The fervid imagination, either examining the researches of a Humboldt, Molina, or Depons, would, likewise, there, court scenes, vast and romantic; would admire the sublime outlines, which nature has bestowed on the Andes and other places, and worship the powerful hand of a Creator, in their varied mineral and vegetable productions. We venerate the remains of Greece and Rome; Spanish America, also presents fragments, of an infinitely curious nature. We know all this, as it were, by hearsay; we have, in those secluded regions, sources unexplored, to which our most important interests are allied, and yet it would seem, as if we scarcely remembered that they exist. Hitherto, our writers complained, that this immense and diversified country, was closed to their researches; yet we have been six years in alliance with Spain, and our government has not promoted a discovery of a philosophical or commercial nature. The late government of France, was eager to avail itself of every means of obtaining information; and aided and supported the exertions of travellers, to whom the world is so much indebted. But the government of England, with infinitely better opportunities, beholds these pursuits, with an eye of indifference. Yet, would our expeditions there, have ended as they did, or our merchants have been so duped, if we had known any thing of the country? Would not a scientific and exploring expedition to Peru, be deserv◄ ing of the promotion of the Regent of England; might we not be ambitious, that a knowledge of, at least, one section of that great continent, was due to our exertions?

In whatever light we view the great sections of Spanish America, sentiments of the deepest interest are ex

cited; nor can the British heart be divested of sympathy. We there behold an extensive continent, rich in every thing that ministers to the wants or luxuries of man, yet wretched from the time of its settlement, in consequence of the degraded system, by which it was governed; and now, desolated by extensive murder, conflagration, pillage, and all the scourges of an unnatural war. Though distant, we are yet bound to its fate, and disengaged from the great contest in which we were so lately plunged, not a moment ought to be lost, in affording it relief. Nay, many of our vital interests are implicated in its future welfare; nor do I hesitate to say, that if the great body of the British people, were sufficiently enlightened on this subject, they would, with a firm and decided voice, pronounce the necessity under which England, at this moment stands, of causing the blood flowing between brethren to cease, and the furrows of anarchy and civil war, to be closed. The affections, also, of seventeen millions of people, cannot be indifferent to us; yet with the prejudices existing against us, and if after giving peace to Europe, we abandon them, what will not be their reflections, and what their feelings? Our former captures and attacks on their shores, are not forgotten; and there may yet be cases, in which the animosity of Spanish America, may be seriously felt. If the equipoise of power, should be ever again broken, let us hope never to have the inhabitants of that country, as our enemies.

Our present hold on Spanish America is of a most fragile nature; for though we may have effected a partial overthrow of the prejudices which existed in the Western continent, against our manufactures; though we

have, in some measure, succeeded to rival French and German goods, this has been attained through necessity, and not from preference; nor could we ever, at the prices to which our goods have risen, particularly linens, successfully support a competition. Our Scotch and Irish imitations of the above description of goods, are not altogether devoid of success; but the practical merchant must be fully sensible, that they would not long stand their ground, were the old continental channels again opened, and supplies congenial to their wants, would greatly enter into the political calculations of the Spanish Americans, if ever they are enabled to fix their own destinies. This is a tie of a much stronger nature, than would at first, be conceived; and added to the rest, might be successfully handled to our exclusion, and at a future moment, might lead us into hostilities with a country, that, by care, could be converted into a safe and plentiful harvest.

The only means of severing this bond, would have been, to have acted with a just and firm dignity, when called upon by one half of a monarchy, with which we were equally allied to have helped in the relaxation of the oppressive system, of the other; to have urged for redress, where it was due; to have prevented, by a timely interposition, the horrors of a cruel and desolating civil war; to have listened to the voice of justice; to have improved the display of loyalty and fidelity early evinced; to have consulted our lasting, instead of our temporary interests; and, in short, to have thereby added to this bond, the double one of gratitude. The Spanish Americans, not only conceive themselves linked to the continent of Europe, by their old relations, connections,

and supply of suitable goods; but also, by that being the great mart for their territorial productions, which, it is not in our power, to consumé. But yet, happily for England, much is still within her reach, if timely and proper measures, are only adopted. These consist, in procuring for Spanish America, the peace its inhabitants so much require; and aiding them to establish a govern ment suited to their wants, on which they may found their future welfare and prosperity.

§ Having borne so great a portion of that war, which has secured the throne of Spain to its rightful possessor, and restored peace to the continent of Europe, it is natural for Great Britain, to seek some remuneration to compensate for her great sacrifices, and the burdens which have rested on her people. In the exhausted state of the Peninsula, no other than opening the trade to Spanish America presents itself; and from the memorials forwarding from the chief manufacturing and trading towns, it would appear that this is generally expected. Hitherto, the Spanish cabinet, has manifested no disposition to relax the rigour of its pretensions, on this important subject; nor has it evinced a friendly attachment to this country, corresponding to the demonstrations made in its favour. That hostility to us, coeval almost with the landing of our troops in Spain, may have been considerably diminished, by the important events just achieved; but, though diminished, it is not subdued; and under the present smooth exteriour, there is concealed a mass of enmity, which, though it may not in, trude on the superficial observer, will, hereafter, be extremely active in its rancourous workings. But yet for this, the British government is not to despair, or fail to

solicit a boon, due to us in gratitude; essentia! as a means of pacification; within the right of the ultramarine provinces, as integral parts of the monarchy; and, moreover, advantageous to Spain herself. On these four grounds, it is, that England has now to found her claims of remuneration; and as no trade can be carried on with a country in a state of warfare, divided by discord, and divested of ever kind of confidence, conciliation, on a liberal basis, must be the forerunner, As shewn in the body of this work, to obtain one, is to obtain the other; and if ever, it is in the enthusiastic moments of Spain, that this is to be effected. Her general conduct, during the period of our long and sincere co-operation, furnishes no foundation for a hope, that the remembrance of past services, will long continue; much less since the recent changes which have taken place. The king is not surrounded by our friends, and if faction is allowed to gain his ear, we shall be frustrated in our views. To the British government it is of the greatest importance, to keep the public mind of Spain, in a correct and straight line; and not to suffer it to be warped by misrepresentations, circulated by our enemies, to cause a wrong impression, and who, if they could, would divest all our services of merit, because interest and jealousy are the levers of their conduct. To this party, England has long acted with tame subserviency, but she has not on that account, inspired more grateful sentiments. She has claims of a loud and imperious nature, and both interest and humanity call upon her, to establish them in a strong and imposing manner. Instead of bending to the servile and the depraved, let her promote her interests, with the people at large.