the true inference of his sentiment; but, determined to keep up his credit with the Frenchman, lengthened his face, and replied to the query, "Yes; dead and buried!" Morris got over the joke by saying he knew the bearing of his toast; but his captain and his senior lieutenants had given such damned foolish toasts that he did not wish to eclipse or disgrace them by giving a sensible sentiment. Carr swore it was ignorance, and thus they joked about each other. On July 3, 1834, we were at Guayaquil, and, not wishing to tire President Flores with our presence in his almost desolate city, we dropped down the river near to the rebels' frigate "Columbia," lying nine miles below the city, with two commissioners on board from President Flores to treat for peace, and anchored in good fighting position; and the next morning we saluted Independence Day with twenty-four guns, which produced a great fright on board the "Columbia," as, for some reason, they supposed we were going to make them agree to any terms demanded by Flores and the legitimate authorities, and accordingly sent on board an officer to beg that we would not do so. This was very flattering to us, as they had about four times as many men as we had, and the shot thrown from one of her broadsides was four times the weight of ours. Although we were small, we had made such an "impression" on the "Columbia" since we had been here, that she had ceased her heavy exactions from our traders, and disclaimed having assisted Rocafuerte in doing so. But they still clung to their principle, and made the contemptible exaction of five dollars on all that passed the river. But, after we anchored near them, on July 3, they refunded these exactions to our traders, and abandoned this course. This was the beginning of the end of this revolution. President Flores released Rocafuerte (arrested after our dinner with him), and in a brief argument with him gained him over to his party. By the commissioners who went down to the "Columbia" with us, Rocafuerte sent a proclamation to his old party, setting forth the misery of the country, desolated by war and pestilence, the hopelessness of better terms than the president, Flores, offered them,-which were a general amnesty and forgiveness, and a reference of the disagreements between the parties to a congress of the nation,—and, jointly with the president, proclaimed them pirates if they did not surrender the frigate and return to their allegiance. This denunciation by the head of their own party caused the rebels to waver somewhat; and Flores's party whispered it about that they, being declared pirates by the state and the head of their own party, the commodore of the United States squadron in these waters would make a prize of the frigate; and though our commodore told both parties he would not interfere with them, further than to give effectual protection to our commerce, they were very shy of him, and pretended to treat without coming to any conclusion. On July 5 the "Fairfield" arrived, and anchored, also, in good posi tion near the "Columbia." Then the rebels were sure that we intended taking their frigate, and at once began to treat in earnest with Flores and his party. On July 9, President Flores and Rocafuerte came down to our ship, in our boat. The president requested the commodore to send for General Mena-who became the rebels' chief when Rocafuerte was captured; in fact, he was the principal mover in this revolution, and on his chief's arrest had slipped on board the "Columbia," with all of his troops to meet him on board, under the United States flag, and, if he should come, Flores boasted he could even bring him to terms by argument. After sending several excuses for not coming, General Mena finally came on board our ship to meet President Flores. And what a man! He was about six feet in height, large, though not athletic. He wore the uniform of the rebel army,-a short, green frock-coat, and wide, short trousers. His gilt epaulets were of a mammoth size, the bullion reaching half-way to his elbows; the rope and cord of his red sash hung with some taste over his shoulders; but his carriage was awkward and manner confused. When he stepped upon the deck at first, he appeared much frightened, but he seemed to gain confidence, and recovered his self-possession immediately, and carried his huge head in a dignified manner. His heavy eyebrows overshadowed his restless eyes; uncombed, shaggy moustachios gave a savage aspect to his tawny front. His under jaw was so long that it appeared to be retreating from his forbidding look. President Flores did not leave the cabin to receive him on the quarter-deck, and his absence seemed to give General Mena confidence. When he came near the cabin-door and saw the president seated on the sofa, he halted an instant and drew himself up, or together, as if about to enter an affray. His slovenly figure was braced with audacity, and his savage countenance presented a real image of a leader of banditti. But so soon as he met the piercing glance of the little keen-eyed president his, audacity vanished, and the bold robber quailed before the man whom he knew was master of so much energy and talent. The president received the general and his suite with ease and grace, and by his winning manner and plausible tongue-surely he must have kissed the Blarney-Stone-soon won their confidence. As he predicted, he gained in half an hour with his tongue what he had not been able to conquer in nine months with his army,-a cessation of hostilities and a reference of all disputes to a national congress. The frigate "Columbia," which had always afforded the rebels an impregnable fortress and put all commerce at their mercy, was placed under the charge of the American squadron-neither party being willing to trust the other with her until she was disposed of by the national congress. Thus ended the fourth revolution in the last four years in Ecuador. The day after General Mena signed the treaty on board of our ship, the revolutionists on board the "Columbia," being told that he had sacrificed Rocafuerte and intended selling them, deputed two of their colonels to send him out of the country, which they proceeded to do in a tragic manner. These colonels entered the general's quarters and, saluting him as usual, seated themselves by him, calling him "my dear countryman;" then each, laying one hand on his collar and presenting a pistol to his breast with the other, told him of his villainy and perfidious conduct, led him out of the cabin, put him in a boat, and placed him, with nothing but the gay uniform he wore, under a strong guard in a vessel bound for Peru. Out of the revolution, by exactions and plain robbery, he had collected a small fortune; but this was doubtless the original object of the revolt to all concerned. Patriotism was much talked of here, though but little known and less felt. Mena was a man of singular fortune. As soon as his intrigues raised him to power and affluence, his avaricious villainies sank him. The "Fairfield's" officers were all Rocafuerte men, and we were of the Flores party. They argued the honest patriotism of Rocafuerte, while we pointed to the depredations committed by him on our commerce, and his ignorance for attempting to justify himself in such piratical acts. They often spoke of the oppression of the president; but they were present during the treaty of peace and heard Flores ask Rocafuerte if he, Flores, had ever broken the constitution, and Rocafuerte said, "No, not in a single article!" Flores then made some remark in praise of liberty and a constitutional government, whereupon Rocafuerte threw his arms round him and embraced him; so, from being the president's prisoner of state, he became at once his boon companion (and eventually president). This somewhat shook the firmness of the Rocafuerte party of our squadron, because they had often heard Rocafuerte abuse Flores in the most blackguard manner with the vilest epithets. Commodore Wadsworth guaranteed the neutrality of the frigate, and left the "Fairfield" at Puna in charge of her until their congress disposed of her. After this we departed, and touched at the piña-ports, places of silver; and eventually our captain effected an arrangement whereby he might enrich himself a little. On our way down the coast he would notify the piña-ports when he would return that way, and that they should have their silver, packed in sacks of rice or hay, ready to be smuggled on board, and he would transport it for a percentage. We never got less than ten thousand dollars at any one port. This business had, after a few trips, a bad effect on the officers, for it appeared as if we had come to this foggy coast for no other purpose than to transport smuggled treasure, for a percentage to the captain. On July 21 we took leave of our squadron at Callao, to go on our cruise among the South Sea Islands. In leaving, we ran past the "Fairfield," were cheered by her, and cheered most heartily back at her; passed near the "Brandywine," saluted our commodore and were saluted in return, cheered him and were cheered by the "Brandywine's" five hundred throats; and ran up to Payta to await the United States schooner "Boxer," from Panama, by which we expected the latest accounts from home, which came July 29. From the Journal of ROBERT LEE-WRIGHT BROWNING, LIBERTY BELL. Here is metal endowed with fame! Fond eyes look at it day by day; Wish its music would all come back; And yet I doubt they would wish away Its eminent crack. No flaw in the metal was found Of the tried hearts at Valley Forge; Unpleasant music for such as he, Here is metal endowed with fame! When national pride is sunk in wealth, Spirit of valor! never let Departing greatness toll our knell, And turn away, with a deep regret, From Liberty's Bell. JASPER BARNETT COWDIN. |