320 SPANISH AMERICA. 



^ The Spaniards frequently, in the course 

 of the contest, derived great advantages 

 from their ancient influence, which was 

 still, in some quarters, considerable ; and 

 from their military skill, in which they were 

 superior to the Spanish Americans. But 

 their cruelty, both in the hour of triumph 

 and in that of defeat, destroyed the for- 

 mer, and the latter was rendered by it ut- 

 terly unavailing, counterbalanced, as was 

 their greater military skill, by the superior 

 numbers of the Spanish Americans, and 

 actuated, as the latter were, by that de- 

 termined spirit of independence, which was 

 continually receiving accessions of strength 

 from the acts of treachery and barbarity 

 committed by the Spaniards. 



The Spanish Americans, courageous in 

 attack, had also, generally, great confidence 

 in their leaders. It is, however, unfortu- 



