yet, silent? And, where are our philanthropists? When the slave question, was agitating in this country, every body was alive to the discussion; and clubs were enthusiastically formed, to patronize the interests of natives of Africa, who were deprived of their natural liberty. And what was the motive of all this? It was a noble, generous, and laudable principle of humanity, that will ever do honour to the British character, and cast a consoling gleam on the labours of the promoters, of the measures adopted. And are the Indians, and other inhabitants of Spanish America, less deserving of our regard? We, there, interfered for the welfare of a few thousands, condemned to labour for the profits of another, but still possessed of many conveniences to beguile their toil; but here, we see many thousands, annually, nay monthly, put to the sword, butchered, inhumanly tortured and mutilated, and not a sigh accompanies their sufferings. And, in time, what will not the fatal consequences of this exterminating war; shall we wait without interfering, till not a White or Creole, is left standing? The proportion on an average, of the Indians and casts, to the Whites and Creoles, is about six to one; if therefore, the latter become debilitated and extinct, and the former become armed and warlike, possessed as they are of the idea, that their lands and property have been usurped by the Spaniards, may they not regain them, by a retaliation, bloody and extensive? Is it for this, that we are waiting?

§ In order that the feelings, which have been excited in the bosoms of the Spanish American people, may not be unknown, I hereto annex an extract of a letter, from one of the first characters in Mexico, dated Feb, 18, 1811,

to

and to it, I could add several more from the other sections." It would be impossible, minutely, to explain you, the present state of this kingdom, but you may, perhaps, be able to form some adequate idea of it, when I say, that it is such, as the most deadly enemy of Spain, might wish it to be. Destruction in every quarter, and of every thing, in such manner, that let who may conquer, both parties will be ruined. However I can never forgive the British, for remaining cold spectators of a struggle, the consequences of which, whatever they may be, cannot fail to prove fatal to them; nor will they, hereafter, be able to plead, as an excuse, that they were deceived, by the reports sent over by the Mexican government; for, in like manner as Diogenes' merit was seen through the rents of his cloak, so is it equally manifest, that the Americans are resolved to have another form of government, adopted in these dominions, in order to free them from the great inequality, with which the hungry place hunters and merchants from Spain, seek to treat them. And if the British (a circumstance here unknown), have not been wanting in good will, but that their exertions have been disdained by the Cortes, they ought to be certain, that the wounded pride and anger of the latter, would only be momentary, for they would soon be reconciled, on seeing the arrival of pecuniary succours, which, if the actual state of things continues, never can be the case."

Such sentiments were current and general, in 1811, even amongst the moderate characters of Spanish America, but they are much more pointed in the mouths of those, who, to political motives, add prejudice, resentment, and national pique. Such, do they resound in every section. Will the government of that generous

nation, add they, do nothing for us, under circumstances which are to decide whether we are to be men or slaves; and do they abandon us in our momentous struggle, who so lately told us, in the most official manner, that even independence would be consonant to their wishes; and whose friendship was pledged to us, by the positive and repeated declarations of their ministers and agents? Do they laugh at our misfortunes, whose very assurances emboldened us to seek redress, on a basis not only conformable with their honour, but in strict accord with our own laws? Do they behold, without even the cold sentiment of pity, our villages and towns, in ruins and in flames; our slaves armed against us for murder and pillage, our citizens mutilated in the most inhuman manner, dragged from their homes and wives, and buried in Moorish dungeons and loathsome pontoons? They, who even promised us a shield against similar horrors, if we would join in rebellion against our lawful sovereign, and now, we only seek a just and equitable redress? Are we not deserving of the common sympathies of humanity, or of strong remonstrances and firm stipulations, on the part of that nation, which even lately, when our parent state was supposed in danger, through its naval commanders on these stations, made us the most pointed overtures of support and protection, if we would only not follow her impending fate, or listen to the instigations of the French? Are we deserving of no acts of kindness from that nation, whose subjects, on our hospitable shores, have found the means of acquiring wealth, by trading in the products of our genial soil, and by supplying our wants? And are all our testimonies of loyalty, our succours in the common cause, nay all our privations, de

serving of no return, from the nation which has so long witnessed them, when we seek nothing derogatory to its honour or dignity? Unfortunately for us, as well as for the great hopes we might at some future period, realize on the great continent of Spanish America, such is the language reechoed, from one extreme to the other of that desolate country, and great the consequent odium attaching to the British name, in regions, where late it was covered with the sincerest blessings.

On the most powerful grounds of humanity, therefore, and under the hopes of stopping the continuation of so many horrors, does it not behove the British government, without loss of time, to turn its attention to the distressed state of Spanish America, and see to the relief of that valuable country, before it becomes a heap of ruins? After such a long chain of impolitic acts, as those committed by Spain, in this important business, if we wish her well, if we are still bound by the tenour of our treaty, ought we not to seek to inspire into her, sound and sober councils, to allay the acrimony of both parties, and above all, to see that the world is no longer scandalized by enormities, which would stain the annals of the most barbarous nation? If the Spanish Americans, stand as culprits in the eye of the law and of justice, let their crime be established to the whole world, but, if they are not, let them be treated as men and fellow-beings, for whom every nation feels an interest. If criminal process cannot be established against them, if from distance, obstinacy, or from any other reason, justice cannot be enforced in a consistent manner, what other safe plan remains, but conciliation?

§ Two ways alone, can ever reestablish the authority

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of Spain on the other side of the Atlantic, and the time is now come, for her to make her choice. The one is by conquest, and the other by conciliation. The first, must leave Spanish America, a heap of ruins, and the tomb of a great proportion of its inhabitants. This must be by achievements, similar to those of a Cortes and a Pizarro, or by a protraction of such scenes, as are described in the preceding pages. And of what use can the country, then, be to Spain, or her allies? The iron sceptre once again established, and a foreign flag, no longer waves in the ports of South Columbia, which in the possession of: the drones of Europe, would be closed against general › enterprize. Of what will the revolution of the Peninsula have served, if Spanish America returns to its old degraded state? And humbled at the feet of Spain, will: not this bethe case? But even to effect this conquest, does not Spain recollect, that it is not foreign strength she consumes, but that of her own vitals. And again, has she armies sufficient, and also fleets to cover her enterprize? In short, is her conquest secure? She ought, also, to be mindful, that if force fails, conciliation is no longer within her reach? An impoverished and defeated violence, and reiterated acts of vengeance, no more can seek for fraternal feelings; and, besides, is she not answerable to every civilized nation of the earth, for the torrents of blood she thus spills? If this destruction was the penalty of rebellion, she might be more at ease; but are seventeen millions of inhabitants, to be treated as criminals, because a handful of European strangers, armed and possessed of power, seek to hold them in subjection, and again labour to impose upon them, a dismal and cold uniformity of servitude? What, is Spain no longer tinc