tout ce qui concerne les îles Françaises et leur situation actuelle, je ne connois presque rien du tout, et il me serait, par consequent, impossible de former une opinion juste la dessus. Comme dans votre plan celle-ci est la base de toute l'operation, puisque c'est de colonies Françaises que doit partir la force agissante pour mettre en mouvement le peuple du continent opposé, il faut que vous sayons bien surs que cette Donnée est vraie et positive.-Il me parait aussi que ma nomination et mon depart pour St Domingue seroit le signal d'alarme pour la cour de Madrid, et pour celle de St James's, et que les effets s'en feroient bientôt apercevoir à Cadiz et à Portsmouth, ce qui mettroit de nouveaux obstacles à l'entreprise, qui, d'ailleurs, est trop grande, trop belle, et trop interessante, pour la gater ou pour la faire echouer par une faute de prevoyance dans le commencement.' After some further correspondence and consultation, the pressure of affairs cooperating with the discouragement offered by Miranda, the flattering project was for the time relinquished. During some years subsequent to this occurrence, the matter was sunk in oblivion amid the violent struggles which agitated Europe. Many months had not elapsed when the reign of Robespierre began; and Miranda, with so many other virtuous men, were buried in the dungeons of the revolution. Though tried, and clearly acquitted by the revolutionary tribunal, which declared that not a shadow of suspicion attached to him, he was still detained in prison, and escaped the guillotine only by one of those accidents by which so many others were delivered up to it. When he recovered his liberty, under the party that assumed the government after the death of Robespierre, he might still have become a leading man in the revolution, and was offered the command of an army. His answer however was, that although he had fought for liberty, it was not his purpose to fight for conquest: If France would establish a free and moderate government, retire within her antient limits, and sincerely offer peace to the whole world, he would willingly contend for her against all her ene mies. This remarkable answer rests on as remarkable an autho rity; for Miranda had the fortitude to enlarge upon the same ideas in a pamphlet, and to publish them at the very moment (1795) in Paris. About the same time, or a little after, Miranda was met at Paris by deputies and commissioners from Mexico, and the other principal provinces of South America, who had been sent to Europe for the purpose of concerting with him the measures to be pursued for accomplishing the independence of their country. It was decided accordingly, that Miranda should, in their name, again repair to England, and make such offers to the British go vernment vernment as, it was hoped, might induce it to lend them the assistance requisite for the great object of their wishes. The instrument, which was drawn up, and put into the hand of their representative, as the document to the British government, of the proposals of the South Americans, is too remarkable an evidence of the views and plans of the leading members of the South American communities, not to deserve at the present moment the most serious attention. 1. The first article states, that the Hispano-American colonies, having for the most part resolved to proclaim their independence, were induced to address themselves to the government of Great Britain, in the confidence she would not refuse them that assistance which Spain herself, in the midst of peace, had not declined extending to the British colonies in America. 2. The second article stipulates the sum of thirty millions Sterling, which South America would pay to Great Britain for the assistance required. 3. The third article sates the amount of the British force which was deemed requisite. 4. The fourth article it is proper to present in the words of the document itself. Une alliance defensive formée entre l'Angleterre, les Etats Unis d'Amerique, et l'Amerique Meridionale, est tellement recommandée par la nature des choses, par la situation geographique de chacun des trois pays, par les produits, l'industrie, par les besoins, les mœurs, et la charactere de ces trois nations, qu'il est impossible que cette alliance ne soit pas de longue durée; surtout si on prend soin de la consolider par l'analogie dans la forme politique des trois gouvernemens, c'est-à-dire, par la jouissance d'une liberté civile, sagement entendue ;-ou pourroit même dire avec confiance, que c'est le seul espoir qui reste à la liberté, audacieusement outragée par les maximes detestables, avouées par la republique Française. C'est le seul moyen encore de former une balance de pouvoir capable de contenir l'ambition destructive et devastation du système Français.' 5. The fifth article relates to a treaty of commerce between Great Britain and South America. 6. The sixth article stipulates the opening of the navigation between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans, by the isthmus of Panama, as well as by the lake of Nicaraguay, and the guarantee cf its freedom to the British nation. 7. The seventh article respects the arrangement of the commerce between the different parts of South America itself; proposed to be left on its present footing, till the assemblage of deputies from the different provinces of the continent can arrange the terms of their union. 8. The eighth article points to some project to be devised, of a connexion between the bank of England and those of Lima and, Mexico, for the purposes of mutual support, and of giving England the advantage of that command of the precious metals which the country supplying them might have it in its power to yield. 9. 10. The ninth and tenth articles relate to the project of alliance between South America and the United States. The prin-, cipal points are, the ceding to the United States of the Floridas, the Mississippi being proposed as the most adviseable boundary between the two nations, and the stipulation of a small military force from the Anglo-Americans, to aid in the establishment of the independence. 11. The eleventh article, respecting the islands, states the plan. of resigning all those which belong to the Spaniards, excepting only Cuba, the possession of which is rendered necessary, by the situation of the Havannah commanding the passage from the Gulph of Mexico. pour This document is dated Paris, the 22d of December, 1797., The proposal transmitted to Mr Pitt, for the return of General Miranda to this country, was acceded to with alacrity; and the General had a conference with that minister in January following It accorded with the plans of Mr Pitt, at that time, to enter with promptitude into the scheme proposed for the emancipation of South America. The outline of the proceedings was fully agreedupon; and, so far had the preparations advanced, that General Miranda, in a letter to Mr Hamilton, the much lamented legislator of the United States, dated 6th April 1798, thought himself authorised to write in the following terms. Celle-ci vous sera remise, mon cher et respectable ami, par mon compatriote Don *** *****, chargé des depeches de la plus haute importance le President des Etats Unis; il vous dira confidentiellement ce que vous voudrez apprendre sur ce sujet. Il parait que le mcment de notre emancipation approche ;-et que l'etablissement de la liberté sur tout le continent du nouveau monde nous est confié par la Providence. Le seul danger que je prevois c'est l'introduction des principes Français qui empoisonneraient la liberté dans son berceau, et finiraient par detruire bientôt la votre.' Nay, so far did the arrangements advance, that, on the 19th of October,. he wrote to the same gentleman in the following terms. • Vos souhaits sont en quelque sorte remplis, puisque on est convenu ici que, d'un coté, on n'employera point aux operations terrestres des troupes Anglaises, vu que les forces auxiliaires de terre devront etre uniquement Americaines, tandis que de l'autre, la marine sera purement Anglaise. Tout est applani, et on attend seulement le fiat de votre illustre President pour partir comme l'eclair. l'eclair.' In another letter, of the same date, to General Knox, he says, Quel plaisir n'ai-je pas reçu, mon tres cher General, en apprenant votre nomination dans l'armée continentale des Etats Unis d'Amerique? Il parait que nos souhaits vont enfin s'accomplir, et que toutes les circonstances possibles se reunissent dans ce moment-ci en notre faveur. Veuille la Providence nous communiquer assez de sagesse pour en tirer un parti avantageux. The proposal was, that North America should furnish 10,000 troops, and the British government agreed to find money and ships. But the President Adams declined to transmit an immediate answer, and the measure was, in consequence, postponed. In the beginning of 1801, during Lord Sidmouth's administra tion, the project was again revived. The plans of government to be recommended to the people of South America, were considered and approved; even the military operations were sketched and arranged; and the preparations far advanced for the expedition. The preliminaries, however, of the peace of Amiens were signed; and the measure was put off to a future opportunity. When war was again declared against France in 1803, the bu siness of South America formed one of the principal designs of ministers; and measures were taken to carry it into effect, the moment that the peace which still subsisted with Spain should be broken. This event did not occur till 1804, when Mr Pitt was again at the head of administration. The measure was now prosecuted with zeal; Lord Melville and Sir Home Popham were employed in arranging with General Miranda the whole details of procedure; when the execution was again suspended by the affairs of Europe, and by the hopes and exertions of the third coalition. * The prospect thus appearing shut upon them in Europe, the South American exiles from the provinces of Caraccas and Santa Fée, residing in the United States of America, and in the island of Trinidad, pressed General Miranda, and at last prevailed upon him, to quit his residence in this country, and make an effort in their behalf through the medium of America alone. Though the politics of Britain presented to him, at the moment, no prospect on her part, of active assistance, they appeared, at least, to promise the security, that no body of French, or of Spanish *On this point the reader may derive satisfaction, by consulting the trial of Sir Home Popham; the evidence of Lord Melville at pp. 153 to 164; and the declarations of Sir Home at pp. 91, 922 94, 95, 100; and an Appendix note A. See "Trial of Sir Home Popham," printed for Richardson, Royal Exchange, 1807. Spanish troops, should cross the Atlantic, to confirm the dominion of the enemies of Britain. In these circumstances, he, was induced to think that no great force,-that nothing more, in short, than what might be requisite to impose respect upon the small number of troops in the Spanish garrisons, and to afford some appearance of security to the people, was, in the known condition of the public mind, required to effect the revolution; and at the same time, the disputes subsisting between the United States of America and Spain, respecting Louisiana, afforded him a hope in that quarter of all the assistance which the occasion demanded. With a full understanding on the part of the government here, and even, as it would seem, with promise of support, he proceeded to America; but on his arrival there found,, to his mortification, that a compromise on the subject of Louisiana had already taken place, and that the public aid of government was not to be obtained. He was received, however, with cordiality and distinction by the President and Secretary; and, from various quarters, received encouragement to suppose, that, by private exertions and resources, such means might be got together, as, with the help of good fortune, might be adequate to the enterprize. Though the government of the United States, from the obvious motive of exculpating themselves in the eyes of France, thought proper afterwards to disclaim all knowledge of the transaction, and even to order the prosecution of two of the persons who appeared to have been principally involved in it,-it came out upon the trial, to the conviction of the Jury, who thereupon acquitted the parties, that the government had been privy to all the proceedings. of Miranda, and, by never so much as whispering their disapprobation, appeared of necessity, both to him and to his agents, to favour, though they deemed it impolitic at the time to countenance, his undertaking. * The particulars of the expedition to Caraccas, it is necessary for us entirely to pass over. It failed, feeble as were the means employed in it, chiefly from the intelligence which had been treacherously conveyed to the Spaniards, and by the misconduct of the American shipmasters, over whom the General had not sufficient controul. But it had this in it of benefit, that the care ful *. The principal facts, together with the proclamations of General Miranda, documents of importance in forming a judgement of the whole bearings of this affair, may be found in a pamphlet, which we recommend as containing some correct information, not to be found any where else, entitled, Additional Reasons for our imme diately emancipating Spanish America. By William Burke.' |