458 



SPANISH AMERICA. 



nor takes snufF, nor does he ever taste spi* 

 rits. 



He endeavours to check the flattery with 

 which he is not unfrequently assailed. At 

 a ball which he gave, a lady rendered her- 

 self very conspicuous by loading him with 

 obsequious and importunately fulsome adu- 

 lation. Bolivar at length said to her, in 

 a mild but firm tone : Madam, 1 had pre^ 

 viously been informed of your character^ 

 and now I perceive it myself. Believe me^ 

 a servile spirit recommends itself to no one, 

 and in a lady is highly to be despised." 



The follbwing affords some highly cha- 

 racteristic traits : — At a magnificent pub- 

 lic dinner given to Bolivar at Bogota, one 

 of the company, when called upon for a 

 toast, gave — * Should at any time a mo- 

 narchical government be established in Co- 

 lombia, may the liberator, Simon Bolivar, 

 be the Emperor.' " A high-spirited public 

 character, Senor Pi6pe Paris, then requested 



