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hold full power to adopt whatever form of government may be deemed suitable to the general will of its inhabitants, to declare war, make peace, form alliances, &c. (See State Papers.) This declaration is signed by the representatives, 41 in number; and is followed by a decree of the supreme executive, enjoining its publication and carrying into effect.

General Miranda on assuming the command made it one of his first objects to reduce the city of New Valencia, which held for the mother country. In one attack, after entering the place, his troops were driven out with loss by a heavy fire from the tops of the houses. At length, on Aug. 18th, having made regular approaches, he obliged the inhabitants to surrender at discretion, after which he is said to have put the garrison to the sword, with a great part of the unarmed population, and to have given up the city to pillage.

It was, however, in the viceroyalty of Buenos Ayres, that a series of transactions took place the most interesting to Great Britain, on account of the part that her naval force in the La Plata, and her public functionaries, were called upon to act on various occasions. The capital, Buenos Ayres, with the greater part of the province, had adopted the cause of independency; while the port of Montevideo, through its immediate connections with Cadiz, was decidely engaged in supporting the authority of the mother country. On the arrival of Admiral de Courcy in the river, in October 1810, he was solicited by the provisional governor of Montevideo, both in an epistolary correspon

dence, and in a personal conference, to make a common cause with him against the junta of Buenos Ayres, which the admiral declined, as contrary to his peremptory orders not to interfere in any manner in the dispute between Spain and her colonies; and he with difficulty brought the governor to consent to take off the blockade of the La Plata as far as concerned British vessels.

The junta of the province sitting at Buenos Ayres received, on December 19th, a flag of truce from Montevideo, announcing the assembly of the Spanish cortes at Cadiz. The junta to their reply renewed their protestations of fi delity to king Ferdinand; they had, however. in a circular of the 3d, sufficiently declared their purpose of asserting a local independ ence, by decreeing that from the date thereof, no tribunal, corporation, or chief, civil, military, or ecclesiastic, should confer a pubblic employment on persons not born in those provinces. By a subsequent explanation, they made known that this decree was not to operate against those European Spaniards who had not opposed the government, who were to enjoy the same rights and privileges with their American brethren.

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Elio, the new viceroy, a man of vigour and decision, on his arrival at Montvedeo, issued a proclamation in March, ordering the cap-i ture and confiscation of all vessels that should attempt to enter or leave Buenos Ayres subsequently to the 15th of April; a threat he was prepared to execute, as he had at his disposal a squadron of armed ships superior to the flotilla of the junta, which last was in conse

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quence laid up in port. The English commander of the Porcupine in vain attempted to obtain of the governor an exemption from this blockade in favour of British vessels.

The situation of the capital at length became so irksome, that an army was sent under General Artigas to lay siege to Montevideo. An action took place on May 18th, in which Elio was defeated with the loss of some cannon and ammunition, and shut up in the town. It appears that he then endeavoured to obtain an armistice, and represented Captain Heywood, of his Majesty's frigate Nereus, as a mediator for this purpose; an insinuation that the captain formally contradicted, as being contrary to his orders of taking no part whatever in these disputes. Elio in the mean time had made use of his naval superiority entirely to block up the harbour of Buenos Ayres, and put a stop to all its commerce, In the distress which this occasioned, the junta applied to Lord Strangford, the British minister at the court of Brazil, to communicate their case (in which the interests of the British merchants were also deeply involved) to his government, that means might be adopted for their relief. His lordship sent an answer, in which, after deeply lamenting the subsisting dissensions, he made an ample offer of the interposition of the English government for an amicable accommodation, and in the mean time recommended that the parties should mutually withdraw their blockades, one by land, the other by sea. An offer of mediation was also made to the junta by the Portuguese minister at Rio JaneiVOL. LIII.

ro, where the progress of Amerirican independence was doubtless viewed with much jealousy, but it was declined. At this time the state of the South American Spanish provinces is stated to have been as follows: that Paraguay had completely submitted, and had placed itself under the junta of Buenos Ayres, and that all the eastern side of the La Plata to the borders of the Brazils had also declared for the same party; that the cabildo of Lima had requested from Castelli, the general from Buenos Ayres, an armistice of 40 days to deliberate and settle the principles of their government; and that Chili remained quiet, governed by its own junta, which had sent aid to Buenos Ayres, and had opened its ports on the Pacific Ocean for a free trade. Some time afterwards the president of Valdivia, a native Spaniard, gained over some troops to make an attempt to subvert the authority of the Chilese junta, but was defeated, taken, and executed.

On the 15th of July, the Montevidean squadron arrived before Buenos Ayres, and commenced a bombardment of that city, which, however, seems to have occasioned more alarm than mischief. As a meaHis lord-sure of self-defence, the junta issued an order for taking possession of several of the English merchant ships lying there, the crews of which were readily induced to volunteer their services on board, under the command of their mates. Upon Captain Heywood's remonstrances against this act of force, however, the ships were restored. Neither party now appearing strong enough to reduce the other to submission, a negotiation was entered [M]

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upon for a cessation of hostilities. The junta of Buenos Ayres were at this time dispirited by the bad success of their general, Castelli, who commarded a body of troops sent to the assistance of the junta of Potosi. Their united ariny was attacked by that of Lima on June 20th, and routed with considerable loss. It was afterwards, however, placed under a different command, and rallying again, as it is said, gained some advantages.

ties, though the immediate occasion is said to have been an alarm taken by the deputies of Buenos Ayres at Montevideo, that treachery was intended against their persons by the governor; which suspicion he resented so highly as to issue a hostile proclamation on the subject; and in this state affairs remained when the last dispatchesTM were received from that quarter, in the beginning of October.

We shall only add with respect to the differences between Spain and her colonies, that the cortes, after a long discussion, passed a decree on June 19th, accepting the proffered mediation of the British government, but upon the conditions, that an acknowledgment of the sovereignty of the cortes should form the basis of the treaty; and that, on failure of the negotiation, the British government should suspend all intercourse with the refractory provinces, and assist in reducing them to subjection. Commissioners have since been appointed for the purpose by our court, and have sailed on their mission; but it is scarcely probable that the latter part of those conditions has been accelled to in its full extent.

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For the purpose of rendering the Indians favourable to their cause, the Provisional Junta of the United Provinces of the river Plata issued a decree in the name of Ferdinand VII. from Buenos Ayres, dated September 1st, importing that henceforward the tribute which, the Indians paid to the crown of Spain shall be abolished in all the districts of the provinces belonging to their government On the arrival of Admiral De Courcy in the La Plata, in September, he insisted on the free entrance of that river by British vessels, without molestation of any kind; so that with respect to them, the blockade was at an end. Deputies from Buenos Ayres were at that time at Montevideo continuing the commenced negotiation. The Portuguese government, however, having come to a resolution to take a decided part in favour of the government of Old Spain, a body of 8000 men, under Don Diego de Souza, marched to the assistance of Elio, and arrived near Montevideo on September 10th, having in their way acted against the in-tinique, of which the following surgents as far as the river Panama. It was probably this circumstance that really broke off the negotiation between the two par

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The West India islands, of which the sole possessors are the English and Spaniards, with the exception of the negro state of Hayti, or St. Domingo, have afforded very little matter for the history of the year. The most important occurrence has been an insurrection in the island of Mar

narrative has been published. On September 17th, information was sent to the procureur du roi (King's attorney) that an insurrection of

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the free people of colour and the negroes was to take place on the ensuing evening, when the town of St. Pierre was to be set on fire in several places, and on the alarm given, the stores containing cutlasses and bill-hooks were to be broken open, and a general massacre to be made of all the white men who should appear in the streets. In case this plan did not meet with all the desired success, they were to storm St. Martin's battery, and turn its guns pon the town. On the disclosure of this plot, measures were immedi, ately taken to prevent its execution. Some of the chiefs were seized, and others left the town. In the evening, people were seen on the heights which overlook St. Pierre; and an inhabitant brought the intelligence that from 70 to 80 of the conspirators, armed with swords, pistols, and other weapons, were assembled at his house, and that the number was fast increasing. The commandant, Lieutenant-Colonel Mackie, instantly sent a detachment, to surround them, at whose approach they fired on them, and then ran away. They were pursued, but only three or four could be apprehended. During the whole of the night strong patroles of soldiers and white inhabitants paraded the streets; and on the following morning several of the ringleaders were taken up and lodged in prison. Parties from the garrison and militia were also sent out to scour the country. On the 21st the town was alarmed by the attempt of a body of 4 or 500 slaves, headed by five leaders, to enter the town, where they expected to

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be joined by the domestic slaves; but by the exertions of the commandant, the negroes were dispersed, and three of their chiefs taken. The head of the conspiracy, a free man of colour named Moliere, privately entered the town by night, and endeavoured to make his escape on board a small vessel; but not succeeding, he blew out his brains. This man was a native of Martinique, and had been some time at St. Domingo, whence he returned with the title of viscount. The whole number of insurgents apprehended was about 130, of whom 26 were brought to their trial before a court of commission, upon a charge of high treason. Fifteen of these were condemned and executed in the public place by the sea side, on October 10th. The governor of the island, Major-general Charles Wale, issued a proclamation on the 15th, relative to this conspiracy, in which he observes, that "the object of this plot is inexplicable; for among the conspirators were some persons who, having the rank of freemen from the effect of the colonial beneficence, might be expected to have nothing left them to wish for but the prosperity of the country wherein they advantageously exercised their industry under the protection of the laws." He goes on to remark, that

these men paved the way for the seduction of the inferior classes, by throwing out opinions that have been repeated upwards of half a century by revolutionary writers ;" and he further explains himself by saying, that "some individuals from bad intentions, and others from imprudence, have [M 2]

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of late made it their particular business to comment upon the contents of the public papers, to discuss the opinions of journalists, and therefrom to deduce conclusions alarming to that system which has for two hundred years secured the prosperity of this Archipelago." After some other observations respecting the impostures and falsehoods thus maintained, the proclamation concludes with desiring it to be understood, that though this government wishes to undeceive the ignorant and the credulous, it can reach and strike the evil-disposed, and has at its disposal the force necessary to make the guilty tremble."

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That a state of society in which a great majority of the people are slaves, and many more are excluded from the rights of citizens, is not one in which free discussion can be safely allow ed, is very evident; and the tenure of the West India islands has been rendered more insecure since the success of the men of colour at St. Domingo in establishing an independent government. For although that island has ever since been a prey to the most sanguinary contests, it has presented an image of liberty and equality highly captivating to men groaning under degradation and bondage. To other attractions is now added that of a semblance of European honours and dignities, open to the ambition of the sable race. Christophe, the most powerful of the competitors, caused himself and his wife to be solemnly crowned at Cape Francois as king and queen of Hayti, by a titular archbishop, on June 2d, RIMARI

after which he gave a splendid entertainment, at which were present two English captains and all the English and American merchants. His Majesty drank the health of his brother the king of Great Britain, and wished for his success against the French tyrant. He has created various ranks of nobility, and has issued edicts for the establishment of a royal guard,' an order of knighthood, and an ecclesiastical hierarchy; and he will probably act the monarch with as much stage dignity as any of those who have lately been elevated to that station in Europe.

As it is now become impossible to prevent the slaves in the West Indies from considering themselves as of the same species with their masters, and therefore entitled to some of the rights of human beings, it will be the safest, as well as the most liberal policy, to convince them that they are in reality under the protection of the law; for which reason, the spectacle afforded this year in one of our islands, of the execution of a man of consequence and property for the cruel murder of his negroes, however repugnant to the feelings of the other planters, may have a salutary effect on both colours. The recommendation, however, of the murderer to mercy by the jury, and the necessity of proclaiming martial law in order to enforce his execution, were proofs of the difficulty which will always be experienced in establishing a system of equal justice, where society is composed of classes so radically different in their civit

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