236 



A VOYAGE TO 



was not possessed of sufficient greatness of mind, to 

 despise the dictates of narrow and selfish passions; 

 and instead of giving up his whole thoughts to what 

 might tend to the ultimate good and advantage of his 

 country, his personal wrongs seemed to engross his 

 attention. He could much more easily forgive the de- 

 feats of his rivals by the common enemy, than their 

 victories. Of an ancient and aristocratic family, in be- 

 ing excluded from power, he seemed to think himself 

 deprived of his birthright. Such, at least, was the im- 

 pression made on my mind, for the circumstance of 

 his being out of authority, was continually uppermost 

 in his discourse. He spoke at the same time, enthu- 

 siastically and feelingly, of the charms of his native 

 country, but his language was more that of a banished 

 prince than of a citizen.* 



The accounts which he gave of the state of the pa- 

 triot cause, were in every particular extravagantly ex- 

 aggerated. According to him, every thing had gone 

 to ruin; the Buenos Ayreans were defeated every 

 where; Belgrano would be compelled to withdraw 



* I had intended to have given an explanation of many of those 

 personal affairs, which at one time attracted a good deal of public 

 attention; but on reflection, I did not think them of sufficient im- 

 portance. An effort was made to enlist the American public in 

 these private quarrels and bickerings, but there was too much 

 good sense here for it to succeed, and I should be sorry to revive 

 the recollection. We neither know nor care who is the best pa- 

 triot; all we look to, is the great contest between South Americ^a 

 and Spain. A year ago, it might have been necessary to have ex- 

 plained those things, but it is no longer so. To the onesided^ and 

 partial statements of these affairs, I might have said, 1| 

 "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, 'm 

 Than were ever dreamt of in our philosophy." ' 'f 



