Phenix Gazette

A late English writer gives the following description of Bolivar's personal manner and appearance:

In person the president is about 5 feet 7 inches in height; but his body and his appendages are so disproportioned that, instead of commanding respect, he would, perhaps, if seen in the common sphere of domestic life, more naturally excite risibility. His head is exceedingly large, with a profusion of coarse curling very dark hair; and his features which are rough and manly are then obscured by a superabundance of whiskers. His eyes are full and dark, and, when directed straight forward, piercing; but they are more frequently employed in side-long glances at the persons he is conversing with, or those he is surrounded by, & he seldom looks directly at even an inanimate object turning his head on one side like a hare. From his shoulders to his waist his frame is in good proportion to his height, but his legs are excessively thin and shapeless, and his hips narrow; and the inequality of the former to the support of his own body, is upon most occasions, made the more conspicuous by his wearing very tight scarlet pantaloons, profusely decorated with gold lace and large dragoon boots, which are scarcely half filled. His conversation too is not equal to what I had been prepared to expect; and his condescension in rendering himself the proposer and applauder of obscene jests, was inconsistent with the idea I had formed of his character. Upon the whole, therefore, the impression made upon me by my first introduction to this distinguished individual was attended with very considerable feelings of disappointment.