granted by the Decree of the 27th January, 1822, respecting the Commerce of the Island of Cuba. You will take steps for its fulfilment, &c. Don Evaristo San Miguel. FERDINAND.

(2).—Decree. Trade with Spain.—16th March, 1823.

DON FERDINAND the 7th, by the Grace of God, &c. Having used in my Decree of the 5th instant, the Power granted to me in the 2d Article of the said Decree of the Cortes, (of the 31st January, 1823,) with respect to the vessels and effects of France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, I do henceforth extend to the said vessels and effects the suspension referred to in the 1st Article of the said Decree, and do prohibit their admission into the Peninsula and Islands adjacent.

Let it be understood, &c.

Don Evaristo San Miguel.

FERDINAND.

PROCLAMATION of the President of Hayti, prohibiting Commercial Intercourse with Foreign Countries.

20th March, 1823.

(Translation.) SINCE the foundation of the Republick, the Rights of Nations have always been scrupulously observed; this Government, invariably guided by the love of peace, and by the honour which a just cause inspires, has never conceived any thing that could, with justice, create a suspicion that it has been her intention to disturb any of the neighbouring Islands.

Nevertheless, it is in the greater part of those Islands, where the promoters of the horrid traffick in human flesh are concentrated, that the Republick has always had its most embittered slanderers. Their inhabitants, tormented by the horrors of an upbraiding conscience, imagine that they behold Hayti as always ready to annihilate them, whilst the Haytiens, fully confiding in the Supreme Being, and leaving to Him the attributes of vengeance, despise the calumnies of Enemies whom a Divine punishment will sooner or later overtake.

Laws and Regulations, at once opposed to reason, and contrary to the true interests of those Islands, are there in full force, to prohibit all communication with this Republick, whilst, by means of smuggling, which they encourage, they clandestinely find a market to dispose of their produce. Have we not before our eyes our generous conduct towards them, when, in the time of scarcity, they came to us for grain, provisions, cattle, &c. and we carried those things to them? Do we not every day see arriving in our Ports Merchandize from those Islands? Do we not know that the Haytien Coasters go and receive from them, sugars, syrup, taffia, rum, &c. through the allurement

of illicit gain, and fraudulently introduce them into our Territory, contrary to Law? Why, then, with all the advantages which the Inhabitants of the neighbouring Islands derive from their communications with us, do they not cease to vilify the name of Haytien, and insult our National character by their disgraceful acts?

To so many outrages there must be an end.

We, therefore, declare to all whom it concerns, that, in order to use reprisals against the enemies and slanderers of the Republick, all relations and communication by Merchant Vessels, or Vessels belonging to Individuals, between Hayti and the different Islands of the Archipelago to the windward and leeward, are rigorously interdicted, from the 1st of May next. All Merchant Vessels, or Vessels belonging to Individuals, therefore, that shall enter the Ports of the Republick, after the 1st May next, coming from the aforesaid Islands or Colonies, shall be seized and confiscated, with every thing that shall be found on board; one half for the benefit of the State, and the other half for that of the informer.

For the same reasons it is expressly forbidden to National Vessels, by the present Proclamation, to communicate with any Island or Colony of the New World, under penalty of seizure and confiscation on their return, one half to the State, and the other to the person who will give information of the trespasses, and also under penalty of one year's imprisonment to the Captain of the Vessel seized, and three months to each of the Crew.

And whereas, from information received, the National Flag has been outraged upon the High Seas; it is also prohibited, under the same penalties as above, to go into any Foreign Port whatever, until this Government shall have adopted proper measures to cause its Flag to be respected, and that it may have all the consideration which it ought to enjoy, the said Vessels must confine themselves, for the present, to the Coasting Trade of the Country.

We order the armed cruising Vessels of the Republick to examine all National Vessels, as also those coming from the Islands or Colonies above mentioned, that shall approach our Coast and transgress this Proclamation, to capture them, and to bring them into the Port of the Capital; where the Officers and Crew of the said armed Vessels shall receive one half of the proceeds of each prize.

The present Proclamation shall be printed, published, and distri buted wherever occasion requires, and shall also be inserted for three months in the Official Gazette. The Civil and Military Officers shall execute its provisions, each according to his station.

Given at the National Palace of Port-au-Prince, the 20th March, 1823, the 20th Year of Independence.

B. INGINAC, Secretary General.

By the President,

BOYER.

CIRCULAR of the Government of Hayti, respecting Commercial Intercourse with Foreign Countries.

30th December, 1823.

(Translation.)

In conformity with his Excellency the President's Proclamation of the 20th March, of the present Year, and to avoid any misunderstanding, I have, by his order, to communicate to you, that, after this day, the said Proclamation being in full force, you allow no Vessel to enter which has touched in auy of the West India Islands. In order to ascertain this more exactly, you will allow only to enter, such Vessels as have cleared from Europe, or the Continents of America, direct for your respective Ports, for which the Master of the Vessel must deliver to you his Custom House clearance from the Port where he took his Cargo in; besides the clearance, you will require from the Master a manifest of the Cargo, mentioning the place of departure, the marks, numbers, packages and contents; and the names of the Shippers and Consignees: this manifest must be delivered to you 24 hours after the arrival of the Vessel, and is to be signed by the Master and Consignee, both giving security that the Vessel has not touched at any of the West India Islands. Vessels cleared from Foreign Countries for the West Indies or Hayti, generally, are not to be allowed to come to an entry.

Should a Vessel, however, be forced by distress to enter a Harbour of the Republick, the Harbour-master will, in that case, send a guard on board, who shall remain there until the Vessel be ready to go again to Sea; and the Vessel shall be free of Tonnage Duty. Should it be necessary to discharge, you will have the Cargo stored in the Government's Warehouse, of which the Commissioner of the Government will sell, under your inspection, so much as will be wanting to defray the expenses of repairs and duties; in such case, the Vessel must pay Tonnage Duty and Fees.

Any contravention of this Circular you will report to the Commissioner of the Government, who will give orders for the seizure of the Vessel, and whatever may be on board; half to the profit of the Informer, the other half to be paid into the Treasury.

Port au Prince, 30th December, 1823.

The Collector of the Customs.

B. INGINAC, Secretary General.

Address of the House of Representatives to the Citizens of the
Republick of Hayti, on Closing the Session.-8th July, 1823.
CITIZENS,
(Translation.)

It is a duty sacred to the Representatives of a free people, jealous of the preservation of their rights, to render them an account of the labours which have occupied them. At the close of each Session, an account of the conduct of their Representatives, and the developement

of the motives which have directed them, should be offered to the people: such is the sentiment which animates the house, and the end which it proposes.

It is highly satisfactory to the National Representation, at the same time, to announce to the people, that, while we enjoy the benefits of a peace acquired by an heroic perseverance, the most perfect harmony reigns between the Executive Power and the first bodies of the State, which rival each other in their zeal and efforts for the publick good.

Hayti, worthy of appearing in the rank of States the most cele brated for their patriotism, marches with rapidity in that which is assigned to it, and, hastening the progress of her civilization, she shines with the pure splendour which is derived from the wisdom of her institutions.

The want of a Code, adapted to our local situation, has been felt, and the constant cares of the worthy Chief of our State have induced us to take into consideration many projects of Laws, among which were some of those which are to form this precious monument.

The Foreign Laws which were made applicable to us, only by analogy, have ceased to be suitable, in proportion as the Nation has advanced to its maturity.

The first legislature commenced the project: it was occupied in directing the arrangements, but the term for which it was elected having expired, it has only been able to leave us the first book of the Code.

In the same way we have been occupied, in connection with its labours, with the new subject submitted to our debates; and feeling penetrated with the immortal truth, that good Laws are the greatest benefits that men can have or receive, we have passed the Law upon the destination of property; this first link, which connects the chain of the two books, quiets the unsettled opinions upon affairs, which fieutious reports appeared to have perplexed. A Law upon property, in defining the Civil Right with regard to this source of the union of men in the social state, gives action to the Constitutional principle which renders it inviolable.

Usufruct and habitation, which are the representations only of property, distinguishing themselves from it by their essential character, have been the subjects of a particular disposition by this principle; servitudes and ground services have received their just appreciation From that it may be derived, that the different modes of acquiring property will no longer be a judiciary problem; the nature and form of donations made during life and by will, terminate the series of the Laws of this Session, as to the Haytien Code.

But the care of the Chief of the State, and the solicitude, of your dele gates, have not been confined to that: their thoughts have embraced all your interests. The situation of the functionaries, civil and mili tary, who have resigned, or are in retirement, and that of the oficers

not in service; the pay of the military authorities and troops of the line of every kind, in actual service, have been the objects of two Laws: the first determines the pretensions of the former, and the second is, to the others, a new evidence that the supporters of our institutions, the depositaries of our national glory, will always fix the attention of your Legislators. In this new occurrence, the executive power has given an example of admirable disinterestedness.

We have commenced the examination of the accounts rendered by the Secretary of State; but time has not permitted us to complete this work. The re-union of the several parts of the Territory having considerably augmented the detail, it has not escaped the high conceptions of the President of Hayti, to prepare the project of a Law for the creation of a chamber of accounts; this useful institution promises great financial results, and will diminish the labours of the office of Secretary of State.

The prosperous situation of the finances requiring no new taxes, we have thought that, in order to encourage the culture of cotton, that branch of the products of the Territory which was declining, it was necessary to diminish the impost to which it was subjected, and to give this mark of protection to the meritorious agriculturalist; but to restrain cupidity, the Law has established the means of preventing, rather than the punishment of it; for your delegates have reflected that the object of a wise political economy is to deter from offences, and not to have to punish them. The Law upon patents has been prolonged, for the year 1824.

The necessity of an uniform system in the sale of produce, as well as in the accounts, has not escaped the attention of those in whom you have reposed your confidence. The Law for the compensation of surveyors has determined the price of surveying lands.

Such is the faithful representation of the labours to which we have devoted ourselves.

Haytiens! The trophies which render you illustrious, the glory acquired by the Founder of the Republick, the splendour which the brilliant actions of his Successors give him, the ardent patriotism of your Chiefs, the zeal and the labours of the Legislative Powers, all would be ineffectual, if you do not feel penetrated with the sacred duties which the Citizen owes to himself and to Society. Be faithful observers of the Laws, and respect those who are the organs of them; profit by the blessings of Peace, to devote yourselves with constancy to the cultivation of this favoured Land, in which nature has provided for all our wants. Reflect, that it is from her bosom that we can draw all the resources necessary to our existence. You will then fly to arms with more success, if any ever dare to threaten our liberties.

Haytiens! In casting our eyes around us, we cannot see, without enthusiasm, the imposing attitude of our noble Country; but, if we