The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1825-04-06 00:00:00

THE LATE M. PELLETIER. M. Pelletier, author of some political pamphlets, has 'int died, at .S 3 years of age. Although he at first enter tained revolutionary principles, as he himself has owned in Knee writings published in England, yet he soon joined Champcenez and Rivarol, and in concert with them he published The Acts of the Apostles, a periodical work, principally directed against the measures of the Constitu tional Assembly. Being obliged to quit France after the memorable 10th of August, in which he asserted he had an active share, he took refuge in England. where he edited, along with some French emigrants, several papers against France, and among others a pamphlet called the Ambigu. In the abort interval of the peace of Amiens, M. Pelletier, instead of relaxing the hostile tone he had assumed against the different governments whiei had sprung up, one after the other, in his native soil, redoubled his attacks against Bonaparte personally, at that time First Consul. Napoleon was weak enough to be ()Wended at it, and the imprudence to call upon the English Cabinet for the repression of the libels against him. He was answered that the business was altogether independent of the Government, but that the Courts of Justice were open:to whoever had reason to com plain of the license of the press. Napoleon did not dis dain to have recourse to those means, and M. Pelletier was cited before the Court of King'. )3esseh. Item Mr. Mackintosh, at present one of the stosedielingiliarijkai ben of the Opposition, Who nadertoo& defLitce; but he could not, with all his eloquent, prevent his client being found guilty of libel; but the rupture of the Treaty of Amiens caused the execution of the judgment to be an nulled. Notwithstanding the number of writings M. Pel letier has published, he has not left a single work that is remembered; he had 'more spleen than talent. His death is but a light loss to the republic of letters, and perhaps it saves the Royal Treasury the payment of a heavy pension. —Courrier Francois. M. Pelletier, well known for his devotedness to the Royal cause, for which he wrote, and exposed himself so courageously from the beginning of the Revolution, has just died at Paris. lie was the chief editor of a collection which was much in vogue in 1789, and the two following years, The Acts of the Apostles. After the 10th of As rust, 1792, he withdrew to England, where he never ceased to write against the Governments which took the place fora time of the legitimate Monarchy. Ilaving returned to Francs in lb 4, he constantly professed the purest and most disinterested zeal for the Monarchy and the Bour bons. He was 62 yells old.—Journal des Debate. THE QUARTER'S REVENUE. The Returns of the Quarter's Revenue will not be made up until a late hour this evening, so that we shall not be (Raided to give the official details until to-morrow. We have, however, great pleasure in stating, that they will exhibit new proofs of the flourishing state of our finances, the extension of commerce, and the increasing prosperity of • the country. Notwithstanding - the repeal of Taxes on Wool, Coals, Ste. and the repeal of the Silk Duties alone, to the amount of nearly half a million of money, all since April, 1824, v. t the Customs Revenhe for the Quarter which ends to aay, exhibit an increase over the corresponding Quarter of last year of between fifty askal sixty thousand pounds. The amount of the Customs for' the Quarter ending the Sth of April, 1924, was 2,191,000/. ; that of the Quarter whi:h . ends to-day, will be nearly 2330,000/. r ) This increase, though apparently small, is very extraor &nil!, since it is evident that the Revenue even outgrows and covers all the reductions that have been made in the taut which, in the course of the last twelve months, can not he estimated at less than a million and a half. 6 • in the returns for the Quarter ending the Sth of April last year, the produce of the high duties on Wool, Silk, Sit, &c. were included, for they continued up to that time; these, however, form no part of the amount of the Return fa the present quarter, which more than makes up the de ficiency. The increase would have been still greater, had ip. Wt. agjarge reduction on Foreign Miles taken place im teediatery OR the resolutions to that effect having passed the House of Commons, which is some weeks ago. In comparing the Customs Revenue for the year ending I to -day with that which terminated on the Sth of April, 1824, there is an apparent deficiency of about a quarter of a million ; but if we consider it in reference to the million and a half of taxes repealed, then will there be proved a virtual increase in the Customs of a million and a quarter in the year, and of two millions and a quarter as compared with the year ending the 6th of April, 1823; and this in one single branch of the Revenue. The amount of the Customs for the year ending the .sth of April, 1823, was 9,406,642/. • that for the year 1824, 10,484,578/.; and the Customs Revenue for the year ending to-clay will be about 10313,000/. It is highly gratifying thus to find, that while the public burthens are alleviated by an extensive reduction of taxa r tilt), the Revenue continues to improve, and that in a branch of it which is so certain a criterion of the commercial pros perity of the country as the Customs. In the Excise, we believe, the returns will be found equally cheering and satisfactory.—Star. TIIE ARilt. . The undermentioned services. due the 24th ult. will be in course of payment on the 14th instant, vise. —Unatteched Pay of timers! Officers ; Royal Bounty. The Lord Lieutenant hat been pleased to make the following promotion in the Royal Rucks or King's Own Militia 't —Major John Charles Pigott_to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice Sir William Young. Bart. dereasa ; Captain Benjamin Vaesar to be Major, Vice Pigott ; by commissions bearing date 24th March, 11k25. Backs Gazette. • We are happy to observe that a public meeting is about to be called in this city for promoting education in Greece. We undcrtand that the Society, which is to be a ladies' one, is most respectably patronised ; and that Sir James Mackintosh (if not Mr. Brougham also) is expected to be present, and take part in the proceedings of the meeting.— Edinburgh Paper. INTILLIGENCE.--QUalltity of Copper Ore sold at Prol, March 31, 1,775 tons—Average produce, 6g.- Quantity of fine Copper, 116 tons S cwt.—Amount of sale, 10,465/. 6s.—Average standard, 131/. Dia.—There are 9,2.56 tons of Copper Ores for sale at Redruth this week. A Cork Paper states, that nine vessels will sail from that port for Quebec in the course of this and the ensuing month, with 2,000 emigrants and their families. Wednesday evening, a water-guard boat and crew were lost off Kilcortiane, near Loops-head. They were return ing to land, after boarding a vessel coming up the river, when a quarrel arose amongst them, and the boat having upset in consequence of the confusion, all hands, consist ing of six men and the chief boatman, perished. No as sistance could be afforded from the shore, or the vessel they had left, as it had proceeded too far a-head at the time. Irish Obserrer. An inquest was yesterday Lehi before Thos. Higgs, Esq. at the Barley Mow, Mount-street, on the body of' Edward Ca-ti, an old man, who died in the Infirmary of St. 4;eorge's parish, from the effects of intoxication. The J.iry found a verdict of " Died by the visitation of God." Monday a frightful accident happened at the west end of Prince's-street. The horses in a hackney chariot having started off without the driver from the westward of Maitlard-street, galloped furiously along till they came is contact with the hack of r. cart laden with stones for builtlM7. The collision was so great that the pole of the chariot was broken—one of the horses was thrown down, ant had a lc' severely hurt by a wheel passing over it; and the other had its chest much lacerated by one of the stones, which was actually broken in two by the shock.- 31,-eery. Our H. nry VI. endeavoured to recruit his empty coffers New ; anti in a patent, naming several persons as New Operstars," it was remarked, " the happy hour wa; drawing nigh, and by means of the stone, which the ism e, sl!ould soon be master of, he would pay off all the Chit of the nation in real gold and silver." It was not n nvit in those days that the Philosopher's Stone might be •sddy obtained by the mere turn of a Wheel, wide!' any p rsor: rosy prove who steps into either of Carroll's o:fices, Lg. (, ; 7, Charing-cross ; or 26, Oxford-street, for a )h . ar e of the Four Prizes of 20,000/. now in the Wheel' at I artunr, and which must be all drawn Next Tuesday. EDINBURGH REVIEW. When we take up the writings of such men as CARLILE and PALMER, and others of the same class, we take it for granted that we shall find all the leading opinions which have formed the character and governed the conduct of the wisest and bent of mankind, scoffed at and set at nought. This class of persons avow fairly their hostility to the pub lic teachers of our holy faith, and to all that tends to inspire a feeling of reverence for its Founder. It is the aim of all their writings, and the boast of all their efforts, to erase, to the utmost of their means, all those few traces of the image of God which are engravcn on the heart of man. But their tracts being thus confessedly atheistical, accom plish their evil openly. The most illiterate are forewarned, and the moat unreflective are put upon their guard. The poison is labelled, and if we swallow the dose, our sufferinp are of oar own seeking. But common sense is not easily deposed from thereat of her jurisdiction, and there is little to be feared from any efforts of the atheistic scribblers of our day to dethrone her. Din when men of talents play an underpart in this desperate game, the matter takes a more alarming shape. When any periodical work, having an extensive circulation, assists to accomplish the designs of .those who are the common enemies of us al:, the evil is full of consequences too serious to be alighted. In the last number of the Buisreuarin Review, we find an attempt made to explode the fundamental principles which have hitherto governed the great family of mankind in the cul ture and improvement of the species. In the article on Public Edu.Jtion, we find opinions broached, which,— comiag from writers who profess to rank with the first lights of the age,—induce us almost to distrust the evidence of our understanding while actually perusing them. Of that mural education, which we have been hitherto accustomed to consider as the only sound and secure basis on whi ch the cha racter of man in society can be made to rest, the Edinburgh Reviewer speaks with an indifference approaching to con tempt. We will not ascriue to the writer the deliberate wish to introduce that mass of vier and wickedness into society - which must necessarily follow that utter disregard to the formation of the moral character of the rising gene ration, which be would inculcate ; but we cannot avoid re marking the artfulness with which he affects to admit, and even to reverence, the utility of extending popular instruc tion to the utmost, while at tit_ very same time he takes occasion to sneer at the foolishness of those preeoptors who would conduct it with a view to the rearing of virtuous prin ciples. or the production of virtuous habits. I" It is impassible," says the Reviewer. " for any persons to have ■ deeper conviction than we have of the infinite importance of ex tending the means of instruction to as large a portion of the popu lation as possible, and consequently of the value of those arrange menu by which the time and the money necessary for such instruc tion may be best economised. Upon these points we have no doubt or hesitation t and the whole tenor of our speculations has shown, we trust, that we have no want of confidence or zeal. But we pro fess, in the first place. an entire unbelief in all projects for rege nerating mankind, and giving a new character to future genera tions, by certain trite or fantastic schemes of education. In the next place, we have great doubts whether anything material can be done towards the formation of moral character or habits. by any course of early or elementary instruction, or any thing, in short, that depends on schools and preceptors : and, finally, we consider it as of no very great importance, even as to the culture of the un derstanding, what the studies are to which the time of the pupils is preferably devoted in such seminaries—or in pursuit of what acquirements they acquire habits of attention, self-command, and reflection." What can be more pernicious than a theory like this? We have ever thought that the best and most valuable efforts of human intellect consisted in discovering by what modes the human mind r -uld be best traim_•d to the prac tice of those virtues, and the acquirement of those habits, on which the individual and social happiness of man must essentially, and for ever, depend. A doctrine that would teach us to despise all this as useless, or to discard it u chimerical, is infinitely more dangerous in its consequences to society than all the insane trash which such men as Carlile and his disciples can send into the community. It tends to perpetuate all the vice and misery which reigns in the world, by ridiculing every attempt to mitigate it through that early and sedulous care by which alone we can ear hope to-succeed. Of what utility are religious establishments—of what use are those public rellgiobs instructors which the State has wisely set apart for the service of God, in the reform ation of his creatures, if this doctrine be true ? Can those who revile at religion, and libel its teachers, have better confederates than those who would getterate a persuasion that all endeavour to mould the character of youth by early and constant cultivation is so much labour lost—that out ward circumstances and particular situations alone make the individual either good or bad, ♦irtuous or abandoned, and that all early training is utterly thrown away? Yet such is the insidious support which these enemies to the best interests and institutions of mankind, who would weaken all the supports of Government and of the Throne --such is the insidious support which they here receive from the language and doctrine of the EDINBUIIG/1 RE VIEW. " Moral character, principle:, or character in general," we are told, " are not formed by precepts inculcated at school, or by ob. serrations made, or experience collected in that narrow and artificial society,—but by the unconscious adoption of the maxims and prac tices-that prevail among the free agents around us, and the spon taneous assimilation of manners and sentiments which results from this contagion. The true measure of morality, to which every MID is primarily and passively trained, is that of the age and country in which he lives, and the class and circle of society to which he belongs. He may improve upon this, or degenerate from it, according to the strength of his reason, his passions, or tempta tions : but this is the fixed point, from which these variations are calculated, and from which, in the great majority of cases, they never recede very widely. The society of a school may have a little share in the adjustment of this standard,—but its discipline and training scarcely any. The habitual sentiments and habits of the boys, in their idle and unrestrained intercourse with each other, will no doubt form a part of it, and it may even be affected by the master's habits and conduct in private life, in so far as these come under their observation But all the intercourse that is regulated, all the training that is imposed, will go nearly fur nothing as to the4Zirmation either of habits or of opinions." has it seems, that to furnish young minds with ma terials for reflection—to form them to useful and upright principles of conduct—to inspire them with that reverence for religion and its instructors, which is the surest founda tion of all virtue—to do all this; to train them in this course from infancy to manhood, is to leave them just as prone to vice, and as easy and willing a prey to it, as if they bad been left to run riot from the first, and their passions and propensities had been left to take their own course! We trust, for the sake of those who are to come after us, that this extraordinary doctrine will make no converts. The following quotation which goes to uphold and fortify this new system of philosophy, is so pre-eminent in ab surdity; that it Could be unfair to the sum total of the argument not to insert it. Having done so, we shall leave it to the good sense of the reader to furnish the proper comment. " Sonic few men, of bold and vigorous understanding, may found their morality on reflection, and regulate their conduct by princi ples which they have thoroughly weighed and digested into a system. This, however, can never happen in early lflO—and by far the greater number never give themselves any trouble about the matter ; but arc guided, in their notions and their actions, by that practical standard, of the general opinion of their equals and their own experience of eoasequences, to which we have already re. fened. Men, in point of tact, always follow their inclinations, and yield to their passions, as far as it is safe, or not plainly dangerous to do an: the only real check being that fear of conse quences, that anticipation of the ultimate pains of indulgence, which this standard supplies. " It is quite plain, however, that these consequences and these de terring pains ure quite different, both in amount and in certainty, in the artilkial society of the best regulated school, and in the common world—that world from which the boys came when they went to school, to which they must return whoa they leave it, and of which they have all the time such glimpses and specimens as to keep them perfectly in mind that it is the only real world by which their conduct is to be judged, and their place among their fellows determinedi While this is the case, it really seems quite idle to expert that any permanent cif:ll oR the moral character will ever be produced, either by the precepts or the constrained practices af a school. In DO far as these are merely coincident with the great course of train ing, which the ,ti;cntral opinions and practices of the world is im rosin on all ph° live in it, they 'nay be regarded ar merely in. difrcrcat. In so far as they differ trom or outgo that general training, it seems impossible to sropose that they armlet probity either habits or sentiments that will outlast the constraint in which bisey originate , ;—and we might as reasonably expect the pupils of such seminaries to go on all their lives rising at live, and going to Eel at nine, as to find them generally adhering ton more tight and erect ahrervarre morality thaw prevail: among their natural ar. rociates in the world, in Maar of any.doctrincs or practic:: that had been imposed on them at school. "On these and on other r 'undo, we profess to :et 11e knit sible pm velue on the elliwts of institutes and arrangemmits for teaching a patent rrorality at schools; and RT^ persuaded that the best that " can be said on the elaborated contrivances and ingenious machinery that have been resorted to for this purpose, is that they do ito ~. THE BRITISH PRESS. harm, and produce no permanent effect whatsoever;—so that the year after the boy has Oft the school, Ito will be precisely in the samrstate, as to actual' and prospectise vice and virtue, u if he had been all the time at home, or in the hands of some old ,fashioned preceptor, who used wo contrivances at all, and adopted no precouthms but surh as C(PARIII071 sense and common affection !Ting prompt to every one in his situation. So much for our scepticism as to the ejects of moral training in schools." PHRENOLOGY. The ninth Lecture of Dr . tem777witn , on the science of Phreno logy, was delivered on Saturday evening. The professor opened with Insisting upon the great importance of not confounding the moral and religious feelings with each other. Every sentiment con cerning the relation between man and superior beings was properly termed religious. If it related to the connection between men in civil Society, it was properly termed moral. The same command ment, therefore, might be termed religious as far as it wax dictated from above, and moral as far as it was applied to social interc ourse . There could be no doubt that the natural activity of the religious sentiment was in proportion to the development of a particular portion of the cerebral mass. No other sentiment or faculty was in the same uniform proportion to the manifestation of its peculiar organ. If this sentiment depended on the exercise of the reasoning faculties, then the more energetically those faculties were employed, the stranger might to be the emotion of piety. Bu. the facts were otherwise. It was when we ceased to reason, and mnely contem plated the objects df religion. that the emotion arose with greatest force. This faculty, however. gave only a general tendency to venerate, without discriminating what was properly entitled to veneration. The nett sentiment to which he should direct the atten tion of the auditory was that of Hope. This was a primitive power of the mind, and was manifested by Its special organ. Its place was next below that of Veneration. There were great differences among individuals in their power of experiencing the fascinating influence of this sentiment. It inspired feelings the reverse of Cautiousness. In those in whom the organ of Hope was largely developed, gay and delightful emotions were ever most active. With them futurity was painted fait and Smiling like the regions of primeval bliss; every prospect was gilt and adorned with shades of enchanting excellence. The individual in whom Hope was more powerful than Cautiousness, lived its the enjoyment of brilliant anticipations which were never realised while, on the other hand, he in whom Cautiousness was more powerful than Hope, lived tin der the painful apprehension of evils which seldom existed but in his own internal feelings. It was the province of the reflecting faculties to regulate both these sentiments duly. Daily experience must confirm to the most inattentive observer the existence of this sentiment ; some individuals passed their lives in what was fami liarly called building castles in the at. In these persons its exces sive activity would be invariably found to be accompanied with a considerable development of the organ. The next primitive feel ing the Professor noticed was that of Marvellousness, which pro duced surprise and astonishment, and disposed its possessor to be lieve in supernatural occurrences, and every kind of amazing event. In its religious application, this faculty cherished faith, and led to the belief of the immortality of the soul. Too great an endowment of it disposed the Individual to be credulous. The Professor was anxious to insist on the phrenological principle that the feelings were all blind, and therefore required to be enlightened in their direction by intellect, and cultivated in harmony with each other, since every one, by its isolated senor, produced disorder and abuse. tiveral instances of known persons were stated in illustra tion of this principle, and the casts of the heads exhibited. The organ of Ideality was next pointed out. This sentiment gave only a mantle: of feeling, and did not form ideas. It was discovered to be strongly developed in poets, though poetry was the result of various combinations of mental powers. This faculty produced the feeling of exquisiteness or perfectibility, and was delighted with what the French called le beau ideal. It infused inspiration into the poet. A primitive feeling was neces sary to give the poetical form to mental compcsitions; but it pro duced neither versification nor rhyme. It was observable by the excitation it bestowed on the other intellectual powers. The know ing and reflecting faculties perceived things as they existed in pa. tore, but this faculty desired for its gratification something more exquisitely perfect thatt the scenes of reality; it desired to elevate and endow with excellence every object presented to the mind ; it gave a manner of feeling and thinking befitting the regions of fancy more than the abodes of men. Only those on whom it was powerfully bestowed could possibly be poets, and hence the pro verb, " Poeta nascitur uon fit." In general this faculty induced those individuals who had the organ fully developed, to consider things and deeds as they ought to be, rather than as they were. There was great difference apparent as to the endowment of this faculty in different individuals. According to the degree of its energy and activity poetry would be relished and prized. Sonic persons eminent in all other respects for intellectual ability, were known to avow that they could perceive no excellence in poetical compoeitions, and could derive no gratification from them. This faculty gave a peculiar tinge to all the other fatuities. In common life those who possessed it were easily distinguishable; they spoke generally in an elevated strain of language,. and when animated, showed a splendor of eloquence and of poetical feeling which others were never able to ennimand. In conversation they dis played a fascinating sprightliness and buoyancy. When mani fested to excess, it was the cause rot upfrequently of many dis appointments to the individuals in whom the organ was thus developed. in this state it inspired extravagance and enthusiasm, and induced exaggeration of terms and violence of tone. The Professor, in conclusion. stated, that in his next lecture he should proceed to consider the knowing faculties—those which constituted the understanding or intellect. This would form the most inte resting part of the science they had yet passed through. TITHES IN LONDON. The Bill introduced into Parliament in behalf of the several parishes which have petitioned for relief, recites the Aet of the 37th of henry VIII., and the Decree which was to have been enrolled in Chancery in pursuance thereof ; and it states that the said Decree does not appear to have been so enrolled. It also recites the Act of the 22d and 2.3 d of Charles 11., which provides for the annual pay-'' ment of certain fixed stipends in such parishes as were destroyed by the Fire of London ; and it then proceeds—" And whereas, tithes, or a sum of money in lieu of tithes, are levied and paid with great inequality in the parishes not included in the last recited Act, and ' many disputes and suits at law and in equity have been produced thereby," &c. &e. The 13111 goes on to provide for the payment of' . fixed sums of money, to be paid in lieu of tithes within the several parishes. A separate Bill hss been introduced into Parliament for the parish of St. Olave, Hart -street, inasmuch as the right of presen tation to the living is vested in five inhabitants, in trust for the be nefit of the parishioners, and inasmuch as in this parish the Rev. Dr. Owen. the Rector, who receives a large stipend, may be considered as having received the living from the parishioners themselves. A further Bill is in progress for the parish of St. Botolph, Bishops gate, when the Lord Bishop of Chester, who is Itector, has given his assent to a mutual arrangement for that purpose. Various other parishes, which have not yet felt the weight of the claim of 2s. 9d. in the pound, have not thought it necessary for the present to appeal to Parliament. FRIGHTFUL SUICIDE. PLYMOUTH, APRIL 3. I am just returned from a Coroner's Inquest, which has been summoned on the body of a commercial traveller, ;lamed John Burberry, from the houses of Messrs. Mur dock and Venables, and Mr. Frankham, both of London ; and as I know you take deep interest in matters connected with commercial affairs. I hasten to give you, for the in formation of your readers, a brief outline of the tragic scene. From the evidence of a man named Venn, hostler at Murch's Hotel here, and which was corroborated by the chambermaid, it appears Mr. Burberry arrived there late on Friday evening from Madbury ; his general conduct up to Saturday afternoon, when he left the house for the last time, was unusual, and pourtrayed great mental anxiety. A man named Wood was on the Hoe on Saturday evening at eight o'clock, and saw a man standing on the brink of the rocks, near the Citadel, leaning on the rails ; he passed him, and went to the other end ; on his return the person was still there, but turned rout* and holding the rails on the inside ; he looked at him for a moment, when he heard a cry of " Oh !" and the man (since proved to be Mr. B.) fell backwarls, a distance of 56 feet, on rugged rocks. Wood got assistance, and the body was borne to the work house. Mr. Fuge, surgeon, went to the Hoe before the body was removed, and with great risk reached the frightful spot, when the deceased was found doubled up, with both legs and thighs broken, and his skull so horribly fractured as to be wholly emptied of the brain. In his pocket were found letters, evidently written in contemplation of the fatal act. The most important letter was one to his wife, at Wells, written from ,liadbury the Friday evening, by which it appeared that he had neglected his duty, and spent about look of his employers money. Preparatory ti his death, in a trembling hand, he wrote a certificate of his wife's good conduct, and declaring the cause of his destruction to be irregular halrits and pecuniary difficulties, " which had caul-d his blood to fever ;" and he added, that " his nerve was too weak to survive the effects." Seve ral other circumstances were adduced, which clearly esta blished the perturbed state of his mind. The Coroner, It. J. Squire, Esq. in summing up, was fully persuaded of the wretched man's mind having been temporarily deranged, in which opinion the Jury agreed, and returned a verdict accordingly. Mr. John Green, Mr. Henry Robinson, and Mr. Joseph Mason, all commercial gentlemen, were present, and took deep interest in the inquest; and for the comfort of his relatives in town, I can assure you these gentlemen have resolved to be at the expense of a decent interment. The Coroner has the custody of Mr. B.'s property. Sir Godfrey Webster has already commenced an active cl•cthmeerieg campaign for the county of &Amex. . ris . ~1 __ itself has lately observed towards the Consul General of Rumble • Ayers in London. would have authorised the Executive te Mai -1 hold the expo fur even had the Commissions of the Consuls been addressed to the Republic and Government of Colombia. Since thit occurrence, nothing has transpired in furtherance of tl.e recognition of our independence. The Government of big Britannic 31ajesty makes this event to depend on circumstances peculiar in the interests of Great Britain, and on the nature of the information it may receive front its respective COTOMiSAiOnM•• But if the Government of his Britannic Majesty be guided by the feeling of th e E ng li s h nat i on, and that the information petit rexpecting the state of Colombia, be dictated by justice and im partiality, we may presume that this Important decitiun on the part of the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, is at hand. • The commissiooof the King of the Low Countries has had We same issue. M. Quartell arrived in this capital with powers from the Governor and Rear-Admiral of the Island of Cliraqoa, issued in virtue of positive orders from his Government. The Commis. sooner gave us assurances of the favourable sentiment. of the King of Holland towards the Republic of Coltienhis, and of his desire to establish and cultivate such relations of friendship and commerce ILI might be useful to both patties. The Executive accepted these de monstrations with gratitude, and, in like Manner, gave assurance : of the same sentiments towards the Kingdom of the Low Countries The Commissioner required the e.requatur for the Consular com missions issued by the Go:Tenor and Rear. Admiral of Curaqoa, which the Executive denied, on the plea that the nrmination to these offices rests with the Government from whence they proceed, and rot with its subordinate authorities. But as it was necessary to give the Dutch Government a proof of the sincerity of our pro testations of friendship, I permitted the penises appointed to these Consulships to exercise the office of Commercial &gems, the same as if this informality had not been obxerved. The Executive hat sought, by these moots, to reconcile the re spect due to the rights of nations, and its own dignity and honour, with that friendship and harmony which we ewe to friendly nations who seek an understanding with us, on behalf of oar people, and of universal peace. The superior authority of Hayti has also accredited to the Go vernment of Colombia a public agent, who proposed to celebrate - and conclude a treaty of defensive allianee with us, egatnet all vaders of either ternteries. The laneusge of liberty . displayed in • the propositions of this agent, end th e private services which the Liberator and President received from the humane and sensible petition. at a calamitous moment, did not blind the Executive to the conduct it had to observe in this most delicate negociation. Hayti had defended its independence against the pretensions of France, of which it formed part, as Colombia now defends here against those of Spain. A defensive league with Hayti would have subjected us to a war with a nation against whom we have no com plaint, and whom we ought not to provoke to hostilities. The in terest of the Republic consists in diminishing the number of it, enemies, whilst the proposed treaty would have increased them, and have taken place precisely under circumstances ohen the Spa nish Government is making every effort to compromise France in the war with America. Never can the interests of Hayti and Colombia be identified with respect to their ancient metropolises. A sympathy, indeed, prevails in this particular between Colombia and those States of America which formerly depended on Spain. and it is on this account that the Government of the Republic has promoted and concluded a Confederation among the new American States. The treaties existing between these and ourselves, prevent us, by their very nature, from entering into alliances with countries - which have not belonged to the Spanish nation, and a defeaxive alliance with Hayti, would arouse a new enemy against our allies without their knowledge or consent. You know. Gentlemen, that the eastern part of the island of Saint Domingo belonged to France. in virtue of the treaty of Batilea, and that it was afterwards re stored to Spain by the treaty of Paris; that in the year 1822 the inhabitants of the city of Saint Domingo proclaimed their inde. pendence ; that in the last days of their political existence they raised the Colombi-n standard ; and that the Chief of Hayti has reduced this territory to his dominion, for reasons that are not ac curately known, although its fundamental law is urged as a pretext. It does riot seem that the conduct of the President of Hayti ought to draw on him the enmity of Spain, which is the only nation with which we are at war ; because, when the authorities of Hayti occupied that part of the island, which was formerly Spanish. they did not take possession of a Spanish territory, but of an Independ ent country, which had manifested a with to place itself under the protection of Colombia. All these considerations have induced the Executive to refer the proposition of the Haytian agent to the united assembly of the Plenipotentiaries of the American Govern. ments. France, and our allies, will observe in this upright pro ceeding, the principles and good policy of the Colombian Govern merit ; the former, especially, must perceive that we act with sin cerity and good intentions in the steps we have eaten to incline bia Most Christian Majesty in favour of the Republic, and that we do not attribute to the Preach Government the suspicious and treacherous conduct displayed by them persons who arrived here in the frigate Term, and whose voyage mems to hare had for its object, a visit to the country merely to pry into the state of our affairs. ThetrangtfilTify enjoyed by We Republic bats enabled t tie Cu. entice to make arrangements for the extension of the new method of instruction in the first rudiments of learning, for increasing the number of scholars, establishing new professorships, and reforming some colleges which still languished under the antient colonbil system of edneation, and the horrors of the war. The progress of public ethatadon must necessarily be slew, whilst the funds of the colleges continue so small as they are at present ; and perhaps we might mistrust the benefit of the establishments that have beets founded, did we not observe the youth of the country eager to learn, and the teachers devoting themselves to public instruction. without other incentive than their own seal, and respect for their characters. I hope that in the course of this Session, time will be found for digesting a general plan of study, the want of which is every day more sensibly felt. The project of laws for the political and judicial administration of departments, which were laid before the Executive at the close of the last Session, will be returned to you, with such objections thereto as seem to me expedient. I will not assert that such ob. jec'ions will render these important laws perfect, but your intelli gence, and the time that will be afforded you for their deliberate diteustion, inspire me with a confidence that your labours will make them so, and that their utility . will be acknowledged through out the Republic. The Executive is persuaded that these two laws . will correct the errors which exist in the government of depart. metes, and will partially ice re the administration of justice, by' - making it a positive and substantial blessing to the people, who - complain with much remise of the extensive jurisdiction em. • braced by the only three tribunals of eppeal which we possess, and . of the circumscribed power of the Municipalities. But that this bleeping may be rendered complete, it is absolutely necettery to issue a law respecting the revenues of corporation lands, since . the health, convenience, and ornament of our towns, the state of : the roads, and the facilities of communication, require certain, funds, without which, the Municipalities will be mere cyphers is the State. I may state to you, that in general no unfavourable change has occurred in the progress and regularity of the constitutional regime. The authorities duly respec t . our institutions more and more ; and the citizens enjoy the free privilege of demanding the fulfilment of the laws. It would indeed be aplierioreenor. in polities if an infant, society like ours could arrive at its height of prosperity without ob stacle and slight oscillations. Colombia has still to emperience the effects of the wanderings of ignorance, and the incessant intrigues of our enemies ; although it is true that neither can impede her ad vance to that point at which she must one day anise. The dis turbances in Paste.. which, from the nature of the country, and the character of the people, threatened to be of long duration, have subsided ; and the Government has visited them with as much in.' dulgence as was compatible with public security. That activity and vigilant? which suffocated this germ of disunion will do the same on all occasions where deluded persons suffer themselves to be seduced into the commission of disorders. The people desire to live in peace under protection of the laws, and whilst they them ? selves take charge of the public tranquillity, and support our toad- • tntione, the Republic will enjoy internal quiet, and the standing army will have fewer duties to discharge. Our internal commerce requires sonic regulations, in order to sup. press the abuses committed by our sailors, and to protect naviga tion ; and our commerce, carried on with the coasts inhabited hr wandering tribes, reqUired some special laws, In order to spare the Executive those embarrassments which it has experienced in this particular of late years. I require from Congress a law denyizi: letters of citizenship to individuals of any nation with whom tlsr Republic may be at war. This is a law to be found in the node of a nation that may he truly called free, and any denstration of its necessity appears to me superfluous. The exhaustion of the national treasury will continue to be sensibly felt whilst the payment of arrears falls on the annual revenue, and the system continues to prevail of not fixing the public expenses, and providing correspondent funds for media. them. To these causes of fiscal embarrassment may be added u; present the necessity we have been under of increasing the standing army, wills a view of opposing a vigorous resistance to the hostile undertakings of Spain. I cannot give you an accurate idea of ths improv-irent that has been made in the treasury department, iu virtue of the laws issued in the last Session, (lying to the shore period that has elapsed since their publication. The Executive bus given that tone and impulse that were so essentially wanted in -be general administration. The Custom-houses and Tressnriee of De partments, always consulting however the strictest ectinorny. hope that in the course of the present legislature you will digest 4 systematic arrangement of the titbe.rents, a reform in the law cf direct contribution, and seeh other objects as the Executive paint out to you in virtue of the privilege it derives from the Con. stuntion to that eke;. The cartons and ur.plentant questions that were agitated 'evad ing the loan of Match. lent. have been set at rrit in a manner amisfacterry to the parties, and honourable to the Republic. F 7 this purpose the Executive had recourse to the pewits grantel by yen. in the itet of the lit of Joh , . Lel and the result 044 be in due time latil before von. The Congress must be highly gratified in keening that our conduct in this transaction has met with the general approbation of those respeaabte prisons in fortie7, countries. wbo were best ably to taKtreciate the ditilculttes whi. A enTeillpfd 7/. I shall likewise give re«, s, most circuirstantial account of !''t mode and the terms on which the loan decreed on tie :10 h of Jut i t of last rear, has host raised. To those who are acyaliated the histories of other nation?. the conditions of this loan hare tr. pesred highly favourable. The Executive has observed that its agent, have confined themselves to the instructions they receive# on leaving the capital: their op er a tions ha v e been conducted. under the rye and direction of thel;elombiati Minister in Undo:. and the con-civet of this public function :Iry has eatained the ap plause of all who have obletved him narrowly. It has bete a source of great saiisfachos to the E`ceeutive. that the new loaf was not Der - via:Ed until tbeitsesisol of the cl,l oce had ben sat 4. 111, 11 ti ~, x /~. COLOMBIA. BOGOTA.-CONGRESS. MESSAGE Or TILE VICE-PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA. IN FiRAROE OF THE GOVERNMENT, TO THE CONGRESS OF Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and Chamber of Represen. tatives, This is the precise day appointed by our Constitution fur the asse-nbly of the Representatives of the Republic, In order that they mai exert themselves for the happiness and prosperity of their constituents. If, in the two former Sessions, Congress as. trembled at s later period than is provided for by the Constitution, owing to causes which are inherent in infant societies (although the enemies of the Republic have affected to overlook them), the present Assembly will convince them, that with the progress of time, we approach nearer to the exact observance of Constitutional principles.. - I must congratulate Colombia and yourselves on an event which gives stability to the political system, and hopes of the most happy results from the present Session. It is with the greatest pleasure that the Executive is about to fulfil its duty, and contribute to this favourable issue, by giving you an accuratz idea of the state of tire affairs of the Republic, in the various branches of its administration. The Government of his Catholic .Majesty, far from abandoning its former pretensions to the sovereignty of these countries, as justice, experience, and the ruin of the Spanish nation would counsel, still labours to advance its hostile views, without afford ing the slightest hope of reconciliation. The Executive has reason to think that the Cabinet of Madrid is well aware of a con ciliatory disposition on our part, and of our desire to terminate a war, which, during fifteen years, has involved both nations in so many evils. The earnestness, however, with which the Executive has sought pence with Spain, on the basis of imlependence, has not caused its vigilance to slumber. Congress may be assured that cur means of defence are at the present moment abundant, and that any enterprise on the part of Spain against the Republic will only serve to add lustre to our arms, and tre increase the humiliations of Spain. Our relations with the American Governments subsist on a foot ing of friendship and good understanding, becoming States sus taining a common cause. The services and supplies which we have rendered to Peru, have so materially altered the situation of that country, that no doubt can exist of its acquiring liberty and inde pendence. The Liberator and President of Colombia has displayed on this occasion, even more than on former ones, those virtnts which are peculiar to illustrious men, and to which the Colombian Republic owes its existence. Surrounded with difficulties almost insurmountable; obliged to contend with enemies who, to numeri , cal superiority, united the confidence inspired by victory; fettered by disasters brought on by rashness, weakness, and perfidy ; doubt ful of receiving in time the fresh succours which the Congress had so promptly decreed ; the Liberator has triumphed over all these obstacles, and, aided by the patriotism of those Peruvians who re. mained faithful to their duty, and by the valour of the united army, Issas liberated an important part of the vast territory previously pos. sowed by the Spanish troops, after inflicting on them a severe hum). !iation in Junin. The Executive has every hope that the auxi liaries which left Panama for Peru in Ottober, have arrived at an opportune moment, and that, by extending the scene of operations, they will consolidate the advantages already gained, accelerate the day of Peruvian liberty, and irrevocably fix the destiny of South I America. This new glee) , was reserved for Colombia. and for you the satisfaction of having contributed thereto Sy all the means in your power, and more especially, by having permitted the Lib era t or to leave the territories of the Republic. In conformity with the re solution of the Legislature, I have not ratified the Convention re specting territorial limits entered into between Colombia and Peru. Notwithstanding the importance of this measure, the Executive has abstained from renewing the negotiations , under an impres s i on th at we ought to give an example of good faith and generosity, by sus pending all discussion thereon, whilst the Peruvian Republic be occupied by the troops of Colombia. The Republic of lilexico has just given a terrible lesson to usur pers of the rights of the peonle. Owing lturbide violated the law which banished him, and landed on the Mexican territory under circumstances which alarmed the Government. He was de. dared a traitor deserving death by act of Congress, and the penalty was inflicted without opposition. It seems evident that the Mexican Government has, by this measure, made an import. ant stride towards statility and prosperity. Recent intelligence from that part of America states, that the most energetic and ec. traordinary measures are taken to defend its independence against the views of Spain, and to compel those towns that disregard the pact of union, to return to their duty. The provinces of Guatemala continue to pteeerve unmolested I the sovereignty into which they spontaneously elected themselves. An accredited Minister from that Government to the Republic, is now residing in our capital. A favourable opportunity, therefore, presents itself of settling points of great interest. The establish ment of limits between Colombia and Guatemala is imperiously called for, in consequence of certain foreigners pretending to a right to the coast of Mosquito, and inasmuch as the interior boon. dary line between the countries is not ascertained. The Eireeu. tire, in strict compliance with the law of the 12th of July, of the year 1821, has declared that that part of the Atlantic coast which extends horn Cape Gracios a Dim to the river Chaves, belongs to the Republic, and that all colonization made therein without the sanction of the Government and laws of Colombia, is null and void. I submit this decree to your judgment, as well as the ar. . guments I have adduced in defence of the integrity of the territory of the Republic and its rights, and in order to frustrrte the views of our enemies._ The agitated state of the Brazilian empire has not yet enabled us to form relations of friendship and good understanding with that Government, with which we have likewise to arrange questions regarding territorial limit.. Ire are muted of the good dispo. ninon of the Emperor towards Colombia • and, on our part, we have avoided all cause of complaint and dissension. When the moment shall arrive for negotiating with the Brazilian Goveniment, the Executive will not fail to observe that frankness and good faith which form the basis of its principles, by conforming to the list territorial treaty made between Spain and Portugal, in Madrid, in 1777• 'ti'i;h the United States we maintain the most friendly and cordial relations. The treaty of peace, friendship. navigation, and commerce, celebrated by the Executive with those States, through the medium of duly authorised Plenipotentiaries, will be forthwith laid before you. The principles we have therein adopted are so commendable in their nature as to render all eulogium superfluous. Never has the Government of Colombia appeared more attached to that spirit of civilization and humanity which ought to din tinguish the Governments of free people, than in this treaty. Co lombia will have the laudable pride of having been the first among the States of ancient Spanish America, to appear before the world united by public treati, a with the most favoured nation of liberty. You will also examine the convention entered into with these States, for the purpose of putting an end to the horrible traffic in negroes of Africa. Our laws have already forbidden this execrable traffic, and the Executive has formed its conduct on their basis. The law of the 21st of July, of the year 11, has forbidden the introduction of slaves; and the provisional cruising ordinances condemn as lawful prizes all vessels trading in African negroes, that may be captured in the waters within the jurisdiction of the ' Republic. But no penalty being awarded for the violation of this law, and it being a justice due to the human race to modify our cruising laws. the Executive thinks that these objects have been obtained by our convention with the United States. To convey a c rrect idea of our relations with Europe, I deem it incumbent on me to deal frankly, by entering on a detail which will give you this information, and at the same time demonstrate to the world the political principles of the Government of Co lombia. The Commissioners of his Britannic Alajesty, in this capital, requested that the Executive would issue the e.requatur necessary for the recognition of the Consult" sent by the King to some of our ports. As no commissions accompanied this appli cation, as is usual and customary, the Executive was under the painful necessity of deferring the (repeats , , until these commis- Rion' should be duly presented by the several parties, relying on their being framed in the terms usual among nations. As soon as the person on whom the title of Consul-General had been confer red arrived in this capital, lie presented his commission, assuring the Executive at the same time that the commissions of the Consuls of La Gusyra, Maracaibo, Carthagena, and Panama, were coo calved in the same terms. The commission makes mention of the Province: of Colombia. Instead of the Republic of Colombia, by which latter title it was determined by our thralamenuil law that this country should be known since the year IC19; and the Consuls are therein accredited to the Authorities that might happen to be et- , lablirhed, instead of being accredited to the Lxetutive Power, or President of the Republic. as they ought to have been, agreeably to the principles of public right. to oar Constitution, and to the conduct observed by the United States. The Executive corm dered these errors as a necessary consequence of that state of ambiguity and practical difficultly' in which the English Go. ver:tment found itself placed in treating of the recognition of the Independence of Colombia. as was stated to Parliament by the Miniver!' of his Britannic Majesty's Government ; for, in reality, it would have been a manifest contradiction, to have accredited Consuls to the ports of Colombia in the usual terms, and as the rights of rations demand, without recognizing the independence and existence of the Government from which it sought the admission of these racers. The Executive d'M not hesitate in adopting the line of conduct most comfortable with the dignity of the Republic, and serviceable to the interests of the British nation. Pk:cetl in the painthl situation of deceiving the Republic, by illegally recognising, as daly accredited Consuls, 'lemma who did not conic recommended to the Government of Colombia. and who did not appear destined fur the ports of the Republic. I did not hesitate to refuse the mequotar to their nominations, and caused to be explained to the Commissioners of his Britannic Ma jesty the pouarful motives I had for adopting this resolution. assuring them. at the same time; that in order to give fresh proot of friendship and good rill towards the British Government and people, 1 would }ninth the persons appointed to these Consul. ships to protect the commerce and interest* of English subjects in the capacity of Agents for the protection of sailor* end commerce. The Commissioners accepted these term, with pleasure, without refuting the strong arguments on which my of the e.requotar was grounded. i f the Congress will call to mied, that in my former Message, I pledged myself that, in the cecrae cf the rte. gotiation about to be opened with the Commissioners of his Britannic Majesty, I would not lose sight of the dignity of the Government, and the Lnterests of the Colombian people; it will perceive by the present statement, that I have strictly redeemed my pledge. Public' right. does not recognise the admission of Omuta as a bounden duty front one nation to another. The obligation so to admit them, arises solely from treaties or con - Ten:lons celebrated between the parties, or from a state of peace and 'friendship between nations, whom Independence it recirtrer eaLl; admitted. This priviple, wageb the English °unitising 1, ~~- - "t - I r 1~~ v .