Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA.
[NEWS FROM THE AURORA.]
Margarella, Aug. 19.

Col. Todd [agent of the United States] arrived here the end of this month, and I am glad to have it in my power to say he has received every attention from all the public authorities, and from individuals.

President Bolivar was, at the end of last month, on the bank Ulia, preparing a flotilla to enter the lake of Maracaibo, with a part of his army, and Gen. Paez had at the same time entered Varinas. The position of the patriot armies is now such that there remains no point of retreat for the enemy but Porto Cabello, as they occupy all positions between Maracaibo and the Llanos. Bolivar's army and that of Paez amount to 9,000 men, 3,000 of which are most excellent cavalry.

It is said that the situation of the Spanish army, more than the orders from Spain, has induced Morillo to propose a suspension of hostilities, for which purpose commissioners were sent to the Congress of Colombia, and to President Bolivar, and to other generals, all of whom, acting by a common sentiment though without any preconcert, have returned exactly in the spirit of the same answer, which is, that if the propositions have for their basis the acknowledgment of independence, that hostilities should cease, but not otherwise.

By a vessel which left Laguira on the 9th inst. we learn that Bolivar and Paez had commenced their operations, most probably this is the operation referred to in the late Laguira accounts relating to La Torre.

Adm. Brion and Gen. Montilla, after having dismissed the mutinous foreign troops at Rio de la Hacha, and shipped them for Jamaica, appeared before the Moro of Santa Martha, on the 9th June, where the fleet remained three days, carrying on a partial cannonade with that place; and under cover of this fire, they suddenly set sail for Savanilla, which they surprised, and landed the whole of the troops. In a few days, the people of the surrounding villages joined the patriots, to a man. In Santa Martha and Cartagena there are three parties—royalists, constitutionalists, and patriots; the greatest anarchy, however, prevails at those places, and the army under Montilla will not have any great trouble in possessing himself of those places. The same confusion prevails at Maracaibo and Monterey; the Royal Governor of that province has found it necessary to make his escape in secret, and has arrived at Caracas, in which city a spirit of discontent and turbulence prevails, which speaks for itself; for, by the constitution, the military and the civil powers being separated, the monopolists have come into the possession of the civil authority, and the two interests are now in open conflict, all of which tends to serve the good cause.

On the 17th inst. we heard a heavy cannonade, which began about 5 o'clock in the morning, and did not cease till about mid-day: and yesterday at break of day a brig was discovered under Danish colors which came to anchor in the port of St. Juan de Greco, about 10 o'clock; the appearance of this excited some curiosity, but it was augmented to surprise, when 114 men of the royal regiment of Clarines, which formed part of the garrison of Carupano, and had risen upon the officers, seized on the Danish vessel, and made sail for this place; they brought with them their arms, equipments, and ammunition, and a good stock of provisions; after they had embarked, however the weather became calm, and at break of day yesterday, a heavy fire was opened on them from the fort of Campano, and six armed flecheras moved out to attack the Danish brig. The action between the brig and the flecheras was very severe and desperate; but they defeated the efforts of both fort and flecheras; having only one man killed and eleven wounded; the loss of the flecheras not known.

The breeze sprung up soon after, and they made sail as above mentioned, and the troops have landed here. They have bro't a considerable quantity of arms, besides their own; a drum major, many drums, fifes, and four excellent bugles. These men say, that there was a common understanding among the troops throughout the country, & that other risings were expected at the same time; that the only difficulties they are likely to meet, are the great number of Catalans, Biscayans, and other merchants, who are very active constitutionists and ready to buy or sell any thing; but who are abhorred by the troops.

These troops will embark in a few days to join Montilla's corps, to carry on the expostulation with the Cartbagenians and Santa Martha.