318 



SPANISH AMERICA. 



authorities ruling in Spain had contributed 

 to alienate the minds of the former from the 

 mother-country. 



Nor, indeed, is this to be wondered at, 

 when it is recollected that not only was 

 every endeavour made by the Spanish au- 

 thorities at home, through the agency of 

 the missions of Don N. Cortivarria to Puerto 

 Rico, of Don N. Elio to Monte Video, of 

 Don Benito Perez to Panama, and of Don 

 N. Venegas to Mexico, by means of pro- 

 mises and threats, of religious prejudices, 

 and private animosities, to excite a civil war ; 

 but that troops were actually sent to Monte 

 Video, to Vera Cruz, to Coro, Panama, and 

 Santa Martha, although, at the time, all the 

 soldiers that could be raised were wanted 

 for the defence of the mother-country. 



Such conduct on the part of the ruling 

 authorities in Spain, of course, engendered 



