men, contending for an admission to privileges, on which we have always founded our own happiness and honour. On the contrary, we revere the principles on which you act, though we lament their fatal effects. Armed as you are, we embrace you as friends, and as our brethren, bound to us, by the best and dearest ties of relation.

We view the establishment of such a continent as yours, on the principles of rational liberty and of just equality, as the best means to render this kingdom, venerable to future ages. We, therefore, exhort you, to cleave to those equitable grounds, which may form a true bond of union between us, but we do not urge you to an unconditional submission. The size of your country and population, require a suitable constitution; we are happy in being now enabled to form it, and it is to it alone, we implore your obedience. Let us, instantly, set about the work on both sides, with the same conciliatory turn of mind, and we may yet, owe to our mutual mistakes, contentions and animosities, the lasting concord, freedom, happiness and glory, of the whole empire of both hemispheres.

Had such sentiments and assurances as these, similar to what Mr. Burke sent over to our North American colonists, during the period of their disaffection and discontent, been early addressed, by the new Cortes of Spain, to the inhabitants of Spanish America; had the language of the new legislature, exhibited a warm expression, the only genuine offspring of ardent feeling, had conciliatory measures been used, instead of threats, and had solemn and sacred offers been employed, instead of terms of recrimination, then, might the world have expected to see the points of controversy adjusted,

and the hostile temper which had been manifested on both sides, might have been softened into a mutual and good understanding. Besides the principle of justice, in the existing circumstances of Spain, the reconciliation of the ultramarine provinces, ought, certainly, to have been the first principle of the new government; and the means of avoiding further bloodshed, ought to have been sought, with the most anxious solicitude. This was a war, unjust and unnatural, and attended with great public expence and private calamity, besides being productive of future consequences of a most fatal nature. Not to cause it to cease, was to confirm the rash acts of the preceding illegal governments; and to behold it, with indifference, was to carry fresh terror and destruction into the bosom of their common country. The new Cortes of Spain, had been called together, in order to fill the place of the absent monarch, and to organize a government, possessed of the confidence of every part of the empire. Its first duty, was to retrieve the national character, and to wipe away the stains with which it had been blotted, by the degradation and impotence into which the home provinces had been plunged, and by the unjust and impolitic systems, under which those abroad, had hitherto been governed. To establish a plan of revenue, commensurate to the urgent wants of the country, and to revive public credit, were the next arduous and exalted duties, imposed on the new legislature, by the distresses of the whole nation.

It, therefore, became the Cortes, guided by every possible intelligence and virtue, to take up the most pressing points with persevering labour; and in examining the nature of those claims which were the most ur

gent, the melancholy situation of Spanish America, must have particularly interested their feelings and judgment, and its restored tranquillity, at that time, would, evidently, have been productive of the greatest benefits. And, had it been the happy lot of Spain, to behold her national legislature assemble, uninfluenced by those passions and prejudices, which grow out of previous divisions, and unnatural restraints, then only, might its acts have been liberal and enlightened; then local and narrowminded policy, would never have disturbed the unanimity which ought to have reigned in matters of general import; and then only, would party spirit and the influence of undue monopolies, not have been mixed with its deliberations. Had due weight been given to the important consideration, that this was a cruel civil war waged by brethren, and carried on in that half of the empire most essential for pecuniary supplies, certainly such remissness would not have occurred; and the new Cortes of Spain, like the preceding Regency and Central Junta, would not have bad imputed to them, dispositions unfriendly to the public happiness, of at least one half of the monarchy. In discussing a question of this intricate and interesting a nature, it was not easy for a body of men, surrounded by illiberality and monopoly, to be entirely divested of irritation; nor could it be expected, that no contrariety of sentiment would occur. It was, however, astonishing, that a majority should not feel the necessity of some urgent measure relating to Spanish America, where such alarming evidences of disquiet existed. The fact is, that twenty-nine American substitutes, had to vote against one hundred and twenty-five Spanish deputies; and by the result, the ultramarine pro

vinces were convinced of that melancholy truth, which they so soon afterwards found confirmed, that the interests of one half of the monarchy, clashed with those of the other; and that no real justice awaited them, from the acts of a congress, so unfairly constituted, so foreign to their wants, and deliberating at such a distance.

Had true and sincere sentiments of fraternity and fellowship been timely conveyed, by the new Cortes, to their American brethren, then migh tthe one have felt the security, which, as a national government, the others were about to give, and the equal justice they were about to administer. Then might the Spanish Americans have expected, that the general interests of all, would be at, tended to; and thence, would they have learnt, that it was their duty, as well as their interest, to place full con fidence in the assembly of their new representatives, and their trust in the hands of those, who were charged with the general execution of the laws. In the ultramarine provinces, a sincere disposition never was wanting to yield to proper explanations, and to comply with just measures, such as arose out of a due sense of public benefit, and a yirtuous regard to the general welfare. Could a more valuable opportunity have been found, of improv ing these sentiments, than when the Cortes first assem bled in La Isla de Leon? To consult the wants of every part of the community, and to lay the foundations of public administration, on the affections of all the members thereof, was the greatest glory to which the new Cortes of Spain could aspire; and this was not to be done, by continuing a war, of which the legitimacy had neither been discussed or proved. As men, anxious for the welfare and happiness of their entire nation, it

particularly behoved them, to guard the equilibrium established therein by the general laws; and if the Spanish Americans had been declared equal in rights, and were also found so in their ancient charters, the practical and full exercise of that equality, undoubtedly belonged to them. It was to the Cortes that they looked, for this act of justice, and to their patriotic exertions; to promote the essential redress, as a means of pacification, they trusted with new and undiminished confidence.

Unfortunately, however, for the interests of both parties, the Cadiz government was not disposed to adopt liberal and conciliatory measures, nor was it inclined to redress. Slaves or nothing, appeared to be the motto of all the new governments; and the words of the Jesuits, used to Benedict XIV. when he proposed a reform, in order to prolong the existence of their society, sint ut sunt, vil non sint, might be very well applied to them all. The fact is, the Cadiz mercantile interests had already taken the alarm, for in consulting the good of their country, the new governments in America, as before shewn, had removed the shackles of trade, and this sole measure, became the real nucleus, on which the whole. odium gathered and accumulated. Instead of being grateful for the patriotic manner, in which the Spanish Americans had watched over the safety of their country, volunteered in donations and succours, pledged themselves to Ferdinand, bound themselves to the cause of Spain, and sworn eternal enmity to the common foe, the new governments instantly treat them as rebels, and war is declared against them, in compliment, as it were, to the chiefs they had just deposed. This war is continued under the greatest aggravations, mutual enmity is its