bitrary, also, held in their own hands, a power, in such moments as these, neither consistent with the security of the country, under their charge, nor compatible with the welfare of the people governed. Possessed of the resources of all the districts under their jurisdiction, commanding the armed force, and being, at the same time, the direct and immediate channel of every thing that arrived from, or was conveyed to Europe; they had not only the fate and lives of the inhabitants in their hands, but they had it, likewise, within their power, to deliver them over to the French, if they thought fit, or it was at their option, to leave them at the mercy of any other foreign power. In addition to the ramifications of offices and trusts, which they immediately controled, the European residents were ever ready to second and support the measures of their constituted chiefs, as well from a spirit of party and direct opposition to the Creoles, as in order to secure an adhesion to the Peninsula, for they, like the Israelites of old, hankered after the flesh-pots of Egypt. Always bending to the nod of their chiefs in power, and always assembled round him, in consequence of their extensive influence and connections, they, at all times, became a formidable plalanx; the more to be dreaded, from the greater union that existed amongst them, and from the great facility, with which they might be misled, in any thing that related to the transactions of the parent state.

§ This picture of the various occurrences, which preceded and accompanied the changes of government in the ultramarine provinces; will be, however, rendered more perfect and intelligible, if, before I proceed any further, I give a particular outline of what occurred in

Mexico; as, from the greater importance of this section, its antiquity, and the precedence given to it, by all the other sections; it deserves some individual consideration, in the general details which comprehend the whole of the Spanish American continent. This little de a'ched sketch, will, at the same time, more clearly, explain the tone of feeling then prevalent in the country, and will, greatly, elucidate the grounds on which the inhabitants acted.

On receipt of the news of the deplorable situation of the Peninsula, of the seizure of the king, and of the invasion of the French, Viceroy Iturrigaray became diffident of those powers he had received from Charles IV, through his corrupt minister Godoy, and which had been, so recently confirmed by the Duke de Berg, and by the Spanish ministers of the intrusive king. Fearful of the impossibility of maintaining harmony, amidst such general despondency, distrust, and the clashing of interests, and considering also, that his limited authority could, in no way, replace that of the lost king, he proposed calling together a general assembly, or Junta of

the

representatives of all the provinces, in order to resolve on the future mode of government, and to establish, in this critical situation of affairs, an administrative system, in which the people might confide. In this he was opposed by the audiencia, consisting of old Spaniards, these were joined by all the European merchants and placemen, who trembling for the ascendency of the more numerous Creoles, in any plan of govern. ment founded on popular election, resolved, by open force, to frustrate any attempt that might give preponderance to the latter. The adoption of the viceroys

measure, was supported by the cabildo, which, in Spanish America, still retained some shadow of popular representation, and by its official remonstrance (part of which I have inserted in Appendix C. as highly illustrative of this particular point) it proved, that this was the only means of consulting the voice of the people, promoting confidence and unanimity, and of producing security to the whole kingdom, in a manner conformable to the injunctions of the law, and the example of the provinces of the Peninsula. A powerful faction of Europeans, was formed and armed, the person of the viceroy was seized, and himself and family,, under aggravated indignities, were sent prisoners to Europe. Thus, did European despotism, under a new shape, rear its hydra head in Mexico, and the seat of power became usurped, whilst the laws of the realm, and the patriotic wishes of the Creoles, were laughed to scorn.*

The latter, trusted to the justice and equity of the government at home, but instead of a thorough investigation into this affair, although Iturrigaray was absolved of every charge, and his intentions were, thereby, proved to have been legal, pure, and patriotic; the principal members of this faction, aud the chief plotters of this flagrant insult on the American people; were rewarded with insignia, offices and distinctions, carried out to Mexico, by the successive Viceroy Venegas. Such was the origin and commencement of those disorders and

* The principal occurrences connected with this affair, are detailed, at full length, in the Rovolucion de Mexico, the work before referred to. The principal object of the author, appears to have been a defence of the viceroy, and an explanation of the material causes which produced open enmity on the part of the Creoles in New Spain.

intestine divisions, which first began to spread open enmity between the Europeans and Americans in Mexico; and afterwards, gave rise to the numerous evils, which, so fast, spread in that unhappy section of the Spanish American continent, and so soon filled it, with ravages and destruction. It was this impolicy and injustice, on the part of the Europeans there, and the government at home, which first convinced the Creoles of the insulting extremity of their sufferings, and renewed the irritating sense of their actual and varied oppression. In this particular, the sentiments and feelings of each section, have been alike; though their open display has been more immediately excited, by different concurrent circumstances and local causes. The origin has been the same, though the features and the results, in some measure, have varied.

§ The situation of the Peninsula, though more melancholy and alarming, was not so perplexed and doubtful, as that of the various sections of Spanish America. The distance at which they were placed, created a gloomy suspence; they knew not the fate which awaited them; they were ignorant what political changes were reserved for them; whether they were to be bartered to a new master, and thrown into the scale of political compensation,-whether the transfer and alienation to France,was to be carried into effect,-whether they had been made the price of British co-operation,-whether the princess of the Brazils, was to be their future sovereign, and, in short, whether they were to be left a prey to the despotism of the popular demagogues at home. In the mean time, the bosom of the whole country, was torn asunder by parties and factions; and discontent, and distrust,

reigned in every order of society. The audiencias, were plotting to supplant the viceregal power, every one was ambitious of command, and, at the same time, the people were at the will and mercy, of men, who, besides, being strangers to the land, were neither possessed of their choice, nor vested with their respect or confidence,

They were aware, that, in the United States, a wide plan for their political subjection, had been organized, that General Dalmivart, had already penetrated to the interior provinces of Texas,-that, besides, the numerous orders and confirmations of powers, sent out to the governors, bishops, &c. by the council of the Indies, and besides the proclamations filled with venom against Ferdinand; they knew that crosses of the legion of honour, had also been prepared by the French, for a long list of worthies, then amongst them. They were informed, that the Portuguese court, had long had pretensions on that part of Spanish America, which borders on the Brasils; and that even in 1808, acrimonious disputes were pending, respecting their large innovations on the Spanish territory. They were not ignorant, that the princess of the Brasils, as infanta of Spain, sought to be made regent of the monarchy of her absent brother; that she was corresponding with various sections of Spanish America, in order to sound their chiefs and further her views; in short, the Spanish Americans had reason to expect, overtures and emissaries from Napoleon, the Duke de Berg, Joseph, the king of Naples, the princess of the Brazils, and they were moreover, uncertain, as to the conduct and views of the British.

They, also, well remembered, that they had been, long, under doubt and uncertainty, as to the situation and stabi