The Sun.
London, England, 1829-04-24 00:00:00

THE SOUTH AMERICAN STATES.

The efforts making by persons interested in
the welfare of the new American States, to in-
duce some attempt, not only on the part of this,
but all other European Governments, to improve

their condition, naturally attract great attention
in the city, because the issue is not merely im-
portant to capitalists and others who have vested
property in the ruinous loans raised here for
them, but to every class of the mercantile com-
munity. A summary view of the case may
therefore be useful. The loans, taken sepa-

rately, if the arrears of interest upon them are
added, makeup a debt little short of 20,000,0001.
sterling, which sum, in mercantile language, is
written off universally as a doubtful, if not a bad
debt. To recover that, or even a portion of it,

may fairly be said, in a national point of view,
to be worthy of the attention of Government,
but the improvement of our commercial relations
with those countries, by the establishment of a
better system- of government among them, may
become a point ultimately of still greater conse-
quence to us as a country. Every motive for
the interference asked must exist, therefore, in a
Ministry which has shown itself so alive to the
essential grod of the community. They have
not, accordingly, been inattentive to the means
of effecting the advantage sought for, inasmuch
as, though they have uniformly refused, as mat-
ter of course, to make the recovery of the debts
due to England a Government question, instruc-
tions have been given to the various Consuls
and Ambassadors residing among the new states,
to demonstrate to the people in power the neces-
sity of re-establishing their credit ; these instruc-
tions, for the most part, have been judiciously
acted upon, yet no good has in any one instance
hitherto resulted, or there has not been, at all
events, any actual transmission of money for the
payment of dividends. Mr. Nugent, our Consul-
General in Chile, prevailed on that Government
to order a sale of state property for the purpose,
but instead of sending off the proceeds to Eng-
land, an order was given for their payment into the
treasury, and appropriation to other purposes.
This was accompanied by professions that the
Chilian Government had other measures in view
for satisfying the creditors in England, and that
regular remittances might be expected at no very
distant period ; but the departure from the
original engagement certainly made a bad im-
pression here, and inspired distrust in the pro-
mises made in regard to the future. At Buenos
Ayres, a war with Brazil first, and then a
threatened civil war at home, proved unanswer-
able reasons for delay with respect to the English
creditors. In Peru a formal acknowledgment
of the debt has been obtained, beyond which the
subject has scarcely had the most -transient at-
tention from the various Governments, whici
have arisen there within the last few years. Thi
affairs of Colombia, after Santander's conspirac‘
was put down, were in a situation favourable tc
the commencement of a reform in the adminis
tration which must necessarily precede the re-esta-
blishment of public credit ; but the war wit!,
Peru has interposed new obstacles, which the
ardent mind of Bolivar may overcome, but which
must certainly delay that event. Mexico is dis-
tracted by the contests of two political parties,
which compel the keeping on foot, by that which
gains the ascendancy, an army sufficiently nume-
rous to absorb all the revenues of the country.

The applicants for interference on the part of
this Government seek to direct it principally to
the procuring from Spain an acknowledgment of
the independence of her late colonies, of which
she can never regain the possession ; and this
measure they conceive, by relieving the new
states from the necessi; y of supporting great
standing armies, as a security against invasion,
would accomplish all that can be desired for the
interests of the English creditors: Not to argue on
the difficulty or impossibility of procuring such air
acknowledgment from Spain, which has clung s()
obstinately to the wreck of its colonial system, there
is a good deal of fallacy, we fear, in the supposi-
tion on which this interference is sought for. As
far as invasion by Spain is immcerned, there is
not one of the new states that has any necessity
for a large army ; the people value independence
too much, not to be able to resist any force that
Spain could bring against them. These armies
arc kept up, it is feared, by the utter aversion the
American Spaniards feel to the assumption of
supreme power by any individuals among them.
Those who rule, therefore, are conscious that
this jealousy exposes them to constant con-
spiracies and cabals, from the danger of which
they protect themselves by keeping large armies
in pay. Same government, founded on public
opinion, is. required among them, and until that
takes place there is little good to be done.
Bolivar, if his life is preserved, may possibly
effect this for Colombia ; and Rivadavia, who
is waiting in quiet retirement the progress of
events on the Rio de la Plata, is not unlikely to
do as much for Buenos Ayres. Chile, though
with a government possessing neither name nor
character in Europe, is tranquil, and improving
more rapidly than any of them. As to Peru and
Mexico, neither of them, under present circum
stances, afford much hope of a permanent go-
vernment. A recognition by Spain is with-
out doubt highly important and desirable for
these countries, but unless accompanied by the
foimation of such governments as will secure
tranquillity at home, the situation of the Eng-
lish creditor will be little changed for the better.
`With regard to trade, it is the opinion of the
best informed merchants connected with those
countries, that it is in a state of gradual im-
provement, in spite of events apparently so ad-
;erse to it. A very beneficial commercial in-
tercourse may consequently be established much
booner than is generally contemplated.—Times.

About fifty friends of universal liberty, civil
and religious, supped together on Tuestity evening last,
at the new Mitre Tavern, Maidstone, not with a view to
exult over humbled opponents, hut solely to express their
cordial satisfaction at the Catholic Relief Bill having passed
into a law, anti the great national benefits which are likely
tts result from that measure. The evening was spent with
the utmost harmony and conviviality. Among a variety
of toasts and sentiments which were drank with great
applause, was that of " The Earl of WINCHILSF,A, with
a reform both of Church and State."—Kent Herald.
NEW BAILEY, MANCHESTER.—An unwill-
ing recruit appeared with a private in the King's Dragoon
Guards, who wished him to " pay the smart." The re-
cruit refu.ed to do this, as he had never enlisted. The
soldier said that the recruit had come up to him while he
was cleaning his horse, and expressed a wish to enlist.
The soldier asked hint if he was free; able, and willing
itu serve his Majesty King GEORGE the Fourth? The
mats replied, " 1 am free, able, and willing to take a shil-
ling."—(Laughter.) —After some further parley, during
which the soldier` found in getting from the recruit any
more definite promise 'to seratexis--,PitAlstmr, a shilling,
was given to him, which,he immediately speak with two
Or three others at the ' risici'public-house. Mr- FosTra
said, as the recruit hitd;- only expressed his willingness to
take the money, he was not fairly enlisted, and as it ap-
peared that the &billing had been subsequently repaid, the
marl was dismissed —York Chronicle.