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mense as has been the waste of property, and lamentable and afflicting, as has been this impolitic dismemberment of the Spanish monarchy, not less dangerous to the future existence of Spain, than subversive of the prosperity of Spanish America, and prejudicial to the real interests of England; still, as the sincere friends and allies of both parties, we have hitherto devised no effective remedy; nay, our statesmen in their views of national policy, and national welfare, appear studiously to have avoided the contemplation and discussion of a question, in which so much was at issue, and in which we were so materially implicated. They appear never to have pondered on the future consequences of that blind obstinacy, which first caused the dissentions here alluded to; and which, by neither being prevented or remedied, have not only cut off from Spain half her strength, but have, also, deprived her of the greatest part of those resources she might have brought into active operation against the common enemy; and have, further, converted the fairest portion of the Spanish monarchy (whose integrity, and consequently preservation we have guaranteed) into one wide extended waste of anarchy and ruin, and are, besides, fast driving it into the interests of the French. That increase of private wealth and public revenue, which might otherwise have flowed into Spain to our benefit, that accession of physical and moral strength which might have been secured to her, and that closer union which might have been cemented between all parties, seems to be a subject completely overlooked and disregarded; nor is there a measure of a public nature, in which we seem to have been so much embarrassed, as in our conduct to our Peninsular ally.

Spanish America, in the mean time, has been bleeding at every pore, in vain have its natives appealed to our justice [and generosity, and in vain have they reminded us of our old promises and offers. We have calmly beheld them put to the sword, for seeking that just redress and requisite regeneration, such as the whole world pronounced to be their due; and for endeavouring to establish those rights they had inherited from their forefathers, but which their trampled laws could no longer secure to them. Unheeded, we have beheld their fruitfu! plains laid waste, and their ravaged cities levelled with the dust. Without an effective effort in their favour, we have seen their peaceful country become a prey to anarchy and devastation, nor is there a record of a public nature existing to prove, that we have felt for them the common sympathies of men, or at least, that we have been really sensible of the injustice committed against them. Instead of, seriously, applying remedies to the increasing gangrene, that has been so long preying on the political existence of the Spanish monarchy in both hemispheres; we have suffered it to rankle and to inflame, till at last, we not only behold it verging to an alarming state of dissolution; thus counteracting the object of that very treaty which bound us to its welfare, but, we are, moreover, ourselves fast losing the affections of the inhabitants of each of its divisions, perhaps, for ever.

It is, therefore, here intended to trace the different stages of this unfortunate dispute, as a means of bringing it in a full shape before your Royal Highness, and the public; for which purpose, it may be extremely proper, to examine it in principle, and to develope its results.— It may, at the same time, be useful, to review the policy and conduct of the British cabinet in its relations with

Spanish America, as constituting part of that same na tion to whom we are allied; and, also, to enumerate the means by which the evils hereafter detailed, might have been prevented or remedied. In prosecution of my subject, it will, moreover, be highly illustrative, to take a view of those unparalleled advantages which would have resulted to the world at large, but particularly to the patriotic cause of Spain, from the redress and regeneration of Spanish America, in that just and consistent manner that might have been fixed upon, when the era of liberty first dawned upon both, The contemplation of this interesting scene, is not, indeed, novel to the British cabinet, for it once formed the unceasing and favourite study of that great and lamented statesman, whose views and plans have served as a beacon to all his successors and have, perhaps, under the guidance of the Almighty, effected the great and momentous changes of the day. Other more fair and equitable means to realize his contemplated results, have, indeed, since occurred; and certainly had he been living, they would not have been unimproved. In Spanish America, Mr. Pitt beheld a wide prospect of national advantage, and a plentiful source of benefits, not of an uncertain and transitory nature, but such as can no longer appear dubious and fleeting, after the voyages of a Humboldt, the gleanings of a Depons, and the labours of Molina and Azara; and, most assuredly, under such a propitious an alliance as ours with Spain, he would have gloried in calling them forth, against the common

enemy.

Though entirely unknown to your Royal Highness, I am not devoid of hope, that the particulars on which I am about to enter, will meet with every attention their magnitude deserves, it is under these impressions alone, I presume to ask it. These are not indeed details of

universal notoriety, because they have not come within the reach of many, but they are well known to those, who like myself, have closely followed up the course of events, who have viewed the occurrences as they have passed, and who, for the last five years, have taken a lively interest in the fate and misfortunes of Spanish America. The following pages, constitute the result of a long and favoured residence in the Spanish dominions of both hemispheres; nor do I foresee that any of my allegations, will be found devoid of their adequate and respective testimony.

It having been my lot, early in life, to visit the regions to which I allude, I used every effort to become informed of their situation, how their prosperity and happiness might be promoted, and how these might redound to the advantage of my own country. It is the result of this research, I now submit to your Royal Highness, on whom, in great measure, the happiness or misery of Spanish America depends. My only object is to be useful, for after the sacrifices I have already made for the furtherance of these views, I should conceive myself wanting in my duty to the nation of which I am a member, and to the interests of that country, whose amelioration I have greatly at heart, and whose misfortunes I sincerely deplore, were I to hesitate to step forward, on an occasion like the present, and fail to place my observations in that channel, in which they may produce their desired effect.

Impressed with these sentiments, I again solicit your Royal Highness's indulgence, under the assurance, that mine is not a project to bring burthensome consequences on the nation, or intended to make us swerve from the faith of treaties; but it is, perhaps, under existing circumstances, the only means of giving efficiency to our

alliance with European and American Spain; it is the only one that can adequately relieve and augment our trade, besides, retrieve our past losses; objects which cannot but strongly interest every member of society, at the present moment, and press, with peculiar force, on those who are charged with His Majesty's government. It is not, now, a question of prudence and deliberation, but an absolute command of imperious justice and humanity, to stop the torrents of blood flowing in every section of Spanish America, and deluging its ravaged plains.

The eyes of its unhappy natives, have long been cast upon England; and on the judgment of your Royal Highness, now rests the well-being of seventeen millions of people. And, whilst the nations of Europe bless the benign and strenuous exertions with which your Royal Highness watched over their welfare, and prepared the means of their liberation; whilst Spain, in an especial manner, has witnessed the profuse sacrifices, and generous assurances of both the British government and people, is no sympathy due to the unredressed natives of Spanish America, with whom we are equally allied, but to whose sufferings we have been so long estranged? The substantial glory and true virtue of the British nation, could never shine forth with more effulgency, than by becoming the effective mediator and sincere umpire, between the alienated provinces of Spanish America, and Spain; and by promoting the return of harmony between them, on principles just and equitable to both. This is a beneficent enterprise, still within the reach of your Royal Highness, if moments the most precious are only improved. It was at first difficult, because we did not fully understand it; it has afterwards become ar

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