278 



SPANISH AMERICA. 



ing the independence of Spanish America^ 

 and to which that minister, there being then 

 a question at issue with Spain (respecting 

 Nootka Sound), which for a time threat- 

 ened hostility, readily gave his approbation, 

 and promised the aid of Great Britain. The 

 question with Spain was, however, adjust- 

 ed by negotiation, and thus Miranda's pro- 

 spect of being enabled to attempt the great 

 work of the independence of his country, 

 was for a considerable period obscured. 



In November 1792, the Republican rulers 

 of France conceived the idea of revolution- 

 izing Spanish America, by means of French 

 troops and mulattoes drawn from the co- 

 lonies ; and they proposed to Miranda, who 

 was at that time serving with Dumourier, 

 in the Netherlands, to take the command. 

 Miranda, however, not altogether accord- 

 ing with their views, or approving of the 

 means which they proposed to employ. 



