Memoirs of the Mexican Revolution:

he had made for the writer's release, and when he reflected that at the very moment the marquis Casa Yrujo had been amusing him with a promise that the writer's case should be investigated, the said marquis had sent a secret order to the governor of Cadiz, to arrest and send him to Ceuta, it was impossible for the American minister to place any confidence in a government that acted with so much bad faith; he therefore declined accepting the guarantee for the writer's personal safety, offered in the marquis's note, and replied accordingly.

From the tenor of Mr. Erving's communications to the writer on this subject, he was perfectly satisfied of the correctness of the course Mr. Erving had adopted, and indeed he feels great pleasure in acknowledging his obligations to that gentleman, for his official and friendly conduct towards him. His last letter on the subject is as follows:

"SIR,

"Madrid, April 19, 1819.

"Your letter of April 12th is just received. I am glad to learn that the explanation contained in my last letter was satisfactory to you; as in no view of the case could I find a motive for encouraging your coming to Spain, neither could I make myself the medium of offering you the encouragement proposed by this government. As you desire to have a copy of Mr. Yrujo's note, referred to in my last, it is herewith enclosed. I must, however, observe, that if I could think it proper to intervene in the proposed arrangement, I should require stipulations rather more precise than what are contained in Mr. Yrujo's note. With much esteem, I am, sir,

(Signed.)

"Your obedient servant,
"GEORGE W. ERVING.

"P. S. I must further inform you, that Mr. Yrujo, in his second note on your case, after mentioning the importance of the charges against you, says, that his majesty would order his minister at Washington to lay before the president his reasons for not acquiescing in the president's demand. This you will conclude was intended to preclude all further remonstrance

on my part, whilst you were in prison under trial, or after sentence had been passed on you. G. W. E.

"To Mr. William Davis Robinson."

The writer has been more prolix in this detail than he otherwise would have been, because the Spanish government has complained to the government of the United States on the point of his having broken his parole at Cadiz, and because he feels desirous of convincing his fellow citizens, as well as every impartial reader, that such a step was perfectly justifiable; and as regards his refusal to return to Spain, he would fain believe that his correspondence with the minister of the United States completely elucidates that point, and shows that it would have been an act of more than common folly to have visited Madrid under the guarantee and on the conditions expressed in the marquis Casa Yrujo's note to Mr. Erving. But, exclusive of the official communications with which he was honoured in this matter, he has other documents in his possession, which prove that in case of his return to Spain, it was the marquis's intention, as well as that of his government, to have spared no means to effect his destruction. The writer forbears to publish the documents alluded to, at this time, as they would swell the present volume too much, and perhaps trespass on the patience of the reader. Enough has already been said, to show that if any of his opinions, expressed in the following pages, be tinctured with enmity towards the late government of Spain, he has had sufficient cause to excite his animosity and disgust. He does not hesitate to declare, that while he respects the individual character of the Spaniard in Europe, yet he views with abhorrence his conduct towards the American Creole and Indian, and feels not the least commiseration for his loss of power and influence in the New World; and, if he mistake not, the facts developed in the course of this work will demonstrate that the sun of Spanish power in the west is about to descend for ever below the horizon.

The writer is aware that he who records events of such deep importance to the civilized world, ought to be gifted with ta

lents, and possess acquirements, infinitely beyond those which have fallen to his lot, and that consequently he may be accused of presumption in touching on subjects which even sages and scholars would find it difficult to illustrate properly: but, in extenuation of all his literary faults, he begs the reader to bear in mind that an individual, compelled by misfortune and Spanish treachery to seek a subsistence for the last fourteen years by his own enterprise, cannot have enjoyed much time for the cultivation of letters. Making, therefore, no pretensions to the honours of an author, he submits his work to the candid criticisms of his fellow citizens. He can regard with frigid indifference the harshest judgments of European censors; but, tremblingly alive to the favourable opinion of his own countrymen, he requests them to look upon the work as the production of one who, never possessing learned leisure, was engaged in the honourable occupation of an American merchant.

Philadelphia, October 20, 1820.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. Summary account of the Conquest-
Humane enactments of Charles V.—Grievances of the
Americans-Loyalty displayed by them, on receipt of
the intelligence of the difficulties in Spain, in 1808-
Politic course of conduct, proposed to be adopted, in
this emergency, by the viceroy Iturrigaray-His depo-
sition by a faction of Europeans—Arrival of his suc-
cessor, Vanegas-Plot entered into, to overthrow the
Spanish government in Mexico-Breaking out of the
Revolution, at the town of Dolores, under the direction
of Hidalgo Capture of the city of Guanaxuato-Pro-
clamations of the Viceroy, and fulminations of the
Church-Action at Las Cruces-Conduct of Hidalgo-
Battle of Aculco-Massacre at Guanaxuato, by Calleja
-Battle of the Bridge of Calderon-Capture of Hidal-
go-Death of that patriot, and many other officers.
CHAP. II. State of the Revolution, after the death of
Hidalgo-General Don José Maria Morelos-Capture
of Oaxaca and Acapulco-Formation of a Congress and
Constitution—Manifesto of the Junta of Zultepec-
Defeat at Valladolid-General Matamoros taken pri-
soner, and shot-Capture of Morelos, at Tepecuacuilco
-His death-Arrival of the Congress at Tehuacan—
General observations.
CHAP. III. General Mina-His early life, and career
in Spain-His motives for embarking in the cause of
Mexico-Arrival at, and transactions in, Baltimore—
Departure of the expedition-Occurrences at Port au
Prince-Arrival of the expedition at Galvezton-
-Treachery of Correa-Departure of the expedition
from Galvezton, and its arrival off the bar of the river
Santander-Disembarcation of the division.