The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-02-06 00:00:00

the wisest policy the Spufish Ministry could pursue ; in
fact, no other resource is now left them. Colombia,
Mexico, Chili, Pent, and the La Plata, are, to all in-
tents and purposes, completely independent ; the very
wildest dream of the imagination could not fancy that any
effort by Spain would be successful in restoring her lost
supremacy. The terms on which she would make the con-
cession of freedom would probably be the payment of a large
sum by the five colonies into her exhausted treasury. The
sacrifice by them would be a wise and prudent one ; for
the acknowledgment of their independence by Spain would
be followed by that of every other Power in Europe.
The question of their virtual independence, it is true,
an no longer be disputed ; but this recognition wculd
set it at rest for ever, and insure their domestic peace
and prosperity : considerable benefits would also ac-
crue to Spain herself; her commercial Intercourse from
Cadiz, and other ports, once so great, would again re-
vive, and be met with favour and protection in the New.
World. She could not exercise that despotic monopoly
which for so many centuries fettered the trade and re-
sources of these fine provinces; but the industry of her
merchants would meet more than a eatrespondiug return
for any exertions they might make; and Spain, In a free
and unrestricted trade with her emancipated Colonies,
might receive again a portion of the unbounded wealth of
Mexico and Peru. No expedition that wretched country
could despatch from her shores could now 'possibly make
any impression in those regions. She might protract
for a while the lingering contest round Cape Horn, and
enable the remnant of her followers to hold a solitary for-
tress on those distant shores, but her dominion in the
New World is for ever gone ; any effort she can now
make is rift!), the last flaring of the candle before it sinks in
darkness in its socket for ever : she may much better, there-
fore, resign the hopeless effort at once. We are persuaded,
however; that but for the determination of our Cabinet,
and the declaration of /traffics, Spain would have been
aided by the Continental Powers in one despairing effort
for dominion, end that a . powerful armament would
before now have sailed fram her ports and those of
France, against Mexico or Colombia. But the menace
of an American and British fleet has paralysed that
resolution, and negociation is the only weapon left in
the feeble hands of the Spanish Cabinet; a few mouths, I
therefore, will probably witness the reluctant acknow-
ledgment of independence in the Colonies, and the sceptre
of Spain be for ever broken in her bands. The effect pro-
duced by the appointment of Consuls for this country to
those provinces has been already of the most favourable
description. Different commercial houses in Jamaica were
preparing to establish branches in Colombia, with which the
intercourse was always very great; and the British trade
through the Atlantic ports of that one great republic alone,
was expected soon to reach to the enormous amount of five,
millions sterling. With such prospects now within reitek!
what may not be expected when this splendid portion et.
the New World settles down into permanent tranqailiki;
and all the unbounded sources of its wealth and rodeo.
tiveness are unlocked and in full motion? Admiral Sir'''.
L. Halsted and family, and his Majesty's Contrairdooseo,
the Consuls-General, and some of the Consuls for Colombia,

were entertained at Barbados by Mr. Cavan, of that Island,
during their stay of one day : their arrival in the New
Wield bed produced confidence andipstimal activity. The
commerce of this great country rosy tans, in prospect, be'
said to be unlimited ; vast as it Is at present, no bounds
can be assigned to its future extension. The Eastern and
Western Worlds are both flung open to us, and the sails
of our merchants crowd every sea. It is now we are
beginning to feel the unexampled blessings of repose, and
to recover from the effects of those mighty efforts that
shook all Europe, and extended our name and glory
through every part of the habitable world. May those,
blessings, and that tranquillity for which we paid so great
a price, long endure ! It is the int•nest of other nations,
as well as ours, that the ravages of war should cease, and
social arts and industry take, in their turn, their peaceful
triumph.

Last night there was no debate. The Lords were not
summoned ; and, in the Commons, there were not, at half-
past
four o'clock (the usual hour of business), members
sufficient to constitute a House. This is the policy of
Ministers : occupied at their offices in important business
during the day, they are naturally anxious to escape the
fatigue and anxiety of protracted discussion in the Com-
mons' House at night, when the war of words can be!
avoided; and if the Opposition Benches are not fuller than
Brookes's, Mr. Holmes, who is the recruiting-sergeant of
the Treasury, and sometimes called the whipper-in, will 11
nut sulfa a House to be made. This is the system by
which things are managed at Westminster. In fact, it is
next to impossible to make a full llouse, except on a night
when a trial of strength takes place between both parties.,
We have seen Lord Edenborough discussing the Marriage
Act, in the House of Lords, last Session, to an audience,'
within the Bar, of five Peers—two of them spiritual, and
the other two temporal—who were half asleep, while the
Chancellor almost nodded on the woolsack. In the same
way the most important questions of finance and legis-