under discussion, I conceive it better to omit any further remarks, in this place, and til I come to that part of my text, wherein I present a review of our posterior diplomatic transactions in Cadiz, undertaken with a view to obtain this concession; as any anticipation in this place, would interfere with the proposed order of my narrative. I will, therefore, proceed to describe, the first features of the several insurrections in the Spanish American provinces.

§ It may, with justice, be said, that the present dissentions, existing between European Spain, and her ultramarine provinces, have, in this country, never, yet, been placed in a correct point of view; consequently, they cannot be fully understood. Unfortunately, amongst a large portion of the natives of the Peninsula, and, especially, in the councils of the nation, a rancorous animosity, early, displayed itself; the flames of which, were constantly fanned, by all those, concerned in the monopolies of trade, and interested in the colonial subjection of Spanish America. Hence, has it happened, that from the very beginning of the disturbances, the reasons of necessity, and the calls of justice and equality, so strongly urged by the Americans; have been disregarded, or painted in the blackest colours; and mercenary and corrupt pens, have been employed, to disfigure, and cover them with invective. A feeling of prejudice and enmity, soon becanie transfused through the higher ranks of European Spain; and language, only worthy of the harpies of illiberality and monopoly, who, by their obscene and dissonant murmurs, would drown, the voice of reason and equity, would scare the beneficent return of prudent and sober policy, and, with their envenomed claws, would tear the olive branch of peace, has, hitherto, been, almost

the only means by which the insurrections of Spanish America, have been represented to the Peninsula, and to the rest of Europe. The feeling and impartial mind, revolts at the masses of coarse and scurrilous invective and recrimination, which have issued from the Cadiz press; and, is, at the same time, astonished, at the numerous, foul, and corrupt engines, set to work, in order to influence the dastard passions of the multitude; and, to oppose the fair and unbiassed discussion of the most im portant question, ever agitated in the Cortes of Spain. Whence, is it to be deplored, that war, instead of conciliation, has been made the order of the day; and the clearest and most evident points, even the tendency of the transmarine insurrections, have been disfigured and mistaken.

In vain, have the transatlantic governments, and newly constituted Juntas, endeavoured to fix the public opinion, by solemn declarations and manifests, breathing the same principles and views as those promulgated in the Peninsula; and expressive of their firm resolution, to remain united to the grand whole, as long as it should hold together; provided they were granted in the same, that relative and social importance, which their popula❤ tion, extent, riches, and services, not only entitled them to, and even the laws granted; but, which, the urgency of present circumstances, also, imperiously demanded. Each of the American provinces, in the Peninsular struggle, expressed the most sincere and unequivocal attachment and adhesion to the parent state. Each felt the justice of so good a cause, and each stepped forward with the balm of consolation, and poured it into the bleeding wounds of their European brethren. Each

manifested, respectively, its hatred and abhorrence of the insidious cruelty of the common tyrant; each forwarded succours and donations; each, in short, pledged itself, to avenge these mutual wrongs.

The declaration of war against France, and the new intercourse with England, were announced by order of the Supreme Junta of Seville, on the 6th of June, 1808; and followed by other spirited and encouraging manifests. The whole was wafted to the other side of the Atlantic, as fast as the tardy winds would permit; and in all the various sections, was received with more enthusiastic acclamations, than had even been evinced in the Peninsula. The temples, on every side, resounded with rogations for the release of Ferdinand; and every voice called down the blessings of the Most High, on the arms and exertions of the heroic and loyal natives of the Peninsula. Ferdinand was proclaimed, with the most sincere effusions of loyalty, by the heads of government, in which the people joined, with the most animated demonstrations of joy. Extasies of sincere delight, were witnessed on all sides; and illuminations, feasts, and rejoicings, filled up the first days, after the receipt of the resolutions of the Spanish nation at home. Addresses, on the occasion, were presented to the viceroys, by the respective municipalities and public bodies; they were filled with congratulations, for the new era that opened on the whole monarchy; they breathed warm and genuine offers of allegiance to their newly acknowledged sovereign, and they pledged their property and persons to defend his dominions for him, as their rightful owner. Money, with his name and bust, was coined; his portrait was placed on all the banners and in all the public

places of the cities and towns; and, perhaps, no monarch that ever swayed the sceptre of the united kingdoms of Spain and of the Indies, was ever adjured with such lively and sincere effusions of loyalty and personal regard, as were now to be witnessed, in all the American provinces.

Nor, were these, demonstrations extorted by the nod of power, or influenced by the hopes of reward. They were the spontaneous overflowings of hearts, filled with respect and veneration for an unfortunate youth, entrapped by a subtle enemy; whom they beheld as the hopeful instrument of future regeneration to both hemispheres; and as it were, as a superior and benign godhead, that was about to raise European and American Spain, from the abject state of degradation and vassalage, in which both had been so long sunk. All, in short, was fraternity and brotherly love, and like loving and faithful subjects, the Spanish Americans complied with every duty of allegiance, and nothing was left them, but to raise their ardent and fervent prayers, for the release of their absent monarch. The winds, for the first time, seemed tardy, that were wafting to them the news of the situation of their brethren in arms,-every delay or suspence, was a moment of anxious torture.

The first resolves, of the whole of Spanish America, were twofold; in the first place, to resist the intrusive dominion of the Emperor of the French; and in thẻ second, to give abundant succours to the patriots of Spain. Nor were these professions confined to any one section, they were, equally, displayed in all. Such, I can warrant, was the enthusiastic spirit,which, then, pervaded the breast of every Spanish American, and such was the loyalty,sym

pathy, and patriotic feeling, universally felt and manifested, when the outrages endured by the natives of Spain, became public, that, had the early governments of the Peninsula, been, only, influenced by just, liberal, and generous sentiments; the transmarine provinces, besides, being preserved tranquil and entire, and besides being rendered happy and prosperous, might have been created into a great additional aid, and used as a powerful instrument to the grand purpose, in which England and European Spain, at that time, united their noble efforts.

Yet, after the sincere avowal of such sentiments, after a solemn oath of allegiance had bound every province of the great Spanish American continent, to the same unfortunate monarch; and after a mutual exchange of fidelity, dictated with the purest effusions of patriotism, national honour, and unanimity, had preceded; it would appear, almost, impossible, that these same provinces, were, so soon, to become the seat of anarchy and of civil war; that they were about to witness scenes, which outrival those of the conquest in horror; and that, in short, besides universal devastation, a war of extermination, was about to be declared.

That some weighty and important reasons, have urged the natives of Spanish America, to resist the newly constituted governments of Spain, and to refuse to admit their control, will be easily acknowledged by those, who consider the characteristic and docile disposition of the inhabitants of that country; and when, also, it is remembered, that this was not an act, partial or confined; but, that, on the contrary, it extended to the largest provinces and kingdoms; that it was simultaneous in all, though no correspondence existed between them; that it is not the