48 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1818. [Mar. 



which ought to be the happiest 

 to Venezuela. 



" For three days past, the 

 troops have not eaten any thing 

 but cold victuals ; but they are 

 so full of enthusiasm, that each 

 one of the men would beat a 

 dozen of those wretches. The 

 I'ains and mud caused them to be 

 without shoes, and in this state 

 they make marches which are 

 really incredible. Please your 

 lordship to cause that all the 

 shoes which may be found be 

 sent, and the most active exer- 

 tions be made in regard to pro- 

 visions, for with their help I will 

 pursue them till the total destruc- 

 tion of so boasted a republic. 



" The faithful inhabitants of 

 the Caraccas ought to make an 

 effort to relieve the wants of 

 these brave fellows, who are not 

 intimidated either by weariness, 

 or by want of food or by the 

 rains and mud, which has proved 

 so painful to them, after such 

 rapid marches. 



" All which I communicate to 

 your lordship is for your know- 

 ledge, and that of the faithful 

 inhabitants of the capital. God 

 preserve your Lordsliip many 

 years. (Signed) 



" Pablo Morillo. 

 " To D. Juan Baptista Pardo," 

 Extract of a letter from a gentle- 

 man at Senegal, to one of the 

 Directors of the African Insti- 

 tution, dated March 19 : — 

 " When I last wrote to you, I 

 was not without hope, that ere 

 this, measures would have been 

 taken by the French Government 

 to arrest the progress of the slave 

 trade in this neighbourhood; as 

 it was difficult to suppose for a 

 moment that the authorities here 



were ignorant of the extent to 

 which the trade was carried on in 

 the settlement. My expectations, 

 however, have been disappointod; 

 it has increased, is hourly increas- 

 ing ; and, at present, there is not 

 the least appearance even of 

 secrecy, nor the least fear of in- 

 terruption; for the slaves are now 

 put on board in the river, and the 

 vessels pass the bar in sight of 

 every oJficer in the garrison. In- 

 deed, two of the last vessels which 

 left this place with slaves, passed 

 outwards at a time when 3 French 

 vessels of war (a ship, a brig, 

 and a schooner) were at anchor 

 outside the bar; and, althougii 

 the slavers sailed within hail, no 

 examination or notice was taken ( 

 of them. The distress in the *; 

 neighbouring villages I stated to 

 you in my last, and the news of 

 this renewed traffic is spreading 

 rapidly over the country. Darnel, jl 

 one of the most powerful Kings 

 in this part of Africa, lately came 

 to the vicinity of the settlement, 

 and held several conferences with 

 the slave traders, as if to ascer- 

 tain the accuracy of the informa- 

 tion he had obtained; and im- 

 mediately commenced burning 

 and pillaging a number of his 

 own villages, under circum- 

 stances of the most shocking 

 atrocity; and of his own subjects, 

 whole families were dragged to 

 the banks of the river, where they 

 were sold ; and thus separated 

 from their friends, homes, and 

 country for ever. His booty on 

 this occasion furnished the cargoes 

 of the two vessels mentioned 

 above, which passed the bar on 

 the 11th of February. 



" From the Moors they still 

 continue to obtain a great num- 

 ber 



