and politicians of Spain, have acknowledged the picture therein drawn of the Central Junta, to be correct and true; how, therefore, could the Spanish Americans, acting upon those same avowed premises, be pronounced traitors and rebels, and how could decrees be issued to punish them as such? A near contemplation of the events as they passed, will unravel this mystery. Cadiz, as already explained, had now become the seat of government, and the new authorities abroad, in consequence of the impoverished state of the country, after a long war with England, and in order to increase the public revenue, had judged it necessary, to annul all restraints on trade. This measure, was resented by the old monopolists thereof, with all the fury of disappointment, and all the rancour, of which the sordid are capable. Gall is immediately infused into the public mind, the worst interpretations are put on views and measures, which were not only just, but also necessary; and without previous deliberation, remonstrance, or hearing, a rash war is declared. In conformity to their respective avowals, and in strict accord with every concurrent circumstance, we see, that the various sections of Spanish America, conceived, that their political safety, required them to have local and stable governments amongst themselves; in order that they might not be dependent on an authority, placed at an immense distance, and continually changing. An authority, abject, corrupt, and debased in itself, and unable to attend even to the concerns of the Peninsula. And this, was actually, anticipated by a British minister and expected by Spaniards themselves. Yet this measure of urgent necessity, becomes a crime of the deepest hue, in the eyes of the Regency; who, instead of recon

ciliation, redress, and mutual explanation, rushes into a thoughtless and unnatural war; and attempts, rather to weaken by disunion, and depress by terror, than to consolidate and unite, by a just equilibrium of interests.

This unjust war, which was about to deprive Spain of resources, such as would have poured fresh vigour and energy into the state, and redoubled its exertions; this war, which would, evidently, drive the injured and unredressed inhabitants of Spanish America, to the extremes of despair; which would deluge the fairest portion of the empire, in blood and desolation; and urge a forsaken people, to lengths, not only uncongenial, but also unintended; lengths which might endanger the safety of the monarchy, whose integrity we had guaranteed, was completely overlooked by the British government, who, in this most interesting moment, kept aloof; and after omitting to prevent, afterwards, devised nothing effective, with a view to promote the consideration and adjustment of these momentous differences. Yet the great point with Spain, at that time, was, not why she was to continue the war, but, how it was to be carried on. This was the most material consideration for Spain, and, consequently, for ourselves; every other was subordinate; or at least, of comparative insignificance. To give energy and union to that part of the monarchy, which had to resist the power and influence of France, was an object of the first consequence; and our attention ought primarily, if not solely, to have been directed to it. And was this to be attained, by an impolitic and fatal war, being hastily declared by one part of the monarchy, against the other? Most assuredly; no. Where, then, was England, in such important moments, as these?

Where was the foresight, energy, and sincerity of that government, which had guaranteed the integrity of the Spanish monarchy, and had taken into its hands, the rights of the absent Ferdinand in joint trust? Of that government, whose minister in Cadiz, beheld this dismemberment about to ensue, without an effective effort to maintain union and fraternity; and who was silent, when the murder of many thousands, was about to take place, in countries, which had never thought of deviating from their allegiance to a monarch, whom they revered for his virtues, and respected for his misfortunes.

The letter just noticed, from the Junta of Caracas, to the king of England, was placed in the hands of the British ministry, about the middle of July, 1810, that is, near the same time that the declaration of war against Caracas, and dated June 27, 1810, arrived from Cadiz. The smallest reflection on the contents of each, must have demonstrated, that one side or the other, was egregiously in the wrong; and that this extreme rigour of the Regency, if not absolutely unjust and tyrannical, was at least, premature, and divested of legitimate motives. If, therefore, we had at heart, the real and lasting welfare of the whole monarchy, and not of a detached part; were there not here, sufficient grounds for direct or indirect interference, either by strong remonstrance, or positive demand? In effecting so noble, so just, and so humane a purpose, what had we to contend with? One hundred and fifty Cadiz monopolists, and their mercenary partizans. And were not the entire influence and sacrifices of England, superiour to such a faction? The means this faction used, to neutralize the good wishes of a large portion of the Spanish community, was, by

printing the grossest and most malevolent misrepresentations, that ever issued from a slanderous press, or were invented by malice. And was not our fair use of the press, a means, even, if no other could avail, of counteracting this poison, or of correcting opinions, in which often, our own national honour was implicated? The grounds on which the Spanish Americans acted, were, then, fully and officially known to us; and it might be imagined, from the practical experience of one illustrious member of the cabinet, one, who had been an eye witness of the very abuses, disorders, and hardships, of which the ultramarine provinces complained, and when the urgency was so great, that prudence and foresight, might have suggested some timely plan, to guard against so many evils which were about to befall our allies; and which would, materially, weaken the state, we were strongly bound to support. England was, at that time, as a point, destined to connect and conciliate, these clashing interests between brethren; she was the bond of union, alone, capable of knitting the two halves of the Spanish monarchy closely together; and each, had the most substantial motives to hope, that she would never cast from her shoulders, a sacred duty, which honour, the welfare of her mutual allies, and the future interests of her own subjects, had imposed upon her.

And might not the British nation, at that time, have been proud, in being instrumental to the happiness of a virtuous and unoffending people, who had been left no other choice, between abject and degraded submission, and all the horrors of a civil war, waged against them, by an illiberal unenlightened nation? Was not this a rich, an interesting field, for the display of British jus

tice, and British philanthropy? A feeling interest, a sincere warmth, and benevolent promptitude, even bordering on a generous indiscretion, have, uniformly, been the characteristics of the British government, when called upon to protect right, and to afford a shield for suffering virtue. This has been the case, when common interests, alone, bound her to the fate of nations; why then silence, coldness, and indifference to Spanish America, now, by a recent alliance, as well as by great and willing sacrifices made against the common enemy, participating in a communion of interests; and formerly, the object of our promises and pledges? In other quarters, and in pursuit of a less just cause, England has not been content with sacrifices and perseverance; but the benevolent magnanimity of her subjects, has also been desirous of healing wounds, inflicted by the ravages of war, and even of alleviating the distress of individual sufferers. Almost every nation of the European continent, even the Indians of North America, at one time or other, have experienced the consolations and fatherly aid of England, and the sympathies of her people. Spanish America, alone, is overlooked and forgotten. Was this section, of the globe, alone, undeserving of our anxiety? On it, we behold the most dreadful of all calamities, ready to burst; we see a decree, rash, impolitic, and destructive, carried into effect, and, already, is European Spain deprived of her best resources, whilst her American provinces, present a picture of indiscriminate murder, anarchy, and destruction. And, still, from delicacy we dare not interfere. Yet, we have induced Sicily to change her constitution, to new model her laws and customs; and we look for the gratitude of that people in