162
Not in the Manuscript Catalogue.
1815 Catalogue, page 126, no. 96, The history of Miranda’s attempt to effect a in South America,
[
sic
--
Ed.
] by an Officer, 12mo.
[BIGGS,
James.]
The History of Don Francisco de Miranda’s attempt to effect a Revolution in South America, in a series of letters, by a Gentleman
who was an Officer under that General, to his friend in the United States. To which are annexed, Sketches of the life of Miranda,
and geographical notices of Caraccas . . .
Boston: published by
Edward Oliver,
1808.
F2323 .M657
First Edition. 171 leaves (24 letter alphabet). The copy of this edition in the Library of Congress is imperfect, and the title-leaf
defective, with damage to the imprint, the name of the publisher and the date being missing.
Halkett and Laing III, 66 [by Henry Adams Bullard, authority Sabin].
Sabin 5333 [under Biggs] and 9117 [under Bullard].
Palau I, 228.
Reference is made to Jefferson as President on page 6: “We are encouraged in the belief that our government has given its
implied sanction to this expedition, and this circumstance, taken in connexion with the official language of the President,
and the known sentiments of some of the political party that now prevails, leads us to suppose that our government expects
or intends, very soon explicitly to authorise the use of force against Spain. Under such impressions, we think we shall not
be called to account as violating the pacifick relations of the United States . . .”
On page 273 is quoted a translation into English of the letter from Miranda to Jefferson in sending him a copy of Molina’s work on Chile, q.v.
Jefferson mentioned Miranda’s expedition several times in his correspondence. In a letter to William Duane, dated from Washington,
March 22, 1806, he wrote: “
. . . that the expedition of Miranda was countenanced by me, is an absolute falsehood, let it have gone from whom it might;
& I am satisfied it is equally so as to m
(
~
r)
Madison. to know as much of it as we could was our duty, but not to encourage it . . .”
On October 4, 1809, in a letter to Valentin de Foronda, the Spanish consul in Philadelphia, Jefferson wrote: “
. . . and here give me leave to make an avowal for which, in my present retirement, there can be no motive but a regard for
truth. your predecessor, soured on a question of etiquette against the administration of this country, wished to impute wrong
to them in all their actions, even where he did not believe it himself. in this spirit he wished it to be believed that we
were in unjustifiable cooperation in Miranda’s expedition. I solemnly, & on my personal truth and honor declare to you that
this was entirely without foundation, & that there was neither cooperation nor connivance on our part. he informed us he was
about to attempt the liberation of his native country from bondage, & intimated a hope of our aid or connivance at least.
he was at once informed that altho’ we had great cause of complaint against Spain, & even of war, yet whenever we should think
proper to act as her enemy, it should be openly & above board, & that our hostility should never be exercised by such petty
means. we had no suspicion that he expected to engage men here, but merely to purchase military stores. against this there
was no law, nor consequently any authority for us to interpose obstacles. on the other hand we deemed it improper to betray
his voluntary communication to the agents of Spain.
"
altho’ his measures were many days in preparation at New York, we never had the least intimation or suspicion of his engaging
men in his enterprize until he was gone: and I presume the secrecy of his proceedings kept them equally unknown to the Marquis
Yrujo at Philadelphia, & the Spanish Consul at New York, since neither of them gave us any information of the enlistment of
men until it was too late for any measures taken at Washington to prevent their departure. the officer in the customs who
participated in this transaction with Miranda, we immediately removed, and should have had him and others further punished
had it not been for the protection given them by private citizens at N. York in opposition to the government who by
”