DECREE of the Congress of Mexico, declaring the Coronation, &c. of Augustin Iturbide null and void, and providing for the departure and future support of himself and Family.8th April, 1823. (Translation.)

THE Sovereign Constituent Congress of Mexico has decreed as follows:

1. That, the Coronation of Don Augustin Iturbide having been an act of violence and force, and not of right, there is no call for any discussion on the abdication he has made of the Crown.

2. That, consequently, the hereditary succession, as well as the titles emanating from that Coronation, are declared to be null and void; and all the Acts of the Government, passed between the 19th of May and the 29th of last Marchi, are pronounced illegal, or, at least, subject to the revisal of the existing Government, in order to their being confirmed or revoked.

3. That the Supreme Executive Power shall hasten the departure of Don Augustin Iturbide from the Territory of the Nation.

4. That he shall depart at one of the Ports of the Gulph of Mexico, a Neutral Vessel being chartered, at the expence of the State, for conveying him, with his Family, to whatever place he may prefer.

5. That the sum of 25,000 dollars, payable in this Capital, be annually assigned to Don Augustin Iturbide, during his life, on condition that he shall establish his residence in any part of Italy; and that after his death his Family shall receive 8000 dollars, according to the Rules established for Pensions from the Military Fund.

6. That Don Augustin Iturbide shall have the appellation of Excellency.

The Executive Supreme Power, &c. will consider all this as understood.

Mexico, 8th of April, 1823-Third Year of Independence, and Second of Liberty.

JOSE MARIANO MARIN, President.
FLORENTINO MARTINEZ.
GABRIEL DE TORRES.

Deputy Secretaries.

DECREE of the Sovereign Congress of Mexico, annulling certain of the Acts of the late Imperial Government.9th April, 1823.

(Translation.)

THE Sovereign Constituent Congress of Mexico decrees:

1. That no right ever existed to subject the Mexican Nation to any Law or Treaty, unless of its free will, or by its appointed Representa

tives named according to the Publick Law of Free Nations. Wherefore, the Plan of Iguala, the Treaties of Cordova, and the Decree of the 24th February, 1822, are no longer in force or effect, so far as regards the Form of Government which they establish, and the Persons they called to the Crown. The Nation remains absolutely free to give itself such Constitution as it may think proper.

2. The three guarantees of Religion, Independence, and Union, by the free will of the People, and the Provisions contained in the said Plan, Treaties, and Decree, which do not contravene the preceding Article, shall be considered as subsisting and in force.

The Supreme Executive Power will cause these Presents to be printed, published, and circulated.

Mexico, 9th April, 1823, 3d Year of Independence, and 2d of Liberty.

DECLARATION of WAR by Mexico against Spain. (Translation)

1st October, 1823.

THE unexpected commencement of hostilities by the Governor of the Castle of San Juan de Ulloa against the Town of Vera Cruz, has compelled the Supreme Executive Power to adopt measures consequent on an aggression unprovoked by its inhabitants, and warranted by no political considerations. It is therefore ordered:

1. That all Political and Mercantile Relations with the Spanish Nation do cease.

2. That, using the lenity dictated by the philanthropic principles of the Mexican Nation, all Spanish Vessels do immediately leave the Ports of Mexico, without being subjected, as they might, by the Government, to embargo or confiscation.

3. That the same conduct be pursued with all Spanish Merchantmen that may arrive in these Ports from Europe within the space of 4 Months, a time sufficient to allow this decision to be known on that Continent, and of 40 days from Havannah, or any other Port of Spanish America.

4. That all Vessels arriving after the expiration of those periods, be treated according to the Laws of War (if it be not before terminated), as will be from this moment all armed Vessels.

5. That after the period of 4 months, the productions of the Spanish soil be not admitted to entry under any flag whatever.

By order of His Serene Highness.

Mexico, 1st October, 1823.

FRANCISCO JOSE BERNAL

DECREE of the Supreme Executive Power of Mexico, relative to the Blockade of the Fortress of Ulloa, and the exclusion of Spanish Vessels and Merchandize.

8th October, 1823.

(Translation.)

THE Supreme Executive Power, provisionally named by the Sovereign Congress of Mexico, taking into consideration, that the War with the Spanish Nation ought not to be considered as terminated, until she has formally and solemnly recognized the Independence of South America, the object of 13 Years' unceasing and bloody sacrifices;

That notwithstanding this, the Mexican Nation and its Government, resorting to those principles of lenity and prudence which characterize the Americans, has allowed the existence of friendly relations with the Subjects of Spain, the free Commerce of her productions and manufactures, the exportation of National produce and money, as well as the unobstructed entry of her Merchant Vessels into our Ports;

That notwithstanding this generous conduct, and regardless of her own interests, the said Spanish Nation has not taken a single step that evinces the sincerity of her intentions towards Peace; but, on the contrary, without losing sight of her ancient ideas of Dominion, she retains a Force on a small point of the Territory of Mexico, where the rash project is still entertained of again binding the Inhabitants of this Land to the ignominious yoke of slavery from which they have so gloriously emancipated themselves;

That the Governor of a small Fortress, after advancing unjust pretensions to portions of this Continent, contravening the Laws of Nations, observed by all free States, and forgetting the presence here of the Commissioners belonging to his own Government, who were empowered to enter into Treaties of Commerce; and also, forfeiting his own word, pledged to the Authorities of Vera Cruz, not to commence hostilities without previous and due notice, in order that the Persons and property of peaceable Citizens might be removed from the ravages of War, commenced hostilities without such intimation, on the afternoon of the 25th of September last, which renders it presumable that the conduct pursued by him is owing to Instructions and Orders he has received from his Court;

Finally, that it is the duty of the Government to defend the integrity of the Territory confided to its care, to sustain the glory and honour of the Nation, to cause that Flag to be respected which has led on our Warriors to victory, and, conformably to the Laws of War, to diminish the Enemy's means of carrying it on, has decreed, and does hereby decree as follows:

1. That the roadsted and the said Fortress being under the fire of our Batteries and Gun-boats, the Castle of San Juan de Ulloa is hereby declared to be in a state of Blockade. In consequence whereof, the Vessels of War belonging to the Nation, as well as those

of its Allies, shall carry on hostilities against the same by every means in their power.

2. That Merchant Vessels belonging to Subjects of the Spanish Nation shall be compelled to quit the Ports of Mexico within 24 hours after the publication of the present Decree, nor shall they be allowed, under any pretext whatsoever, to return and anchor therein, under the penalty of confiscation.

3. That the entry into the Custom-houses and Maritime Ports of all Spanish productions and manufactures, shall also be prohibited. That Neutral Vessels having the same on board, shall, until the expiration of 40 days, be allowed to return to the Place from whence they came, if they have arrived from any Port of the American Continent, and until 4 months, if they have come from any Port in Europe; but these periods being expired, the said Vessels shall be declared to be confiscated.

4. That the punishments awarded by the Laws in force shall be applied against all Individuals, of whatsoever class or condition, who may be found to hold any communication with the Garrison and Inhabitants of San Juan de Ulloa, all intercourse therewith being considered as entirely at an end.

5. That all Spanish Merchant Vessels, to which the present Decree shall be made known, which do not immediately proceed to a Foreign Port, shall be declared lawful Prize, as shall also be those, which, after that intimation, may be found steering to any other of our Ports, or of those of Colombia.

6. The present Decree shall be communicated to the CommandantsGeneral of Departments, to the Commanders of the National Fleet, to those in command of Allied and Friendly Vessels, to the Port Captains, and to all Authorities whose duty it is to watch over the due observance thereof, under the most rigorous responsibility. Done in Mexico, this 8th day of October, 1823.

MARIANO MICHELENA, President
JOSE MIGUEL DOMINGUEZ
VICENTE GUERRERO.

JOSE JOAQUin de herreRA

And, in order that the present Decree may be duly carried into effect, I communicate the same to your Excellency, in order that, in every thing that regards you, it may be executed, and due report made of any infractions which you may discover. God and Liberty.— Mexico, 8th October, 1823. J. J. DE HERRERA.

SPEECH of the King of Portugal on the closing of the Cortes. 31st March, 1823. (Translation.)

GENTLEMEN,

THE labours of the present Legislature being to cease this day, according to the Constitution, I come to rejoice with you at the

wisdom and patriotism which you have shown in the Legislative Measures which you had judged necessary for the execution and progress of the Constitution, and for the security of Civil Liberty and the re-establishment of order and publick tranquillity, which the spirit of faction dared to disturb in one of the extremities of the kingdom."

This circumstance, so afflicting to my paternal heart, offered at the same time an irrefragable testimony of the purity of the Constitutional Spirit, of the love of Country, which prevailed amongst the greater part of the Nation, as well as of the patriotism and firmness with which the Representatives answered to the confidence of their Constituents.

Yes, Gentlemen, I owe to the Nation, to its worthy Representatives, and to the whole world, the sincere and consolatory declaration, that the great majority of the Kingdom is faithful to the Oath which it took to the Constitution, that every Portuguese who is worthy of the name, would, in the same manner as his King, rather lose his life than disregard the sanctity of his Oath, and the dignity of his character: and that any one of his Subjects, therefore, who should fail to follow his example, would be the object of certain indignation...

I do not fear that the criminal attempts of internal or external enemies will prevail against the general will of the Nation. I regret, however, that the shortness of the time, and the accumulation of business, have hindered you from passing the Judicial, Fiscal, and Administrative organic Laws, on which the progress and the consolidation of the Constitutional System depend.

I, therefore, consider it necessary, under these circumstances, that the National Representation should be speedily assembled round the Throne, in the form determined by the Constitution, since the publick security and the perfection of the system require it.

I have now, Gentlemen, only to promise to you, as well as the Nation which you so worthily represent, my co-operation in the cause of National Liberty, as faithful and efficacious as my sentiments are pure, of which I can offer you no better pledge than my conduct and my character.

Lisbon, 31st March, 1823.

JOHN.

PROCLAMATION of the King of Portugal, respecting a Modification of the Constitution.-31st May, 1823. (Translation.)

INHABITANTS OF LISBON!

THE salvation of the People is always a supreme Law, and to me a sacred Law; this conviction, which has been my guide in the critical circumstances in which Providence has placed me, imperiously dictated the resolution which I yesterday adopted, with the greatest regret, to separate myself from you for some days; yielding to the prayers of the People, and to the desires of the Army, which either accompanies, or precedes me.