524 Documents I also enclose a copy of a letter I have this moment received from Captain Campbell of His Majesty's Sloop " Lilly " ' by which it will ap- pear General Miranda has been hitherto unsuccessful in his attempt on the Spanish main ; as the Leander is now with the Lilly, I expect him here in a day or two^ and I should be glad to receive their Lordships in- structions respecting him. I have the honor to be Sir, your most obed" hble. serv!, Alex. Cochrane. XII. Rear-Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane to the Secretary.' Northumberland, off Port Royal Bay, Martinique, 12 June 1806. Sir Be pleased to inform the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that previous to my leaving Barbadoes, General Miranda arrived in an armed ship under American colours, from an unsuccessful attempt he made to land near Porto Cavello in consequence of the Spanish Naval Force being superior to the vessels he sent in shore. Conceiving every attempt to annoy the enemy as beneficial to Great Britain, I have agreed to protect his landing by a sloop of war and two armed brigs, and when the convoys are safe, with a frigate if I have one to spare ; I have also directed the Commanders of those vessels, to re- ceive on board as many of his recruits as they can carry.' It is not yet determined where the descent is to be, but I suppose near to Cumana, unless it should be decided to begin with Angustura : ' By accounts from the Continent many are ready to join him as soon as he makes good his landing. 1 hope the measure I have adopted may be agreeable to their Lord- ships. I have the honor to be Sir Your most obed' humble servant Alex. Cochrane. ' See the preceding, No. x. 2 He arrived on the sixth. "Admirals' Despatches, Leeward Islands, Vol. 25. Endorsed as received July 12.
- Cochrane's engagement to this effect, dated June 9, 1806, may be found in
Antepara, pp. 213-215, with Miranda's reply. After the above stipulation, Cochrane adds : " I do moreover assure you of such further support as it may be in my power oc- casionally to give. " But the article on the Emancipation of Spanish America in the Edinburgh Review for January 1S09, an article which Copinger attributes to " Milner assisted by General Miranda," says, XIII. 295, that after a little time the admiral wrote to him, that " by recent instructions received from England, he was directed to limit the assistance General Miranda was to receive from him, to protection from the naval force of the enemy, to prevent succours being landed, and to secure his re-em- barkation, in the event of his being obliged to leave the shore.'" That Fox, the new Foreign Secretary, was disposed to be cautious in support of Miranda is evident from his conversation with Monroe on June 7 ; see Writings of James Monroe, IV. 450. 5 Santo Thome de la Angostura, on the Orinoco ; now Ciudad Bolivar.
