The Sun.
London, England, 1824-06-19 00:00:00

SPANISII AMERICA.

JUAN JOSE AIARTINEZ, Dean of the Holy Cathedral Church,
Provisional Vicar-general, and Governor of the Bishoprick,
the See being vacant, to the Clergy of Panama.
To our venerable brothers, the Parish clergy of this Diocess,
health and peace in Jesus Christ.
We have to make known, that by news (without, however,
being confirmed) which have arrived at this capital, we have
learned the depraved and hostile intention with which the King
of Spain intends to subjugate the Americas, depriving them of
the liberty which God and nature have given to these tertitories.
Not being able, as it is said, to undertake a great work himself,
he has, we are told, implored the assistance of France, that
her troops and squadrons may come to invade us, and to de-
prive us of our tranquillity. We are told that a numerous
french t armyere
isre
be
e
preparing, and that the whole of America
should
placed in a state of defence. This precious
part of the world, envied by foreign nations, may very pro-
bably be attacked ; but there is no reason to fear, if the
Lord our God is for us, as we have already experienced on
many occasions in which his providence has favoured us.
—The active and warlike Intendant-General who commands
us, has foreseen all the evils that can happen, and has taken
the most efficacious means to prevent them. Among these,
the most religious and most efficacious is, the care which
he has taken to send to the Bishoprick Priests, who may
announce to the people the danger in which we are, if we
are conquered by the enemy ; and that there would not only
be the incalculable evil of the loss of their property and lives,
but that more deplorable calamity, the overthrow of the
holy religion of Jesus Christ, which with such firmness and
constancy our people maintain. if our towns were possessed
by corrupt troops, contaminated by materialism and heresy,
they could not avoid being exposed to the deprivation of eternal
felicity. For so sacred a mission the General has elected . the
venerable Presbyters Diego and Simon de Paz, and Father
Fernando Ayuso, who election we have approved of with the
most tender sentiments of our heart, on account of the esteem
and respect which the virtues and qualities of each of them in-
spire. They are proceeding on a mission to your parishes, to
sow in the hearts of your faithful flocks the truths of religion,
love to their country, and the obligation of defending that in
which we are all educated. They will manifest to the people
the interest which they ought to take in so great an enterprise,
and they will show that to die in war is better than to be wit-
nesses of the evils which will be inflicted on our brethren and on
the Saints; as it was said by Judas Maccabmus—" Mellizts
cst nos Duni lit belle, yearn videre male geniis nostrce ct Sane-
toram."
To these venerable Priests I recommend you, with all my
heart ; and I beseech you, and if necessary command you, that
when they arrive at your parishes, you convoke your flocks,
open your churches and your cathedrals, co-operating with them
in the great work to which they have been destined, whilst we
pray God to impart to them his light, and grant the happy
fruit which we desire, in the preservation of his holy religion.
Panama, Feb. 11,1824, the fourteenth year of our independ-
ence. JUAN JOSE ;MARTINEZ.
By order of the Provisor, Governor of the lirshoprick'
ANTONIO PUERTO.