The Sun.
London, England, 1824-06-25 00:00:00

UN.

I will not lose sight of the dignity of the Government, nor of
the interests of the Colombian people. If the union of the
physical and moral. power of the Independent States of Ame-
rica, the order and regularity of our association, respect to the
law, uniformity of opinion, the progress of learning, and the
adherence of the Government to the .path prescribed by our
fundamental laws, ought to weigh in the political balance of
nations, we ought. to hope, with entire confidence, that neither
Great Britain nor the other Powers will disavow ie power and
moral force which the Republic of Colombia has acquired, to
put herself upon a level with them. I am determined to take
advantage of any favourable opportunity, to extend our rela-
tions with other Powers, whose friendship can be of sufficient
interest and utility to the Republic.
The negociations with the Apustolical Chair being still de,
pending-, the Executive continues to experience the difficulties
which I announced to Congress last Session and I have to
beg you anew some certain regulations to avoid the prejudices
which we suffer. It is probable that the Apostolical Chair may
accede to the solicitations of the Executive, for the benefit of
the spiritual necessities of the Republic.
I feel the greatest satisfitction in informing Congress,.that
the Republic is extended to all the territory which the funda-
mental law fixed. In all its vast extension there does not re-
main even a relict of the expeditionary Spanish army, and the
Constitution and the Laws have fixed in it their Empire.
Only a few men of the canton of Pasto hiive wished to live by
disorder, and the Government has been obliged to resort, with
pain, to employ arms to crush this bud of disunion.
Public education has had an increase this year in the esta-
blishment of new Schools and Colleges. That this important
branch of common felicity may be extended, it is necessary to
leave it to the work of time, for neither can the people support
the amount of contribution for education, having still to con-
tribute towards the stability of their independence. nor have we
sufficient preceptors. If the Congress authorizes the Executive
to appropriate a sum from the Public Treasury for the purpose,
and sanctions the general plan of studies that I presented last
session, according to its wisdom it may deem applicable
to the circumstances, I. believe that its progress will not be
doubtful.

Few objects merit so much the attention of Congress as the
administration of justice. In this branch the people suffered
much, as much from the judicial districts being very extensive,
the superior tribunals being placed at great distances, as the
complication and contrariety of Spanish Legislation present
doubts, delays, and even injustice. I know well that the
absolute reform of civil and criminal legislation is not the work
of one session ; but I am convinced that this present Congress
can begin this important reform, separating it from the cogni-
zance of the Intendants and Governors, the contending parties
of Justice and State, multiplying the Courts of Justice as our
actual situation points out, organizing them on a more simple
and economical scale than those of the three judicial districts,
and approving of the penal code, which has been presented with
these alterations, which your wisdom and experience believe
useful to the happiness of the Colombians.
The administration of justice, public order, and the welfare
of the people, our constituents require a quick reform in, al-
though it be only provisional in the territorial division of some
departments and provinces, more particularly in the south.—
Although this matter supposes exact data, without which it
would be difficult to accomplish a division beneficial to the
people, it will not be prejudicial that Congress make an essay
of what I point out.
The laws relative to the naturalization of strangers, privi-
leges of navigation, alienation of uncultivated lands, have be-
gun to be executed, and offer us fundamental hopes of contri-
buting strongly to the prosperity of the-Republic. Four hun-
dred thousand fanegadas of uncultivated lands, in different
provinces, have been alienated in virtue of the law of the 7th
of June. The Executive will pass to the Congress the appli-
cations for the privilege of steam-boats in the Lake of Mara-
caibo, the Frith of Guayaquil, and coast of the Pacific ; and, as
1 do not doubt the good success of them, we may flatter our-
selves that it will be of infinite consideration to the improve-
ment the Republic will receive in its internal productions ani
commercial relations. . _ _

... -
'lire Constitutional organization has continued progressing.
with regularity. All tke Authorities have endeavoured to ob-
serve the Bill of Rights of the Colombian people, and if the
difficulties which war,_ in a country so fatigued with its ravages,
throws in its way, have forced me to use the extraordinary
prerogatives which the law grants me, I have never exercised
it of my own accord, nor longer than danger warranted it.—
The regularity of our political career ought to be particularly
satisfactory to us and the 'respect that we profess to the Con-
stitution has inspired civilized nations with a very favour-
able idea of the Republic ; and we have still to hope for
events of greater importance to our security, dignity, and
power.
The national fund will be for some time an object of serious
meditation, and unfruitful, and perhaps, prejudicial, essays.—
To create a national fund in a country impoverished by the
political regimen of the old government and laws, wasted by
a long anedisastrous war, cannot be the work but of peace, of
experience, and the lapse of time. The Congress can infer
frbm these principles, and those they heard last session, what
have been the afflictions the Executive has experienced in the
course of the year, and to what an extraordinary degree have
been the efforts employed to drive the enemy from our terri-
tory, or to give solidity to the Republic. I confess, with the
most lively pleasure, that without the pure patriotism of the
Colombian people, and without the heroic sufferings of our
warriors, we should not have come off victorious. in the
struggle. Although the sources which the last Congress
afforded have not yet been realized, counting upon them, I
have made bold to have recourse to other means to facilitate
the course of administration. I trust that the Congress will
lend its authority, that the Executive may fulfil its promises,
and comply with the arduous and important duties the Con-
stitution imposes.
I esteem it for the bettering of the National Treasury to
change the system of administration anti direction uf the re-
venue. A Chancellor of the Exchequer's Office, stationed at
the seat of Government, will facilitate the administration of
finance, as well as an establishment. of Departmental Exche-
quers, where the accounts are to be presented as early as
possible for their revision, and to be audited. This regula-
tion contemplates the abolition of the Accomptant-General,
the same offices in the Departmental Treasuries, which sav-
ing will be sufficient for the expence of the new offices. The
Congress will receive a separate plan, which will develope
this idea.

I return again to recommend to Congress the organization
of the Tobacco monopoly. This branch of revenue, receiving
the support which may be expected, is, in my opinion, to in-
crease the payment of the interest of the foreign national debt,
at the same time producing an acknowledged benefit to the
cultivators. The Executive has issued orders to apply the
product of this revenue to a considerable part of the loan, de-
creed by Congress ; and it only remains that the loan may he
organised and its administration made uniform, leaving to the
Executive sufficient authority to follow the influence of cir-
cumstances, which may be variable during the recess of the
Legislature. The revenue of tithes, which, above providing
for the clergy, affords to the Republic some resource, re-
quires also uniformity in its administrative regimen, and a
check upon the clandestine inversion of its product. The
direct contribution, although the most congenial to a liberal
system, is involVed with obstacles and difficulties, which
have occupied the vigilance of the Legislative Body. Its
entire reform appears necessary, reducing it to terms less.
confuse and odious, and more productive. I feel the same
on the other laws on indirect contributions. The tax of one
dollar on each mark of gold, fyr the national museum, ought
not to exist : the product of this contribution, compared with
the deficit which results from the clandestine extraction of
metals in bars or dust, which it causes, is so little, that it
ought to be done away with.
The department of the Post-office ought to occupy the at-
tention of Congress. The boundaries of the Republic are
immerse, and whilst the use of steam-boats and good roads
shorten the distance, the posts ought to facilitate the com-
munication among all the citizens, and between them and
the Government. This revenue ought not only to accom-
plish such important objects, but will be productive to the
National Treasury. I think I do not deceive myself by
being sure that,- by improving our actual revenue, it will be-
sufficient for our ordinary expenses, once we have paid. for
the rudiments of war which we possess,
and the army be
placed on the peace establishment.
There is not time to know the result of the operations of the
Executive in arranging and settling the loan of March, 1822.
The interested in it have protested against the law of the Ist of
July ; but as the Executive has endeavoured to fulfil the views
of Congress and the wishes of the friends of Colombia, I hope
to terminate this business to the satisfaction of the parties inte-
rested, and to facilitate'the negociatiop of the new loan. Then
we will have given a noble example of the good faith of the Go-

PRICE StVENPENCE:

vernment, and 'establish the credit of the Republic. Posterity
will not have to blarrie us with having uselessly burthened it
with a superfluous debt to satisfy fictitious necessities ; no, td
posterity we will leaVe our country and liberty.
I now come to speak of the glories of the army of Colombih.
On the 6th August the city of Maracaibo Was restored to the
Republic, after various successes to our arms, particularly in the
glorious naval combat of the'24th July. The Chiefs lo whom
the Executive gave the direction of the sea and land forces cm.-
responded exactly well with the hopes of the Republic, and in
virtue of the instructions which they had granted to the Gene-
ral of the enemy, a capitulation, the merit and generosity of
which cannot be denied by the Spaniards themselves. ScarcelY
had the Republic congratulated itself with the triumph of
the army of the Zulia, when its attention was called to the
acquisition of Puerto CabellO, on the Bth November,' in a man::
nez which will always reflect honour on the army of the de-
partment of Venezuela and its Chief. This post had constantly
resisted the forces of the Republic, and in it the enemy had
established a rallying point for their operations: Since Puerto • •
Cabello unfurled the Colombian banner, Venezuela has been
restored to tranquillity, and actual war is concluded. The
Executive has not seen with indifference these successes in the
Decrees which will be presented to Congress : I have preserved
the recollection and approbation which they have deserved from
the Republic and Government.
The army of Colombia, which haS made war to conqUer
peace, independence, and liberty, to whose constant and emi-
nent services the Republic owes its tranquillity, whose arms
are the strong shield which defends the Constitution, this army,
as much the friend of independence as of Derty, such sufferers
in privations, as well as valorous in the field of battle, deserve
_laws to preserve them froni oppression and Vexations, and to
secure to thein a decent subsistence, to open the door to ho-
nour, to favour them with justice 'in the distribution of their
rewards; and that their families may not he forgotten after
death. These laws I ask from the Congress of Colombia, en-i
tirely possessed with the confidence that the Legislation of the
Republic feel as sensibly as the Executive the eminent services
of the defenders of its independence and lihsrty.
Our small force of marines—a very important part of the
army, has accomplished important services, and will always
achieve the like, if they are placed on the ooting once before
I said they ought to be. Some obstacles have presented them-
selves in attaining this, but I have confidence that they will be
overcome by the wisdom of your laws of organization, and the
constancy of the Executive. The Secretary of Marine will in-
form you the use I have made of the authority granted by the
law of the Ist of July. 1 hope that the Congress, bringing
before them the memorials which the Secretaries of Correspond-,
ence presented by my order last Sessions, may turn their at.
tendon to the object therein described. They provide abun-
dant matter for the Representatives to employ their talents and
experience in favour of the heroic people, our constituents,
whose favourable votes we may be sure of, while we devote
ourselves to their happiness and tranquillity.
On finishing this picture, I ought to confess that my heart is
full of bitterness to see that I have not been able to do all the
benefit for the Republic which my conscience dictates to me.
It is to your talents and to your power that it is left to fill CO.,
lombia wills prosperity, and to correct the errors which I may
have involuntarily made in the course of my administration.
It serves me, however, as a comfort, to present you Colombia
free for the first time from her enemies, admitted into the so-
ciety of nations, tranquil in its interior, and rigidly adherent
to the COnstitution. Under such auspices you have the most
precious opportunity to open the fountains of public prosperity,
and to reciprocate the 'confltlence'which the nations has placed
in you. Count upon the promptitude of the Executive in
the observance and perfection of your deliberations, and of
its absolute consecration to the well-being and security of
the Republic.

FRANCISCO DE P. SANTANDER.
Bogota, April 6, 1824-14.

INDIA.

THE CALCUTTA ACRICULTURAL AND HORTT-;
CULTURAL SOCIETY.

At a meeting which was held on the 19th of last November,
some very interesting communications were laid before the So-
ciety by- the Secretary from Mr. Moorcroft. One of these,
dated so far back as August 1822, describes an umbelliferous•
plant called Prangos, and employed in the form of bay, as a
winter fodder for sheep and neat cattle. It is a native of Drax,
from whence Mr. Moorcroft sent a large quantity of the seed,
and several specimens of the dried herb, to the Government.
The greater part of this highly interesting dispatch has been
forwarded to the Honourable Court of Directors, for
the Board of Agriculture of Great Britain : the rest has
been distributed by the superintendent of the Botanic
'Garden, with a view of affording every possible' chance
of success in rearing the plant. Unfortunately those which
were sown at the Botanic Garden did not come up, nor is it
likely that any part of the present dispatch will vegetate, as the -
seeds were more than a year old when teey were received. The
plant is described as being highly nutritious and fattening, and
what would render it invaluable in England, it destroys the
liver fluke which kills so many thousands of sheep annually..
If it is considered, that in addition to the above valuable .pro-
prieties the Prangos yields a vast crop, endures through many
years, and admits of being cultivated on land, r.f the most poor
and unpromising quality, the. plant deserves to. be ranked among
the most important in rural economy, that has • ever been disc
covered. Dr. Wallich calls it Laser-pitum Provos. The
other letter was dated from Kashmeer the Bth of July last, and
contains a number of extremely valuable and interesting obser-
vations on the fruits cultivated there, which consists prin-
cipally of apples, pears, quinces, peaches, apricots, plums,
cherries, mulberries, walnuts, pomegranates, and almonds.
with their numerous varieties. With the view of introducing
these riches into /lindoostan, Mr. Moorcroft recommends that
a small nursery should be established in file She/hear of Pen-
jower, a garden which was made by a former Governor of the
province of Kashmeer, -and belongs now, with the adjoining
country, to Raja Ptiteeala, who, it appears, derives no revenue
from it, nor ever visits it. The garden is about 23 days jour-
ney from Kashineer, 3 from Snbhatoo to the South, and about
9 from Delhi.
The Society, concurring in the outline of this plan, have re-
solved to make a representation on the subject to the Su-
preme Government. An interesting account- is also given
of the manner in which the surface of water is made available
for the purposes of gardening in that fertile country, by detach-
ing a part of the banks of lakes and forming them into floating,
flexible beds, sometimes of very considerable extent, on which
cucumbers, melons, and water-melons, of a superior size and
flavour, arc had in greater quantities. These singularly con-
structed floats are sometimes surrounded with a floating hedge
made of reeds, and they are towed from one place to another
as it suits the convenience of the proprietor, whose .chief risk.
appears to rest on the frequency with which these moveable
gardens are -stolen away, and the difficulty of recognizing pro•
perty among so many others of precisely the same shape end
size.
lette
a was layseraylsionrgeeandiofurosmche llalp and successful method, lee
Mr. D. Scott, at Gooch Behar,
describingvented by him, of raising cauliflowers, peas, and potatoes, dur-
ing the rainy season, and applicable, probably, to most of the
other sorts of vegetables. The principal feature of his plan
consists in_protecting the roots of the plants from the pernicious
effects of too much moisture.
- A letter was read from Lord Amherst in reply to an address
from the President, voted sit the last Meeting, signifyng 1118
Lordship's and Lady Amherst's compliance with the unanimous
wishes of the Society to become their patron and patroness ik
succession to the Marquis and Marchioness of Hastings.
gis
Lordship observed that he and Lady Amherst felt the warmest
interest in the objects embraced by the Agricultural and llortie
cultural Society, and should be proud to find themselves assoe
elated with those patriotic individuals, whose pursuits are
Societydi-
rected to the substantial and permanent improvement of the
British territory in India. ' •
A communication from Mr. Chinnery announced fL,at the
portrait of their late patroness would be finish&L towards the
close of the year. -
Dr. C. Abel •
e-rusunno Cumar
Thakoor,
The CALCirTTA MEDICAL:. AN_
PHYSICAL. R.'
.SOCIETY'
meet on Saturday,
c.tePdeintrieel,nbEesrqs.
fantdere'
next_ at the usual place and hour. The ex-
perienceb.dn, so
it
for the short time
that it has existed, flat we trust: it will continue a source of in—
terest and sciere.iiic information to the profession at large, and
ectm hae
excite men of talent and research to favour their proeessional
Ibrethren with the valuable facts elicited iteehe course of obsere,
eation and practice... 4 Calcutta 4th Dec.-143.1
of its. e