BOLIVAR. 



351 



Bolivar, who was thus, by the conduct of 

 others, placed in a dilemma, determined on 

 convening an assembly, consisting of the 

 magistrates, the ecclesiastical dignitaries, 

 the municipality, the colleges, the board of 

 trade, and the proprietors of land — who met 

 on the 2d of January 1814. Bolivar at- 

 tended the meeting ; and after rendering an 

 account of his conduct, he concluded by 

 resigning the supreme authority which he 

 held. This step at once restored to him all 

 the popularity which he had previously en- 

 joyed, and which had only been diminished 

 in consequence of the abuses that had been 

 too often manifested, in the exercise of the 

 delegated power which he had intrusted 

 to others. 



It was obviously necessary, in the then 

 crisis of affairs, that the supreme authority 

 should, without delay, be vested some- 

 where; and as there was no individual 



