ultremarine provinces, some of the most laborious, valuable, and, often, rich, part of the population, consists of coloured persons; and if, under the ancient laws, they were even admitted to study in the colleges,* certainly, they were deserving of being represented, as long as their state was that of freedom. Against the Indians, there · could be no reasonable objection, they being blended in the general population; nor can any thing be supposed so ridiculous, as that the chief inhabitants of an immense continent, are to be subservient to laws, in the formation of which, they have no part. This point was never carried, and in the new constitution, as will hereafter be seen, its intention was completely frustrated.

Proposition II. The free natives and inhabitants of Spanish America, shall be allowed to cultivate and rear whatever their climate will produce; and to promote their manufactures, industry, and arts, in all their extent.

Observation. Granted: but, it is much to be feared, that this, like other concessions made by the king's ministers, when from the evidence of justice, they could not be denied, will be of little avail. That is, the chiefs in power, have always been instructed to contravene them, in a secret manner. Humboldt, in several places, alludes to this fact, and observes, that even what the laws permit with regard to manufactures, the policy of the government frustrates, not only by not encouraging, but also by hindering them by indirect measures, as has always been the case, with the manufactures of silk, pa

* In Lima, some mulatoes, under the celebrated Dr. Unanue, have made singular progress in medicine, and many useful discoveries, in the virtue of native plants, are owing to them.

per, and glass. In like manner, the Cortes, in order to contravene the advantages that might result from this concession, opposed its being published by the executive, nor were any measures taken for its effective compliance, in the country to which it referred.

Proposition III. That the Spanish American, provinces, shall enjoy ample faculty to export their own natural productions and manufactures, to the Peninsula, as well as to allied and neutral nations; and they shall be allowed the importation of whatever they may want, either in national or foreign vessels; in consequence of which, all their ports are to be opened.

Proposition IV. There shall be a free trade between Spanish America and the Spanish possessions in Asia, every exclusive privilege opposed to this freedom, being abolished.

Proposition.V. There shall also be established, a freedom to trade from all the ports of Spanish America and the Philipine islands, to other parts of Asia; every other privilege to the contrary, being annulled.

Observation. These three propositions relating to the same point, were reserved for discussion, till after the report of the committee of finance. The Regency at the instance of Great Britain, in April, 1811, proposed to the Cortes to grant a free trade, and it was agitated in secret sessions. The opinion of the Cadiz Board of Trade, was taken, whose members were all adverse to the measure, on grounds, which well deserve a separate revision. Another adverse opinion, was forwarded by the Mexico Board of Trade, consisting of Europeans, signed on the 16th of July, 1811, extremely injurious to the British, and in which it is attempted to prove, that a free trade, is contrary to the peace of Utrecht, and the Christian

religion. The Cortes rejected the motion, on the 13th, of August, 1811, and not till the month of June, was coasting trade allowed to nationals, but the order was never issued, which rendered it useless. Even in September following, the deputy for Vera Cruz, urged by the European interests, endeavoured to abolish this concession; and Viceroy Venegas opposed the entry of vessels from the Havanah, even after the substitutes for that place, advised, that the grant had passed the house. In 1812, England again renewed her overtures for a free trade, of which mention will be made in another place. With regard to Asia, and the Philipine islands, nothing was granted. Thus, has nearly the whole trade of Spanish America, laid dormant since the revolution of the mother-country,

Proposition VI. All estancos or monopolies, shall be suppressed, but the public treasury shall be indemnified for the ubility arising therefrom, by fresh duties on the monopolised articles.

Observation. This question was reserved for the opinion of the committee of finance, where it still remains, nothwithstanding that in Spain, from the time of the Central Junta, the monopolies had been abolished, and the people had burnt the guard houses. The monopoly of tobacco, has only lately, been thrown down.

Proposition VII.

The working of the quicksilver mines, shall be free in Spanish America, but the administration of their produce, shall remain in charge of the constituted authorities.

Observation. This is the only point, on which the Cortes ordered the Regency to circulate orders;-the reasons of this readiness, are already explained.

Proposition VIII. All Spanish Americans, whether

of Spanish or Indian descent, thall be equally eligible with native Spaniards, to all offices of rank or emolument, both at court, and in every other part of the monarchy.

Observation, The exclusions in this particular, even in their own country, are what the Creoles have long borne with preying chagrin. Many juridical remonstrances have been laid before the throne, on this subject, some of which are to be found in Solorzano, as well as in Dr. Ahumada, an author of more recent date. Of this particular grievance, considerable mention has been already made. During the reign of Charles III. an attempt was made, entirely to deprive the Creoles of all nominations, which caused the municipality of Mexico, about the middle of the last century, to send over a celebrated remonstrance, which, certainly, deserves to be called, an eloquent demonstration of the rights of the Spanish Americans. This proposition was declared to be contained in the said decree of equality of rights, of the 15th October; or of promises, as before mentioned, made as a theoretical experiment, but which, never brought any good to the ultramarine provinces; as proof of which I will add, that the tributes were not taken off the Indians, till April, 1811, that is, when the revolutionary parties had already annulled them; nor was the destructive mita thrown down in Peru, till September, 1812. That this may be better understood, an explanation of the mita is found in my appendix, under the head of H. In order that my reader may have a more complete idea of the grievance, which the 8th proposition was intended to remove, I would ask him, what would be the feelings of Ireland, if her natives were prevented from rising in proportion to their merits, with our own citizens? Were this the case,

would it be expected, that the union could be cordial and lasting? Natives of our sister island, are even at the head of our councils and armies, and far from feeling jealousy or suspicion, they constitute our glory and our pride.

Proposition IX. Especially consulting the natural protection of the respective kingdoms of Spanish America it shall be declared, that half of the nominations in each, shall be given to natives thereof.

Observation. In pursuance to the ancient laws, we have already seen, that the Creoles are entitled to a preference in their own country, but that by the successive despotism of their kings, and the scandalous venality of the court, this provision was of no avail. Charles III. in consequence of the strong remonstrance from Mexico, above alluded to, had ordered the audiencias and church preferments to be given, in an equal proportion, toCreoles; but this was never complied with, nor was it now enacted afresh, though this is the principal point of complaint, which has caused disturbances in Spanish America, from the time of its discovery. In Spain, there are 164 Cathedrals and Collegiates, together with 4103 Prebendaries, of which, it may naturally be imagined, that few or none, fall to the lot of Creoles; and in the whole of Spanish America, there are 47 metropolitan Churches, and 501 Prebendaries, so that to ask for the half of these, was not by any means extravagant. The fact is, the Spaniards had always considered the ultramarine provinces as a land of promise, exclusively sought and held for their advantage, and to diminish their prospects of gain, was to touch them to the quick.

Proposition X. For the exact fulfillment of the above stipulation, there shall be a consultive Junta, formed in