316 SPANISH AMERICA. 



in Caraccas, declared that province, on the 

 31st of August 1818, with the exception of 

 the province of Maracaybo and the depart- 

 ment of Coro, which had not taken part 

 in the transactions, in a state of blockade. 

 The only effect of this foolish decree was, 

 as might have been expected, to excite a 

 determined spirit of hostility amongst the 

 Spanish Americans, against the mother- 

 country. They were willing to assist the 

 Spanish nation in its contest with France ; 

 but confused and perplexed, as they had 

 been, by the claims of different authorities 

 successively rising up in Spain, they de- 

 clined to acknowledge the supremacy of 

 the Regency. Nothing, however, would sa- 

 tisfy the latter but unconditional submis- 

 sion on the part of the South Americans ; 

 and thus, for the sake of a useless bauble, 

 they threw away all the advantages to be 

 derived from the assistance of the colonies. 



