The Enquirer

SPANISH AMERICA.

Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Carraccas to his friend in Philadelphia, dated July 3d, 1811.

"Our politics here are not particularly interesting. I repeat, however, (notwithstanding the many lies in both the English and American papers) since we have been here, not a man has been put to death, either by the law or the mob; that everything has been and is quiet. But the latest news I can give you is, that Gen. Miranda, is now a member of congress, elected by a town almost unheard of before in Barcelona.

The eyes of all Carraccas are fixed on his motions, as it can by no means be said he possesses the general confidence of his fellow citizens. You have heard long since of the failure of what seems to me the unprovoked attack upon Coro. The little Corian army are in their turns the attackers, and are actually arrived to within 90 leagues of this capital, at a place called San Felipe—whilst the equally wanton aggression on the people of Guyana has provoked them to send foraging parties to within a league or two of the extent of my excursion into the interior. Harassed thus on both sides, one is surprised that no impatience nor alarm seems visible amongst the patriots—Nothing but people with fantastic uniform are to be seen in our streets; yet these epauletted gentlemen hear of the near approach of the enemy with the utmost tranquillity, nor evince the least wish to march and disturb their operations. In these times, when unanimity seems so absolutely necessary for the preservation of their new government, the principal cities and provinces seem desirous of humbling the capital and forming independent states of their own. The city of Valencia has publicly in the Gazette and in Congress claimed to be one of four independent districts into which she affirms the province of Carraccas (in its most confined sense) should be divided; and thus are the seeds of present and future dissentions already sown. It is still debating in the congress; where, one of the members would remind them of the fable of the Old Man & the Bundle of Sticks, it would be, I think, extremely apropos.—

Within these three days a most vexatious affair happened to government. In January last, a sloop of war arrived from Cadiz with proposals of accommodating matters from the regency: the bearer of the dispatches being a native of this place, the heads of government offered him, if he would change sides, to make him a Colonel in their army, with all the appointments belonging to that rank; by this offer he was tempted to desert his trust, and suffered the sloop of war to sail without him. When she was gone, the government, instead of a colonel's, offered him a captain's commission, which he (who was one of the oldest captains in the Spanish army) rejected with disdain, and demanded his passport. They soothed him by assuring him they would give him a good post under government, and finally made him secretary of the war department. But Mr. Montenegro never forgot their first breach of promise; and observing that from the great number of papers presented to the secretary of state for his signature, he put his name to them generally without examining their purport. Mr. M. conceived and carried into execution a very pretty prank. He drew out an order to the commandant at La Guaira, that immediately on Mr. Montenegro's arrival there, who was charged with secret dispatches of the utmost importance, he (the commandant) should instantly order the sloop of war then at anchor there, to get under weigh without a moment's loss of time, and repair wherever Mr. M. should direct. This the secretary signed as usual, and the honourable secretary of war has taken himself off, no one knows where, with all the papers & documents of consequence that were to be found in his department."

July 5th—The congress yesterday came to the resolution of declaring complete Independence—a renouncing Ferdinand 7th, and every other tie to Old Spain. It was said it would be declared to day; but this I do not believe.—One thing is certain—it is completely flying in the face of the British government, who (if I do not completely mistake Lord Liverpool's meaning) promised neutrality and friendship, whether they acknowledged the regency or not, but only so long as they remained subjects of our ally Ferdinand.—What will follow I know not. I believe it is fear of the consequences that makes the most prudent wish to defer the proclamation. It is rumored about (but I do not answer for the truth) that the royal colonists have effected a landing in considerable force at point Hicacos, a little to the leeward of Puerto Cabello.

P.S. This instant independence is proclaimed.