Spain. The relations and bonds, which united the inhabitants of the latter, to their European brethren; a conformity of habits and customs; and the intimate connection which originated from the Americans, in general, being educated by Spaniards, had evidently strengthened that inherent love to the Peninsula, which was transfused through all classes, from their very cradle. To this, was added, an habitual respect paid to the government and its agents; together with a blind, and, almost, trembling submission, which, by length of time, had been converted into a second nature. The whole of these powerful ties, had created a gordian knot, which it was, nearly, impossible to sever.

Influenced by opinions and prejudices, which they could neither control nor discord, and which education, habit, conscience, and, perhaps, honour, lead them to cherish, and retain; it was impossible to infuse into the mass of the Spanish Americans, any wide and effective wish, for absolute independence, unless a total revolution in their sentiments, previously took place. This, could only be the effect of time, or be caused by the immediate pressure of extraordinary circumstances, which certainly had not occurred, during the period of their late harmony with the mother-country. To proclaim independence, under such exigencies, as those which pressed heavy on the monarchy at home; would have stamped such a measure, as the offspring of disloyalty and ingratitude; and the late resolves of the Americans, not to listen to the French, as before described, as well as every other feature of their political conduct, sufficiently repels so unfounded a charge. That ingratitude and ill treatment; that the sight of their de

populated and ruined towns; and the repetition of their interminable butchery and human misery, should, in the course of time, produce a revolution in their sentiments, and gradually engender a fund of odium, and create ini mical feelings, to such a degree, as to render all intercourse with Spain impossible, is, indeed, within the possibility of fact. But, this, was, by no means, the case, when the Americans first took the administration of their own local concerns, into their own hands; nor was it till the government took refuge in Cadiz, and till its insensate and infuriate acts, had scattered firebrands and death, in every section, that open enmity partially flamed. It was, not, till Spain, forgetful of the long and affecting proofs of loyalty and attatchment, she had uniformly received from her provinces abroad, by her impolitic declaration of war, severed the bonds of fra. ternity and mutual interest, that one detatched section of America, resolved on independence; but this was in consequence of peculiar hardships, and a variety of cogent motives, detailed in its manifest then published. It was, not, till terror and alarm, instead of re dress, had been employed as weapons, by the agents of Spain, to inforce the subjection of the American provinces-it was not, in short, till indignation, sharpened by taunts, revilings, as well as by unheard of horrors, had roused the inhabitants of the western continent to a state of political phrenzy, that the deadly enmity now existing, made its appearance. No, the Spanish Americans can never be charged with disloyalty, the spirit of their history, and the leading features of those commotions already pencilled, not, only, prove that they possessed loyalty; but, also, that it was genuine and sincere.

They, would have remained tranquil, would have even conceived it honourable and conformable to their wishes and interests, to have continued united with the mothercountry, had her government, only, corrected the ty ranny and oppression of its agents, whose wrongs, had, at last, become so flagrant, repeated, and galling, and whose politics were so manifestly treacherous, that it were to judge the people divested of sense or feeling, to suppose that they could endure them any longer.

The changes of government here alluded to, had, therefore, no connection, whatever, with any ulterior views of independence; nor, did they originate in causes, emanating from foreign influence. This fact is fully established by abundant testimony, and particularly by the official declarations, respectively made on these occasions, but which, are too voluminous for insertion. here. In the urgency of the moment, and for motives both legitimate and cogent, the Spanish Americans resolved no longer to put their trust in men, whose treachery was evident; and they determined to administer their own local concerns; not, only, as a remedy against past and present ills; but, also, in order to promote their own security. Neither, did any spirit of disloyalty, or French intrigue, in any way, influence their actions. As, before observed, the Spanish American provinces resolved to acknowledge no other sovereign, than a de-scendant of Charles IV. and every where, war was proclaimed against the usurper of Spain, with as much enthusiastic ardour, as at home. The firm resolution of the Peninsula, to repel, by force, an insiduous invader, was not, only, applauded; but every American stepped forward, with anxious zeal, and with offers of private

and public donations, in order to contribute his mite, to the general expence of a popular enterprize. It was, consequently, neither disloyalty, nor ingratitude, which stimulated the conduct of the Spanish Americans; although these have been the principal charges brought against them, by the party spirit of the monopolists of Cadiz, and the ravings of a violent war faction, which have uniformly attempted to disfigure every transaction, and to give edge and fury, to the burnings of revenge and of disappointed gain.

§ In order, however, to manifest, in the clearest manner possible, the intentions and views of the Spanish American provinces, in their recent changes of government; it will be extremely proper, to draw a parallel of the situation of Spain, at the period of the seizure of the royal persons, with that of the Spanish American provinces, when the news of the advances of the French, and the dispersion of the Central Junta, reached their alarmed shores. I dwell, with greater stress, on this particular part of my subject, because, it is of the first importance, to a just and correct conception of the matter in view, to present my reader with a full picture, of all the concurrent and existing circumstances, which induced the inhabitants of the transmarine provinces, to deposit their confidence in local Juntas of their own choice; and to explain, what were their real intentions and views, in so doing. This being the particular circumstance, that nearly involves all the points at issue, it is necessary to examine, with a scrupulous care, the immediate causes which lead to it; for which purpose, it is, essentially, necessary, to retrace and describe, the respective situation of each part of the Spanish monarchy, at the two distinct periods, above alluded to.

The debased situation of the government of Spain, as already pourtrayed, had, in a great measure, brought upon her inhabitants, the horrors and misfortunes which befel them. Before the perfidy of the French, was unmasked to the world, Spain had been bereft of her monarch; the principal provinces and fortified places were in the hands of the enemy, even the capital itself; and the whole country was reduced to a crisis, not only unforeseen and unprovided for by the legislation of the state, but, also, unexampled in the annals of history. During the absence of the king to Bayonne, the administration of the provisional government, had been the work of the enemy, in whose hands, perfidy had also placed every other branch of the legislature; and plans for the general submission of all the realm, had been long and deeply organizing. A foreigner had been placed at the head of this same administration, and the enemy not only possessed the persons of the royal family, but had, even, succeeded to use them, as so many active instruments to his base designs, which had been rendered the more powerful and dangerous, from being the more sacred and respectable.

The councils of the nation, the constitutional interpreters of the law, the ministers, as well as the supreme courts and tribunals, were all under the control of the usurper; and were all ready and disposed to contribute to cement his base and treacherous seizure. And, what had been the springs, employed to secure all this ascendency? Nothing, besides address, corruption, and the promise of continuation in office and command; in short, the very same means, which had been, equally, practised in America. To add to this national calamity, these same occurrences, had been preceded by one of