Born
in Kent in 1795, William Miller fought in Spain during the Napoleonic Wars and
then (in 1817) sailed to Buenos Aires to become a soldier-adventurer on the side
of the revolutionaries who brought Spanish rule to an end in Chile and Peru. His
presence in London in 1828 may well be explained by the fact that in that year the
London publishers Longman & Co brought out a two-volume Memoirs of General
Miller in the Service of the Republic of Peru, edited by his brother John
Miller. The General returned to Peru, left again in 1836, became British Consul in
Hawaii, returned to Peru and died in Lima in 1861.
This
letter is written by William Black who has just crossed the Atlantic and landed
at Falmouth in Cornwall (a common enough disembarkation point). He updates
Miller on the progress of what is now known as the Gran Colombia-Peru War of
1828-29 and identifies key figures and locations. Black was (perhaps only as part of a larger role) a
Glasgow solicitor and the wax seal on this letter shows the family motto “Non Crux Sed Lux”;
what he was doing in South America and what was his relationship with Miller I have
not established. It is clear that he speaks Spanish.
Addressed
to: al Sgr General Don Guillermo Miller Londres
Datelined:
Falmouth 21st Novr. 1828
Postmarked:
FALMOUTH NO 21 1828 London receiver marks 24 and 27 NO with TOO LATE [for
delivery] mark and Mss endorsement “Try 13 or 15 Craven St”
Intact
wax seal reading “Non Crux Sed Lux”, the general motto of the Black family of
Glasgow
Sir
I
take leave to enclose a letter which his Excellency Genl. San Martin left with
me this morning, under the idea that I would be the bearer of it to you; but I
have since found it will be impossible, from unforseen circumstances that that
I can now have that pleasure as I shall be under the necessity of proceeding
direct to my native city, Glasgow previous to visiting London.
The
news his Excy already alludes to in his letter, are the recent changes that
have taken place in the affairs of upper Peru – I left Lima upon the 5th
July at that time Genl. Gamarra, at the head of the peruvian army of the south,
and by order of his Government, was in possession of La Plata (Chiquisaca)
& La Paz & would speedily relieve Bolivia, it was generally understood,
of the presence of the Colombian troops. Genl. Sucre has been deserted by
nearly the whole of his army, and was in retreat with a few hundred men upon
Cochabamba, accompanied by some of the other Genl. Officers. Genl. Urdaneta [General
Rafael Urdaneta, loyal ally of Bolivar] still adheres to the same cause. It was
said that Genl. Laura had died of the wounds he received in one of the
insurrections at Chiquisaca. Genl. Sucre lost an arm, or rather, hand his arm
amputated in consequence of a wound he received in endeavouring to quell the
first rising of the populace &c at Chiquisaca. The object of the Peruvians
in interfering with Bolivia was to do away with, at the desire of a
great majority of the inhabitants, the Vitalicia [the first constitution of
Bolivia approved in November 1826].system altogether – although it was not
known in Peru that Colombia had declared war, the Peruvian Govt. at the head of
which is Genl. La Mar, had made, & still continued making any preparations
for such an event.
Genl.
Castilla [Ramón Castilla, a future president of Peru] was in Lima, & it was
understood that he would be entrusted with the command of the army of the north
– say from four to five thousand men situated in the neighbourhood of Piura
& the Colombian frontier.
Colnl
Cutia [?] late prefect interim of Truxillo is minister de Guerra &c & Dr J..Paredes
[Dr. José Paredes served as President of the PeruvianConstituent Congress in 1825] of Hacienda.
I
have the honor to be, Sir, your very ob. & hble [servant] William Black
General
Miller
Wikipedia: Don Guillermo Miller
Wikipedia: Gran Colombia-Peru War
Wikipedia: José de San Martín
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