can procure a passage to his heart. "When I tell him he hates flatterers; he says he does; being then the most flattered." Some of the most shallow and least worthy of our company, have purchased marks of the general's regard, by supplying the cordial of adulation, for which he has no measured thirst. "He that will absolutely confine his patron to hear only the commendations which he deserves, will soon be forced to give way to others that regale him with more compass of musick." of musick." On this ac count I have less confidence in his promises, for promises at present are all he gives, or I suppose has to give. But when the time to remember and perform shall come, and rival claims to place shall be set up, he may be expected to decide in favour of those, who have soothed his vanity. At the same time he is a great moralist or moralizer. Vice and mean‹ ness in every degree and shape are, according to his own declarations, entirely against his taste and judgment. If you take his word for it, he is a lover of virtue even to enthusiasm. is always inveighing against dissimulation and injustice, and extolling sincerity and disinterestedness--All the virtues are the themes of his encomiums. To use his own language, he

He

abominates tyranny; hates fools; abhors flatterers; detests pride; and laments the diabolical corruptness of modern days. He loves freedom; admires candour; esteems wise men; respects humility; and delights in that noble and beautiful integrity and good faith which distinguished the golden times of antiquity." He speaks with great freedom and asperity of the faults of the different learned professions. According to him, "priests are hypocrites; lawyers, sophisters; and doctors, pretenders ; and virtue has fled this detestable world; he would lay down a refined philosophy, which should have for its object the reformation of abuses ;" and finally, he "would renovate the perverted minds of mankind, restore the ancient beatitude, when every excellence and virtue prevailed among men, for the happiness of the present race, and the perpetual prosperity of future generations." All this is to be realized in

South America.

Miranda is no doubt sincere in these notions

of perfectibility. Yet one would think the French experiment should make a wise man pause. This seems to be no other than the wild philosophy, which erected the reign of blood and terror on the ruins of monarchy, and

supplied the thirsty guillotine and more thirsty sword with innocent victims. If such scenes are to be acted in South America, I shall have done with the revolutionizing philosopher. The engagements, by which we are bound to him, make it at present, next to impossible to get away; and the cause has acquired so much appearance of respectability and such means of success by the juncture of British force, that I resolve to continue, though I cannot say without some reluctance.

LETTER XVI.

At Trinidad.-Officers and men engaged there. -General order.—Capt. Johnson.—Foolish handbill.-Departure.

Port of Spain, Trinidad, July 14th, 1806. ON the 24th of last month we arrived at this island. Tlie affairs of the expedition are in such train that it will undoubtedly proceed. It is to be assisted by English supplies and naval force, though by no regular troops. The British authority here have perhaps not sufficient confidence in the plan to give it this aid;

and if they were disposed, could not do it without disobliging extremely the French and Spanish party here, which is numerous and influential. The inhabitants, being chiefly of these nations, it is not easy to get men to enlist. Notwithstanding this, seventy or eighty volunteers have been recruited; and during the week to come, which is to be spent here, this number may probably be doubled. Between twenty and thirty persons have been added to the service as officers. A few of them are respectable men; but the greater part are low or worthless characters; such as I think Miranda's dear countrymen will not be likely to deem an acquisition. The principal and most respectable persons are William Gage Hall, with the rank of colonel of engineers; count de Rouvray, colonel; Chevalier Loppenot, captain of horse; James Adrien, interpreter and officer of engineers; and two Spaniards ranking as colonels; Trelawney de Belhay, chief de equadron, Phillip Nihil, 1st lieutenant, Alexander Bruce, do. Samuel W. Walcott, do. Charles Carrington, do. Isaac Robinson, do. Le Frecier Loppenot, aid de camp to the chief, Daniel Crone 1st lieut. De Sine, do.Robert Roscow, do. Horace Hathaway 2nd

lieutenant of artificers-and Robert Mc Cul lagh, do. in the rifle corps.

July 17th. The general order of this day contained the following gracious words ;————

"Whilst the commander in chief sees with regret the inconveniences the officers and sol. diers suffer by being so much longer confined on board ship, than could possibly have been expected, he begs leave to remind them that one of the first qualities of a soldier is to bear with patience the unavoidable deprivations to which a military life is subject; and at the same time, assures them that he will always bear in mind what they have suffered, and as far as in his power, study to relieve them.”

Though this condolent address was put in the orderly books, I suppose not ten of Miranda's followers heard of it. As the first expression of his regard, since our misfortune, it deserves to be noticed. Were it however known to all, it would not do much to reinstate him in the affections of his volunteers, especially those who left New-York with him. They think him a hard and unfeeling master, I do not remember that he has ever made a personal address to them, even when in the most try. ing circumstances. He has appeared insensi