Blas Bruni Celli • Venezuela en 5 siglos de imprenta
LONDON: | PRINTED FOR J. J. STOCKDALE, No. 41, PALL-MALL. | 1820.
20.5 x 13 cms. xvi pp. 426 pp. Letras redondas y cursivas. A línea tirada. Textos en inglés. Notas al pie de página. Mapas intercalados. Signs.: [A]8-B8-Z8-AA8-CC8-DD4-EE2 [$2 (-A1;-A2;-EE2)].
{Dibujo grabado en cobre titulado: Kingston, & Port Royal, Jamaica. M. Rafter del. G. Scharf Lithog. London Published by I. I. Stockdale 41 Pall Mall 15 May 1820. Printed by Rowsey & Foster, 51 Rathbone Place}. [Pág. i], A1r: Portada ut supra. V. en bl. Al pie: Handy, Printer, 2, Whitcomb Street, Haymarket. [Pág. iii], A2r: (Dedicatio) To the Memory | of | COLONEL RAFTER | AND HIS GALLANT ASSOCIATES, | WHO, AT | PORTO BELLO AND RIO DE LA HACHE, | FELL VICTIMS | TO A MISTAKEN, THOUGH GENEROUS | enthusiasm | IN THE CAUSE OF | SUFFERING HUMANITY, | THIS WORK | IS | DEDICATED. [Pág. iv], A2v: ERRATA. Págs. [v]-viii, A3r-A4v: ADVERTISEMENT. | The memoirs of a man who for a considerable time has been a subject of very general conversation and anxious curiosity, including a narrative of transactions which have involved many respectable families in mourning and distress, and overwhelmed many a brave soldier in misery and ruin, will not, it is presumed, be unacceptable to the public; particularly when offered by one who has been an actor in many of the scenes he relates, and who has personally and in his dearest connection suffered from their un
happy result; but whose candour and impartiality will, he trusts, stand unimpeached, however his style and diction may suffer, from the severe but necessary lash of criticism. || From a variety of causes, the detail of which is here unnecessary, a number of brave men had engaged in the service of General M’Gregor, and seduced by the honourable pretence of liberating an enslaved and suffering country, they became the unconscious instruments with which he sought to further his own ambitious views, and to retrieve his broken fortunes. Baffled in his feeble attempts he abandoned his followers to ruin, and veterans who had bled beneath the standard of Wellington, and who in the legitimate and honourable service of their native country would have become distinguished figures in the road to Fame, betrayed and deserted by the man they looked up to as a Demigod, have sunk in premature death overwhelmed with an unmerited weight of reproach and infamy. || To rescue, as much as it mater still be possible, the memory of those gallant but deluded victims from the scorn and obloquy so liberally cast upon it by an open misjudging world, the Author has undertaken to deliver “a round unvarnished tale” of the unfortunate transactions in which General M’Gregor has for so long a period, borne so distinguished a part; convinced that however he may fail in his principal design, his exertions will at least have the effect of deterring others, who, from inexperience or a spirit of enterprize, might feel inclined once more to follow the fortunes of a needy and spiritless adventurer. || At a moment when the general stagnation which prevail at home particularly incites to foreign enterprise, a work like that which is now offered to the Public appears to be a desideratum; to teach the inexperienced not to trust implicitly to the impulse of fancy, and the adventurous to restrain within proper bounds their daring speculations; to display truth in her native colours to the enthusiastic, and to strip the idol of a moment of the false glare of ephemeral dignity, the “pride, pomp and circumstance” of imaginary conquest; in fine, to display the sword of Damocles to the ardent and ambitious, as they unwarily luxuriate on the splendid though deceitful banquet of a fervid imagination. || The sources from which the following narrative has been compiled, are of the most authentic nature; consisting of the author’s personal experience, documents communicated by his fellow sufferers and by some foreigners of respectability and intelligence. Considerable assistance has been derived from some respectable public journals, and from the letters of the Author’s brother*, (* Murdered at Panama) whose premature and unmerited fate has added to the black catalogue of revolutionary calamities. || It may be thought necessary to offer an explanation of the cause which induced the Author to accept a commission under General M’ Gregor after the base conduct of the latter to Colonel Rafter at Porto Bello; a few words will suffice. Possessed of a very unfavourable opinion of M’ Gregor and his undertakings, the Author had frequently deplored the credulity of his brother in allowing himself to be dazzled by representations of the immortal glory that awaited the liberators of millions of human beings, pining under the united influence of religious and political slavery; and he had resolved not to partake of his fatal error until the re-capture of Porto BelloError! Bookmark not defined. and the captivity of his brother, caused a total alteration in his sentiments, and he felt it a sacred and paramount duty to attempt his release; influenced by this feeling alone, he became a warm partizan of the pseudoliberator of America, whose cause he did not relinquish until the last sad catastrophe at Rio de la Hache in a moment blighted his most cherished hopes, and brought him the melancholy conviction, that nothing further within the scope of human ability, could be done to accomplish the dearest wishes of his heart. || The Author has to apologize for affixing to his name in the title page the rank which he bore in the service of General McGregor, and which he has done for the purpose of guaranteeing to the public the authenticity of the facts he has undertaken to narrate, as well as to disclaim all idea of incognito in a work which is necessarily in a certain degree personal and criminatory. These purposes once answered he will resign for ever his temporary dignity with a degree of pleasure far greater than he experienced on the assumption of it. || LONDON, JUNE 13th, 1820. Págs. [ix]-xvi, A5r-A8v: TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAP. I. Preliminary remarks. Gregor M’ Gregor enter the British service. Obtains rapid promotion. Retires. Procures a majority in the Portuguese army. Quits at service. Proceed to South America. CHAP. II. Retrospect of South America affairs. Anxiety of the Creoles for emancipation. Revolution. General Miranda assumes the command of the Army of Venezuela. CHAP. III. Memoirs of General Miranda. CHAP. IV. M’ Gregor obtains a command of cavalry under General Miranda. Fall of Valencia. Cruelties committed by the Royalists. High character of M’ Gregor. His marriage. Reverses of the Patriots. Capitulation of Miranda. M’ Gregor escapes to Curaçao. Imprisonment and Death of Miranda. CHAP. V. M’ Gregor proceeds to New Grenada. Transactions in that country. Dissensions between Bolivar and the government of Carthagena. Morillo arrives in South America. Siege of Carthagena. Gallant defence and suffering of the Inhabitants. Fall of Carthagena. CHAP. VI. M’ Gregor escapes from Carthagena. Joins Bolivar at Aux Cayes. Expedition to the Main. Capture of Carupano and Ocumare. Morales defeats the Independents. Bolivar evacuates Ocumare. CHAP. VII. M’ Gregor retreats on Barcelona. Affair in the Valley of Onoto. Suffering of the Independents during the retreat. Actions at Maracai and La Victoria. Actions at St. Sebastian and Chaguaramas. Defeat of the Royalists at Quebrada Honda. Arrival of the Patriots at Barcelona. CHAP. VIII. M’ Gregor forms a junction with several of the Patriot Chiefs. General Piar assumes the command of the Army. Victory over the Royalists in the Valley of Juncal. M’ Gregor quits the Army in disgust. Proceeds to the United States. Raises troops for the conquest of the Floridas. Sails from Charleston. Arrives at Amelia Island. CHAP. IX. State of the Floridas. Capture of Fernandina by M’ Gregor. Terms granted to the Inhabitants. M’ Gregor’s proclamation to his Soldiers. His indolence and incapacity. Insubordination of the Troops, and disorders at Amelia. CHAP. X. General M’ Gregor quits his troops and retires to the island of New Providence. The Royalists are twice defeated at Amelia Island. Commodore Aury assumes the command. Dissentions amongst the troops. The americans take possession of Amelia. Conquest of the Floridas. CHAP. XI. M’ Gregor sails for England, with the design of raising a force for South American service. Forms an engagement with Don Luis Lopez Mendez. Offers his services to Don Jose Maria del Real. Intrigues of certain adventurers. CHAP. XII. Successful recruiting of Colonel Eyre in Dublin, and Colonel Macirone in London. Dissentions between the agents of Venezuela and New Grenada. CHAP. XIII. M’ Gregor sails from the Downs. Arrives at St. Domingo. Joins the Rendezvous at Aux Cayes. Description of the Patriot troops. Aux Cayes and its Inhabitants. CHAP. XIV. Dangerous mutiny quelled by Colonel Rafter, senior. Some account of that officer. Origin of the title of his Regiment. Interesting Story of Polycarpa Salabarrieta, a South American Heroine. CHAP. XV. The Expedition sails from Aux Cayes. M’ Gregor proceeds to Jamaica. Policy of the Merchants. Transactions at Kingston. The Expedition arrives at San Andreas. Sails for Porto Bello. CHAP. XVI. State of South American affairs. Successes of Morillo. Patriotism of the South American women. Glorious deaths of Colonel Ricaute and of an Independent Soldier. Modern Buccaneers. CHAP. XVII. The Expedition arrives off the main. Anchors in Buenaventura bay. Disposition and strength of the Royalists. Attack and Capture of Porto BelloError! Bookmark not defined.. CHAP. XVIII. Description of Porto Bello. Proceedings subsequent to the re-capture. Good effects of M’ Gregor’s success, in England and Jamaica. CHAP. XIX. Favourable impression made upon the Inhabitants of Porto Bello. Total incapacity of General M’ Gregor. Consequent disorders. Flight of the Inhabitants. Re-capture of Porto Bello. Narrow escape of M’ Gregor. CHAP. XX. Death of Colonel O’ Hara. Gallant defence of Col. Rafter. Base deception and flight of M’ Gregor. The Independents capitulate. Infraction of the Treaty by the Royalists. Strictures on the conduct of General Horé. CHAP. XXI. Memoir of General Horé. Sufferings of the Prisoners at Panama. They attempt to escape. Death of Colonel Rafter. CHAP. XXII. Shameful treatment of one of the survivors on board a British man of war. M’ Gregor arrives at San Andreas. Makes a ridiculous attempt on Rio de la Hache. Sails for St. Domingo. Transactions at Port au Prince. Sufferings of the garrison of San Andreas. CHAP. XXIII. Part of Colonel Eyre’s force arrives at Aux Cayes. Sufferings of the troops at that place. Extraordinary conduct of M’ Gregor. Loss of the Hero. Arrival of Colonel Eyre. CHAP. XXIV. Character of Colonel Norcott. Transactions at Aux cayes. Dreadful situation of the troops. CHAP. XXV. Proceedings of the Agents in London. The Lovely Ann sails of St. Domingo. Dreadful dissentions and mutinies on board that vessel. CHAP. XXVI. The lovely Ann brings relief to the starving Independents at Aux Cayes. Description of Flamand Bay. The expedition sails for the Spanish main. CHAP. XXVII. Situation of the contending parties on the main at this period. Inability of Spain to assist Morillo. Anecdote of General Zaraza. Sufferings and patriotism of the Independents. Failure of an expedition against Cumana. Capture of Santa Fe by Bolivar. CHAP. XXVIII. The expedition arrives at Rio le la Hache on the main. Dilatory proceedings of M’ Gregor. Capture of Rio de la Hache. CHAP. XXIX. Extraordinary occurrences at Rio de la Hache. General M’ Gregor assumes the title of Inca of New Grenada. His fatal indolence and incapacity. Desperate situation of his affairs. Several officers quit him in disgust. CHAP. XXX. Distressing adventures of the officers and men who retired from the service of M’ Gregor. Narrow escape from St. Domingo. Arrival at Jamaica. Transactions at that Island. CHAP. XXXI. Proceedings at Rio de la Hache. Some account of the Goahiros. M’ Gregor deserts his troops. Recapture of Rio de la Hache. Melancholy fate of the prisoners. Subsequent adventures of M’ Gregor. CHAP. XXXII. Summary of M’ Gregor’s character. Description of his person, manners and peculiar habits. Review of the extraordinary occurrences that have marked his career. CHAP. XXXIII. Present state of affairs in Venezuela and New Grenada. Inquiry into the probability of the ultimate success of the Independents. Conclusion. Appendix. LIST OF PLATES. Map of Venezuela and New Grenada. Portrait of General M’Gregor. Portrait of General Miranda. Portrait of General Bolivar. Portrait of General Macironé. View of Aux Cayes. View of Porto Bello. View of Rio de la Hache. View of Kingston and Port Royal. {Intercalado un mapa plegado de 20 x 24 cms. titulado: MAP | of the Campaigns in | VENEZUELA & NEW GRENADA | for Memoirs of | Gregor Mc Gregor}. Págs. [1]-426, B1-EE2: MEMOIRS | OF | GREGOR Mc GREGOR, | &c.
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