270 SPANISH AMERICA. 



The same causes also operated to enable 

 the government of Spain, aided by the 

 watchfulness of its agents, and the vigi- 

 lance of the Inquisition, to stifle the pro- 

 jects of independence, w^hich were from 

 time to time formed by enterprizing in- 

 dividuals. 



Thus, for a considerable period, all at- 

 tempts to excite resistance, or realize a 

 spirit of independence, in Spanish America, 

 were merely partial, and were defeated, 

 with more or less difficulty, by the authority 

 of the government. The first effort entitled 

 to any notice was a plan of conspiracy 

 formed in Caraccas, about the middle of 

 last century, by a Canarian, named Leon ; 

 who, believing his partisans to be nume- 

 rous, and trusting to their support, intend- 

 ed to destroy the company of Guipuscoa, 

 to which the privilege had been granted 

 of exclusively trading with Venezuela. His 



