that same ingratitude which placed the immortal Columbus in chains, was perpetuated to all the countries he discovered. This enquiry into the ancient, but violated laws, as well as into the colonial policy of Spain, I conceived necessary, to the more complete, and full comprehension of the state of Spanish America, at the beginning of the 19th century; and even up to the commencement of the patriotic cause of the Peninsula; a period at which, the rest of Europe, was astonished by political occurrences, more remarkable and momentous, than any to be found in the historica! annals of that country. I have, purposely, examined the laws of the Indies, as the most correct means of establishing the relative, and social footing of that people, for whose exclusive government, they were enacted; and after recapitulating their primitive.compacts, undertaken on the most solemn pledges of kingly faith, and successively guaranteed by the most express, and repeated acts of Spanish legislation; I have supposed, that a faithful picture of the present colonial policy of Spain, would be the most sure criterion, to judge, whether there has been any deviation from the original rights and prerogatives of the Spanish American subjects; and whether or not, they required redress and reform. If, I have enumerated the galling restraints on civil liberty, as well as in many other shapes, which existed; and, if, in short, I have represented the situation of that country to be most deplorable, where the order of a corrupt minister, had, often acquired the force of law, and where every thing was venal, degraded, and oppressive; it was in order to promote an enquiry, whether these same abuses have been continued, since the boasted regé neration of Spain; and whether, when a most favourable opportunity offered, the late governments of Cadiz, have complied with this most sacred of all their duties, by bringing alleviation to the ills of their distant brethren, on which, principally, depended, the future salvation of the whole monarchy. In examining all the principles of the theory, and the practical circumstances of the case in view, I have been guided, only, by such documents and records, as could be relied on; and these premises once established, it will be easy to judge, correctly,of the point at issue; particularly after the subjoined display of every thing material, that has occurred in Spanish America, and in the Cortes, on this important subject, of which details will be brought forward, in the course of this production. If, I have defined, in an ample manner, the primitive, but long-invaded rights of the Spanish Americans; it was to ascertain whether the infractions of their past rulers, have been remedied by the present ones; and whether, every thing allowed by reason, by justice, and even by the laws, has been practically granted to them. If, I have explained the relative situation of Spanish America, to Spain; it was not only to clear up doubts, under which we, ourselves, have long laboured, and in order to establish, that Spanish America, from being an equal, incorporated, and integral part of the Spanish monarchy, has equally become our ally; but, also, to elicite an impartial search, into the conduct and disquisitions of the Cortes on the existing dissentions. My object is, to demonstrate, on which side rests, the blame of so many horrors and ravages, now committing in the transmarine provinces of Spain, and consequently, to ascertain, which party is to be charged with ingrati». tude and injustice. If my premises and deductions should turn out correct, it will result, that the situation of Spanish America, instead of being bettered, since the period of the late changes in the Peninsula; had rather become worse; nor, do I doubt, that experience and faithful observation, will fail to authorize the tenour of my allegations. If my conclusions are fairly made, it will be proved, that it was not the remembrance of past evils and infractions; it was not a spirit of wanton innovation, and undue revenge; but rather, the recent pressure of fresh aggravations and unprovoked insults, which first roused the natives of Spanish America, which urged them to resist the tyranny of the Cadiz rulers, and to seek, by force, what, on remonstrance, had been denied them. In short, the subsequent details on which I shall soon enter, will tend to evince, that the situation of the transmarine provinces, instead of being ameliorated by the regeneration of the parent state, had, in fact, become more degraded; so ancient, and so habitual, was the practice of the heads of government, and of the monopolists of the trading ports, to consider the kingdoms of America, as dependent colonies, only destined to contribute to the luxury and advantage of the mother country, and as a fruitful harvest, intended, only, to enrich the impoverished natives of the Peninsula. § Nor do the people of Spanish America, appear to have been, altogether, insensible to the hardships and privations under which they had so long lived. Prior to the present situation of things, some attempts had been made by the Indians, to obtain, by force of arms, a partial redress and reform in the governing system, the whole of which, seem to have had for object, to with stand or limit, the oppressions and exorbitant exactions of the Alcaldes and Encomenderos; and though unsuccessful, they, nevertheless, prove, that the natives were alive to all their wrongs, and were indignant, to be thus dealt with, by their cruel task-masters.* It would not, however be possible, in this place, to enter into the details of these transactions, or of those which took place in other sections, amongst the whites; they would be tedious, and, are, at least, partially, known in Europe. Hence, bowever, has it happened, that most of our political writers, who have fundamentally discussed this question, and have examined the situation of both Spain, and her settlements; have been of opinion, that the former, could not, long, hold the latter in dependence and subjection. They, indeed, conceived, that the influence, affinity, and identity of religion, customs, and prejudices, might, for some time, retard the period, when Spanish America, would shake off so galling a yoke; but they all pronounced, that according to the late growth, and moral improvement of the settlements, the period was not far distant, when the present century began. They reasoned, however, from analogy, and not from * I cannot refrain from announcing, that shortly will be published here, an account of the revolution of Inca Tupac-Amaru, in Peru, from authentic documents, found in the public offices of Buenos Ayres and upper Peru, since the changes of government. It is high time, that the cruelties committed by the Spaniards on the Indians of Peru, about the year 1780, and which have purposely been kept so secret, should be laid before the world, in an authentic shape. At sight of the mass of information that will henceforward be laid before the public, it will be seen, whether the most callous Briton, could put his hand on his heart, and say, Spanish America required not ą radical reform. vernment. focal knowledge; for without the late revolution in Spain, and without the ungrateful conduct of her present governments, no general commotion could have taken place; and even now, the Spanish Americans are very far from wishing to change their allegiance; that is, if they are to be dependent on any European power, they will always prefer Spain; even, though conquered by the French, notwithstanding the oppression of her goWe are not, however, to be astonished, since information has become more general, that the political events of Europe, from 1789, should have excited a lively interest amongst a people, who have been long sensible of their abject situation, and who have been aspiring to the extension of rights, which, as I have already manifested, in effect, belonged to them; when this privation, was not only a material obstacle to the mutu al prosperity of both countries; but, has, also, now be come, a motive of such just resentment, against the pa rent state. § But, before I proceed any further, I conceive it necessary, previously, to take a short retrospective view, of what was, at one time, the decided policy of the British government, with regard to Spanish America, and what professions were then made in its name; as a better deduction may be thence formed, of the manner in which we have abandoned the interests of that injured continent, since our present treaty with the Peninsula. Long, and rational has been the boast, that in our sea-girt isle, the lamp of freedom burned with a clear and steady flame; a blessing, which, whilst we enjoyed, we have never failed to regret, was not equally the portion of others. Farly, therefore, did the people of Eng |