The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-08-14 00:00:00

MARRIAGE VOW

The matrimonial ceremony, like many others, has nn-
dergone some variation in the progress of time. Upwards!
of three centuries ago, the husband, on taking his wife, as
now, by the right hand, thus addressed her:—" I N. an-
dersygne the N. fur my wedded wyfe, for peter, for worse,
for richer, for porcr, yn sekrusc, and in helthe, tyl dethe us
departe, (not " do part," as we have erroneously rendered
it, the ancient meaning of " di par to," even in Wickliffe's
time, being " separate") 's holy diuretic bath ordeynetl,
and thereto I plygth the my trowthe: The wife replies
in the same form, with an additional clause," to he buxom
to the, tyl dethe us depute." So it appears in the first edi-
tion of the " Missals for the use of the famous and cele-
brated Church of Ilereford, 1502," fol. In what is called
the Salisbury ilfissal, the lady pronounced a more general 1
obedience, " to be bonere • and buxom in hedtle and at the
horde." Edit. Wayland, 1531. Sto.—Dibtiitt's Bibliogra-
phical Drcanteron.
• Bonair, French, whence our English " debonair," which
sometimes means genteel, but at others cheerful, agreeable, good-
tempered t "Buxom, blythe, and debonair:.

RECEPTION OF MR. BENDERSON AT BOGOTA.

(EXTRACT FROM A PRIVATE LETTER.)
On the 30th of March, Mr. Henderson, his Britannic Majesty's
Consul.Gencral, arrived at Bogota. He was met on the road,
about eight miles from the coital, by his Britannic Majesty's
Commissioners, and many distinguished persons of Bogota.
On the Ist of April he had an interview with Senor Gual, Mi-
nister for Foreign Aftiiirs, at the Secretary's country house, who
expressed much witisficeion at the arrival of a gentleman in a pub-
lic capacity, who had taken such a warm interest in the welfare of
Colombia.
Mr. Secretary final returned the visit of the Consul-General nit
the 3d, and appointed the Stit to introduce him to the Vice-Presi.
dent.
On Monday, the sth of April, at 11 o'clock in the morning, the
Foreign Secretary introduced Mr. Henderson to the Vice-Presi-
dent, in the Audience Chamber, who, on being presented to his
' Excellency, delivered Cie following observations :
" Mr. Persitiexr,—llaying invariably advocated the cause of
South American independence, my pleasure is thereby enhanced
on this important occasion, of presenting to your Excellency my
commission as Consul-General from his Britannic Majesty, to the
Colombian Government.
" Your Excellency, and your worthy compatriots will regard it
NB
an additional earnest. if any were wanting. of the noble senti.
menu with which that illustrious Monarch has ever been actuated
in favour of the happily rising liberties of the world.
" Colombia has pre-emiecntly distinguished herself by the adop-
tion of a Constitution, in every respect calculated to render her
citizens perfectly happy; for it opens to them, in the plenitude of
freedom, the glorious pursuits of education, agriculture, and coin.
meree, as well as the full expression of their opinions in all the
political concerns of their country. Such a Constitution having
been the object of the virtuous exertions, and valorous constancy
of the Sons of Colombia, there is not, I may safely aver, an lade.
ridual in the British empire, from its Prince to the peasant, whose
feelings are not in accordance with the heartfelt wishes which 1
have now the honour of terming to your Excellency, for the
happiness of a peeple deservedly living under such liberal ir.stitu.
tions. Your Excellency, and every Colombian, will discover the
testimony of the sincerity of those wishes, in the ample and full
freedom which England possesses, and that her enjoyment is con-
sequently augmented by any portion of her fellow-men arriving at
the same state of political felicity.
"Colombia now presents, Mr. President, the imposing spectacle
of commencing her first friendship with two powerful nations.
amongst the freest in tile world, brothers by nature, by blood, and
language, and I cannot refrain from manifesting to your Excel-
lency die ardent sentiments of my heart, not only for the growth
and permanency of that friendship, but that the name of Colombia
tray lung continue to resound honourably through the world as are
wont to do those of all freemen.
" The patriotic feeling of Colombia has been recently aroused
afresh, from an idea that she would soon have to resist the united
efforts of France and Spain against her well earned liberty, but
the answer given by the British Government on the 221 of No.
vember last, to my friend, the Secretary of the Ship Owner's So-
ciety, that there was not the slightest pretence for imputing any
such design to the French Government. aftwds the consolatory
assurance, that the present tranquillity cf Colombia will experis
ence no interruption from France.
" Presenting myself to your Excellency, as I now do, in the
character of a protector of commerce, arid having long arrived at
the full conviction, that freedom of trade, with the reutoval of all
obstacles to its natural and vigorous course, are the only true mane
of rendering a nation illustrious and powerful, I am peculiarly
fortunate In being placed near a Government whose manifestatiom
of the truth of those principles are happily conspicuous in the very
incipiency of Colombian commerce.
" The political change of circumstances and the prodigious na-
tural capabilities of this great country, have Icing been one of the
objects of my research, and I have lately traversed an intenoting
portion of it ; it is difficult, indeed, to imagine a picture so spin-
did as it will exhibit, when its productive powers are brought into
operation, and I beg earnestly to assure your Excellency, I
that all
my efforts will be ur.rernittingly employed to render the commercial
intercourse of Colombia and Great Britain mutually beneficial,
and that the arrival at such a magnificent state of general cultiva.
don may he thereby, in some degree, accelerated. It will surely
be quite superfluous to state to your Excellency, that the genuine
sentiments of the British empire, in opening relations with the
new States of the world, ere of the most elevated and disinterested
kind. For I may venture to say. that the generous feelings of the
King of England, the liberal views of Mr. Canning, so justly
appreciated in this capital, and similar views on the part of craw
Member of the Brinell Goverment, constitute an impregnable
bulwark between despotism and true freedom ; and in countemne.
ing, by a friendly connexion, the infantine liberated nations of the
resent day, they are illustrious instrument* of the Divine Purpose,
for it is the will of God that man shall be free ! ! !
" I cannot conclude, Mr. President, without expressing my
personal veneration and respect for the exalted President of this
Republic, and my admiration of the talents of your Excellency,
nil the other distinguished Members of the Colombian Govern.
ment."
Ills Excellency answered by asserlag Mr. Henderson of the
Fiessute which he felt in seeing an old friend of Colombia In this
I capital. ir vested with a distinguished appointment by the Govern-
ment of his Britannic Majesty. Yon mill already know. said his'
Excellency, that the Excretive has recn misted you as a Member of
the Commission of his Britannic Alaj:aty. Tho Commission of
Consul-General, which vou bars now put into my bards, will I
be emitted to the ogee of the Secretary for Fortig:! Affairs, with '
the corresponding resolution. In the mean time, Mr. Henderson
you will believe that there no nation in the universe whose disl
positions are so favourable towards threat Britain, as those of the
Republic CU: mibia : the natural order of things calls on both
nations to cultivate amicable relations, because the tins is eminently
industrious, and the other contains within its precincts, all the eta
merits of agricultural prosperity. I therefore wish that your real.
deice amongst the Colombians may be infinitely agreeable and
hai'Pl•

The Lords of the Treasury have given Stool. towards the
erection of a Welch Church in liverpcol.