326 JOURNAL. 
exhorted him to make his peace by a free and full acknowledgment 
of guilt, and to submit to the King; in which case he promised him 
a reprieve. He answered with great warmth, that it least of all be- 
came a priest to disturb the last moments of a dying man; and to 
call him back to worldly cares, when his soul had put them off: 
that it was nonsense’ to talk to him of a reprieve, for that his doom 
had been sealed, and he knew it; ay, even from the hour in which 
he had joined Pomacao. “ A man,” said he, “ should be careful how 
he changes his opinions or his party ; but having once seriously con- 
sidered and adopted them, he should never swerve from them. 
Besides, it is too late to talk to me of reprieve or change. What I 
have done, I have done; and I do not regret it. I thought it right 
to espouse the cause of the freedom of my country; I think so still, 
and am willing to die for it. It ill becomes you to harass my last 
hour!” — The priest withdrew: the adjutant being by, Melgado 
asked leave to smoke a segar, saying he was a little ruffled, and 
wished to calm himself: Leave being given, he looked round to the 
spectators, and said, “ Will any body for God’s sake give me a segar ?” 
A soldier handed him one: when he had half-smoked it he laid it 
down, saying he was ready, and felt calm again. The officer ap- 
proached to bandage his eyes; he repulsed him, and said, “ At least 
let me die with my eyes free.” He was told it was necessary : “ Well, 
well, this will do;” and placing his hand across his eyes, he signified 
that he was ready, and received the shot ! 
There is a real enthusiasm in the people of South America. They 
are ignorant, oppressed, and, perhaps, naturally indolent and timid. 
But the cry of independence has gone forth: the star of freedom has 
appeared on their horizon, — not again to set at the bidding of Spain, 
not to be hushed by the hitherto powerful talisman of kingly 
authority. Armies have penetrated forests, and scaled mountains, 
and waded through morasses, only to hail each other as fellow- 
labourers in the same cause, as co-partners in that new-won freedom 
they are resolved to leave to their children. It may, perhaps, be 
