derstood, that the stimulus of this animosity, on the part of the Cadiz government, has been partiality, motives of interest, and, partly, rancour; and, when it is, at the same time, remembered, that the Spanish Americans, from the commencement of their pretensions, have only asked redress, and such governmental reform, as they required, and were entitled to; that they have ever been ambitious of belonging to Spain, as an integral and incorporated part; that they have ever acknowledged the same monarch, and that, in short, they have, uniformly, given, the most unequivocal proofs of fidelity, loyalty, and fraternity, it seems impossible, that such conclusions should have been drawn by Spain, or that they should have warped the independent and upright councils of England.

§ The first fatal effects, produced by this injudicious declaration of war, on the part of the Cadiz Regency, against Caracas, was the driving of the inhabitants of that province, to the extreme of declaring their independence; the first act which occurred on the other side of the Atlantic, to endanger the integrity of the Spanish monarchy. This being an occurrence, too remarkable to be omitted, in this general outline, and full explanation of all the insurrections of Spanish America, I will hereafter, submit a short detail of its most leading events; contenting myself, for the present, with observing, that the people of Caracas, were urged by open hostilities, by the aggravations, and repeated insults of the Cadiz government; and that if a partial attempt was then made at absolute independence, it was not till July 11, 1811, that is, nearly a year after this same declaration of war, now under consi

deration, had been made. This event, therefore, in Caracas, took place, at a subsequent period, and when the unjust conduct of the Peninsular government, of which this same Regency decree is quoted, as the principal basis, together with the coldness of England, had convinced the people, that they had nothing to expect from home, but a continuation of ill-treatment, a prolonged refusal to the discussion and restitution of their rights, and, in short, this measure was resorted to, because, from the preparations, making on their shores, they conceived it was time, to seek the means of their own defence. They judged, under such circumstances, that it was the same thing, to be in open hostility, as to endure the grievances of covered enmity; surrounded, as they were, by plots, by arrests, and by every domestic and external horror, that civil discord, and an implacable enemy, could hurl amongst them.

§ If, the impolitic declaration of war, made by the Regency against Caracas, and which has, avowedly, been the cause of all the misfortunes that have since harrassed the other sections, from its operating as an insulting defiance to the just claims and pretensions of all, was, at the time of its promulgation and execution, overlooked by the British government; nearly a year afterwards, that is, when the injuries and insults of Spanish America, had become manifest and urgent, and when the integrity of that same monarchy, we had guaranteed, became endangered; was it not time to ponder on the state of that injured country; was the hour not yet come, to concert remedies for evils, which had, already, risen to the most alarming height; and was it not, yet, evident, what would be the

melancholy consequences, of this increasing overflow of gall, on both sides? Would it not have, then, been, more manly, generous, and just, in the British government, under the influence, and actuated by the sincerity of that same treaty, which had constituted us, the united guardians of the crown of the absent Ferdinand, when its brightest gem, was, thus, likely to be torn from it; nay, would it not have been more politic, at once, to have struck at the root of these disorders, which were about to prey on the very vitals of the Spanish monarchy of both hemispheres, and which would, eventually, defeat the object, which led to our alliance. This was, only, to be done, by a mutual approximation and compromise; these could, only, be produced, by the influence, advice, or demand, of a third party; can it, therefore, be doubtful, on whom this essential duty devolved?

It would not have been impossible, though the task was, undoubtedly, difficult, for a dexterous and energetic minister near the Cadiz government, to have called its members, seriously, to the contemplation of the fatal consequences of this unfortunate rupture; nor would it have been an arduous undertaking, to have convinced them, of its being the primary, and most sacred duty of their public functions, as well as the interest of the nation at large, to restore and cement the harmony of all parts of the monarchy; to keep down parties and war factions; to stop the waste of public treasure; to put an end to the evils which the state suffered; and above all, that it was the imperious dictate of humanity, to terminate an unjust war between brethren, which for so many reasons, was to be deplored by all parties, and on which, at a future period, the

whole world would sit as judges. England had, then, the most manifest and crying justice on her side; and if the objects of her alliance, were comprehensive; if she had in view, the lasting, and not the temporary welfare. of the Spanish monarchy, and if, more particularly, she had it in contemplation, to secure to herself, the sincere gratitude of its inhabitants of both hemispheres, and cause this same gratitude to last beyond the duration of the present conflict, she ought to have lifted up her views to higher hopes, and to a bolder policy, than merely to fight the battles of the deluded Ferdinand.

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§ It has been, so far, my object, to trace to their very origin, the present dissentions existing between European and American Spain; and if in pursuit of this purpose, I have been diffuse, it has been owing to my anxious wish, that every concurrent circumstance, might be fully understood. I have, also, by this time, brought my reader, as much, in chronological order, as I was able, to that stage of the transatlantic occurrences, when open war began to flame between two sister kingdoms, who had, for more than three hundred years, remained united by the strongest possible ties; and between whom, till now, no material variance, had occurred. though, I flatter myself, with having irrefragably demonstrated my position, in general principle, founded on a series of facts, and illustrated by the most leading and accompanying circumstances, I am, nevertheless, scarcely, satisfied, with having fully attained my object. I am, still, fearful, that some of the premises on which my deductions rest, may, by the superficial reader, to whom the subject is novel, appear partial, or devoid of

Yet,

sufficient testimony. I could not, therefore, in this place, refrain from sanctioning my assertions, respecting the impolicy and injustice of the war declared, by the Cadiz Regency, against Caracas, on which, my most material arguments are founded, by the opinion of the respectable editor of the El Español, whose testimony to a British mind, must bear the greater weight, from the sincere and unbiassed manner, in which he has uniformly discussed the detatched transactions of the Spanish revo lution, which, as a periodical writer, have fallen under his review. From his being, also, an European Spaniard, one, who was never on the other shores of the Atlantic, but who has, ever, felt for the welfare, as well as for the honour of his native soil, I feel the greater confidence in bringing forward his remarks; which through all his labours, have not only been distinguished for range of general reasoning, but in many interesting topics, have bespoke the patriot and the philosopher, conversant in human nature, and alive to the multiplied evils, by which the bosom of his ill-fated country, has been harrowed up. The following, are his words.

"An attentive meditation on the actual state of things, between Spain and America, has excited in me the following doubt. If a people, or province, belonging to the crown of Spain, were to raise their voice and to proclaim;-from this moment, we no longer acknowledge Ferdinand VII. as our king-we divest ourselves, of the obedience we had pledged to him-we declare war against Spaniards, and we deliver ourselves up to Napoleon,—what punishment would be assigned for such a crime, and what measures would be taken against such a people or province? It seems to me

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