BOLIVAR. 451 



travelling in France, he traversed England, 

 Italy, and a part of Germany. He, in his 

 twenty-third year, contemplated the esta- 

 blishment of the independence of his coun- 

 try, and all his studies and observations 

 were directed to that object. 



After marrying at Madrid the daughter 

 of the Marquess of Ulstariz, he returned to 

 Caraccas, where he arrived at the moment 

 when the standard of independence had been 

 raised ; he, however, as already stated, 

 disapproved of the system adopted by the 

 Congress of Venezuela, and refused to join 

 Don Lopez Mendez in his mission to Eng- 

 land from the new government, with which 

 he altogether declined having any connec- 

 tion. ' 



Subsequently to the earthquake which 

 destroyed the city of Caraccas, and in its 

 effect the independent government of Vene- 

 zuela, Bolivar seized the first opportunity 

 of devoting himself to the service of his 

 2 G 2 



