports were through
out this day confidently circulated of the
loss of the Indian, with the whole of Co
lonel Skeene's brigade.

15th. Proceeded with Colonel Gilmore
to the rectory of Saint Juste, and viewed
with much delight the ancient and beauti
fully-situated church, built principally in
the Saxon style of architecture, and cele
brated for its antiquity, and good preserva
tion. Returned on board to dinner.

Dec. 16th. Continued at anchor in Fal-
mouth Harbour during this and the follow
ing day, in consequence of the unabated
severity of the weather, and adverse state
of the wind.

18th. We were this morning visited by
Colonel Campbell, who had arrived a day
or two previously, in the Dowson atFowey
Harbour, and from him we received a con
firmation of the melancholy loss of the In
dian, without the preservation of a single
individual. This dreadful intelligence pro-

SOUTH AMERICA. 9

duced a general gloom, and excited feel
ings of deep commiseration for the fate of
so large a body of our comrades ; but while
lamenting the sad catastrophe by which we
had been deprived of so many gallant com
panions, we felt ample cause for mutual
congratulation on contemplating our own
safety, after the imminent hazard we had
so recently encountered of being involved
in a similar premature destruction. The
Dowson had proceeded upwards of fifty
leagues on her voyage in company with the
Indian, when the two vessels were sepa
rated by the severity of the weather, and
the former happily succeeded in reaching
a place of safety. Besides the entire of
Colonel Skeene's ill-fated corps, Colonel
Campbell had to lament the loss of four
officers of his brigade, who had unhappily
proceeded in the Indian, for want of ac
commodation on board the Dowson. A
large quantity of clothing, and military
stores, belonging to Colonel Hippesley's
corps, were likewise lost on this disastrous
occasion. During our passage from
Gravesend to Falmouth, the weather had

10 EXPEDITION TO

been almost uniformly severe, and the wind
in general contrary ; but subsequent to our
reaching this harbour, the season became
still more tempestuous, and we daily wit
nessed vessels flying into port for shelter
from the fury of the storms, which were at
that time so fatally experienced in the
Channel.

On the afternoon of the 21st the violence
of the gale abated, and the wind having
become favourable, every preparation was
made for finally proceeding on our voyage.
All was now hurry and bustle, in hourly
expectation of bidding a long farewell to
the happy shores of Britain; nor could I
contemplate without feelings of deep sor
row and regret, the indefinite and perhaps
far-distant period to which the joyful day
of my return would be protracted. As the
moment approached which was destined
for our departure, I became more feelingly
alive to the recollection of former times;
but aware of the impolicy and weakness of
thus yielding to a train of cheerless con
templations, I once more in a few lines
bade adieu to some absent friends, and

SOUTH AMERICA. 11

hastened to join the busy scene of active
preparation.

22d. This morning at three o'clock the
Britannia got under weigh, and finally
proceeded on her voyage with a fine breeze
from the N. E. On the approach of day
we were still within sight of land, but it
was rapidly receding from our view, and
before noon had ceased to be discernible.

%3rd. Spoke the Tullus Brig of London,
from Pernambuco, — no news — the Britan
nia going from seven to nine and a half
knots an hour, with the wind brisk from
the N. E.

24^A. This morning passed Ushant with
a fresh northerly wind. The view of the
fatal Point renewed our feelings of sorrow
and commiseration for our hapless friends
lost on board the Indian. We had now
entered the Bay of Biscay, so much the
terror of fresh-water sailors, and indeed its
present appearance fully justified its gene
ral character, for owing to the recent tem
pestuous weather, it was in a state of ex
treme agitation. The Britannia rolled ex
cessively, and shipped several heavy seas.

12 EXPEDITION TO

On this, and every day throughout the voy
age (except when prevented by unfavour
able weather) both officers and men were
regularly exercised in the practice of artil
lery and small arms, in the morning and
afternoon, and the proceedings and regu
lations in general on board were perfectly
similar to those adopted in the British trans
port service.

25th. Cleared the Bay of Biscay, making
good way in our course, with a brisk
easterly wind, at the rate of from eight to
tenknotsan hour. This being Christmas-day,
we endeavoured to make ourselves as happy
and comfortable as circumstances would
permit ; but when I contrasted my present
situation with that on previous similar an
niversaries, the recollection of past hap
piness cast a deep shade over every en
joyment.

26th. Wind E. and by S.; light breezes;
ship going at the rate of from three to seven
and a half knots.

27th. Proceeding favourably on our voy
age. The only novel occurrence this day
being the appearance of a large spermaceti

SOUTH AMERICA. 13

whale, which continued playing about the
ship for nearly an hour, sometimes ap
proaching close to the vessel. To the ex
perienced mariner these extraordinary ani
mals are too well known to attract particu
lar attention ; bvit to me the sight, being
new, was highly interesting, and I derived
much entertainment from observing the
awkward gambols of this mighty monarch
of the deep.

28/A. Divine service was this day per
formed on the quarter-deck, after which
Captain Sharpe and Mr. Ritchie dined at
our mess. During the night we experienced
a heavy gale from the S. E., but throughout
the early part of the evening the agitated
appearance of the atmosphere, and accu
mulation of black clouds to windward, had
been sufficiently portentous to induce every
preparation necessary to meet the approach
ing storm. The top-gallant sails were ac
cordingly taken in, the ropes all cleared,
and the watches told off to their respective
quarters. The breeze continued gradually
to increase until about twelve o'clock, when
it assumed a most serious aspect, and at one

14 EXPEDITION TO

it blew so hard as to render it expedient to
call all hands upon deck and get the ship
under close-reefed top-sails. From this
hour the storm continued to blow with un
abated fury until four, when it became
more moderate, and gradually died away.
As it happened this night to be my mid -
watch upon deck, I was afforded an oppor
tunity of witnessing in all its terrific sub
limity the violence of the raging elements B
The waves broke over the vessel in masses
of white foam, which, through the darkness
of the night, produced the grandest effect I
ever beheld. For security from the fury
of these breakers, I was obliged to lodge
myself in a small aperture between the
mizen-mast and the round-house, as I per
ceived it would be impossible for me to
keep my legs, when even the sailors, not
withstanding the assistance of life-ropes,
were washed from side to side of the ship, the
motion of which was such at times as to
create doubts of her again righting ; a good
fortune, for which we were probably some
times indebted to the immense dead weight
of ordnance-stores in her hold. Having,

SOUTH AMERICA. 15

in pursuance of Colonel Gilmore's orders,
gone to report to him the situation of the
ship, I found him making a precipitate re
treat from the state room, dripping wet, the
sea having forced itself through the scuttle,
and inundated his bed ; and my arrival was
opportune to relieve him from the appre
hensions excited by this false alarm. Not
withstanding the cessation of the storm, it
was found necessary to continue working
the pumps for a considerable time ; whilst
owing to the heavy swell of the sea, the
vessel still laboured exceedingly.

Dec. %9th. Blowing fresh, and, in conse
quence of the wind veering to the N. W.,
we were obliged to tack during the night.
We this day observed that our fore-chains
had been drawn during the preceding
storm.

30^. A fine brisk gale throughout the
morning from the N. W. In the afternoon
the wind shifted to the N. ; the ship, during
the evening and night, going from eight to
ten knots.

3lst. Had a distant view of the island

of Madeira, bearing E. and by S. about ten

1

'

16 EXPEDITION TO

leagues. It presented a hold and lofty
headland, but too undefined to admit of
particular description.

Jan. 1st, 1818. A brisk breeze from the
N. W. A sail hove in sight which gained
considerably upon us by ten o'clock, when
she made signal to speak us ; and we ac
cordingly backed the main sail and waited
for her. She proved to be the Three Sisters
from Glasgow, eighteen days out, bound
to Kingston, Jamaica.

Jan. %d. Light breezes from the W. and
by N., making scarcely any way in our
course.

3rd. Becalmed. Captain Sharpe had the
jolly boat lowered, and rowed round to see
the trim of the ship, after which I accom
panied the Colonel, Captain , and

Lieutenant , about two hundred yards

from the vessel, where we bathed.

4>th. A gentle breeze sprung up from the
N. Going from four to five knots.

5th. Caught the trade winds, and made
good way during the night.

(5th. Throughout this day proceeded on
our course, going from seven to nine knots,

SOUTH AMERICA. ] 7

and during the night from ten to eleven,
wind E.— -We parted company in the after
noon Avith an aquatic stranger that had
been constant in his attendance during this
and the preceding day. Our fellow voy
ager was a white shark, the largest and
most destructive species of this voracious
animal ; and we were, probably, indebted
for the honour of his society to the hope of
procuring from on board something to
gratify his ravenous appetite. He appeared
about twenty feet long, and generally kept
within fifty yards of the vessel, sometimes,
however, approaching considerably nearer.
Every exertion to secure him failed, either
in consequence of extreme cunning, which
enabled him to discover the hook intended
for his destruction ; or, which is more pro
bable, owing to his having recently feasted
to the full, extent of his inclination. There
is no animal to which sailors entertain so
great an aversion as the shark, and the
capture of one of these monsters is uni
formly to them a source of the highest ex
ultation. The officers on board were con
tinually firing at him from rifles, whenever

18 EXPEDITION TO

he presented his head above water ; but,
although the balls must frequently have
struck him, it appeared evident they pro
duced but little effect. We calculated that
this shark accompanied us for nearly 400
miles, and frequently reminded us of our
imprudence in openly bathing in the
midst of the Atlantic.

Tth. Spoke the Dauntless. During the
remainder of our voyage no event of any
importance occurred ; an account of the
proceedings of each day would, therefore,
be little more than a transcript of those of
the preceding.

On crossing the Tropic the ceremonies,
uniformly adhered to on similar occasions,
were performed with more than ordinary
burlesque solemnity, and without the slight
est deviation from good humour and har
mony. The general nature of this mari
time frolic is well known; but a description
of the manner in which it was celebrated
upon the present occasion will be perhaps
excusable, as serving to vary the monoto
nous character of a sea journal. Had our
course been so far to the south this whimsi-

SOUTH AMERICA. 19

cal custom would have been delayed until
our arrival on the Line; but when a ship's
destination renders her crossing the Equator
unnecessary, the ceremonies are per
formed immediately on entering the Torrid
Zone.

The night preceding this festive day
amongst the sailors, a hollow voice was
heard from the bows of the vessel, pro
claiming in a loud and menacing tone the
arrival of a deputation from Neptune; an
nouncing his aquatic majesty's intention
of coming on board the following day at
twelve o'clock, with his entire suite, for
the purpose of levying contributions and
exercising his jurisdiction over those who
had now, for the first time, visited the seat
of his dominions.

Having performed his mission, the am
bassador retired ; and in order to produce
the semblance of his recession from the
vessel in his car, a large tarred hogshead
had been imperceptibly set fire to, and
lowered into the sea, where its flaming ap
pearance, as it occasionally rose upon the

c 2

0 EXPEDITION TO

bosom of the waves, had a very curious and
pleasing effect.

At the appointed hour on the ensuing
day the king of ocean's approach was
announced by a flourish of trumpets, and
immediately after, upon drawing aside a
sail curtain which screened the forecastle,
the procession advanced in grand state,
preceded by martial music ; Neptune, and
the fair partner of his watery throne, being
seated in due form upon a gun-carriage
surrounded by a numerous train of Nereides.
The mighty ruler of the waves was repre
sented by the seaman considered best qua
lified to give proper dignity and spirit to
the character ; whilst Amphitrite was most
delicately personated by another jack tar,
attired with all the grace and elegance that
oakum and sailcloth could bestow. The
preliminary formalities, $c., being termi
nated, a considerable number who had not
acceded to the monarch's tributary demands,
or whose proffered forfeitures had been re
jected, experienced the luxury of a tropi
cal shaving ; but this part of the ceremony

SOUTH AMERICA. 21

is too well-known to require particular ex
planation. The remainder of the day was
spent by the seamen with the utmost mirth
and jollity.

The officers and men were as usual every
morning and evening practised in military
exercise, and had become very expert in
the management of both artillery and small
arms. The weather likewise from this date
continued mild and favourable ; and, on the
22d, we were enabled mutually to congra-*-
tulate each other upon the appearance of
land, which had been for some time the
object of anxious expectation. It proved
to be the island of Barbuda, bearing south,
distant about five leagues.

Captain Sharpe considered himself for
tunate in having made this land during day
light; Barbuda being regarded as one of the
most dangerous islands in the West Indies,
in consequence of its extreme flatness, and
the numerous shoals by which it is sur
rounded.

24th. On the forenoon of this day we
sailed into the harbour of Gustavia, in St.
Bartholomew's, where we found (only a

22 EXPEDITION TO

few hours arrived) the ship Prince, with
Colonel \Vilson's corps on board, and the
Emerald, with Colonel Hippesley's regi
ment, which latter vessel had been in port
nearly a week. They gave us three hearty
cheers on entering, which we returned with
equal cordiality.

St. Bartholomew's belongs to the Swedes,
to whom it was restored on the general
termination of hostilities in 1814, being the
only island they possess in the western
world; and is so small and sterile, that
their acquisition appears to be one of very
little real value. The produce is confined
to a small quantity of cotton, by the sale
of which the poor in the interior principally
subsist. Sour-sops*, prickly pears, and
some other wild fruits, grow here spon-

* The sour-sop (annona muricata) grows to about five-
and-twenty feet high, and the fruit generally to the size of
a moderate melon, but is of an elongated or oval form,
rough on the outside, and of a green colour. It consists
of a white and pulpy substance, possessing a sour-sweet
taste. As this fruit will not keep more thau a day or two
after being gathered, it is never conveyed to England ;
but its use is strongly recommended to Europeans on

SOUTH AMERICA. 23

taueously, as also a few tamarind trees, and
the poisonous manchineel in great abun
dance.

This island may be considered a place
of general rendezvous for smugglers of
every description. The flags of all nations
(but more especially of America) are to be
seen flying in the harbour of Gustavia, and
the resident merchants, I understand, de
rive a very large proportion of their
emoluments from their intercourse with
those engaged in contraband traffic.

The Swedes received us with the greatest
kindness and hospitality ; and the Go
vernor, Colonel Rosensvard, to whose affa
bility and attention we were highly
indebted, a few days after our arrival in
vited the senior officers of each rank to a
grand fete, given at Government-house, in
honour of the birth-day of his Royal High
ness the Crown Prince of Sweden. By
Colonel R/s desire we attended in the uni
forms of our particular regiments, and were

their first arrival in the West Indies, being particularly
cooling, and by many also considered of an antifebrile
nature.

24 EXPEDITION TO

received with every mark of distinction
and respect ; tiie hand striking up our
grand national anthem of " God save the
King" as we entered the saloon.

After passing through the accustomed
ceremonies of presentation to his Excel
lency, $c., we commenced dancing, which
continued until a late hour, when a very
elegant supper was displayed, composed of
the richest and most delicate produce of
the West Indies. Immediately after sup
per the health of the Crown Prince was
drank, I am confident, with unfeigned
sentiments of devotion and attachment.
The next toasts given, were the King of
England and Royal Family ; which com
pliment was handsomely acknowledged by
Colonel Wilson, who in return proposed
the memory of Charles the Twelfth, the re
collection of whom is peculiarly flattering
to the vanity of a Swede. Throughout the
night large vases of sangree, and other
cooling refreshments, were continually
borne about by slaves, who appeared to
vie with each other in attention and re
spect to the English ; doubtless originating

SOUTH AMERICA. 25

in feelings of gratitude for the strenuous
and unremitting exertions, made by the
friends of humanity in Great Britain, for
their emancipation and comfort. During
our stay at Saint Bartholomew's, which
was nearly five weeks, we experienced
many similar instances of public favour and
attention, with the strongest proofs of
hospitality and kindness, from numerous
private individuals on the island*.

Early in the morning of the day following
our arrival at Saint Bartholomew's, a ship
hove in sight, beating up for the island;
and about ten o'clock had approached close
to the harbour, but seemed particularly

* For the kindness and attention experienced on our
arrival at Saint Bartholomew's, we \\ere probably in a
considerable degree indebted to a very general belief,
on the part of the inhabitants, that we were proceeding
to the Main, with the approbation and cdnsent of the
British Government. How this idea originated, or by
whom insinuated, 1 cannot pretend to say ; it is under
stood, however, that some of the parties who are at pre
sent so actively engaged in England, promoting new
South American expeditions, encourage the promulga
tion of a similar belief, for the purpose of giving greater
importance and effect to their operations.

26 EXPEDITION TO

cautious of entering ; intimidated, as we
afterwards learned, by the formidable ap
pearance of the English vessels. She, how
ever, shortly after ventured in under Spanish
royalist colours, and came to anchor within
about a cable's length of the Britannia.
This vessel was in the most perfect repair,
and upwards of three hundred tons burthen.
Her flag naturally excited considerable curi
osity to learn the object of iier visit ; and
our anxiety in this respect was speedily gra
tified by discovering that she was a prize
to an Independent privateer brig under the
command of Commodore Parker, who put
a few men on board with orders to bring
her to Amelia island : the Prize-master
however thought proper to vary his in
structions, and ran her into Gustavia, where
he immediately disposed of the cargo, and
converted the proceeds to his own private
use; and his anxiety to disburthen himself
of his charge was such, that he gladly ac
cepted whatever terms were offered ; and
sugar, Havannah segars, $c., were to be
had from this trust-worthy gentleman for
little more than thanks.

SOUTH AMERICA. 2?

This vessel afterwards sailed in company
with the Emerald for Grenada, but was, I
understood, scuttled in the Caribbean sea,
with her anchors, cables, $c., and up
wards of twenty thousand dollars' worth of
logwood on board.

We had now been upwards of three weeks
at St. Bartholomew's, without receiving any
intelligence from the Main, on the veracity
of which we could place the slightest reli
ance.

This dearth of information, and the un
certainty of our future destination, were
rapidly exciting feelings of doubt and un
easiness ; whilst the reports in circulation
relative to the progress of affairs in South
America, and general situation of the Patriot
cause, were ill calculated to allay the anxiety
so universally experienced. In this state
of incertitude and deficiency of news, it
was at length considered advisable that
Colonel Wilson and one of our officers
should proceed (disguised as fishermen) in
a schooner to Margaritta, and from thence
up the Oroonoco to Bolivar's head-quarters
at Angostura, for the purpose of apprizing

28 EXPEDITION TO

him of our arrival in the West Indies, and
of likewise ascertaining the actual state of
affairs upon the Main. Colonel Wilson,
immediately after performing the object of
his mission, was to return to Saint Bartho
lomew's, where our ulterior proceedings
were to be finally arranged. This scheme*
however, was unfortunately found impracti
cable, in consequence of the impossibility
of procuring boatmen sufficiently daring
to risk their lives in so dangerous an enter
prise.

The extreme difficulty and hazard at
tendant on any attempt to communicate
with the Continent, was this day further
evinced, by an account received at the island
of the indiscriminate massacre of the entire
crew of a vessel which had been captured
by a royalist brig. The unfortunate ship
had, it appears, been concerned in mercan
tile intercourse with the Independents, whom
they had supplied with a quantity of pro
visions in exchange for a cargo of mules
then on board. She was proceeding from
the Main to Trinadad, when she fell in with
the Spanish cruizer ; and, on inspection of

SOUTH AMERICA. 29

her papers, the nature of the traffic in which
she had been engaged being unhappily dis
covered, the sanguinary captain of the
royalist brig considered the offence of suf
ficient magnitude to justify the above bar
barous proceeding.

To dev.ise some other mode of effecting
this important communication, now became
the primary object of consideration ; but,
after much anxious consultation and debate,
it was not found possible to discover any
channel through which an intercourse could
be opened with the Independent Govern
ment.

The general feeling of dissatisfaction and
uneasiness now became more manifest ; and
we began seriously to apprehend, that the
ideas we had been originally induced, to
entertain of the nature of our enterprise,
were founded upon false or visionary
representations of the actual state of affairs
in South America.

Every information we could obtain, either
from the inhabitants of Saint Bartholomew's,
or individuals who had recently arrived
from the Main, was of the most dishearten-

30 EXPEDITION TO

ing description ; all concurring in por
traying the state of the Continent in terms
directly contrary to the representations
made to us previous to our departure from
England : and these statements were doubly
dispiriting, inasmuch as they proceeded from
persons who were avowedly the friends and
well-wishers of the Independent cause; by
one and all of whom we were advised in the
strongest manner to relinquish the idea of
personally engaging in the conflict.

Our situation, in itself sufficiently dis
tressing, was rendered still more critical by
the spirit of dissension and jealousy which
now subsisted amongst the officers command
ing the different corps, who had become so
perfectly disunited as scarcely to observe
towards each other the common forms of
personal recognition. This want of har
mony among the superior officers destroyed
all exertions for the general cause ; and the
Colonels, instead of evincing a solicitude to
forward the views and realize, as far as
lay in their power, the expectations they
had excited in the minds of their followers,
appeared to be influenced solely by an

SOUTH AMERICA. 31

anxiety for personal precedency. The spirit
of jealousy and disunion soon extended
amongst the officers in general ; private
pique and quarrelling were the results, more
particularly on board the Prince and Eme
rald. Colonel Hippesley, on his arrival in the
West Indies, assumed the rank of Briga
dier-general, and had, during the passage,
caused every individual, under his com
mand, to take an oath of allegiance to the
Independent Government. This usurpa
tion of rank was ill calculated to restore
amity or concord; and the general spirit of
dissension still continuing, the Governor ma
nifested his displeasure by withdrawing his
former attention, and even prohibited seve
ral of Colonel Wilson's officers from again
proceeding on shore ; actually posting sen
tries upon the beach, for the purpose of
enforcing due obedience to his commands.
The Colonels now became desirous of
proceeding to the Continent at all hazards,
without permitting any further time to
elapse for the arrival of information from the
seat of hostilities. To this proposal, how
ever, the Supercargoes of the different ships

32 EXPEDITION TP

positively refused acquiescence. They
were very properly tenacious of the pro
perty intrusted to their care, and would nob
on any account, hear of departing for the
Main, without being first perfectly con
vinced that the finances of the Patriots
were in such a state as to enable them to
pay, either in money or produce, for the
military stores embarked on board their
respective vessels. In order to obtain, if
possible, satisfactory information on this
particular point, as also to learn how far
the various unfavourable rumours, so con
fidently circulated, were or were not well
founded, our Supercargo determined on
proceeding to Saint Thomas's, for the pur
pose of having a personal communication
with Mr. Molony, an Agent of the Inde
pendents, resident at that island. Mr.
Ritchie accordingly, at considerable ex
pense, engaged a sloop, and sailed on the
4th or 5th of February. The period which
elapsed between Mr. R/s departure for,
and return from, Saint Thomas's, was, as
may be well conceived, one of anxious
suspense; the fate -of the expedition proba-

SOUTH AMERICA. 33

bly depending upon the nature of the in
formation he might procure — his return
was therefore awaited with the greatest im
patience.

As this event, however, could not be rea
sonably expected to take place before the
expiration of ten days or a fortnight,
leave of absence was readily granted to any
of the officers desirous of obtaining it, and,
amongst others, I availed myself of this in
dulgence, and gratified my curiosity by
visiting the neighbouring island of Saint
Martin's, bearing W. S. W. of Saint Bar
tholomew's, and distantabout thirteen miles.
Having procured the necessary passport,
I proceeded in an open boat, accom
panied by my constant associate Captain

, and Lieut. Y *, of Colonel Hip-

pesley's corps. When about mid-way,
between the two islands, the rapidity
of the current, with a contrary wind
and heavy sea, compelled us to abandon
our course to Marygott, and drift down

: This officer, having proceeded to Angustura, died
shortly after his arrival.

D

34 EXPEDITION TO

to leeward of the island. Evening was
now fast approaching, and with it every
appearance of tempestuous weather ; we
however, arrived safe in Great Bay about
seven o'clock, in the midst of a heavy gale,
with our boat half full of water, and
thoroughly drenched by torrents of rain,
and the high spray which had been con
tinually dashing over us.

Saint Martin's is in the joint possession
of the French and Dutch; and Great Bay,
where we had now landed, is the principal
town in that quarter of the island belong
ing to the latter liation. It presented a
dreary and comfortless appearance, being,
with the exception of a few respectable
planters' houses, the most wretched place
imaginable. Numbers of poor half-naked
negroes surrounded us on the beach, prof
fering their assistance for conveying our
portmanteaus from the boat. On entering
the town our first anxiety was to discover
an inn, where we could procure refresh
ment, and change our wret clothes (which
are considered more productive of fever
than even the natural malignity of the West

SOUTH AMERICA. 35

India climate) ; but to our great disappoint
ment,, we were informed there was no place
of that description in the town. In this
unpleasant situation we began to despair
of even procuring a lodging for the night,

when Lieut. Y fortunately recollected

having been, on a former occasion, intro
duced to Doctor de Briton, the resident
physician at Great Bay, to whose house he
conducted us as an only resource. The
Doctor was from home, but our friend's
easy manner, and good address, soon se
cured to us every comfort we could desire.
Next morning we were so fortunate as to
meet with Mr. Cuthbert, the principal
planter in the town, and uncle to our super
cargo, Mr. Ritchie. Having spent the re
mainder of the day with this gentleman, we
in the afternoon set out for Marygott, ac
companied by Mr. Cromoni, proprietor of
the lottery estate, who kindly insisted on
our remaining at his house during our stay
on the island.

I had now the opportunity afforded me
of witnessing the richest production of an
highly-cultivated West India estate, at the

D 2

36 EXPEDITION TO

period of the year most interesting in this
climate. The appearance of the sugar
cane was extremely beautiful, exhibiting in
different fields its progress through the
various stages of vegetation; nor was
I less gratified on observing the mode
of extracting the juice, and reducing it to
the state of crystallization, in which it is
seen in Europe : but the process is so fa
miliarly known as to render a minute de
scription altogether superfluous. The situa
tion of Mr. Cromoni's estate was truly
picturesque'; and slavery, so abhorrent to
nature and humanity, appeared here to
possess but a nominal existence. The ge
neral aspect of the negroes sufficiently
evinced their' happiness and comfort, and
how anxious their kind master was to light
en the weight of their chains : nor were the
slaves ungrateful for the humane treatment
they thus experienced ; on the contrary,
manifesting in every act and proceeding the
warmest, and, I am confident, most un
feigned attachment for their generous pro
prietor. The sincerity of their regard was
indeed unequivocally proved, by the joy

SOUTH AMERJCA. 3?

with which these poor creatures hailed their
master's return, after an absence from the
estate of only two or three days : the ne
groes on our approach running towards
Mr. C. from various directions, and, throng
ing round his horse, rivalled each other
in expressing the warmth of their congra
tulations; whilst their master no less grati
fied with these interesting demonstrations
of regard, encouraged their familiarity by
the affability and kindness of his de
meanour.

But similar principles of humanity and
feeling, I fear, rarely influence the conduct
of West India planters ; the great propor
tion of whom, so far as I could observe,
treated their negroes in the most unfeeling
manner, seeming very little solicitous for
either their happiness or welfare — the ap
pearance of these people in genera:! be
trayed the wretchedness of their situation,
and the cruelty of their treatment.

The state of this unhappy and degraded
race excites in the humane mind the most
painful sensations ; and however powerful
some individuals in England may consider

38 EXPEDITION TO

arguments drawn from expediency and self-
interest, a visit to the West Indies would
probably induce the greater proportion of
even the warmest advocates of the slave
trade, to retract their sentiments, and
unite in detestation of this barbarous and
unnatural traffic.

The negroes in this island, and the West
Indies in general, principally subsist on
fish, of which the surrounding seas possess
a most astonishing quantity and variety.
In this latter respect, however, selection
is absolutely necessary, as a great pro
portion is unwholesome, and many species
even poisonous in their nature. The natives
from experience are generally enabled to
separate the fish fit for use, from that of a
deleterious quality; and, accordingly, on
drawing up their nets, select those of the
former description, and restore the others
to their liberty. But, whenever they se
cure fish with which they are unacquainted
they bring them ashore, and decide upon
their future estimation by exposing them to
the ants, upon (as I am assured) a well-
grounded conviction, that these insects will

SOUTH AlMEUlCA. 39

abstain from feeding upon any of a poison
ous property. I have, likewise, frequently
seen them determine on the quality of
doubtful fish, by placing a silver spoon in
the body, and leaving it there during the
process of boiling; under an idea that in the
event of the fish being of a dangerous kind,
the metal will assume a dark tinge. How
far this experiment is to be depended on,
I cannot form any opinion ; it is, however,
generally considered effectual. Nothing
can be imagined more beautiful than the
colours of the West Indian fish ; surpassing
in brilliancy even the most gaudy of the
feathered tribe.

Mr. Cromoni's estate is bounded on
the South by a very lofty hill, called the
Paradise, from whose summit issues a small
stream, which flowing down the side, falls
at the base into a deep and rocky ravine,
where the rivulet forms a cool and refresh
ing bath, completely overshadowed by
orange, banana, and chaddock trees, at this
time in heavy bearing. Here Mr. Cromoni
frequently retires to shelter himself from the
overpowering effects of the noon-day sun,

40 EXPEDITION TO

and remains for hours together in the water
smoking segars, an enjoyment which, how
ever apparently indolent or luxurious, will
in a West Indian, be acknowledged per
fectly excusable, when we consider how
difficult it is in this unhealthy climate to
preserve a vigorous constitution, and pre
vent that lassitude of body almost invari
ably experienced. As Mr. Cromoni's
horses were at all times at our service, we
were enabled to visit the greater part of the
island, which appeared in general highly
cultivated, and the scenery in many places
rich and beautiful.

The morning after our arrival at Mary-
gott, we, according to custom, waited on
Colonel Elliot, the French governor, by
whom we were received in the handsomest
manner, and the whole party invited to dine
with him on the following day. Colonel
Elliot's appearance and manners were in
every respect those of a highly-accomplish
ed gentleman and officer; and he had, as I
understood, followed the fortunes of Buona
parte throughout the greater part of his
extraordinary career.

SOUTH AMERICA. 41

During our visit at Saint Martin's, Mr.
Cromoni introduced us to his father, one
of the most extensive and respectable mer
chants in the West Indies. This gentle
man, whose high character and unques
tionable veracity are entitled to the most
unqualified confidence and respect, related
to us the following extraordinary account;
at the same time assuring us, that dur
ing a long residence in the northern parts
of the South American Continent, he had
himself been, on many occasions, an eye
witness of the fact.

The city of Cartagena is, at certain pe
riods of the year, particularly celebrated
for its extensive fairs for the sale of various
descriptions of foreign merchandise, and
other goods no less valuable to the inhabi
tants of the surrounding districts. For
some days previous to these periodical
meetings, immense bodies of Indians, regu
larly assemble at particular points, on the
banks of the river Choco, well-known for
the treasure embosomed in its deep and
rapid stream. Here these amphibious
mortals plunge into a depth of not less than

42 EXPEDITION TO

from ten to fifteen fathoms, and rising at
some hundred feet distant from their place
of descent, bring up with them from the
river's bed a quantity of gravel or sand, from
which they afterwards separate small par
ticles of gold, generally about the size of
pins' heads. Having by repeated trials thus
provided themselves with what they con
sider a sufficient quantity for their present
purposes, they proceed in numerous par
ties for the city of Cartagena, nearly four
hundred miles distant, where they barter itin
the most thrifty and parsimonious manner,
for such articles as they may be desirous of
procuring ; and, which is most extraordi
nary, should they, after effecting all their
purchases, still retain any gold in their pos
session they faithfully carry back the over
plus, and deposit it in its original place of
security, the bottom of the river ; ascribing
as the motive for this strange proceeding
their dread of the Spaniards, to whose
cruelty and insatiable thirst for wealth so
many of their countrymen had already fal
len victims. Mr. C. further assured me, that
numbers of the Spaniards have perished in

SOUTH AMERICA. 43

attempting to procure riches in the same
extraordinary manner.

We had now been nearly a week at
Marygott, when a letter from Great Bay
announced to us the arrival there of Mr.
Ritchie, on his return from Saint Thomas's.
This information compelled us immediately
to prepare for our departure, and with
feelings of much regret we took leave of our
hospitable friend, and having shortly after

joined Mr. R , returned with him to

Saint Bartholomew's.

The result of our Supercargo's commu
nication with Mr. Molony was in every re
spect unfavourable, and too fully corrobo
rated the inauspicious reports in general
circulation. The intelligence thus procur
ed by Mr. R. was to the following effect,
on the correctness whereof Mr. M. not only
assured him he might place the most im
plicit reliance, but even furnished him
at his desire, with certificates to the same
purport, for the satisfaction of the officers
commanding the different corps. Mr. M.
stated, that so great was the poverty of the
Independents, as to render it utterly im-

44 EXPEDITION TO

possible for them at this time to collect, in
money and produce, a sum exceeding
twenty thousand pounds ; and on our Super
cargo informing him that the value of the
stores, $c., onboard the Britannia alone, was
estimated at about thirty-five thousand
pounds, Mr. M. observed that no provision
whatever had been made for the purchase of
those supplies, and that the Independents
were altogether unable to meet the engage
ment entered into by Don Mendez in Lon
don ; adding, that he (Don M.) must have
far exceeded the authority and powers
with which he had been invested.

Mr. Ritchie now considered it incom
patible with his duty, after the undoubted
information he had received, to hazard the
property intrusted to his care; but pro
posed, in fulfilment of the charter-party,
to provide a conveyance for the officers
and men, without the gum or stores, and
send them forward to the Main. This pro
posal, although the only alternative left to

Mr. R , could not otherwise than excite

feelings of the strongest dissatisfaction and
surprise. It was totally inconsistent with

SOUTH AMERICA. 45

the engagements which had been made with
us, and received our unanimous dissent.
We could not accede to a measure which
would, on landing, leave us in a state of the
utmost helplessness ; equally destitute of
the means of subsistence, or defence against
the depredations and barbarities of the na
tives in general, and at the distance proba
bly of many hundred miles from the Inde
pendent army.

The state of our affairs had now become
still more critical and alarming, as we knew
not how soon we might be compelled to de
part from the ship, and, of course, thrown
upon the island, dependent upon our own
individual resources for subsistence; it
having been frequently intimated to us that
our rations on board could not be much
longer continued.

Such was our situation when the occur
rence of the following circumstance so irri
tated and displeased the Governor that he
commanded us to leave the island before
the expiration of the ensuing week. In
relating the particulars of this event it will
be necessary to refer back to the day but

46 EXPEDITION TO

one previous to our return from Saint Mar
tin's : — On the forenoon of this day, a
Spanish polacre, laden with wine, brandy,
oil, and, as was also understood, some specie,
bound from Cadiz to the Havannah, put
into Mary go tt bay, and there anchored.
Almost immediately after our arrival at
Saint Bartholomew's, we were alarmed by
the discharge of a gun in the town, and re
paired to the place from whence the report
proceeded ; when, to our great astonishment,
we found the entire garrison under arms,
the Governor and fort-major with the troops,
and the town in a perfect uproar. A small
schooner, full of men, in the middle of the
harbour, appeared the general object of
curiosity and inquiry ; and an armed boat,
which had been despatched by the G overnor
for the purpose of bringing those persons
ashore, was soon after seen returning ; and,
with astonishment and regret, we beheld
Colonel W— — , with a number of his offi
cers and some other individuals, conveyed
on shore as prisoners, all armed, and dis
guised under large cloaks. It appeared
that they were on the point of proceeding

SOUTH AMERICA. 4?

to Marygott bay, for the purpose of cutting-
out the Spanish polacre, whose arrival at
that place has been already mentioned ;
but the Governor, having through some
channel received information of their
daring project, frustrated the design, and
apprehended the party. The polacre,
indeed, was otherwise secure from the
attack, having sailed from Marygott early
in the forenoon. The prize-master who
came into Gustavia the day after our arri
val, was likewise a conspicuous character

in this enterprise. Colonel W and his

party were shortly after restored to liberty ;
but notice was transmitted to Colonel El
liot, stating the particulars of the late in
tended attack, and warning him against
similar attempts. I was subsequently in
formed that the French admiral, on being
made acquainted with the circumstance,
proceeded to Saint Bartholomew's in search

of Colonel W , who had, fortunately for

him, left that island for Grenada.

A few days prior to our return from
Marygott, the ship Emerald sailed for Gre
nada from St. Bartholomew's, leaving be-

48 EXPEDITION TO

hind four of Colonel Hippesley's officers,
who had resigned their commissions in con
sequence of some irregular promotions in
that corps. The time was also fast ap
proaching for our departure, in obedience
to the peremptory orders recently issued by
the Governor, when the arrival of the ship
Dowson with Colonel Campbell's rifle re
giment on board, in some little degree
exhilarated our spirits ; and it was de
termined, after much consultation, that
the three ships (the Britannia, Prince,
and Dowson), should together proceed to
the island of Grenada, in order, if possible,
to receive more direct intelligence from the
Oroonoco, and endeavour to strike out
some plan of future operations. In con
formity with this resolution, the three
vessels sailed from Saint Bartholomew's, on
Saturday the 21st of February, and arrived
at Grenada on the Friday following.

Our anxiety for news was too ardent to
admit of delay. Mr, Ritchie, Colonel Gil-
more, and some other officers, therefore,
immediately waited on Mr. Guthrie, the
Independent agent resident at this island,

SOUTH AMERICA. 49

whoseaccounts inevery particularcoincided
with those which had been before received
from Mr. Molony,and in other respects re
presented the genera] situation of the patriot
armies in terms so unfavourable and dis
heartening, as not only to confirm Mr. R.
in his determination against proceeding
with the stores to the main ; but likewise
placed Colonel Gilmore in a situation so ir
recoverably desperate, as to leave him (as
he considered) no other resource than that
of altogether disbanding the brigade; which
measure, so distressing and ruinous to our
hopes, he put in execution on the following
day. Our condition now may be readily
conceived : deprived of the support of our
Colonel ; destitute of resources or friends ;
and unable to devise any means of extrica
tion from our difficulties, we saw ourselves
threatened with all the horrors of privation
and want. Of the men composing our late
brigade, some joined the other ships; others
enlisted in the Queen's regiment (at this
time garrisoned in Grenada) ; whilst a few
determined on endeavouring to work their
passage to the United States.

50 EXPEDITION TO

The various artificers were put ashore at
the same period. The printer, having been
permitted to carry with him a portion of
the types and printing apparatus, fortu
nately procured a situation in the news
paper-office. The armourer afterwards re
turned to Saint Bartholomew's, with the
intention of proceeding to New Orleans.
The fate of the remainder I never learned,
but fear their distresses must have been
great, as they appeared totally destitute of
money, and were consequently dependent
for subsistence on the manual exercise of
their respective arts.

Some of the officers succeeded in pro
viding for themselves, either through their
own resources or pecuniary aid from friends;

the remainder, including Captain

and myself, were still permitted to continue
on board the Britannia.

At this eventful period, Colonel Gilmore
intimated his determination of returning to
England, first pledging himself to render
the remaining officers, in their now dis
tressing situation, whatever temporary as*
sistance his influence or interest could pro-

SOUTH AMERICA. 51

cure for them in Grenada; which promise,
however, from inability or some other cause,
he altogether failed of performing.

It was now absolutely necessary we
should adopt some decisive course of pro
ceeding ; and Captain coincided

with me in opinion (notwithstanding the
desperate nature of the service), that there
remained no alternative but that of attach
ing ourselves to some of the other corps,
which, although daily declining in strength,
and much disorganized, had not as yet
been actually disembodied. This resolu
tion we had scarcely formed, when the arri
val of several officers, recently in the patriot
service, and who had just then succeeded
in effecting their return, gave us such
information of the state of affairs on the
Spanish main, as clearly proved the mad
ness of our previous decision, and con
vinced us that it would be preferable to
risk every vicissitude of fortune, rather than
personally engage in a contest, not only far
more hazardous, and accompanied by in
finitely greater hardships and privations,
than an ordinary state of hostilities, but

E 2

52 EXPEDITION TO

likewise conducted by both parties, on
principles at variance with every feeling of
honour and humanity ; whilst the extreme
difficulty attendant on a departure from
the patriot service of those who once ac
tually join their standard, renders every
attempt at return so nearly impracticable as
to place foreigners, thus circumstanced, al
most in a state of slavery. Exclusive,
however, of the obstructions to return, ori
ginating in the peculiar local circumstances
of the country, and the hazard which must
unavoidably be encountered in traversing
the interior, the Independents, for reasons
sufficiently obvious, are particularly cau
tious of permitting individuals to withdraw
from their armies.

The information received from the of
ficers to whom I have just referred, was to
the following purport : They assured us, that
in consequence of the extended duration of
the war, and exterminating principle upon
which it had been conducted, the country
in general displayed one uniform scene of
devastation and wretchedness. That the
patriot forces were reduced to a state of

SOUTH AMERICA. 53

the greatest poverty, totally devoid of dis
cipline, and not one-fourth provided with
proper military arms, the remainder being
compelled to resort to bludgeons, knives,
and such other weapons as they found most
readily procurable.

In clothing they were still more destitute
and deficient, in most instances merely con
sisting of fragments of coarse cloth wrapt
round their bodies, and pieces of the raw
buffalo hide laced over their feet as a substi
tute for shoes, which when hardened by the
sun's heat, they again render pliant by im
mersion in the first stream at which they
chance to arrive.

A blanket, with a hole cut in the middle,
let over the head, and tightened round the
body by a buffalo thong, has been fre
quently the dress of the officers ; and one
of them who witnessed the fact, assured me,
that suchwas actually the uniform of a Bri
tish colonel (R ) who was at that time in

the Independent service. Whilst these gen
tlemen thus described the patriot habili
ments, they commented in the strongest
language on the impolicy and imprudence

54 EXPEDITION TO

of proceeding to serve in conjunction with
an army barefooted and in rags, provided
with such splendid uniforms as we had been
obliged to procure ; and ridiculed the
strange contrast which our dresses and
those of the Patriots would exhibit in the
field ; observing, that such clothes would
be alone sufficient to excite the jealousy of
the natives, to whose eagerness for their
possession, we would almost inevitably be
come a sacrifice *.

The Independent armies march in hordes,
without order or discipline ; their baggage
consisting of little more than the scanty

* There is serious reason to apprehend that the truth
of this observation has been recently but too fatally exem
plified on the banks of the Oroonoco, in the massacre of
several British officers, who were proceeding to join the
Independent armies. As, however, this melancholy event
has not received perfect confirmation, I shall merely ob
serve, that the occurrence was fully credited at St. Kitt's,
previous to my departure from that island ; and 1 have,
since my return, heard from officers more recently arrived
that it was universally reported that our unfortunate
countrymen had been assassinated by a party of the Pa
triots themselves, for the purpose of gaining possession
of their baggage.

SOUTH AMERICA. 55

covering on their backs. They are totally
destitute of tents, and in their encampments
observe neither regularity nor system. The
commanding officers are generally mounted,
and likewise such of the others as are able to
provide themselves with horses or mules,
the latter of which are in great plenty. The
exterminating principle upon which the
war is carried on between the contending

o

parties, render their campaigns bloody and
destructive ; desolation marks the progress
of those hostile bands, to whose inveterate
enmities the innocent and unoffending in
habitants are equally the victims, with those
actually opposed to them in military strife.
In action the Independents display much
bravery and determination, and frequently
prove successful, notwithstanding their want
of discipline, deficiency of arms, and disor
derly manner of attack and defence. Un
happily the work of death terminates not
with the battle, for on whatsoever side vic
tory rests, the events which immediately
succeed those sanguinary struggles are such
p,s must cast an indelible stain upon the
Spanish American Revolution.

56 EXPEDITION TO

The engagement is scarcely ended, when
an indiscriminate massacre or' the prisoners
takes place ; nor is the slaughter only con
fined to the captives, the field also under
goes an inspection, when the helpless
wounded are in like manner put to the
swrord.

The following instance of vindictive cru
elty on the royalist side, was related to me
by an officer who was present in the en
gagement in which the transaction origi
nated. In this action, a young French of
ficer, in the service of the Independents,
had his arm severed from his shoulder by
a sabre cut, and being unable to sustain
himself from loss of blood, he sunk to the
ground. His distinguished bravery had
however previously been observed by his
companions, who succeeded in bearing him
off the field, from whence they conveyed him
into the woods, and sheltered him in a ne
gro hut; where having applied such bal
sams as could be procured, they departed.
The armies retired to other parts of the
country, and the officer was fast recovering
from the effects of his wound, when Gene-

OP THE "

I UNIVERSITY
\^i^,,, J

SOUTH AMERICA. 57

ral Morillo, advancing upon the same route,
discovered his retreat, and had him instantly
put to death.

SuchjvaMhgJ^^

bjfthe belligerent parties ; although I must
in justice observe, that I have always un
derstood the exercise of these cruelties
originated with the Royalists, and were sub
sequently resorted to by the Independents
on principles of retaliation. Hence the sys
tem became reciprocal ; passed into a ge
neral law, and has now, it is to be feared,
become unalterable.

The sufferings which the Independents
undergo during their campaigns, from the
difficulty of procuring food, are most se
vere ; mules' flesh, wild fruits, and some
dried corn, which they carry loose in their
pockets, frequently constituting the whole
of their subsistence : and we were confi
dently assured, that the army, under Gene
ral Bolivar has even often been for days
together dependent for support, solely upon
the latter description of provisions and wa
ter. Pay was now totally unknown to
them, in consequence of the utter exhaus-

58 EXPEDITION TO

tion of their resources ; and, however suc
cessful they might eventually be, there ex
isted no probability whatever, that they
would even then possess the means of af
fording pecuniary compensation to those
who may have participated in the struggle.
As confirmatory of the foregoing in
formation, I shall refer the reader to an ex
tract of a letter from Trinidad, written by a
most intelligent officer, with whom I am in
timately acquainted, and addressed to our
particular friend in London, some time
previous to my return from the West Indies.
This gentleman proceeded from England
under the auspices of Don Mendez, on
board the Glad win, about two months prior
to my departure to join the patriot stand
ard in South America. No man left this
country for that purpose possessing greater
spirit, and few more scientific military ta
lent ; with a mind more enthusiastic in fa
vour of the cause, or a firmer determination
of meeting and encountering every attend
ant difficulty and hazard. Yet notwith
standing this ardent prepossession, he was
so forcibly struck on his arrival at Marga-

SOUTH AMERICA. 59

ritta, with the barbarous and inhuman pro
ceedings of the contending parties, the law
less and despotic characters of the patriot
chiefs, and the state of indescribable misery
and desolation to which that island had
been reduced, that he turned in disgust
from the enterprise, and proceeded to Tri^-
nidad ; trusting to his natural abilities, and
the kindness of the inhabitants for support,
rather than become an accomplice in acts
so repugnant to every feeling of honourable
warfare.

Trinidad, Dec. ISth, 1817. " On our ar
rival at Margaritta, we were struck with
the desolate appearance of the place, which
is wretched and barren beyond description,
the earth totally parched, not having any
rain for the last eight months. The
Royalists had been there about a month
previous to our arrival, and had destroyed
every thing in their progress through the
island. There was not a single house with
an entire roof, and but two or three writh
bare walls, the rest had been totally de
stroyed, together with every human being
they discovered. Women and infants, all

60 EXPEDITION TO

shared the same indiscriminate fate; and
many by the severest tortures. The priests
'were cut to pieces at the altars, to which
they had fled for protection, and the
churches stripped of every thing valuable.
The convents were in like manner destroyed,
and such of the nuns as were reserved
from slaughter, were carried away with
them as victims of their brutality. In se
veral places the remains of carnage were
distinguishable by the bleached bones of
the sufferers. Some few miserable wretches
who had by a timely flight to the moun
tains escaped slaughter, were observed
nearly starved, and half naked, sitting
amongst the ruins of their former houses.
In every occurrence a total want of system
in the leaders was evident ; each merely
made the cause a pretext or cloak for his
own private views: there are no laws or
regulations to bind them, or even to con
trol their inclinations, each possessing ab
solute, arbitrary power, without a senti
ment of honour, justice, or humanity. An
instance of this was related to me by a
black ruffian, who is the interpreter to

SOUTH AMERICA. 61

General Arismendi : — he said, that a few
days before we arrived, the general sent
for one of the Royalists who had been taken
prisoner, and amused himself by thrusting
his sword into various parts of his body ;
the black, who longed to have his share of
blood, at length lopped off the poor fel
low's head, and appeared to take the most
savage pleasure in reflecting on the jump
which the headless carcase gave before it
fell to the ground.

" The ship, called the Two Friends, ar
rived about three weeks previous to us, on
the same unlucky errand. She left England
with about 100 passengers, all except thirty
quitted her at Saint Thomas's ; these thirty
were in the most miserable condition, hav
ing been under the necessity of selling their
clothes and every valuable to procure food,
being only allowed a bit each per day, (about
five pence), which would not purchase three
ounces of bad bread. Meat is totally out
of the question, there not being any cattle
whatever on the island ; their fish is, how
ever, tolerably good but extremely dear.

" I dined several times with the General,

6(2 EXPEDITION TO

(he is second in command to Bolivar;) there
were usually several of the chief officers at
table. The dinner always consisted of
bread, fish, and execrable rum and water,
(there was not a bottle of wine in the island).
The table was set out under a shed at
the back of the remains of a house ; they
never in general are able to muster a plate
between two ; if not, a saucer or earthen
pan answers the purpose. We were at no
loss for knives and forks as they generally
make use of their fingers in preference.
The General appeared to be a bold deter
mined character, well suited for a captain
of banditti ; the rest appeared equally well
qualified to hold their subordinate situa
tions ; nor could they be distinguished from
such a gang by any other means than the
want of the luxuries, or even necessaries
which those gentry usually possess. We
understood at Margaritta, that the Inde
pendents had lost the whole of Venezuela,
and that Bolivar was in the Oroonoco.
Some few, who, I believe, have no other
resource, still continued resolved to join
the cause — others determined to return to

SOUTH AMERICA. 63

England; and we, therefore, agreed to
make this island, which would, of course,
enable each party to follow their own in
clinations/'

On referring to these gentlemen for in
formation relative to the estimation in
which foreign aid was held by the Indepen
dents, and how far our services would be
considered of value, they stated that the
Patriots, in general, were decidedly adverse
to the introduction of other than natives
into their armies : arms and ammunition
appeared the only supplies they were
desirous of accepting ; that the introduc
tion of British officers, particularly, had al
ready excited greater jealousy and dissen
sion amongst the native troops, than their
most zealous exertions could possibly make
amends for ; and to so violent a pitch had
their jealous feelings carried them, as to
subject foreigners, attached to the patriot
service, to perpetual hazard of assassina
tion ; and rendered it prudentially neces
sary, that they should, on retiring to repose,
place themselves under the protection of
sentries on whose fidelity they could depend.

b'4 EXPEDITION TO

That similar sentiments were entertained
by General Bolivar himself, was strongly
manifested by the total indifference with
which he treated a dispatch, which had
been forwarded to him through his agent
Mr. Guthrie, some time previous to our
departure from Saint Bartholomew's ; ap
prizing him of our arrival in the West In
dies ; our strength, equipments, $c. This
dispatch Mr. Guthrie assured us was per
sonally delivered to General Bolivar, who,
however, never condescended to return any
answer. The letters of introduction with
which numerous individuals had been fur
nished by Don Mendez, were treated with
like indifference; and their bearers, instead
of procuring the commissions for which
they had stipulated, were compelled to ac
cept whatever rank he thought proper to
confer on them ; and have, in numerous
instances, been even degraded to the situ
ation of common soldiers in his army.

Their obstinate hostility to the admission
of foreign aid, can in a great measure be
accounted for; from a confidence in their
own numerical strength, and the obvious

SOUTH AMERICA. 65

weakness of the mother country. They
encourage a probably well-grounded con
viction, that, however the contest may be
protracted, success must ultimately attach
itself to their party ; and an anxiety to en
joy the entire fruits of their triumph, has
created this aversion to the admission of
foreigners, whose services, they cannot but
know, are proffered rather from motives of
personal aggrandizement, than any parti
cular solicitude for the emancipation of
South America.

These particulars appeared to us in
themselves conclusive, against both the po
licy and propriety of engaging in the
Spanish American war ; but they were fur
ther enforced by a consideration, which
many will probably regard as entitled to
most serious attention, although one which
alone certainly would not in the slightest
degree have influenced our determination.
Few need be informed of the strength and
peculiar character of constitution, which are
requisite for enabling Europeans to resist
the destructive effects of a tropical climate,
even when enjoying every advantage which

66 EXPEDITION TO

wealth or luxury can bestow ; but if thus
naturally injurious, under circumstances
the most favourable towards correcting its
malignancy, how infinitely must its viru-
lency be increased, by the extreme fatigue,
deficiency of nourishment, and inadequacy
of clothing, suffered by the Independents
during their predatory campaigns. Being
destitute of tents, or change of dress, they
are invariably exposed to every vicissitude
of weather, in a country where the transi
tions are sudden and extreme. After get
ting drenched with heavy rains, they have
no other resource, than that of allowing
their dripping garments to dry upon their
backs, under the influence of a scorching
sun.

The troops continually in the open air,
and devoid of any protection from the
weather, are necessarily exposed at night to
the heavy fogs and dews, which in the
West Indies are so dreadfully destructive to
human health ; and the severity and hard
ship of their campaigns are, in every re
spect, infinitely greater than can readily be
conceived, by those who have been only sub-

SOUTH AMERICA. 6?

jected to the privations usually encountered
by a British army in the field. Even the
natives themselves sustain serious injury
and sufferings ; but the uniform testimony
of every individual acquainted with Vene
zuela, concurred in assuring us that a
campaign in that country, under such cir
cumstances, could not otherwise than prove
more fatal to Europeans, than even the
sword itself.

Such was the substance of the informa
tion those gentlemen afforded us, nor could
we for one moment hesitate in placing the
most perfect reliance on their statement,
coinciding, as it did, with every other ac
count we were enabled to procure from the
merchants, who were in the habit of re
peated communications with the Main, or
the Patriots' own recognised agents, by
whom, it must be naturally supposed, mat
ters would be represented in the most fa
vourable colours ; the united testimony of
all, friends and foes, (the former by far the
largest party) concurred in establishing the
truth of the foregoing particulars.

This mass of authentic information made

6*8 EXPEDITION TO

a deep impression on our minds, and we
unhesitatingly determined on relinquishing
every previous idea of joining the Inde
pendent armies. In this moment of per
plexity and trouble, I could scarcely re
frain from accusing myself of rashness and
precipitancy, in having placed such im
plicit faith in the alluring expectations
which had been so widely and confidently
circulated in England, by the South Ame-
can active partisans ; but on cool reflection,
I felt, that I was rather the victim of deceit,
than the dupe of my own folly and want of
prudence. At the period of my departure
from England, the tide of popular feeling
ran strongly in favour of the patriot cause;
and the black and sanguinary character of
the warfare, and other derogatory circum
stances, were either unknown, slightly
glanced at, or enforced by authorities
which I, perhaps too readily, considered
undeserving particular attention. My own
personal situation, and prejudice in favour
of the colonists, likewise tended to weaken
the strength of those arguments which
were opposed to the South American pro-

SOUTH AMERICA. 6*9

ject ; but they now recurred most forcibly
to my mind, with unavailing regret at hav
ing permitted them to possess so little in
fluence and authority.

It was extremely difficult to procure in
formation sufficiently authentic to autho
rize any positive opinion of the existing
state of parties on the Spanish Main, or
probable consequences of the present revo
lutionary contest ; but those persons whose
intelligence or local knowledge best quali
fied them to arrive at just conclusions on
this interesting subject, appeared generally
to consider the contest as one which would
be far from terminated by the defeat of the
royalists, and separation of the mother
country. In numerical force the Indepen
dents are infinitely superior to their oppo
nents ; poverty, defective arms, and want
of discipline, however, have heretofore pa
ralyzed their exertions, and disabled them
from combating with the actual strength
they possess ; but these circumstances, al
though they may protract the war, can
scarcely render its termination in favour of
the Patriots more doubtful.

70 EXPEDITION TO

At present the original or Indian natives,
and the South American Spaniards, have
united their exertions for the subversion of
the royalist power ; hut it is only a mutual
feeling of hostility against a common ene
my, which has induced these two distinct
classes to join their interests, and suspend
the sentiments of jealous enmity with which
they are animated against each other ; and
it is generally apprehended, that should
their combined strength succeed in the pre
sent struggle, the contest will immediately
assume another character, and South
America become the seat of hostility be
tween its white and black population.

The power and influence of the latter
are even already sufficiently great to enable
them to reach the highest military rank,
and the system of slavery now scarcely ex
ists; the Royalists and Independents having
long since proclaimed a very general manu
mission, in the hope of securing from these
people a mQre cordial and effective sup
port. The adoption of this act of policy,
I understood, originated in the Royalists
granting freedom to such slaves as would

SOUTH AMERICA. 71

act in support of the established govern
ment. This circumstance, and the pro
gress of the war have naturally tended to
strengthen and give confidence to the co
loured inhabitants, and it may not perhaps
be too much to anticipate an ultimate re
sult, similar to that which has taken place
in the island of St. Domingo.

Shortly after our communication with
the ex-patriot officers, we met with a person
of the name of Hudson, who had been for
several years in the service of the Inde
pendents, which he abandoned, as he in
formed us, in consequence of the non-ful
filment of engagements entered into with
him by Bolivar. This man appeared a
most mysterious, and was, as will be here
after seen, no very estimable character ;
but his evidence was important as corro
borating the accounts we had previously
received.

Mr. Hudson had, on many occasions,
witnessed the hardships and distress en
countered by the foreign officers attached
to the patriot standard ; and uniformly
found them disgusted with the cause, and

72 EXPEDITION TO

anxious to embrace the earliest opportunity
of abandoning it; and, as exemplifying his
statenu nt in this particular, he informed us
that on a recent occasion he was present in
the Oroonoco, when tour foreign officers
entreated in the mo->t supplicating terms,
the master of a vessel then trading on the
river, to permit them to embark ; offering
him at the moment whatever they possessed,
and, on their arrival at any of the West India
Islands, such further compensation as he
might demand ; but the extreme hazard of
discovery, and almost certain consequent
destruction, deterred the master from ac
ceding to their request.

To enter minutely into all the particulars
with which wre were made acquainted by
Mr. H., would prove merely a repetition of
what has been already stated ; but as this
gentleman performed a very conspicuous
part in many of the ensuing events con.
nected with the expedition, his appearance
in the Journal will again become necessary.
For the present, however, I shall refer to
the proceedings on board the other vessels,
and to some occurrences at Grenada, which

SOUTH AMERICA. 73

although not immediately connected with
the enterprise, will not probably be consi
dered altogether urientitled to attention.

The brigade originally commanded by
Colonel Wilson, had by this time become
almost wholly ineffective, having split into
two distinct parties, each bearing towards
the other the most inveterate enmity. One
body, headed by Major Graham *, joined
Colonel Campbell's regiment ; whilst the
other, under Colonel Wilson, after a strange
variety of adventures, (assaults, imprison
ments, $c.) finally embarked on board a
schooner, and although not one half equip
ped, (from the supercargo refusing to grant
the necessary appointments) proceeded for
Bolivar's head-quarters on the Oroonoco.

A few days previous to Colonel Wilson's
departure for the Main, he personally ap
plied to me, and appeared solicitous that I
should attach myself to the remnant of his
brigade; and as an inducement, offered to
place me upon his staff; which proposal,

* The death of this officer has been recently an
nounced.

74 EXPEDITION TO

however, I considered it most prudent to de
cline ; observing at the same time, the im
possibility of procuring hussar equipments.
This objection Colonel Wilson would have
reconciled in a manner, which, however cal
culated to heighten the character of the ap
pointment, and induce a compliance, was at
least, for its sincerity, entitled to some com
mendatory acknowledgment. It was,that
the mere uniform was a minor considera
tion, and could in this instance be readily
dispensed with ; as his officers would most
probably find it necessary to carry muskets
on their first arrival ; it not being likely that
the regiment could be immediately mounted
and organized. The remark at the time
made a strong impression on my mind, ap
pearing to me forcibly indicative of Colo
nel Wilson's opinion of the uncertain and
desperate nature of the service on which he
was about to proceed. Of the subsequent
fate or operations of this party I never af
terwards heard.

The Emerald, with the remainder of
Colonel Hippesley's corps, sailed for the
neighbouring island of Cariacou, several

SOUTH AMERICA. ?5

days previous to our arrival at Grenada,
having, since her departure from Saint Bar
tholomew's, lost a large proportion both of
officers and men : and, in consequence of
some breach of the navigation laws, had
also been a considerable time under seizure,
but was subsequently released. The quar
relling and dissensions on board this vessel
unhappily produced, during her stay at
Grenada, a duel between Lieutenant Bray-
brooke and one of Colonel Hippesley's
sons, which terminated in the death of the
former officer. This melancholy event oc
casioned the deepest sensation on the island,
and \vas likewise, I believe, referred to in
the English papers, without particularly
mentioning the nature of the dispute, or the
interesting events which succeeded its fatal
termination. The quarrel, to all appear
ance, had been amicably settled by an apo
logy from Hippesley ; but unfortunately
the majority of the officers having expressed
their disapprobation of the arrangements,
and insinuated that the dispute was such
as could only be decided in the field, Lieut.
B. insisted upon the meeting which ended
in his death.

76 EXPEDITION TO

This tragical occurrence took place at
the time the Emerald was under seizure in
the harbour, A verdict of wilful murder
having been pronounced against young
Hippesley by the coroner's inquest, a
reward of one hundred pounds was offered
for his apprehension, and every possible
means taken to effect it. All the parties,
however, escaped, after encountering much
hardship, and a series of adventures, the
relation of which will not perhaps be unin
teresting.

In order to secure their escape, they ob
tained the ship's jolly boat and four sea
men, to convey them off the island ; and,
through the close friendship and influence
of one of the seconds, prevailed on a Mr.W.
(from whom I received these particulars)
to accompany them. This gentleman's ex
perience in maritime concerns, rendered
his assistance of the greatest value ; to him,
therefore, they eagerly assigned the man
agement of the boat, and after nightfall
rowed off from the island, in the direction
of the Grenadines, in the hope, on the fol
lowing day, of joining the Emerald, whose

SOUTH AMERICA. 77

release was hourly expected, Theycon-
tinued rowing the whole night ; the breeze
was fresh, and at intervals accompanied
with heavy showers, from the effects of
which, and the over-dashing spray, their
open boat aiforded little protection. On
the approach of morning they found them
selves about eight miles distant from the is
land, without any appearance of the Eme
rald preparing for sea. The sailors, from
extreme fatigue, expressed themselves no
longer able to row, and in the most urgent
terms insisted on being put ashore. Their
wishes , in this respect, it was accordingly
found necessary to gratify ; after which the
arduous duty of rowing the boat devolved
upon Mr. W. and his weary companions,
who with much difficulty succeeded in
again reaching the offing, previous to broad
day-light ; when they rested on their oars
until evening, in anxious expectation of
witnessing the Emerald's approach. The
appearance of night and want of provisions
rendered it necessary for them to return
to the shore; which having done, and se
cured the boat on the beach, they cauti-

78 EXPEDITION TO

ously proceeded a short distance into tne
interior, where a negro hut fortunately af
forded them, not only a sufficiency for their
immediate wants, but also a day's supply
in advance. Under this propitious shed
they continued throughout the night, and
at day-break returned to their boat, and
again sought security in the offing. There
the fugitives passed another day of fruit
less expectation ; during which an incessant
rain not only drenched them, but likewise
rendered their small stock of provisions
nearly uneatable. They again, at night,
pulled in for the shore ; but considering it
hazardous to revisit their late lodging, they
rowed in a more southerly direction, and
landed upon another part of the island.
No vestige of habitation or other place of
shelter was here discoverable, with the ex
ception of a spreading tamarind-tree, that
grew near the beach. Under its branches
they contrived to light a fire, on which they
fried some meat, and rebaked a small por
tion of bread which had been, by the rain,
a second time converted into dough. Before
sun-rise they again abandoned their covert,

SOUTH AMERICA. 79

oppressed with weariness both mental and
bodily ; and having with difficulty re
launched the boat, once more pushed out
to sea. Unable longer to endure a con
tinuance of such hardships and suspense,
they determined, should the departure of
the Emerald be further protracted, on ap
proaching her at all hazards in the after
noon, and secreting themselves, if possible,
on board. To this plan they found it neces
sary to resort, and early in the night, hav
ing arrived along-side, Mr. W. cautiously
entered the vessel through one of the ports;
when he was seriously alarmed at seeing a
number of soldiers laying on the decks.
This discovery suggested the necessity of
his precipitate retreat ; and having effected
a safe return, the party were again pushing
oif, when the military officer on duty per
ceiving the boat, hailed it, and demanded
their business ; but Mr, W. replied with so
much presence of mind, as to prevent any
further inquiries. They then rowed to the
shore, where Mr. W/s influence obtained
them a secure asylum for the few days
which intervened, prior to the Emerald's

80 EXPEDITION TO

departure, on board which they had, some
hours previously, effected a private em
barkation, and escaped.

The Emerald continued at Cariacou for
some time, from whence she proceeded to
Saint Lucia, where having accidentally
fallen in with the patriot schooner, Tiger,
Colonel Hippesley and his remaining
officers and men went on board that vessel,
and sailed for the Oroonoco. Of their future
proceedings or what became of them I
never subsequently heard.

Mr, W., who was on board the Emerald,
when she fell in with the Tiger, informed
me, when I afterwards met him at Saint
Bartholomew's, that the general state of
this vessel, and the appearance of her
officers and crew, perfectly accorded with
every account we had heard of patriot
wretchedness. The captain himself was li-
.terally in rags ; they were without ammuni
tion ; whatever bad provisions their stock
consisted of nearly exhausted ; and their
joy, he said, appeared indescribable on
receiving from the Emerald a considerable
supply of all those necessaries.

SOUTH AMERICA. 81

A few days prior to the Emerald's de
parture from Grenada, a detachment of
Colonel Hippesley's regiment, consisting
of a few officers and about twenty men,
under the command of Lieut.-Col. English,
sailed for Angustura, taking with them a
considerable proportion of the officers' bag
gage. This party proceeded for the
Oroonoco, with orders to provide quarters
for the corps, which it was then intended
should immediately follow ; but although
the detachment arrived in safety, a consi
derable number shortly afterwards fell vic
tims to severity of suffering, and it is to
be feared that few survived to rejoin the
main body of the regiment.

The propriety of this measure was at the
time strongly canvassed, and conjectures of
a very free nature were insinuated as to the
motives which prompted its adoption ; but
notwithstanding the deprivation of their
baggage (to the disposal of which only they
could look for relief) several of the officers
subsequently threw up their commissions,
and thus forfeited their property rather than
proceed on an enterprise so unquestion-

G

82 EXPEDITION TO

ably impolitic ; and many were probably
induced to continue with the regiment, in
preference to encountering, in the West
Indies, distresses and mortifications, from
which they were thus rendered totally
unable to secure themselves even a tem
porary alleviation.

To return to the Britannia : — The brigade
had been for a considerable time disbanded ;
but a few officers and men still continued
on board. With Colonel Gilmore's con
duct personally to myself I had not here
tofore any reason to be dissatisfied ; great
as were our disappointments, we considered
him a fellow-sufferer,- and that the distress
ing measure of disembodying the corps was
the result of a necessity which he had no
means of controlling. We indeed con
curred in one strong feeling of dissatisfac
tion and displeasure, but our indignation
was exclusively directed against that indi
vidual in London, by whose hollow and
faithless engagements we had been all
equally ensnared. The occurrences sub
sequent to this period were, however, of a
nature badly calculated to preserve mu-

SOUTH AMERICA. 83

tual feelings of friendly regard between our
late Colonel and the officers on board the
Britannia ; for, although no longer actually
under the command of Colonel Gilmore in
a military point of view, yet considering the
peculiarity of our situation, and his pro
fessions at the time of disbanding the bri
gade, we were not altogether without hopes
of receiving from him whatever protection
his own situation enabled him to afford.
These expectations I shall merely observe
were not in any particular realized.

The only events of any importance that
occurred during the remainder of our
stay at Grenada, were the transactions
in which Mr. Hudson was concerned.
The intercourse between this person and
Colonel Gilmore was constant, and ap
peared manifestly connected with some
enterprize on which they intended jointly
to proceed.

To this project, which originated with
Mr. Hudson, Colonel Campbell's union
had been obtained, (doubtless under a mis
conception of its real nature), and we were

84 EXPEDITION TO

induced to consider it in a very mysterious
light, from the extraordinary caution and
secrecy observed by the parties, who de
clined divulging the nature of their scheme,
even to the individuals whose assistance
would be absolutely necessary for carrying
the plan into effect ; but to all those
whose alliance was solicited, the value
of the enterprize was portrayed in the
strongest colours, with assurances that the
short period of two months would terminate
an affair which could not possibly fail of
enriching them beyond their most sanguine
expectations. Amongst others to whom
Colonel Gilmore applied for co-operation
I and my friend Captain were in
cluded, and on our expressing our determi
nation not to engage in any scheme of the
nature of which we were ignorant, and
consequently unable to form any opinion
of its propriety or policy, Colonel G. with
much warmth observed that he could con
trive to dispense with our services. This
observation, and a circumstance which had
just then come to our knowledge, at once

SOUTH AMERICA. 85

occasioned a mutual coolness, and a rup
ture of that social intercourse which had
heretofore subsisted. Although we were
not positively acquainted with the nature
of this scheme, yet every circumstance
conspired to induce a conviction of its ad
venturous character, and the correctness of
this opinion was, it will be seen, fully con
firmed on our subsequent return to Saint
Bartholomew's. To all appearance every
arrangement had been perfectly completed
between the Colonels and Mr. Hudson, pre
vious to our departure from Grenada ; and
I likewise understood that Mr. H. had in
timated to our Supercargo that he would,
on the Britannia's arrival at Saint Bartholo
mew's, treat with him for the purchase of a
large portion of her stores. We left this
island on the 10th of March, having now
remaining on board only five officers and
three privates of our late brigade, together
with Mr. Hudson as passenger. The Dow-
son likewise sailed from Grenada on the
same day.

The night previous to our arrival at Saint
Bartholomew's, we encountered the most

86 EXPEDITION TO

tremendous gale I ever experienced at sea.
It commenced immediately after twelve
o'clock, at which time we were close upon
the island of Nevis, with the wind blowing
directly on the land ; the darkness was also
intense, and the rain fell in torrents. The
previous state of the atmosphere gave us
no indication of the approaching storm, and
before the hands could be got aloft to take
in sail, our fore-topmast stay-sail was blown
to pieces. An attempt was made to put
the ship about, but she missed stays, and
we were left to the mercy of the wind on a
lee shore. The most decisive measures
alone could now prevent our striking, in
which case, from the nature of the cargo,
the ship must, on that rocky shore, instan
taneously have gone to pieces. Captain
Sharpe, therefore, finding that the vessel
would not tack, with a promptitude, energy,
and skill, which cannot be too highly ap
plauded, ordered all sail possible to be set,
and had her close hauled to the wind ; de
termined, as his only resource, to get what
way he could upon the ship, and make one
bold effort for weathering the island. Hav-

SOUTH AMERICA. 8?

ing but ill recovered from a slight feverish
attack I had suffered at Grenada, I was the
only person remaining below, all the others
being on deck, prepared, in case of ex
tremity, to make the best shift they could
for themselves. Half dressed I sat up with
difficulty in my birth, every moment ex
pecting to feel the vessel strike; whilst
chairs, trunks, portmanteaus, $c., were
tumbling from side to side of the cabin in
the utmost confusion. In the midst of this
disorderly and menacing uproar, the cap
tain's speaking-trumpet was continually
heard on deck, intermixed with the rattling
of ropes, shouting of sailors, and whistling
of the wind through the rigging ; making
altogether the most appalling tumult I ever
heard. About half past three o'clock the
squall began to moderate, and on the ap
proach of day, to our infinite joy we found
ourselves clear of Nevis and the reef, having
trailed close along the shore, but with so
much rapidity as to prevent the vessel
making much lee way.

Having thus happily weathered the gale,
we early on the forenoon of the 17th again

88 EXPEDITION TO

arrived at Saint Bartholomew's, where we
were without interruption permitted to an
chor, in consequence of there then remain
ing so few military on board. The inhabit
ants, although considerably surprised at the
Britannia's revisiting the island, found no
difficulty in discovering the true cause of
our return ; they were aware of the appre
hensions we had entertained previous to our
first departure, of both the disinclination
and inability of the patriots to realize our
expectations, and naturally imputed the
Britannia's reappearance to a confirmation
of those fears.

Immediately after our arrival, Mr. Hud
son engaged a schooner, and sailed for
Saint Thomas's, for the purpose, as we un
derstood, of making the requisite arrange
ments preparatory to the execution of the
intended speculation ; however, previous to
departing he expressed his determination
of returning within a few days, in order to
meet Colonel C who had not yet ar
rived. Shortly after Mr. H. sailed, Colonel
Gilmore took a final leave of us, and pro
ceeded for the same destination on board a

SOUTH AMERICA. 89

French ship, taking with him all his bag
gage.

The Dowson, whose prolonged absence
excited much conjecture and surprise, did
not arrive until a few days subsequent to
Mr. Hudson's return to St. Bartholomew's.
It appeared that this vessel, on her passage
from Grenada, had been driven out of her
course, and touched at the islands of Santa
Cruz and Saint Thomas's, for provisions,
and her delay was occasioned by the ad
ventures she en countered at the latter place,
where a party of her officers, including
Colonel Campbell, were arrested, the ship's
jolly-boat seized, and the sailors imprisoned.
The Dowson was likewise for a short period
in the possession of Captain Westrop, of
His Majesty's sloop of war Childers. With
the cause of these events and detention I
was never informed. After some time, the
parties were released, and the ship again
restored to them, with peremptory orders
for their immediate departure from the
island; and so determined was the Governor
to enforce a prompt submission to this
mandate that he ordered a shot to be fired

90 EXPEDITION TO

at her from the fort before she could get
under weigh, which the Dowson, when on
point of sailing, returned from an eighteen
pound carronade.

Mr. Hudson's manner, on returning from
Saint Thomas's, strongly indicated his hav
ing failed in making satisfactory arrange
ments at that island, and Colonel C-

appeared in a great measure to have with
drawn from the previously concerted pro
ject, and to have relinquished the idea of
further intercourse with this gentleman,
who still, however, continued to entertain
hopes of being able to prosecute his plan,
and again renewed his solicitations to me

and my friend Captain for our

personal support; but our determination
was fixed, and we therefore declined any
sort of co-operation, at the same time in
sinuating to him our suspicion of the pira
tical nature of his project. To this observa
tion he made no reply, but appeared tacitly
to acknowledge the correctness of our con
jecture.

. In a few days after, the actual nature of
the enterprise became a subject of general

SOUTH AMERICA. Ql

notoriety, in consequence of Mr. Hudson
acknowledging to several individuals that
his plan was to conduct an armed party
against the town of San Martha, for the
purpose of plundering it, and afterwards
decamping with the booty.

Shortly after our arrival at Saint Bar
tholomew's, the remaining officers and men
(six in number) were put on shore, but we
were still permitted to remain on board,
through the special favour of the Supercar
go, who further extended his kindness by
continuing to us our customary rations, an
indulgence which could only be protracted
a few days longer, as he had determined on
proceeding to Port au Prince, in the island
of Saint Domingo, in the hope of being
there enabled to dispose of the artillery and
military stores.

On Saturday the 21st, we finally quitted
the Britannia, it having been intimated to
us that she would sail in the course of that
day. When put ashore we were utterly de
void of even the means of procuring a single
meal ; without a friend upon the island to
whom we could make application for relief;

92 EXPEDITION TO

in every respect destitute and pennyless,
and reduced by a long train of disappoint
ments, and the wretchedness of our present
hopeless situation, to a state of the most
desponding misery.

On landing, we should have been even
at a loss where to deposit our portmanteaus
and trunks, had not a gentleman, who wit
nessed our embarrassment, granted us per
mission to secure them in one of his ware
houses.

The apprehended period of penury and
want had now apparently arrived, when
our friend Mr. Ritchie, to whose kind and
feeling heart we had already been so deeply
indebted, again sympathising in our suffer
ings, voluntarily, and in the most handsome
manner, advanced us, from his own purse,
a sum sufficient to meet the exigencies of
the present moment.

Shortly after taking leave of Mr. R.,

my friend Captain , proceeded with a

gentleman for a few days to one of the
small neighbouring islands. The remainder
of the day I spent in endeavouring to pro
cure a lodging, but was unable to discover

SOUTH AMERICA, 93

any sufficiently moderate for my scanty
finances. Anxious to avoid the inquisitive
observations of the inhabitants, I returned
to the beach, and again indulged in the
melancholy but pleasing recollection of
home — the remembrance of happier days,
and of those absent but dear friends from
whose society I was now so distant. Every
circumstance connected with former fe
licity recurred with double force to my
imagination, and I was only roused from this
train of cheerless contemplation, by the
well-known cadence of the sailors weighing
anchor on board the Britannia. I thought
my heart would have burst when I saw the
vessel (which from habit I almost considered
my home) depart from the bay without
me; despair nearly took possession of my
mind, and the barren hills of Saint Bartho
lomew's at this instant appeared more de
solate than ever. Whilst in this gloomy
reverie, the approach of night and want of
nourishment, warned me of the necessity of
proceeding to the town, in order to procure
shelter and refreshment : weak and spiritless
thither I accordingly pursued my course.

94 EXPEDITION TO

but had only advanced a short way when 1
met Mr. Vaucrosson, the merchant to whom
the Britannia had been consigned, who
offered me the use of a waste room in one of
his outhouses, of which I gladly accepted.
A black woman, who also occupied part
of the place of which I had now become a
temporary tenant, appeared solicitous by
every means in her power to render my si
tuation comfortable; but swarms of mus-
quitoes, which proceeded from a well of
stagnant water under the floor, only co
vered by a few loose boards, prevented the
possibility of repose, by their intolerable
stinging.

The following day I spent in endeavour
ing to devise some means of relief from my
present painful condition, but was unable
to conceive any practicable plan. Monday
was spent in a similar lonely state of
fruitless anxiety, but my spirits were
considerably cheered on the following
morning by the return of my companion,
who now likewise became a sharer in Mr.
V/s bounty, and a fellow lodger in the same
ruinous abode ; for such it may justly be

SOUTH AMERICA. 95

designated, being merely composed of some
old wainscot, which had by time become
so disunited as to admit free ingress, in
every direction, to the sun's rays.

Our thoughts were now wholly occupied
in forming plans for returning to Europe,
but every suggestion for attaining that ob
ject proved nugatory, in consequence of
our pecuniary inability; a circumstance
which even rendered the prospect of ulti
mate success extremely doubtful and un
certain. A week had now elapsed since the
departure of the Britannia, during which
short interval we contemplated with alarm
the rapid decline of our finances ; owing
to the exorbitant price of every article
composing the common necessaries of life.

From the Swedish inhabitants, whose
hospitality and friendship were so conspi
cuous on our first arrival in the island, we
no longer experienced either kindness or
attention ; they appeared wholly forgetful
of their recent flattering professions, and
their present conduct fully exemplified
how difficult it is to form a just value of hu
man sincerity, except through the medium

96 EXPEDITION TO

of adverse fortune. From some few of the
original merchants of the island we still,
however, occasionally received marks of
sympathy and commiseration.

A number of officers having already pro
ceeded to the United States, in consequence
of the comparatively moderate rate of pas
sage, we had likewise determined on pur
suing a similar course, and, in order to pro
vide ourselves with the requisite funds, and
replenish our nearly exhausted resources,
we immediately converted into cash every
article of property we could possibly dis
pose of, (consisting of our swords, epaulets,
books, $c.) Having by this means col
lected what we calculated would be suffi
cient to secure us a conveyance to North
America, we entered into a treaty with the
captain of the brig, General Jackson, bound
to Philadelphia, and had nearly agreed
with him for a passage, with ship fare, at
thirty dollars each, when our attention was
diverted from this purpose by an occur
rence at Saint Kitt's, which revived in our
minds the nearly expired hope of again re
turning to our native country.

SOUTH AMERICA* 97

The circumstance to which I have just re
ferred, was that of several English mer
chant vessels, (which had either through
neglect or misconception of the navigation
laws, been subjected to seizure ;) having
been taken possession of by the admiral
on that station.

Some of the merchants in Saint Bartho
lomew's hearing of this event, advised us, in
the strongest manner, to proceed to Saint
Kitt's ; observing, that the above named
ships must, in order to obtain new registers,
unavoidably return to England in ballast ;
and would, in all probability, afford us a
passage home at a moderate rate. We
felt too much elated with even this distant
prospect of returning to Europe, to hesi
tate one moment as to the course we should
pursue. We at once relinquished our
North American project ; and having deter
mined on proceeding to Saint Kitt's, made
every preparation with the greatest des
patch ; obtained our passports, and in less
than two hours had the satisfaction to find
ourselves on board a small schooner, on the
point of sailing for that island ; to the

H

9B EXPEDITION TO

captain of which we each paid four dollars
for our passage.

We took our final leave of Saint Bartho
lomew's in the afternoon of the third of
April ; leaving behind us the ship Dowson,
with Colonel Campbell and his remaining
officers on board, as likewise Mr. Hudson,
who having been altogether foiled in his
original scheme, had, a short time previous
to our departure, declared it to be his in
tention immediately to beat up for recruits
throughout the island, and proceed with any
number he could collect.

The Emerald, which proceeded to Saint
Bartholomew's, after transferring Colonel
Hippesley's party to the patriot schooner,
Tiger, also continued at anchor after our
departure.). <

Early on the following morning we were
close in with Saint Kitt's, which island pre
sented the most fertile and highly cultivated
appearance. The minor hills exhibited
the most lively and pleasing variety of
shades, covered with verdure to their sum
mits, occasionally interspersed with small
timber and brush-wood.

SOUTH AMERICA. 99

The numerous and widely-extended fields
of sugar-cane were peculiarly attractive ;
displaying, according to the state of for
wardness of the plant, an infinite diversity
of tints. Nothing, perhaps, can give a
more correct idea of a distant view of a
young sugar plantation, than a half-ripe field
of wheat ; with this difference, that the for
mer is far superior in richness of colouring.

The mills were in every direction in full
operation, pressing the cane, whilst innu
merable canoes were to be seen carrying
the produce of the different plantations to
the West Indiamen at anchor in Bass-
terre Roads ; the scene was altogether
the most lively and cheerful imaginable,
and the general appearance of the island,
the active industry of its inhabitants, and
wide display of substantial wealth, were
particularly striking, as contrasted with the
barren and uncultivated island from which
we had so recently departed.

About nine o'clock in the forenoon we
landed at Bassterre, and immediately pro
ceeded to an inn situated a short distance
from the beach, where we met with three

H 2

100 EXPEDITION TO

officers formerly attached to Colonel Wil
son's regiment ; but who had some time
previously resigned their commissions in
disgust. These gentlemen had been par
ticularly fortunate, having, in consequence
of an early appeal to Governor Probyn,
and his Excellency's recommendation
to the legislative body, been provided
with ample means for their return to Eu
rope. The successful result of this appli
cation encouraged us to the adoption of a
similar course of proceeding, previous to
making any inquiries relative to the vessels
under seizure. Having thus formed our
resolution, we immediately proceeded to
pay our respects to the Governor, then at
his country lodge, about two miles distant
from the town ; but the same good fortune
that attended the former applicants was
denied to us, although in every respect si
milarly situated, and our claims (which
could be only those upon humanity)
equally entitled to consideration.

On being admitted to the Governor's pre
sence, we explained to him the painful si
tuation in which we were placed ; that we

SOUTH AMERICA. 101

had, in common with numerous other of
ficers, been deluded into an enterprise from
which we had been compelled to withdraw
under circumstances peculiarly harassing
and distressing ; we solicited his protection
as British subjects, observing that unless
we could procure some mode of convey
ance to England, we must speedily be re
duced to the greatest extremity; and, finally,
expressed our hope that his Excellency
would have the goodness to consider these
particulars, and extend to us that pro
tection and assistance which had been al
ready granted to some of our brother of
ficers. But his Excellency, receiving us
with cold official politeness, declined any
interference in our favour; adding, that
could he secure the captain of the schooner
who brought us to Saint Kitt's, he would
immediately imprison him for presuming
to put us ashore without previously making
a proper report of the persons on board
his vessel ; concluding with a very salutary
warning against the contraction of debts
in that island, as confinement would be the
certain consequence, and payment of the
money our only means of relief.

102 EXPEDITION TO

Grievously disappointed at the utter
failure of our application to General
Probyn, we resolved, without further de
lay, to enter into communications with
the captains of the vessels under seizure,
and with that view proceeded on our re
turn to the town, but had scarcely ad
vanced half way, when, weakened by las
situde and vexation, we found ourselves
so completely overcome, as to be under a
temporary inability to make further pro
gress. In this state we sat down by the
side of the road, where we continued for
some time musing on our unfortunate fate;
and had been in this situation about three
quarters of an hour, when a poor negro
woman approached us with a basket of
Oranges on her head, from whom we pur
chased five for the small sum of one dog * :
and, considerably refreshed, we arrived at
Bassterre, about one o'clock. The re
mainder of this, and the two following
days, were spent in fruitless researches and
applications amongst the captains of the
vessels in harbour, with none of whom we

* Value somewhat less than one penny.

SOUTH AMERICA. 103

found it possible to conclude any engage
ment, in consequence of their enormous de
mands for passage, $c.

Our hopes, with reference to the ships
under seizure, we found altogether frus
trated, as out of the total number, one only
(the Hornby) was destined to return to
Europe in ballast, and the period of her
sailing was as yet uncertain ; whilst the ab
sence of her captain from Bassterre pre
cluded us from knowing on what terms a
passage could be obtained. Finding the
impracticability of effecting arrangements
with any of the captains, we began seri
ously to contemplate with regret our de
parture from Saint Bartholomew's ; where,
distressing and mortifying as our situation
was, yet the sympathizing kindness of some
of its natives, occasionally diverted our
minds from a sense of our affliction. But
here we were utterly unknown; the expense
of every description of necessaries far more
exorbitant ; and the inhabitants probably
wearied by the daily appearance amongst
them of numerous victims of similar mis
fortune, beheld our sufferings with perfect

104 EXPEDITION TO

apathy, and were solicitous only for our de
parture from the island.

Day after day elapsed without bringing
any prospecf of relief, the various captains
rejecting every proposal not founded on a
pecuniary basis. Our feelings were con
tinually harrowed by witnessing the em
barkation of passengers, and the departure
of vessels for England, while we, from ir
remediable inability, were destined to re
main behind.

Every prospect having now apparently
vanished, we had determined on again re
turning to St. Bartholomew's, although we
could scarcely conceive how our circum
stances \vouldbe ameliorated by this change
of situation, or even in what manner our
passage thither was to be effected, having
already at different periods disposed of
every little article of property, not abso
lutely necessary for personal use.

Such was our situation when we were
informed of the return to Bassterre of Cap
tain Walker of the condemned ship, Horn
by, and that the sailing of his vessel was
now principally retarded by the difficulty

SOUTH AMERICA. 105

of procuring a competent crew for her na
vigation. This intelligence in some degree
checked our despondency, and we imme
diately determined (as an only remaining
chance of success) on offering our services
to Captain W., to work our passage to
England on board his ship, as common
seamen, in the hope that thus circum
stanced, inadequate as we were to the
duty, our assistance might not be altoge
ther unacceptable.

Having formed our resolution we instantly
put it in execution, and, to our great joy,
were soon relieved from every anxiety and
uneasiness, by our proposal, after some de
liberation, being acceded to, and liberty
granted us for our immediate embarkation.

Those only who have been similarly si
tuated can conceive the happiness we
now experienced, and the delight with
which we, on the following day, availed
ourselves of Captain W/s permission to
repair on board. We found the Hornby
almost destitute of hands, and to our sur
prise, no preparations made for sailing.

106 EXPEDITION TO

The difficulties in which her captain had
been recently involved, having, notwith
standing his utmost endeavours to have
the vessel cleared out, rendered his depar
ture extremely uncertain.

The Hornby continued at Saint Kitt's
for nearly three weeks after our arrange
ment with the captain. During this pe
riod, we had many opportunities of pro
curing authentic intelligence of the recent
proceedings of several of the vessels and
officers attached to the South American
enterprise, which, with accounts obtained
from officers lately arrived in England
(consequently of dates subsequent to our
departure from the West Indies), may per
haps be more properly embodied with the
Narrative, than introduced either as notes,
or in the form of an Appendix.

An officer of Colonel Campbell's corps,

(Lieut. L ) informed us of the arrival

at Gustavia of Admiral Brion, accompanied
by the Britannia ; which vessel, whilst on
her passage to Saint Domingo, he had ac
cidentally fallen in with at sea, and whose

SOUTH AMERICA. 107

Supercargo was induced to return to
Saint Bartholomew's, in expectation of dis
posing of her stores to the admiral.

Brion immediately on his arrival entered
into treaty for the purchase of the Eme
rald, which he effected, and converted into
his flag-ship, giving her the name of the
Victory. This vessel is well calculated for
the Independent service, having been ori
ginally a French corvette, but since raised
upon, she will also admit of a second tier
of guns, which we understood Brion con
templated mounting upon her, and had pro
cured for that purpose from the Britannia.
From Lieut. L. we likewise learned the nar
row escape of Hudson on board the Dow-
son, where he accidentally met with Brion,
who, instantly beizing him, exclaimed,
"Villain, have I caught you at last?" and
at the same time drawing a dagger from his
breast, attempted to stab him, which he
was only prevented doing by the timely in
terference of (Mr. J s), the Super
cargo. I am not particularly acquainted
with the motives which impelled Brion
to this act of violence, and as the rea-

108 EXPEDITION TO

sons which were assigned for his per
sonal hostility to this man, (however cor
rect) were probably rather surmised than
founded on actual knowledge, I do not
feel that I would be justified in their in
sertion. Hudson, immediately after this
rencontre, disappeared from the island, and
we heard no more of him. Previous to
taking leave of this gentleman (who excited
so much curiosity amongst the British
officers, by whom he was almost invari
ably addressed with the appellation of
General) I cannot avoid remarking, that
notwithstanding the length of time we had
been subjected to his society, and that too
within the narrow limits of a ship, where the
greatest familiarity and open heartedness
almost uniformly and indiscriminately pre
vail, yet so mysterious and incomprehen
sible was his conduct, and cautious his con
versation, that we never could learn even
the country that gave him birth. His ob
servations were those of a shrewd deter*
mined adventurer, well acquainted with the
world, and whose knowledge was mani
festly derived from personal experience.

SOUTH AMERICA. 109

His long service with the Patriots rendered
him regardless of privations, and enabled
him to feel comfortable whenever he could
procure length and breadth for his ham
mock.

Hudson had in his possession a portman
teau, which he particularly valued, in con
sequence, as he declared, of its having been
formerly the property of the royalist com
mander Morillo, from whom he had him
self captured it on an occasion in which
that officer narrowly escaped becoming a
prize to General Hudson's extraordinary
prowess. He likewise frequently exhibited
a small silver snuff-box, which he said
composed a part of the spoils contained in
the portmanteau.

An officer, Captain C , who pro
ceeded from England in the Emerald, and
had been furnished by Brion with authority
and the requisite means for enlisting sea
men throughout the West India islands,
arrived at St. Kitt's some time after Lieute
nant L . The great object of his

mission was to raise a sufficient number of
able British seamen to man the Victory ;

] 10 EXPEDITION TO

and I understood he succeeded in procuring

about seventy hands. Captain C

only remained at Saint Kitt's one or two
days, when he returned to Saint Bartholo
mew's, where he had been appointed by
Brion to the command of his new flag ship.

While these arrangements were making
on the part of Brion, the officers of Colonel
Campbell's corps, and some others who had
subsequently arrived, probably irritated
and soured by a succession of perplexities
and disappointments, became apparently
regardless of their existence, and were
frequently involved in personal disputes.
Several duels took place, but fortunately
without injury to any of the parties. These
unpleasant occurrences, and an alarming
threat which reached the Governor's ears,
induced his Excellency to issue a peremptory
mandate for the instant departure of all
the vessels from the island.

Having thus lost the protection of the
Swedish government, they proceeded to
Five Islands, situated about midway be
tween St. Bartholomew's and St. Martin's.
Here they were shortly after joined by other

SOUTH AMERICA. Ill

vessels of the Independent fleet, and were
actively engaged refitting and preparing
for the Main when we left St. Kitt's.

Since my return to England I have been
informed by officers more recently arrived
from the West Indies, and through other
authentic channels (but to which I am not
at liberty to refer), that their intended pro
ject had been in some measure frustrated
by the unexpected appearance of the
Spanish squadron, which hove in sight off
those islands immediately after, and ren
dered it advisable for the merchants' ships
(the Britannia and Dowson) to take refuge
in Great Bay, Saint Martin's, where they
continued under the protection of the Dutch
government.

Brion, who had been joined by Commo
dore Aury and his squadron, after some
consultation declined coming to an engage
ment, and sailed for the Oroonoco, having
previously intimated to the Supercargoes
his intention of again returning to Saint
Martin's, as speedily as possible, but this
event was so long protracted as to create
doubts of his re-appearance.

1 12 EXPEDITION TO

During this period of anxious suspense,
the islands suffered seriously from the effects
of several most tremendous thunder-storms;
and with infinite regret I heard that the
beautiful mansion of my kind friend, Mr.
Cromoni, senior, had been destroyed by
lightning, owing, principally, as is sup
posed, to the attraction of some metal pine
apple ornaments, by which its exterior had
been decorated.

Whilst waiting the return of Brion, the
yellow fever broke out on board the Dow-
son, and proved fatal to several of the offi
cers, men, and ship's company. This vessel
also had her foremast totally carried away
by lightning, whilst riding at anchor in
Great Bay. The situation of the Super
cargoes was, at the time, truly critical and
embarrassing, as the freights were not of a
nature calculated for general sale ; and the
Patriots, in whom they had originally an
ticipated certain purchasers, were in a situ
ation too deplorable to justify any confi
dence in Brion being able to effect satis
factory arrangements. During his absence,
however, they were unable to form any

SOUTH AMERICA. 113

plan of future proceedings, and their un
easiness was daily increased by witnessing
numbers of the men falling victims to the
virulence of the fever. Brion at length made
his appearance, after a lapse of upwards
of six weeks, but his return proved alto
gether unimportant ; for, notwithstanding
the difficulties under which the Patriots
laboured for want of military stores, he was
unable to conclude any agreement with the
Supercargoes for those under their care; and
they were ultimately compelled to deposit
them with merchants in Saint Bartholo
mew's, to be disposed of on the best terms
they could procure. The Britannia and
Dowson afterwards took in sugar-freights,
and are now (if not arrived) on their pas
sage home.

These circumstances fully prove the
fallacy of the statements which have lately
been inserted in some of the public papers,
of the Patriot admiral having effected the
purchase of the stores forwarded from Eng
land, on board the different merchant ves
sels ; as I know from indisputable authority,
that the only articles of any importance ob-

114 EXPEDITION TO

tained by him were a tew heavy guns tor
his new ship the Victory.

Various other accounts, which have at
different times been published, are equally
unfounded ; and were manifestly framed
for the purpose of carrying on the system
of misrepresentation, to which the partisans
of the Patriots in England have so long and
disgracefully had recourse, and which in
its effects have proved so pregnant with
misery and destruction to the unfortunate
dupes of this unworthy principle.

I shall not presume to suppose that any
of the respectable editors of the daily pa
pers, would wilfully contribute their sanc
tion and support to the dissemination of
falsehood ; but most certainly a great pro
portion of the information contained under
the head " Private Correspondence" is so
utterly inconsistent with every information
I procured, and in numerous instances, so
directly at variance with my own personal
knowledge, as naturally to induce the sup
position of its being fabricated on this side
of the Atlantic.

It was very recently asserted in one of

SOUTH AMERICA. 115

the morning prints, that nearly two thou
sand British troops were collected at Saint
Bartholomew's, enthusiastic in favour of
the Patriot cause, and only waiting the ar
rival of Admiral Brion to convey them
to the scene of action. This statement
can only be 'exceeded in falsehood by
another which appeared about the same
period, announcing the actual junction
with the Independents of the Artillery
Brigade, raised in England for their
service. With respect to the first of these
articles, I will, without hazard of contra
diction, affirm, that at no period whatever
did the total force which rendezvoused at
that island exceed five hundred, officers
and men ; that of this body not one hun
dred and fifty ever actually proceeded to the
Main ; and that even of this small propor
tion, probably nine out of ten were impell
ed by desperation and necessity, to persist in
their original intention of joining the Patriot
armies. The enthusiasm in favour *>f the
enterprise was certainly warm and univer
sal previous to our reaching Saint Bartho
lomew's, but these feelings rapidly subsided

116 EXPEDITION TO

after our arrival in the West Indies, and
yielded its cheering influence to wide-spread
gloom and dissatisfaction. The real cha
racter of the service into which we had been
inveigled soon became but too manifest,
and there were few who would not most
gladly have retraced their passage to Eu
rope had any opportunities occurred of
which they could avail themselves.

The Artillery Brigade, referred to in the
second article, could only have been that
which proceeded from England, under the
command of Colonel Gilmore, as no other
regular organized corps, of a similar nature,
was raised in this country for the South
American service. The incorrectness of
the newspaper accounts of its having
actually landed on the Main cannot
require refutation, the fate of this body
having been already fully unfolded in
the preceding part of this narrative ; and I
can, with confidence, assert that of Co
lonel G/s late brigade, none ever actually
landed on the Continent, with the excep
tion of two officers, and about fifteen or
twenty men, who joined Colonel Wilson's

SOUTH AMERICA. 117

corps, on the disembodying of that to which
they had themselves been originally at
tached.

In numerous other respects the intelli
gence conveyed through the daily pa
pers, of the proceedings of the British
Auxiliary corps, is equally unfounded and
absurd ; but it cannot be necessary to par-
ticularize more minutely the gross imposi
tions which have been practised by both
sides on the Editors, and consequently
through them, on the public credulity.
The instances already enumerated are suf
ficient to prove the extreme caution which
should be observed in perusing the con
flicting statements of the opposite parties,
and their respective literary supporters.
To return from this long digression —

The ultimate fate of Colonel C 's

corps was particularly distressing; and
this officer, whose exertions in support of
the cause had been indefatigable, was (I
have been informed by a friend just arrived
from the West Indies) preparing to return
to Europe, having resigned the command
of his brigade ; and in addition to his nu-

118 EXPEDITION TO

merous disappointments and perplexities,
sustained the irreparable loss of his eldest
son, who had fallen a victim to the fever
at Saint Bartholomew's. He was a young
man of most amiable and gentlemanly man
ners, and universally respected and es
teemed by his brother officers. This corps,
originally the strongest and most effective,
was, on my friend's departure, reduced by
fever and resignation to ten officers and a
proportionate number of men ; which small
remnant intended proceeding for Angus-
tura, under the command of Major P — — t.
Shortly after the return of the Victory
to Five Islands, a premeditated mutiny on
board that vessel was discovered, on the
forenoon of the day on which it was in
tended to be carried into effect. The plan
of the mutineers was to murder Brion and
his officers, take possession of the ship, and
afterwards carry her into a Royalist port.
This project, with the intended hour of at
tack, were intimated to the Admiral in an
anonymous paper which had been put into
his hands by a black boy at Saint Bartho
lomew's.

SOUTH AMERICA. 119

Brion, on receiving this alarming intelli
gence, forwarded the particulars to Captain
Gowie ; who immediately piped all hands
upon deck, and began to single out the
suspected mutineers, two of whom, finding
their plot discovered, rushed through the
guard of marines, and throwing themselves
overboard were drowned ; eleven others,
having been fully convicted of the conspi
racy, received sentence of death, and their
execution was expected to take place on
the day of my informant's departure.

Brion is a Creole of Curazoa, rather ad
vanced in years, of a commanding and
stern deportment, dark penetrating eyes,
and remarkably long black mustachios,
which turn up behind his ears, giving him
an air of much fierceness. He is said to be
a steady, resolute character, well calculated
for the peculiar duties of his command ; in
the execution of which, however rigorous
and afflictive, he has been known on many
occasions to exhibit proofs of a mind not
destitute of feeling and generosity.

It is a melancholy truth, that the sangui
nary and ferocious character of the war-

120 EXPEDITION TO

fare, which has reflected lasting disgrace on
the contending parties on the Continent of
South America, also governs the proceed
ings of the hostile navies ; the indiscrimi
nate destruction of prisoners, is most gene
rally accomplished by compelling the ill-
fated captives, to pass through the cere
mony, which is technically called Walk
ing the Plank. For this purpose, a plank
is made fast on the gang-way of the ship,
with one end projecting some feet beyond
the side; the wretched victims are then
forced, in succession, to proceed along the
fatal board, and precipitate themselves from
its extremity into the ocean ; whilst those
who instinctively clinging to life hesitate
prompt obedience to the brutal mandate,
are soon compelled at the point of a spear
to resign themselves to a watery grave, to
avoid the aggravated cruelties of their in
human conquerors.

The Independents, who (as has been
before observed) impute the origin of this
barbarous mode of warfare to the Royalists,
resort for their justification in adopting a
similar course of proceeding, to the necessity

SOUTH AMERICA.

of retaliation. How far this defence should
be received, as a palliation of their conduct,
I will leave others to determine; but al
though some may, perhaps, allow this ar
gument, as applied to the Patriots them
selves, to moderate the indignation and
horror which such outrages against huma
nity and feeling must naturally excite; yet
surely one undivided opinion must exist,
of its being totally inapplicable to foreign
ers ; who, although they may enter the
Patriot service, warm with enthusiasm for
their cause, confident in its justice, and zeal
ous to promote its triumph, are still but
volunteers, or auxiliaries, personally unin
terested in the dispute, and strangers to the
sufferings, embittered feelings, and recipro
cal wrongs, which have tended mutually to
exacerbate the hostility of the two parties.
Under such circumstances it may be
asked, then, Can foreigners attach them
selves even to the side of justice, without
compromising every feeling of honour and
humanity? The answer can scarcely be
otherwise than in the negative; and this
alone, without particularly enforcing the

122 EXPEDITION TO

impolicy of the speculation in various other
respects, is, as I humbly conceive, conclusive
against British officers or British subjects
identifying themselves with either of the
parties engaged in the contest, which has
so long ravaged and depopulated the fertile
plains of the South American continent.

The occurrences at Saint Kitt's, during
the interval between our agreement with

Captain W , and the departure of

the Hornby, were totally destitute of either
interest or importance. The difficulties
with which the captain had to contend,
occasioned a much longer delay in the
West Indies than had been originally an
ticipated ; but at length, on the 28th of
April, having completed every arrange
ment, he in the afternoon came on board,
and, to our infinite joy, gave orders to
prepare for sailing.

The sails were soon unfurled, and I, for
the first time, found myself attached to a
handspike, going my revolutions round the
capstan, assisting in weighing the anchor ;
but, however humble my situation, joy for
my happy rescue predominated over every

SOUTH AMERICA. 123

other feeling, and rendered it one of the
most cheerful and pleasant moments of my
life. The chief-mate having received in
structions to keep the vessel off-and-on the
island during the night, the captain again
proceeded on shore, for the purpose of pro
curing, if possible, a few additional men.
The necessity of a sharp look out, and con
tinual tacking, kept us on the alert until
morning. On putting the ship about, my
friend and I were stationed at certain
haulyards, with which our intimacy, for
that night only, ensured a familiarity with
its name, scarcely less lasting in our memory
than upon our hands.

In the afternoon of the following day,
Captain W. returned, bringing with him a
reinforcement of three men, which in
creased our crew (including himself), to
the inefficient number of fifteen.

We were now under weigh, some miles
from the shore ; and the boat which had
brought the captain on board returning,
when one of our seamen (a son of St. Pa
trick), relenting his engagement, perhaps
from contemplating the danger of proceed-

124 EXPEDITION TO

ing on the voyage with so lubberly a crew,
embraced, at the risk of his life, the only
opportunity left him of escaping, and, run
ning to the gang-way, with the most daring
temerity jumped headlong overboard. Be
fore he shewed his head above water, the
vessel (which was then going nearly five
knots), had left him a considerable distance,
and every one on board watching with the
most anxious and impatient expectation
for his re-appearance. At length he rose
upon the waves, with the utmost composure
shook the water from his head, and, looking
round exultingly after the Hornby, ap
peared to bid defiance to his wondering
shipmates. Our fears for his personal
safety soon subsided, on perceiving that he
was perfectly at home in his new element.
He swam in the direction of the boat, which
we sometime after saw him reach, get aboard
of, and return to the shore. This man was
unfortunately one of our best seamen, a
circumstance which occasioned much re
gret, as there were now remaining on board
only five experienced mariners, the rest of
our crew being landsmen who were as little

SOUTH AMERICA. 125

icquainted with the management of a vessel
as ourselves ; their services were, notwith
standing, most acceptable, owing to the
great difficulty experienced in procuring
seamen throughout the West Indies, from
whence they take every opportunity to join
the Independent fleet, or of proceeding to
the United States, where innumerable pri
vateers were then fitting out for the same
service.

It was not, however, without much mor
tification, we recognized in our new asso
ciates, three of the privates originally at
tached to our late brigade on board the
Britannia; to whose intrusion and fami
liarity we now were subjected without any
superiority of rank or distinction ; but, in
justice to these men, I must observe, that
they were not altogether forgetful of their
former subordinate situation, nor did they
presume so much as might be apprehended
upon our humiliated condition, and tempo
rary equality.

On this day, the 29th, about three o'clock
in the afternoon, we sailed from Bassterre-
roads, steering a N. W. course, with a

126 EXPEDITION TO

gentle easterly breeze, and, with feelings of
pleasure to which we had long been stran
gers, observed the town and shipping gra
dually recede from our view, and diminish
into obscurity. Shortly after dusk, we
were close in with Eustatia, and, on the
ensuing morning (the 30th), the islands of
Saint Martin and Anguilla were discern
ible ; early in the afternoon Dog Island
bore faintly in sight to the N. E., from
which we took our departure, and bade a
final adieu to the West Indies. Although
yet scarcely clear of the islands we began
to anticipate the enjoyment of home, and
cheerful society of friends, in which we had
frequently almost despaired of partici
pating. Feelings so enlivening and joyous
reconciled us, in a great measure, to the
roughness of our duty, and stimulated us
to a lively discharge of our novel and la
borious employment.

Having now cleared every obstruction,
and being once more afloat upon the wide
Atlantic, we set all sail and steered a N. E.
course. With the exception of a few slight
squalls, accompanied by much vivid light-

SOUTH AMERICA. 12?

ning, we experienced an uninterrupted
continuance of fine weather, and favour
able though light winds, which enabled us
to carry our studding-sails nearly the en
tire voyage to the Azores ; which islands
we made on Tuesday the 26th of May,
without having once had occasion to put
the ship about.

So favorable a passage has probably been
rarely experienced from the West Indies,
and was to be attributed, independently
of the season, to our course, which varied
considerably from that generally adopted
by vessels homeward-bound from the wind
ward islands. The masters of West-India-
men, almost uniformly, in the first instance,
proceed nearly due north until they reach
the island of Bermuda, from whence they
take a fresh departure, and steer direct for

England, but Captain W , aware of

the incompetency of his crew to contend
witli the bad weather, heavy gales, and fogs,
usually experienced off the great bank of
Newfoundland, judiciously deviated from
the customary track, and stood to the N. E.
by E., keeping the ship as close as she

128 EXPEDITION TO

would lay to the southward and eastward ;
by which means he was enabled to fetch
the western islands, so unfrequently touched
at, except by vessels for the immediate pur
pose of commercial traffic.

Of these islands the first land made was
Pico, whose lofty summit was by the
ship's log discernible at the great distance
of twenty-four leagues ; and on our ap
proach, the following day, presented an
appearance inconceivably bold and ma
jestic ; its insulated situation, extreme ele
vation, and luxuriant scenery, combining
to forma view of the most impressive
grandeur.

The peak was seen proudly towering
above massy clouds, which, hanging upon
the steep sides of the mountain, at inter
vals occasioned a partial obscurity, and
even sometimes appeared to envelop the
base itself.

As we bore up abreast of the channel,
which separates the island from Fayal, the
density of the atmosphere became less in
tense, and the clouds gradually dispersing
as the sun advanced above the horizon, the

SOUTH AMERICA. 129

celebrated Peak was shortly after visible
in all its sublimity ; a few light clouds still
hovering around its summit, increasing the
general interest of the scene. Its extreme
height is generally estimated at upwards of
7,000 feet above the level of the sea, and
cultivation appeared to have been carried
to within about one-third of the summit.
These lofty regions were not only unsub
dued by human industry, but apparently
destitute of even the slightest vestige of
natural vegetation. Here nature reigned in
the midst of the most picturesque and bar
ren wildness, more strikingly interesting as
contrasted with the luxuriant fertility of
the lower and inhabited districts. The en
tire island seemed devoted to the growth of
the vine, which rendered its appearance
rather gloomy and sombre ; enlivened, how
ever, by the white cottages of the peasantry,
the monasteries, churches, and a few other
elevated buildings.

Owing to the lightness of the wind, we

were unable to make Fayal as early as we

had expected ; and it was five o'clock in the

fternoon before we anchored in the roads

K

130 EXPEDITION TO

of Horta, the capital of that island. The
prospect which unfolded itself as we ap
proached the harbour, surpassed in natural
beauty any thing I had ever before witness
ed ; equal to the most highly-cultivated
pleasure grounds in England. The island
throughout exhibited a charming variety of
scenery, and its features were, in many
parts, in the highest degree romantic.

The weather being so uncommonly calm,
and the sea free from the slightest ruffle, I
attempted to make a few sketches, but
never before more sensibly felt the in
adequacy of my pencil to do justice to the
captivating scenery which successively pre
sented itself.

The Azores in general abound, I am
convinced, in beauties of the most diversi
fied character, richly deserving the atten
tion of the artist, and well calculated to
reward his labours, and display the extent
and vigour of his talent.

As the vessel sailed round the point, and
entered the roads of Horta, the prospect
was peculiarly fine. The town is built
close to the shore, and, viewed from the

SOUTH AMERICA. 131

harbour, has the appearance of consider
able magnitude and importance, owing
principally to the great number of religious
buildings conspicuous in every direction ;
and which, on first appearing before the
little city, give it an air of architectural
magnificence, of which, with the exception
of the monasteries, churches, and a few pri
vate houses, a more minute acquaintance
proves it to be totally devoid.

Shortly after the Hornby entered the
roads, the revenue officers, attended by
a strong military guard, came on board ;
but, after examining our papers, and going
through the usual forms, retired, leaving
two officers in charge of the vessel, and
granting us unrestricted permission to go
ashore whenever we pleased. Of this in
dulgence we soon availed ourselves, ac
companied by one of the officers for a
guide. It was now fast approaching to
twilight, the evening serene, and the con
vent bells chiming with the most plaintive
solemnity for vespers. Our conductor led
us through the principal parts of the town,
pointing out the various objects deserving

K 2

132 EXPEDITION TO

attention, and describing the different
religions orders to which the numerous
monastic structures, $c., respectively be
longed.

The height of the houses seldom exceed
two stories, and are principally built of a
close blue granite or lime-stone, with
which the island abounds ; it is capable of
being worked to any degree of ornamental
richness, and can be raised in blocks of
considerable magnitude, presenting, when
wrought, a durable and handsome appear
ance. The windows, which, at the time of
Captain Cook's visit, were merely latticed,
are now universally furnished with glass,
those of the second story have likewise trel
lis-work balconies generally attached to
them, where the inhabitants usually resort
to enjoy the mild and salubrious evening
temperature. The principal street, which
runs nearly parallel with the shore, and ex
tends throughout the whole length of the
town, is irregular, in many parts narrow,
roughly paved, and without footpaths.

Horta, although formerly a place of con
siderable strength, cannot at present be

SOUTH AMERICA. 133

said to be well fortified, as the works have
in many places been permitted to fall into
decay. Its chief defence consists in three
forts, two of which cover the principal
landing-place at the south end of the town,
and are strongly garrisoned : the other, si
tuated at the northern extremity, appears
of minor importance, and is less attended
to. An old wall and rampart, nearly in a
ruinous state, extends along the front of
the town, ill calculated in its present con
dition, to afford protection, and without a
gun mounted on any part.

The monasteries and convents partake
principally of the Moorish style of archi
tecture, and chiefly consist of a lofty and
ornamental white front, terminating in the
centre in a curved line pediment, contain
ing some emblematical religious device ; a
square tower at either side, with circular-
headed windows, black quoins, cornices,
belting courses, $c., and surmounted by
Turkish or Arabic turrets. The rear pre
sents nothing more than a plain building of
rough masonry.

The Jesuits' college was originally a fine

134 EXPEDITION TO

and graceful structure, but now partly in a
state of dilapidation ; such parts as still re
main habitable have been converted into
government offices and king's stores. This
building is situated on an eminence, to
wards the north end of the town, and has an
imposing appearance.

During our perambulations through this
little city, the only interruption to the pla
cid stillness of the evening was the tink
ling of guitars, which proceeded from al
most every house, and appeared to be the
general pastime of the inhabitants. After
night-fall the Portuguese seldom go abroad ;
the few we met were wrapped up in large
blue cloaks ; and walking with an air of
the most solemn gravity. About ten
o'clock we returned on board, but early on
the ensuing morning again proceeded on
shore. This being market-day, the pea
santry were crowding in from all parts of
the island with Various articles of provi
sion, consisting of butter, eggs, poultry,
$c., which were to be had remarkably
cheap. The men exhibited much the ap
pearance of the hardy mountaineer, inured

SOUTH AMERICA. 335

to the fatigues of toilsome and laborious
industry. Cleanliness, good order, and
contentment seemed to characterize the
women, whose peculiarity of dress, healthy
appearance, and apparent artlessness of
manners, give them an air of the most in
teresting rustic simplicity.

I was informed that the inhabitants of
Fayal, and the Azores in general, enjoy a
life of the most social and domestic happi
ness, and are far superior both in elegance
of manners and liberality of sentiment to
the generality of Portuguese resident on
the Continent of Europe. On proceeding
a short distance into the interior, the scenery
fully justified my prepossession on landing.
The luxuriant evergreen Faya (from which
the island is said to have derived its name)
grows unheeded in almost every direc
tion. The gardens possess a combined as
semblage of Tropical and European trees ;
that of the American Consul (Mr. Dabney)
was a perfect little paradise, presenting the
interesting novelty of the orange and bana
na, flourishing in the same soil, beside

136 EXPEDITION TO

the apple and other fruits of common Eng
lish growth. The different compartments
were enclosed by hedges of geranium bear
ing a full-blown scarlet blossom, in appear
ance particularly rich and beautiful.

An intimation from Captain Walker, that
the vessel wras ready for sea, precluded the
possibility of extending our excursion so
far into the island as we had intended, and
with much regret we were compelled to re
turn on board.

Through the zealous attention of the
British Consul (Mr. Parkins) who procured
for us during that day every necessary we
stood in need of, the Hornby was, by five
o'clock in the afternoon, cleared out, and
once more ready to proceed on her voyage.
About six we weighed anchor and steered
a N. E. course, close by the west point of
the island of Saint George's, next morning
observed Gracioza, bearing E. and by N.,
and at eleven o'clock passed within four
miles of it. Its general appearance was
rather barren, presenting a brown turf-
like soil, and much covered with heather ;

SOUTH AMERICA. 137

towards the S. W. end the shore bluff and
rocky, against which the sea beats with
much violence and breaks to an immense
height; the interior of the island is moun
tainous. The wind continued favourable
until the sixth of June, when it shifted
round to the N. E., and sent us consider
ably out of our course to the westward.
The wind still continuing adverse, we on
the tenth tacked, and stood in for the Bay
of Biscay, when it became variable, and
gradually veering round to the N. W. we
were obliged to continue beating about, oc
casionally trying for soundings ; our longi
tude, from the rapid currents, baffling
winds, #c., was uncertain, but we supposed
ourselves in the long, of Ushant. On Sa
turday the thirteenth we got soundings in
80 fathoms, and next day at noon discovered
Ushant, bearing E. and by N. distant
about five leagues. The wind still becom
ing more favourable, we, at 5 P.M., cleared
Ushant, stood up Channel with a fine
breeze, and late on the following day (16th
June) arrived in Portsmouth harbour. We

138 EXPEDITION TO

took leave of Captain Walker, with mutual
feelings of friendship and regard ; his con
duct and attention throughout the voyage
having evinced the warm kindness of his
heart, and secured our lasting and most
grateful remembrance.

SOUTH AMERICA. 139

CONCLUSION.

I HAVE endeavoured to give, in the pre
ceding pages, a full and explicit account
of every interesting and important occur
rence connected with the late unfortunate
enterprise ; but being totally unaccustomed
to literary composition, and having now,
for the first, and probably for the last time,
ventured to intrude upon the public atten
tion, I trust indulgence will be extended
to its defects and inaccuracies. I do not,
in any degree, aim at the character of an
Author ; should, therefore, my little Narra
tive, from the temporary importance of its
subject, be considered deserving of notice,
it will, I trust encounter mild and lenient
criticism.

Had I exclusively consulted my own in
dividual feelings, I would have cautiously

140 CONCLUSION.

shunned the notoriety to which a work of the
kind must, more or less, give rise. My
private inclinations, however, have been
sacrificed to a sense of public duty, and
the earnest solicitations of friends, who
(aware of the flattering expectations dili
gently excited by the Patriot Agents in
England, and the injury and sufferings to
which a confidence in their sincerity and
good faith has given birth) urged me in the
strongest manner to publish an immediate
and minute statement of every circumstance
relative to the formation, history, and fate
of the expedition to which I was so unfor
tunately attached.

Such a detail is, at this time, more pe
culiarly important; as the Agents, who have,
by their intrigues and deception, occa
sioned the misery or destruction of such
numbers of British officers, continue ac
tively engaged in prosecuting similar dis
graceful and unwarrantable practices ; nor
are these proceedings confined to the indi
viduals who have been so long and un
accountably permitted to carry on the
system of delusion in this country, under

CONCLUSION. 141

the real or assumed title of " accredited
Agents of the South American Patriots/'
the hollo wness of their profession, and no
toriety of their want of faith, might possibly
render further exertions on their part, com
paratively innoxious ; — but several other
persons, apparently independent of each
other, and all acting, it is understood, with
out concert or connexion with Don Men-
dez, are at this moment zealously engaged
throughout the United Kingdom, raising
extensive bodies of officers and men, avow
edly for the service of the Independent
Government ; and for the purpose (as may
be presumed) of giving their proceedings
an impressive air of official consequence,
occasional levees are actually held in Lon
don, at which those desirous of trans-atl an
tic military fame experience little difficulty
in procuring commissions or the promise of
receiving them.

For the correctness of the preceding Nar
rative, I can, in most instances, personally
vouch, the events, in general, having passed
under my own immediate observation, and
their accuracy not now depending on the

14(2 CONCLUSION.

mere impression which such circumstances
made upon the memory and recollection ;
as, from the day of my departure from Eng
land, until that of my return, I carefully
preserved a written memorial of every oc
currence which appeared in the slightest
degree interesting or important, with minute
particulars of such information as we pro
cured during our erratic voyages amongst
the West India islands.

With reference to those parts, which
more or less depend upon information, I
have not the most distant apprehension of
their being in any important particular
contradicted ; having, on every occasion,
carefully avoided the insertion of any pro
ceedings or intelligence not founded either
on general notoriety and undisputed truth,
or not received through such channels as
justified unqualified confidence and credit.

The accounts which have been intro
duced of the state of affairs on the Spanish
Main, nature of the warfare, $r., were not
the result of mere individual communica
tion, or received from parties biassed and
prejudiced against the Patriot cause. They

CONCLUSION. 143

were, in numerous instances, derived from
quarters, in which the feelings and prepos
sessions were at utter variance with the in
telligence — and the universal sentiment
throughout the West Indies, and informa
tion, through whatever channel procured,
were in these respects, too confirmatory to
allow the most remote degree of hesitation
or doubt.

The very fate of the expedition is almost
conclusive evidence of the extraordinary
misconception under which the British
officers laboured; and of the illusive and
faithless engagements of those persons in
England, by whom it was more particularly
encouraged and promoted.

It now only remains for me to express a
hope that I may not be considered as having
too far trespassed upon the public atten
tion, by the occasional introduction of my
own opinion and observation. In this re
spect, however, I have not presumed much
upon the patience of the reader, and never
with a hostile feeling towards the cause of
the Independents. That cause must stand or
fall upon its own insulated merits : confi-

144 CONCLUSION.

dent in its abstract justice, I heartily wish
it speedy and perfect success, — but without
the sacrifice of British blood, or the com
promise of British honour.

roRN^ S

THE END,

Printed by W. CLOWES, Northumberland-court, Strand.

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