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510 DociDuents the progress he has made up to the present time in the great object which induced him to leave his own country, "The Emancipation of South America from its tyrannical Government it's oppressive administration, it's arbitrary exactions and the very exorbitant advances on all European articles." And here it may not be amiss to observe, that several partial revolts have taken place in the principal provinces, such as Lima, Carac- cas, Sante Fe etc., from the year 17S0 to 1798 ; In the first instance they were compromised and the Government broke its faith, but latterly it has been obliged to propose terms of accommodation and to suffer the most violent insurgents to remain unnoticed, which is the strongest picture of the state of the whole country with respect to Spain. General Miranda was born at Caraccas and is one of the first family's in that country. He received a classical and military education, and in compliment to his family, the King gave him at once a captain's commis- sion in the army ; he was then made Aid-de-camp to the Governor-Gen- eral,' and Secretary to the Government of Havannah, in which situation he remained during the American War ; here he first received representa- tions from the aggrieved provinces, which at last terminated in specific propositions ; to these he did not pay the least attention, in consequence of his publick employment, but quitting the Spanish Service at the con- clusion of the War, he on account of some family disputes went to America'- when the provinces of Santa Fe and Caracca renewed their ad- dresses to him, and he laid the whole before General's Washington Knox and Hamilton, who promised him every assistance and gave him assur- ances of raising troops in the province of New England, provided he could persuade Great Britain to assist with her navy. . In 1785 Miranda came to Europe and seeing that England had but just emerged from a long war, he travelled over the continent remaining a certain time in Berlin" and all the high military schools, studying not only every military principle, but the principles of every Government where he resided. In Russia he had several audiences with the Empress Catherine and communicated to her his views in visiting Europe, with which she was highly pleased and gave him every protection by circular letters to her ambassadors * for the purpose of carrying into effect his phil- anthropick plan. In 90 he came to England and submitted it to M' Pitt who he says promised him every support in case of a war with Spain, but the dispute about Nootka Sound terminating amicably, he then went to Paris, in consequence of some letters he had received from the South Americans residing there ; assuring him that France was well dis ' See the letters of Governor-General Cagigal to Rendon, Miranda and Washington, May 18, 26, 1783, in Antepara, Soulli Americati Emancipation, pp. 251-254, and those of A. Gillon in Sparlcs, Diplomatic Correspondence of ijSs-iySg, VI. 333, 334, 353, 355. 2 Marbois, History of Louisiana, pp. 149-150, assigns a political reason, derived from contemporary conversation with Miranda at Philadelphia. 'Correspondence of Miranda and Frederic, September 1785, in .Antepara, pp. 42, 'Printed in .Antepara, pp. 41, 42.