CHAPTER L.

APOGEE, DECLINE, AND FALL OF BOLIVAR.

1824--1830.

Results of the Victory of Ayacucho--The Twofold Nature of the Revolution--Assassination of Monteagudo--Bolívar summons a Congress at Panama--His Theatrical Proceedings--Upper Peru becomes an Independent State--Tendency of the Policy of Bolívar--He leaves Lima for Potosí--The Banquet at Arequipa--Bolívar meets Argentine Envoys at Potosí--His Proposals to them--Opinions of the Press of Buenos Ayres--He draws up a Constitution for Bolivia--Attempt to assassinate Bolívar at Lima--Adoption of a New Constitution by Peru--The Grand Confederation of the Andes--The Nature of the Proposed Monocracy--Revolution in Venezuela--Bolívar Returns to Columbia--Revolutions in Peru and Bolívia--The Convention of Ocaña--Bolívar is again named Dictator of New Granada--Conspiracy against him at Bogotá--He declares War against Peru--His Monarchical Proposals--Rebellion at Antioquia--Venezuela becomes an Independent State--The Constituent Congress at Bogotá--Bolívar resigns--Mosquera is elected President of New Granada--Pension assigned to Bolívar.....458

EPILOGUE.

The Verdict of Posterity--The Tragedy of Emancipation--San Martin goes to Europe--His Return to Buenos Ayres--Bolívar in Retirement--Anarchy in New Granada--Establishment of the Republic of Ecuador--Death of Bolívar--His Last Words--Life of San Martin in Exile--His Death--His Remains are brought back to Buenos Ayres--The Work of the Two Liberators compared--The Nature of True Greatness.....470

TRANSLATOR’S APPENDIX.

I.--The Spanish Colonial System.....477 II.--Personal Appearance of San Martin.....478 III.--The Rocket-Tubes at Callao.....478 IV.--Description of a Suspension Bridge.....478 V.--The Ideas of San Martin.....479 VI.--A Venezuelan Picture presented to the City of New York.....480 VII.--The Battle of Carabobo.....481

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.

Alvarado--Arenales--Brown--Cochrane--Güemes--Las Heras--Lavalle--Miller--Necochea--O’Higgins--Paez.....484

PROLOGUE.

The object of this book is to give a biography of GENERAL JOSÉ DE SAN MARTIN, combining therewith the history of the emancipation of South America. It is a necessary complement to the HISTORY OF BELGRANO, written thirty years ago. These two histories display the Argentine Revolution in its two principal aspects; one relates the development of a nation, the other the effect of this development upon the emancipation of a continent.

This history is based, for the most part, upon documents hitherto unpublished, some of which are truly posthumous revelations which throw new light upon mysterious or little known events, or correct errors resulting from defective information.

I believe I have consulted all the books, pamphlets, newspapers and fly-sheets which have ever been printed concerning San Martin, and of manuscripts I have a collection of at least 10,000 documents, bound in 73 thick volumes, which it is my purpose to deposit in the National Library.

The most important of these sources of information has been the archive of General San Martin himself, which was placed at my disposal by his son-in-law, the late Don Mariano Balcarce. I have also consulted the archives of this city from the year 1812 to the year 1824, without which it would have been impossible to compile a complete history. The archives of the Director Pueyrredón, which were given to me by his son, have also been of great service to me, as also those of General O’Higgins, Don Tomás Godoy Cruz, General Las Heras, and others. I have also acquired much verbal information from conversations held with many of the contemporaries of San Martin, and with some of his companions in arms.

In addition to consulting all available maps and plans relating to the campaigns of San Martin, I have inspected in person the routes followed by the army of the Andes and have made sketches myself of the scene of memorable events when plans were not forthcoming.

* * * * *

This book will not be the historical monument which posterity will some day consecrate to the immortal memory of San Martin, but those who do at some future date erect it, will herein find abundant materials, stones finished or but roughly cut, with which solidly to lay out the foundations.

BARTOLOMÉ MITRE.

BUENOS AYRES, 1887.

Here follows, on 25 pages, a list of unpublished manuscripts consulted in the compilation of this work, which manuscripts will be deposited in the National Library of Buenos Ayres.

WILLIAM PILLING.

THE EMANCIPATION OF SOUTH AMERICA.