^34 



A VOYAGE TO 



and oppressed by them, as well as from a conscious- 

 ness that the hearts of Irishmen, have generally been 

 with us in our times of trial. Their accounts were in 

 most respects, very much at variance with some that 

 I had heard from general Carrera, and his friend 

 White; and knowing that so much depends upon the 

 situations, motives, and interests of men, 1 thought 

 well to give them due weight and consideration, as 

 they were not so obviously disqualified from giving 

 unbiassed testimony, as the two persons just men- 

 tioned. It would certainly be improper on these oc- 

 casions, to adopt those rules of evidence established 

 by the experience of judicial tribunals, but they are 

 not entirely to be despised. Having from earliest in- 

 fancy, in a life replete with incident, been often cast 

 among strangers, the habit of circumspection has 

 grown upon me. To distrust or doubt is one thing, 

 to decide after mature and cautious examination is 

 another. 



The day after our dinner with Lecor, Mr, Bland 

 came on board, in company with general Carrera and 

 White; and in the evening, as a considerable sea had 

 been raised by tlie north-east wind, which blows al- 

 most continually during the summer season, the two 

 strangers were invited to partake of the hospitality of 

 the ship, and to remain all night. As the fortunes and 

 character of general Carrera had excited considerable 

 interest in the United States, I was induced to observe 

 him closely, in order that I might form an opinion for 

 myself. I had been higlily prepossessed in his favor, 

 on account of the generosity of himself and family to- 

 wards commodore Porter, after his desperate battle 

 on the coast of Chili. I had seen him in the United 



