The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-04-05 00:00:00

The Republic is now in the fifteenth year of its independence. Its
entire territory is free trop: the presence of any foreig:k force or au-
thority ; British Consuls reside at the capital, and at the principal
ports ; and a Treaty of Commerce is now in progress between the
Republic and the British Government.
The Government of Colombia Is desirous of promoting the emi-
gration to it. territory of useful persons, capable of drawing forth
the natural resources of the country. A lair of Congress was passed
on the 11th of June, 1823, inventing the Geverumeett with au-
thority to dispose of lands. and grant privileges for this purpose.
Under the sanction of this law, two grants have been made, of ape-
calk quantities of land, in different districts of Colombia, of which
! this Association has become possessed, amounting to up/aria of a
million of English acres. 1 en-thirds of this quantity have been
retied free, and the remainder at a price litde more than nominal.
These grant% (one or other of them) contain the following pri-
vileges in favour of all settlers who may proceed to occupy these
lands, :

Exemption, during ten years, from military service, except re-
quired for local defence.
Exemption from duties of all clothing imported for the use of
the settlers. (Agricultural implements are by law exempt from
duty.)
Exemption, in one grant for Pia years. and in the other for ten
years, from direct contributions and ecclesiastical tithes.
Exemptions from export duties of the produce raised by the set-
tlers for six years.
Settlers rot to be in any way molested on account of their reli.
giotts belief •
For the purpose of bringing these lands into a productive state,
and rendetim them of value to the Association, it will proceed to
take measures for establishing settlers thereon. It will dispose of
the lands in small quantities, either at a fixed price or at an annual
.em, to agricultunsts who may be disposed to occupy them, afford-
ing to such persons the following advantages, viz. :
' The providing for them in the most economical manners passage
to Colombia—appointing agents to receive IMO there on their land-
ing, to furnish them with all necess • a% to their pro-
ceedings. and to conduct them to the place . lottation—losur-
mllZ
ing an adequate supply of provision? fort " les—cnd, in cases
1 where it may be necessary. makirneosuish IIiiIVIUMS of money as
may be deemed prudent. As security for the repayment of these
ad :anent, together with interest thereon, the Association will hold
the title deeds of the land, with a right of lien on the stock and
grorriog crops, until the amount thereof, together with the pur-
chase-money of the land, se arrears of rent (as Moose nosy require);
j shall be paid off:
Competent persons are at present engaged in Colombia in se-
lecting and measuring off the lands, and several mechanics have
been sent out to commence the erection of tenements on such parts
as may he %decoct. Instructions have been giver., that in making
me selection, regard be had chiefly to the salubrity of the situation,
the productiveness of the soil, the suitableness of the dim de to
the European constitution, and the facility of comrnuoiciaioo with
the sea. Advice% have been recently received of these instructions
basing beta carried Into effect in respect to a considerable portion
of the land, and of its haring been taken possession of on behalf of
the Association. . ... _ . .

The Association will adopt, u an invariable rule, the aseertain-
ing in all Caere, with the utmost attainable exactness, the hesithi.
near of every spot whereon settlements may be nmposed to be
formed, and the compatibility of the situation with the health of
Europeans.t
The lands which are at present selectest, and under examination,
may be approached by water communication, within two days'

journey.
Colombia produces, at present. Cocoa, Coffee, Cotton, Indigo,
Sager, Rice, Maize, Tobacco, Wheat, and European grains hie
such is .he want of hands for cultivation, that althuugh Whew
may he grown in abundance on the high lands, the city of Caracas
mews annually, at considerable expense, upwards of 40,000 bar-
rels of Floor from the United States, for its own ronrampiitri.
The leading inducements to this undertaking appear to be shortly
these :—As regards the Emigrants--the obtaining on very easy
terms land of the must valuable deter mien. and endowed with pe
cellar Privileges, within a six weeks' voyage from Europe ;+,,, the
being tumished with adequate assistance to enable them to bring
the lend into a productive state; and the certeinty of markets for
the produce they may raise: and. as regards the Association—the
obtaining a remuneration for the land, in the shape either of rent or
of purchase-money, with the reasonable prospect of its continually
improving in value ; and interest on all advances made to the
settles.
This Association does not purpose, however, to limit its under-
takings to the matter of colonisation.
The formation of roads in Colombia is an object of the highest
importance; and in some paricular situations, where a consider-
able traffic is carried on within a limited distance, there is reason to
believe that capital might be very atlvamageously applied to this
purpose, on obtaining from the Governor of Colombia. the cession
of the. right of levying tolls and other pried...gm for a given term of
yens. For the granting such privileges, the Government is cape-
malty authorised by law of Congress.
The only means of conveyance at present used in Colombia are
mules, and the backs of men and women.
A survey of the road, from La Guars to the city of Carnets (a
distance of fourteen miles), has been made by a very skilful Eng.
lisp engineer, from which it appears that the construction of a
rail-road is practicabl• there, ate. as far as can at present be
judged. might be prod ably undertaken.l A negociation has been
opened with the Colombian Government, for granting inch privi-
leges as to the levying tolls, rates of carriage, Ste. for a specified
term of years. as might render a timer consideration of the under-
taking desirable; and without going into mrecesney detail on this
point, it is sufficient to state, that the Association will possess the
poser of engaging in the :urination of roads, the establishment of
rani navigation on the rivers, and generally in any undertakings
or investment in Colombia, where, after a diligent and careful esa-
mitettion of the circumstances, it shall appear to the Directors that
the capital of the Association may be advantageoudy employed,
and more especially such as shah appear to have a manifest ten.
deeey to improve the value of the Lied secured by the Association, I
or to assist the pursuits of the settlers.
The Association will also possess the power to purchase other
lands in Colombia, and to advance money on the mortgage of
lands is that country, and generally to adopt such measures as
may appear to the Directors to be advisable to carry into effect, to
the fullest extent, the objects, and to promote the interests of the
Association.
The Capital is One Million Three Hundred Thousand Pounds
Sterling, divided into 13,000 Shares of 1001. each, of which 3,000
Motes are reserved to be appropriated. under such regulations as
the Directors may think proper, to parties in Colombia, who may
be desirous to take an Interest in the )%satiation, or to parties with
whom the Directors may negociate for engagements in Colombia.
If any part of this Number of Shares should remain unappropriated
to these specific purposes, the same shall be disposed of for the be-
nefit of the Association.
• By the Act of Congress of the I.'ll of August, Ifol, entitled
" Law respecting die mode of taking cognisance of and proceedings
in causes of the faith," it is mance, that `• proceedings shall only
take place who Roman Catholics born in Colombia, with their
children, and with those who, having come from other countries,
have caused their names to be iaseribed on the palish regivers of
the Catholics; but not with foreigners who may come to ritithlish
thmitelves in a temporary or permanent manner, neither with their
descendants, whom it shall not be lawful in any way to molt at on
account of their aced, although they shall be bound to respect the
Roman Catholic worship and religion."
" At the height of 4,000 feet above the level of the sea the
climate becomes mild, vegetation centinues uninterrupted through-
out the year, leguminous plants, wheat, red other productions of
tempet ate regions, are abundant and of the best <lushly ; venomous
insects and serpents are rarely met with ; end the human frame at-
khowledges the grateful salubrity of a temperature, fitted alike for
enjoym- •t and labour."—Colonel Hall's Colombia, p.B.
la Guars, Maracaibo, and Caetagena, will most probably be
the principal ports of d,baniadon.