MOTIVES OF CIVIL WAR. 321 



nately too true, that they were sometimes 

 uselessly sacrificed, in consequence of dis- 

 putes between their chiefs; some of whom, 

 as is, and perhaps must be, the case in all 

 civil wars, endeavoured to render the pub- 

 lic cause subservient to their own private 

 interests, or views of ambition. But these 

 circumstances, though they tended to sully 

 the cause of independence, and to retard 

 its success, were not sufficient to prevent 

 its ultimate triumph. Frequently, indeed, 

 the disputes arising between some of the 

 independent chiefs, or between provinces 

 or districts entertaining different views, 

 were at once postponed, and the parties 

 at variance acted cordially together upon 

 the approach of the common enemy. Nor 

 were the Spanish authorities, at any time 

 after the commencement of the war in 

 South America, in a situation to turn these 

 disputes, in any material degree, to their 



VOL. I. Y 



