dinand. By this alliance he had tuality by briefs, which he himself six sons and six daughters. POPE PIUS THE EIGHTH. dictated, and which breathe a love of order and of peace. He left so small a fortune for his family, that they can scarcely have wherewith to maintain their rank. GENERAL SUCRE. 1830. Aged 37, General Antonio Jose de Sucre, who was assassinated on his way to Pasto, in New Grenada. Francisco Xavier Castiglione, was born at Cingoli, Nov. 20, 1761, made Bishop of Montalto in 1800, Cardinal in 1816, elected to the Popedom on the 31st of March, 1829, and crowned on the 5th of April following. His administra- He was born at Cumana, in tion was, on the whole, the result Venezuela, in 1793, and was eduof good sense and enlightened cated at Carraccas. He entered views. Not only did he bring the the army in 1811, and from 1814 long winded negotiations with the to 1817, served in the staff. He Netherlands to a successful termi- commanded the patriot forces at nation, but accomplished the task of the battle of Pinchica, on the 24th settling the affairs of the Catholic of May 1822, when 800 Spaniards Americans. At his instance, the were left dead on the field, and Ottoman court placed the Romish the remainder, consisting of about church on the same footing with 3000 men, capitulated. By this that of the Greeks, in point of civil event, the independence of Quito and religious immunities, and al- was secured. In June, 1823, he lowed them to have a resident Pa- was elected commander-in-chief triarch at Constantinople. Great of the patriot forces in Peru, on melioration, tending to lessen the the approach of a powerful Spanish public burdens, were also effected army, and soon after was invested throughout the Roman states du- with the supreme command. Or ring the late Pope's transient ca- the 9th of December, 1824, he reer. He lent a zealous and liberal gained the battle of Ajacucho, the hand to the constructions proceed- most brilliant ever fought in South ing on Mount Pincis, was an active America. This battle secured the patron of the excavations in progress independence of Peru. He afteron the banks of the Tiber and in the wards liberated the province of Forum; and spared no expense in Bolivia, became supreme chief, and preserving the splendid remains of was finally appointed by the conancient architecture, with which gress of that republic, President the imperial city abounds. Rome for life. From this station he was is indebted to him, for its present afterwards driven by a revolution currency, which threw the miser- of the Bolivians, aided by the Peable production of Leo 12th's mint ruvian army. This interference completely in the shade. Before occasioned a war between Colomthe Holy Father was confined to bia and Peru, in which General his bed, he occupied himself upon Sucre commanded the Colombian some indispensable affairs. He forces. In this war he was sucdirected that all letters addressed to cessful, and imposed terms of peace him, on the actual state of things upon Peru, at his own dictation. in France and Belgium, should be In these, however, he did not abuse answered with the strictest punc- his power, but regarded the rights of the vanquished as well as those charms for him, and he loved the of his own government. He was af- animating excitement of parliaterwards elected first President of mentary contests. Never was the late constituent congress of orator more ingenious, never was Bogota, and was delegated by that a more rigid and forcible logic disbody as one of the commissioners played. His speeches always comto propose friendly terms with manded attention, and drew from Venezuela. When this mission his enemies that admiration which had proved unsuccessful, and the they would have wished to withcongress had closed its labors, he hold. Though most serious when was proceeding to the southern engaged in public business, and departments to appease certain dis- ever studious in the closet, it was turbances, which had arisen under difficult to engage him in a serious General Flores, when he met an conversation. He found a relaxuntimely fate. ation in being frivolous when he mixed in that world which he loved, and in which his presence was always desired. A great intimacy subsisted between him and Madame de Staël. That justly celebrated woman had the most unbounded friendship for him; but they often amused themselves by reciprocal verbal provocations, and nothing could be more delightful than to be present at those private scenes, in which the mental collision struck out, on both sides, the most vivid flashes. BENJAMIN CONSTANT. Dee. 8, 1830. At Paris, aged 65, M. Benjamin Constant. This eminent person, although inheriting illustrious blood from both his parents, avoided everything which might give room to conjecture his origin, and relied entirely on his talents and beha vior. Never did any man labor with more diligence. The extent of his works, if they were collected, would appear immense. While he listened to the debates in the Chamber, he would at the same time be writing on the most abtruse subjects. While engaged in this employment, he would often rise suddenly and take part in the discussions; though it must be confessed that his extemporaneous speeches were in general much inferior to those on which he had previously bestowed the labor of composition. Constant was singularly fond of the sports of infancy, into which he was always ready to engage with zeal and a boyish simplicity. About ten years ago, at the country-seat of Baron Davillers, he followed the example of some young lads in leaping to the bottom of a quarry. On this occasion he unfortunately broke his thigh; a long time elapsed before he could walk. In person he was tall; his features mild and interesting; his hair fair; he walked with a careless Benjamin Constant had all that motion. Only two years ago, he weakness of human nature which had, when in the tribune, a certain thirsts for emotions, and he sought air of youth. His two last years to gratify that desire sometimes in were painful. Several times he the boudoirs, sometimes in the was observed in the Chamber to chances of hazard, but never be overcome by sleep, and twice with more ardor than in the stir- he fainted. His last days were ring events of political life. The not passed without some degree of storms of the tribune had peculiar relaxation. After the revolution of the 30th of July, he was appoint ed Vice-President of the Council of State. His friend and pupil, the Duke of Broglie, was President; and this circumstance induced M. Constant readily to place himself in the second rank. When, however, by the favor of M. Dupont de l'Eure, M. Merilhou succeeded the Duke de Broglie, the Presidency of the Council of State was offered in vain to M. Constant; for he could not consent to fill an inferior post under the direction of a minister, whose name was yet scarcely known. M. Constant has left a widow, but no children. He underwent a dangerous surgical operation a few days before the revolution of July, and insisted, contrary to the advice of his physician, in going out to join his fellow deputies towards the end of the ' glorious week,' when he ought to have been in his bed. He never recovered the blow which this gave to his health; and ever since had considered his life as sacrificed to this over zealous patriotism. We have not forgotten,' says the Constitutionel, the last words he uttered in the tribune: "Permit me," said he, " to implore your indulgence, not for my principles, but for the imperfections of a refutation drawn with haste. Naturally weak, and in bad health, I feel a sadness I cannot overcome: this sadness, gentlemen, it is not in my power to explain. I cannot account for it; but have endeavored to surmount these obstacles in the discharge of my duty, and my intention, at least, is worthy your indulgence." 'These words were marked by a most impressive melancholy, and produced in the Chamber and on the public a deep sensation. In six days he was no nation will lose in him an orator, an eloquent defender of constitutional principles, a writer, who added to a powerful display of sound logic, the ornament of an enlightened, striking and original style.' SIMON BOLIVAR. 1830. Dec. 17. At San Pedro near Santa Marta, in Colombia, aged 47, Simon Bolivar, late President of that republic. This celebrated personage was born in the city of Carraccas, July 25, 1783, the son of Don Juan Vicente Bolivar y Ponte, and Donna Maria Concepcion Palacios y Sojo, both of distinguished families in Venezuela. After acquiring the first elements of a liberal education at home, he was sent to Madrid to complete his studies. When he had finished his education, be spent some time in travelling in England, Germany, Italy, and France, at the capital of which he was an attentive witness of many of the later events of the revolution, and probably there imbibed the spirit which impelled him at a later period, to become the liberator of his native country. Returning to Madrid, he married the daughter of Don N. Toro, and embarked with her for America, with the view of dedicating himself to the improvement of his extensive estates. The prema ture death of his wife, put an end to this dream of domestic happiness, and he again visited Europe, to dispel his sorrow at her loss. On his return, he visited the United States, and upon his arrival at Venezuela, finding his fellow citizens engaged in open hostility with the mother country, he promptly embraced the side of the The Journal des Debats says, patriots, and pledged himself to The Chamber and the Frencht he cause of independence. more. As one of the chief promoters of the movements in Carraccas in 1810, he was appointed a colonel under the supreme junta, and shortly after the declaration of independence, July 5th, 1811, he took part in a military expedition under Miranda, against a body of persons in Valencia, who opposed the revolution. The next year he was intrusted with the command of Puerto Cabello; but the Spanish prisoners having obtained possession of the castle through treachery, he was compelled to evacuate the place, and Monteverde, the Spanish commander, soon after reduced Venezuela to a state of temporary submission. Bolivar succeeded in escaping to Curacoa, whence he repaired in September, 1812,to Carthagena,and entered into the service of the patriots of New Grenada, by whom he was appointed commander of a small town called Baranca. While in this post he undertook an expedition to Teneriffe, a place situated above Baranca on the river Magdalena, and having succeeded in capturing it he proceeded to Mompox, gathering strength, and driv ing the Spaniards before him until he entered the city of Ocana in triumph, having liberated the whole of the upper Magdalena from its oppressors. He next marched upon Cucutá, and expelled the Spanish division commanded by Correa, from that province. He now determined upon invading Venezuela in the face of the formidable force under Monteverde, with an army not exceeding 500 in number. Upon entering Merida, the inhabitants of the capital of that province rose upon the Spaniards, who fell an easy prey to the enterprising chieftain. While Bolivar was employed in reestablishing the republican author ities in the capital, he detatched Izardot in pursuit of the Spaniards, and Briceno for the occupation of Varinas. Izardot succeeded in his object, and wholly freed the provinces of Merida and Trujillo from the royalists, but Briceno was defeated, and falling into the hands of the Spaniards, was shot in cold blood with seventeen of his compan ions, by the Spanish commandant Fiscar. Exasperated at this inhuman butchery, Bolivar resolved upon retaliation, and issued the noted decree of guerra á muerte, condemning to death all the Spanish prisoners falling into his power. This decree had the effect of intimidating the royalists, and induced them in the subsequent passages of the war to pay more respect to the laws of nations. Bolivar now divided his army into two divisions, and advanced upon Carraccas through the provinces of Trujillo and Varinas. After a series of fortunate encounters, Bolivar finally defeated Monteverde in the decisive action of Lastoguanes, and compelled him to shut himself up in Puerto Cabello. Bolivar then proceeded to Carraccas, which he entered in triumph, August 4th, 1813, and as the commander of the liberating army assumed the whole authority of the government of Venezuela. This authority was confirmed by a convention of the principal civil and military officers assembled at Carraccas, Jan. 2d, 1814, and with these dictatorial powers the war was continued by him with various vicissitudes, until his total defeat by Boves in the plains of La Puerta. With the remnants of his army, Bolivar embarked for Cumana, and the Spaniards assumed the undisputed possession of Venezuela before the end of the year 1814. Once more a fugitive, Bolivar proceeded to Tunja, where he found the congress of New Grenada preparing an expedition against the city of Bogotá, with the view of compelling the province of Cundinamarca to accede to the union of the provinces of New Grenada. Bolivar was intrusted with the command of the forces of the union on this occasion, and at the head of 2000 troops, he marched against Santa Fé early in December, 1814. After a short conflict the malcontents were compelled to submit, and the government of the union was transferred to Bogotá. Bolivar now was employed to reduce Santa Marta, but his plan were all defeated by the jealousy and ill conduct of Castillo, the commandant of Carthagena upon whom he was dependent for supplies. Domestic dissensions now ensued, and the superior forces of Morillo soon compelled Bolivar to embark to resume it and to retain it until for Jamaica, and to leave his country to the mercy of the victorious Spaniards, who, during his absence, reduced Carthagena, and overran the province of New Grenada. Bolivar remained at Jamaica from May, 1815, untilthe beginning of the next year, when he repaired to Aux Cayes, where by the aid of several private individuals, he organized an expedition, and with ten black battalions furnished by Petion, he set sail in conjunction with commodore Brion to join the independents, who had renewed the war under Arismendi in the isle of Margarita. tion convoking the general Congress of Venezuela, he passed over to Barcelona; organized a provisional government, and prepared to repel Morillo, who was advancing upon this indomitable antagonist. An action which lasted three days was fought between them, in the month of February, 1817, and Morillo was compelled to retreat. Bolivar, now recognized as supreme chieftain, followed up his victory, and soon established himself at Angostura. In the sanguinary war that followed, Bolivar was the most distinguished among the brave. He now began to develope his character as a civilian, and at the opening of the Congress at Angostura (February 15th, 1819,) where he presided, he made an elaborate exposition of his views of government. He then surrendered his authority into the hands of the Congress, but was requested the independence of the country was achieved. He now effected a junction with General Santander, who commanded the forces of New Grenada, and on the 7th of August, 1819, gave a decisive defeat to the Spanish army at Bojaca, by which he gained immediate possession of Santa Fé and all New Grenada. This success ensured him the unlimited confidence of the republie, and he was appointed President and Captain General, and immediately began to strengthen his army for the purpose of expelling the royalists from Venezuela. His return into that province was hailed with the greatest enthusiasm, and he embraced this favorable moment to obtain the fundamental law of the union of He Dec. 17th, 1819, between Venezuela and New Grenada, under the title of Colombia, with Bolivar for President, From Margarita he embarked for Cumana, where he landed; but in the course of the summer of 1816, was defeated by Morales, and compelled to re-embark. was again reinforced at Aux Cayes, and in December of the same year, landed once more in Margarita. Having there issued a proclama The next year an armistice of six |