The Romance of Miranda
This is the romance of Francisco de Miranda of Venezuela, the Flaming Son of Liberty, the Knight-Errant of Freedom, who made Spain tremble.
Romance was in his blood, for Alvaro, his great Spanish ancestor, had won the family coat-of-arms, by rescuing five Christian maidens from pagan Moors. And Miranda’s father, an adventurous, bold Spaniard, had crossed the Atlantic in those dangerous days of pirates to seek his fortune in Venezuela.
So the boy, who was to make Spain tremble, was born in Venezuela, and grew up in the City of Caracas. He liked to read and study. He was given a classical education. But the call of romance and adventure was too loud for him to remain quietly at home. When he was sixteen, he sailed for Spain to try his own fortune.
His father was wealthy, and the boy bought a captain’s commission in the Regiment of the Princess. He studied military science and fought valiantly against Spain’s enemies. He collected books. In fact, he spent a great deal of money bringing books from many countries; only to have some of his precious volumes burned by the Spanish Inquisition, because they taught of Equality, Fraternity, and Liberty.
Then came our American War for Independence. While Washington and the Continental Army were fighting for our Liberty, Miranda’s romantic career as a Knight-Errant of Liberty, began.
For Spain and France were both at war with England. They sent troops to the West Indies to form an expedition to take away from England, Pensacola, in Florida. Miranda, a high-spirited, executive young officer was chosen to accompany the Spanish troops. So for two years he took part in our struggle for Independence.
But he made enemies among the Spanish officials stationed in the West Indies. They accused him of disloyalty to Spain. He was tried, and banished for ten years. Probably he had aroused their suspicion because, while fighting for our Freedom, he had begun to plan for the Independence of Venezuela.
Thus Miranda became an exile from all of Spain’s dominions. Filled with his great idea of Freedom for his Country, he went wandering about Europe armed with papers, maps, and information about Spanish America. He went from Court to Court, from Country to Country—he even visited the United States—trying to persuade some Government to take up the cause of Independence for Spanish America, and to lend him money, men, and arms.
But he found time in the midst of all this roving to become a soldier of France, and to fight for her Freedom during the French Revolution. He had many thrilling adventures, and was imprisoned and escaped. Then he once more took up his wanderings and petitionings.
He was a handsome man. His courtly manners, charm, and eloquence, his burning words of Patriotism, everywhere aroused sympathy. He told of the sufferings of his countrymen, and of the great commercial opportunities which Spanish America offered to whatever friendly Nation would help to gain her Freedom.
Everywhere he was received with attention. The Empress Catherine the Great of Russia became his friend. William Pitt gave him many assurances that England would aid him if possible; while our own Alexander Hamilton wrote him, that he hoped the United States might soon come forward openly to the support of Spanish-American Independence.
Time and again, it seemed as though Miranda were succeeding. But on each occasion international politics interfered, and the Governments withdrew their encouragement.
Spain feared Miranda. She pronounced him a fugitive from justice. Her spies followed him. They searched his papers; and would have seized him and carried him back to Spain, had they not been afraid of his powerful friends in Russia and England.
In Miranda’s London home, many Spanish-American Patriots met together, and joined a secret society founded by him. They planned to free Spanish America; and they swore to give their lives and their all to the aid of their Country.
Many years passed by. Miranda was over fifty. Yet he had not struck a single blow for Venezuela. He determined to wait no longer for foreign aid. He believed that the time was ripe to declare the Independence of Spanish America. He believed that the people there were waiting eagerly for him to raise Liberty’s standard against Spain.
He had no funds, so he pledged his precious library, which, during so many years, he had collected with such pains, industry, and affection.
Then, with the money thus raised, he sailed for the City of New York.