1830.] The Eve of Saint Simon, in Colombia. 155 



have slain thirty of the enemy ; and his lance, the weapon with which 

 he performed this feat, still wet with the vital fluid, was by himself, 

 after the action, presented to the late General English, He is, without 

 exception, the best guerilla chieftain that exists. With but little theo- 

 retical knowledge of the art of war, he has, from experience, become an 

 adept in its practical duties. Correct in his judgment, decisive in his 

 conduct, and rapid in his movements, success generally follows the exe* 

 cution of his plans. Were his education commensurate with his natural 

 abilities, he might vie in talent with a Napoleon, and the southern he- 

 misphere (according to the bias his ambition might then take) yet have 

 to lament a scourge, or glory in a benefactor. 



Having now endeavoured to give my reader some faint idea of the 

 merits and demerits of the redoubtable Paez, I will request him to accom- 

 pany me, in his " mind's eye," to the little town of Achaquas, where we 

 shall arrive at the period of the truce agreed to by Bolivar and the Spa- 

 nish general Morillo. A six months' suspension of hostilities had been 

 just declared, and the patriot troops throughout Venezuela had taken 

 possession of their different cantonments, where they hoped to enjoy a 

 short respite from the toils and privations they had so long and so patiently 

 endured. This pleasing anticipation was more particularly indulged in 

 by the garrison of Achaquas. Here the remnant of the " British legion" 

 that had arrived with General English two years previous was stationed, 

 under the command of Colonel Blosset, upon whom that charge had de- 

 volved at the demise of the former. The brigade now only consisted of 

 eight incomplete companies of infantry, and one squadron of dismounted 

 cavalry a melancholy and convincing proof of the insalubrity of the cli- 

 mate. These brave fellows had gallantly sustained the honour of the 

 national character before Cumana and Barcelona, and, after numerous 

 fatiguing marches and countermarches, had arrived at Achaquas some 

 time prior to the truce, and were then regarded as the most effective and 

 best-disciplined body at Paez's head- quarters. Strongly recommended by 

 Bolivar to the special protection of that general (and to whose kindness 

 their services alone should have proved a sufficient claim), they relied on 

 the promises made them, and hoped to become sharers, at least, in the 

 prosperity which now began to dawn upon the republic as an earnest 

 of brighter prospect. How fallacious, alas, were these expectations ! 



They soon discovered that an undue preference was accorded by those 

 in authority to the Creole troops : they beheld themselves the objects of 

 a narrow-minded prejudice, considered as intruders in the country in 

 whose defence they had bled, hourly insulted by the inhabitants and 

 rival soldiery, and designated by the epithet of slaves purchased by the 

 barter of hides and tallow ! These bitter gibes and keen sarcasms were 

 borne by the men for a long time with stoical fortitude, or, rather, with 

 an apathy uncommon to Englishmen. Their energies had been numbed, 

 as it were, by intense suffering; and it seemed as though the chords of 

 their hearts had ceased to vibrate to the touch of indignity ! 



The bow-string, after rain, if too forcibly distended, will snap ; so did 

 our countrymen, by degrees, begin to feel the strain upon their sensibi- 

 lities, though they writhed not till that strain became tightened to agony. 



Bolivar had directed that half-pay should be issued monthly to the 

 *' British legion." This advantage was, however, only nominal : a base 

 metal coin, slightly washed with silver (termed by the inhabitants 

 " chipe a chipe") was in consequence put in circulation. The tradesmen 



U 2 



