The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-10-20 00:00:00

COLOMBIAN LOAN.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRITISH PRESS.
St a—The observations made in the Courier of last even-
ing respecting the state of Colombia, and its inability to
pay the dividend due to this country, have naturally caused
great sensation ; ani as they require some further informa-
tion and explanation, in order that the public may not be
deceived, I take the liberty of putting a few questions to
the author of the said article, or to Dr. Foley himself:—
First, Can he show a power vested in him to raise the Loan spokes
of ? and if he can, by whom is this power given ?
Secondly, Was the money alluded to as having been sent down to
Carthagena, given under his particular charge, and the authority
for its disposal vested in him ? or did he merely take his passage in
the same champan which conveyed it?
Thirdly, Does he know from olficialautbority that the money was
to be detained for the payment of the troops, or to be remitted to
this e,untry ?
I am led to put these quettions, simple as they may tip.
pear, for several reasons:—
First, Because it appears to me that the article in question gives
Dr. Foley a consequence in the secrets of the affairs of the GOVIaI.
ment of Colombia which some persons doubt.
Secondly, If he really has the power to raise a Loan, and wishes
that the public should fairly know the fact, ought he not to give
more information thereon 1 for it appears strange that in the aicetu
de Colombia of the 2d July ft is officially amounted that Senor
Santos 3lichelena is appointed Consul General to England, and was
invested with full powers to arrange the financial concerns of hie
Government with their creditors in this country," and which ap-
pointment has been made known to the BMW' public.
Thirdly, It appears no lees curious that Dr. Foley could be emu
powered, when the Vice President and his Ministers can have no
authority to grant such power, unless it it first deemed by the
House of Representatives, and confirmed by the Senate, as was the
case in previous Loans.
Fourthly, Unless he was intrusted with the disposal of the mss.
ney alluded to. how can he undertake to assert that it will not be
sent to this country ? Coupltng these circumstances with the evia
dent intention of the article in question, it appears to me tube no.
thing more not less than a stock jobbing trick, to serve particular
parties ; or that Dr. Foley's name has been improperly mule ttttw
of. It is also very singular that the very man who It is eta
is sent to this country to borrow money for the Government shoull
be the one to say, "Do not lend more, for you never will be • "
But this, of mune, must be palliated (or the cloven feet
discovered), and therefore Dr. Foley, as an honpurabbl mkb,
not deceive his couutrymen—certainly very honourable and pasiss:"
worthy! Bat suppose, Sir, that It should so turn out that Dr. Foley-
has no such power—that Dr. Foley has no authority for stating
that the money will not be forthcoming—that Dr. Foley is dist:
pleased with the Government—where then will remain the Aitinda-,
tint for the article in question, or the honour of the parties whe
caused its insertion ? for there are Enan_y who do trot believe slat
the statement was presented by the Doctor to the Editor of the-
Coarier. As, however, Dr. Foley's name has been made public,
it becomes public property, in as tar as regards the subjects Waded
te, until it is by him confirmed or contradicted.
' I will, therefore, take the liberty of raking bbn the fol•
lowing additional questions :
First, When he quitted Carthagena for Bogota some time hal
year, for the purpose of making good his claims, did he am:coatis°
the extent of his wishes ?
Secondly, When he quitted Bogota for this country, wee he upon-.
terms of perfeescordialtrty with the Executive ?
the nTich. ooe snuee sr ird additional
cannotwquestions
help
appearance t lady: kb ei
ngc tonhfs jar
ad nt
tthheele r ui nnt iP sa
am-
monioua nature, than the production of a man who has
been hennaed with powers to act for a government in
matters of so much consequence; nor Ins strange that
such Government would grant a power for financial *ix.
rations ro a Medidal man and a soldier,
_when they hod co •
recently appointed ono of the mentheB.M' their own Con-
gress, fully competent, by. commerittal knowledge, to regu-
late all such matters, and when their acciedited Minister
in this country has received despatchei, announcing that
fact, of a subsequent date to Dr. Foley's admitted departure
from Bogota. .
If these questions are not satisfactorily answered, the
p)tblic will naturally draw their own conclusions u to the
intent of the article in the Courier.