454 SPANISH AMERICA. 



The Spaniards by their crimes hasten the 

 completion of our independence : the cer- 

 tainty of this is a consolation under my pre- 

 sent heart-rending affliction." 



This was not the only attempt to assassi- 

 nate Bolivar* In one of the many skirmishes 

 which he had with Morillo, each of them 

 sustained so much loss, that they were both 

 compelled to retire from the field. Bolivar, 

 after the action, went unaccompanied to a 

 small cottage in the neighbourhood. Mo- 

 rillo hearing of the circumstance, employed 

 two persons to assassinate him, and planned 

 a stratagem, with a view to the more easily 

 effecting his horrid purpose. This abomina- 

 ble project, however, so utterly unworthy 

 of the military character, was frustrated, in 

 consequence of Bolivar's obtaining informa- 

 tion of it. Upon this occasion Bolivar ex- 

 claimed, It is in vain that the Spaniafdi^ 

 seek my death, when God watches over my 



