Delaware Gazette And Peninsula Advertiser

Extract of a letter, written by a Tennessean lately at the Island of Margarita, to his friend in Nashville.

After writing my last letter to you, visited the shore of the island of Marguritta, where I saw a miserable set of beings and a number of the officers of the army and navy of the Patriots of South America, among whom were many English officers, just arrived from England, who curse the service, and are determined to quit it as early as possible.—Some English officers have been in the service fifteen months, and have not received a month's pay yet.—The soldiers and sailors also, complain very much of a service in which they are badly fed and very rarely paid. There is no efficient discipline kept up either in their army or navy. An officer was heard to say in the presence of Admiral Brion and Gen. Arismendi, that he would quit the damned service as soon as an opportunity offered. Are such expressions an evidence of discipline? Will such loose discipline enable them to command success? I think not—and it is the opinion of every well informed officer I have conversed with, that unless strict discipline can be introduced into their army and navy, the South Americans must inevitably fail, as party spirit that bane of all free governments, has obtained a firm root; both in the army and navy.

I was extremely disgusted with the personal appearance and blood thirsty conduct of General Arismendi, who confessed that he had with his own arm murdered four hundred Spaniards in cold blood! In a ramble on the beach I discovered a large number of human skulls and bones, unburied at this late day, which were of the persons murdered by this savage General, in whose presence I could scarcely suppress my indignation.

The Royalists have lately possessed themselves of the wife of this General, which will check his savage conduct in future. He has declared by proclamation, that if they offer her the least violence he will put six thousand Spaniards to death—He will soon quit Margaritta for the Main.

General Gomez is Governor of this Island, and is very generally respected. With Admiral Brion I am truly pleased.—He is in every respect the hero and gentleman; he certainly was born to command.—He appears to me to be the only officer I have seen of the army or navy of the Patriots, that has embarked in their cause with truly patriotic principles. He has abandoned the society of a beloved Family and sacrificed a princely fortune to serve a cause, which I must fear, will not succeed—but, his heroic soul will not suffer him to sink under his present disappointments and misfortunes ; and he is still ardent in his belief, that success will eventually crown their efforts. He is in continual dread of mutiny on board of his squadron, and never appears on deck without being well armed, as was the case of Paul Jones. When he goes into action, he nails his colors to the mast head, and stations a man at the magazine, to blow up his vessel, in the event of being obliged to surrender. He gets under way at the same time on all his vessels, with his squadron.

In my last letter I mentioned that the crew of one of his brigs. had mutinied and ran off with the vessel—she has not yet been heard of, which I very much regret. as there are several of my countrymen on board. Mr. Erwin went passenger on the Admiral's ship to Barcelona, where he will get a passage to the Orinoco.

Gen. Bolivar is still successful on the Main, and will carry every thing before him, as the Royalists have lost their main stay in the death of Gen. Morillo.

Cumaná was closely blockaded by Royal Squadron, when I left Mar garitta. A very heavy cannonading was distinctly heard in that direction the morning of our departure.

Admiral Brion has been unsuccessful of late. for the want of men and provisions.