Virginia Argus

From the Baltimore Patriot.

SENOR OLIVIA

To the Editors of the Patriot.

You will please give the following short sketch of a singular character--a place--in your paper.

The ex-priest senor Olivia who was lost a few months past doubling Cape Horn, was a native of the province of Conception, a fine young man of a liberal education, of a remarkably strong mind, benevolent and brave. When the revolution took place in Chili, he was acting as priest: reason burst with such influence on his mind, and he was so amazed at the state of slavery and ignorance in which he lived, that he exclaimed like a person who awakes from a dream, "we were all born free, and I will enjoy my natural rights or perish in the glorious cause."--He from that moment dropped his superstition, left the convent, and entered into the Patriot army, as a chaplain--And such was his influence that he was soon made a member of the government (the Junta) until the Royalists, in consequence of the factions and divisions amongst the Chilians re-captured the country, when he with many thousands more Patriots fled to the provinces of La Plata. There restless and groaning under his loss and the oppressed state of his native country--he embarked with commodore Brown in the Buenos Ayres squadron, destined to cruize on the coast of Chili, & to co-operate with the Patriot army then ready to pass the Andes to attack Chili.

He was not unsuccessful: they captured many prizes, and took a great deal of specie from the Old Spaniards, and was sent to convoy several prizes to La Plata, and was unfortunately lost off Cape Horn in the privateer that he is said to have commanded. If a priest is capable of such enterprize, and gallant actions, what may not the glorious cause of liberty expect from the numerous inhabitants of South America. Poor Olivia! he merited a better fate. May his departed spirit ascend to heaven as a minister to plead in behalf of the oppressed and persecuted Patriots of South America.