342 SPANISH AMERICA. 



from thence with some officers, by Bolivar, 

 to Guadualito, where he raised some ca- 

 valry, and invaded the province of Barinas; 

 whilst Bolivar took possession of the de- 

 partment of Merida, after having defeated 

 the royalists at La Grita. Briceno, how- 

 ever, having been completely defeated by 

 the Spaniards, and himself and seven of 

 his officers taken prisoners, he was soon 

 afterwards executed by the order of Tiscar, 

 the Governor of Barinas ; and eight of the 

 most respectable persons in the town, 

 charged with facilitating his enterprise, 

 were shot. It was upon this occasion that 

 Bolivar, exasperated by the unworthy fate 

 of his companion in arms, declared that 

 every Spanish prisoner of war, who should 

 thereafter fall into his power, should be 

 given up to the resentment of the patriots. 

 This threat, however, extorted from him, 

 as it were, by the cruelty of the royalists, 

 was only realized afterwards in one instance. 



