The Sun.
London, England, 1827-08-23 00:00:00

COLOMBIA.

We continue to copy from the Tinier extracts
of letters on the state of Colombia : their im-
portance will strike every reader :
BOGOTA, MAY 20.—1 gladly avail myself
of the opportunity which has. been offered to me
to write to you, for although but two or three
days have elapsed since I before had that .plea-
Sure, within this short period so many events
have taken place, so important in themselves and
in their consequences; that for the sake of Co-
lombia, General Bolivar, your sake as an at-
tached friend of his and mine, and lasti y • for any
own, as one whose fate is intimately interwoven
with the prosperity or downfal of this Republic,
I conceive it the Isounden duty of me, and every
one who has the power, to use their humble ef-
forts to avert the danger with which the exist-
ence of this country is threatened. The crisis
has at length arrived which is to decide upon the
life or death of the body politic.. This day the
Congress met, according, to their:resolution of
Thursday last, to take into consideration the re-
siguations of the Liberator, Santander, and
Baralt. I was there early, and about half-past
nine the chair was taken by Baralt, and the Ses-
sion commenced. Soto then 'got up, and, in
certainly a very able speech, he explained, as well
as the badness of the cause he defended would allow
him, his motives for making the proposition he
did to the House, to the effect that it might be
delayed for an indefinite period. He was sup-.
ported in this by Uribe, Senator for Cundina-
mama, and formerly member to the Congress of
Cucuta. Pareja, from Guayaquil, answered sa-
tisfactorily Soto's arguments ; in which ho was
followed by Arboleda, who addressed Congress
two or three times,. and victoriously refuted the
sophistry—to call it nothing worse—which had
been used against him. lorres, who, as you
will see, has been vilely abused in the Conductor,
maintained his former opinions as to the neces-
sity of deciding on the resignation of General
Bolivar. However, to cut a most distressing
:subject short, notwithstanding the exertions of
Baralt, Arboleda, Torres, Arroyo, Tanco, Do-
veinguez, Espinar, Marcos, Merino, Alvear,
Mote, Borrero, &c., the party of Soto, Azuero,
Osorio, Uribe, Uncle, &c. gained the' question
of delay by four votes—S7 for it, and 33 against
it. cannot describe to you the dismay this un-
expected event has caused to the friends of order,
to the friends of General Bolivar, to the' real
friends of Colombia, who hoped, through his
instrumentality, to rescue the Republic from the
precipice of anarchy and dissolution to which she
as so rapidly advancing. I never could have ima-
gined that it was possible for men invested with
the august functions of legislators, acquainted, as
they must be (notwithstanding their affected ig-
norance, which in my opinion has been assumed
by far the majority, as a veil to cover more iniqui-
tous designs), with the separation, of Venezuela,
threatened, in the event of the Liberator not
:069g placed at the head of affairs, with the
seenta in the. south, which letters received this
day from Peru and Guayaquil too clearly de-
mons Cate to be but a part of the grand po-
litical scliOnles of Vidaurre, to annex the south
of Colombia :0 TWA), although it is confidently
here, whose interest it
• stated by a certainl3'Binitaniente and Elizalde
is that these plans
should not be seen throOth, that the only views
of the latter, and of the comin'j of the division to
our coasts, is to uphold the con: citation, &C.;
—I say, how men bound by the most sa".red oh,
ligations, can, in such a state of their cotn:.try,
coldly deliberate upon, and, with the most pu-
led calmness sanction, the ruin (or if not, has-
ten it) 'of Colombia, is more than human imagi-
nation could have conceived, or mortal patience
bear. In a time of comparative peace and tran-
quillity, I could have listened with patience, and
could have even submitted to the resignation of
the Liberator being accepted, with forbearance ;
although in no time and at no period would I,
with no better reasons than those which have
hitherto been alleged in support of such a step,
have acquiesced in it. In proof of my assertion,
I have only to refer to No. 72 (I think it is) of
the Constitucional, written but very few months
after the battle of Ayacucho, when we were very
differently situated from what we are at present,
in which I distinctly manifested my opinion as
to the necessity that existed for General Bolivar
:returning to this country and assuming the reins
of governments If I thought so then, what must
be my sentiments at present, when every argument
which could be adducedin its favour at that mo-
ment has received athousandfold more vigour from
the.oircuinstances we are in, and from the anarchy
with whigh we are threatened ? To obviate
the evils which must result unless the plans I
have alluded to be thwarted,—for I am satisfied
that the object they have had in delaying to dis-
cuss the resignation, is no other than ultimately
to accept it, provided certain events, they are o
i dn
daily expectation of, happen ; or, if they
not find themselves strong enough (or that, to
render it illusory, even if they refuse to accept
it, by deferring it to so late a period in the Ses-
asion, that there will be no time for the President
to conic and take the oath,—Generals Bolivar
should instautly Come to this city. At present '
ans one has dared openly. to state his determine- ,
/ion to vote in the affirmative, with the excep-
tion of Azuero ; and even he this morning qua-
lified it somewhat, although he did not explicitly
rei;ounc.e his intention formeriy e4pressed of
doing so. They are waiting, as I realty believe,
until by the intrigues, fora, or otherwise, of this
division in the South, they obizin some public
documents from the municipal or lAN' supposed
or real agents.of the people, in their fitvour.
in that of the Constitution ; the same they are I
not without hopes of getting from the North, or
some of the provinces. Should these expecta-
tions be realized
procure
to palm off upon the credulous and unthinking
multitude, as the real and genuine sentiments
of the population of kinali and such a district,—.
and we have had of late too many instances of
the facility with which this can - be effected,—
the greater number of those who have voted in
favour of the proposition of Soto this day will
then throw off the mask, crow on their own
dunghill, and, base and mean as they are (for
/ should observe, that alknost all those who were
for delaying, with the exceptioftis I have men-
tioned in a former part of my letter, are the very
canniffe of the Congress), they will exhaust
themselves in empty declamation against the in-
dividual when absent, whose feet they would
stoop to when preseot.• In my .letter to you of
the 16th, s i sse upon you the necessity of
m re d
the Liberator, presence here. The events of
this day haves convinced me of its paramount
urgency.
I can positively assure you that the
moderate, the impartial—those who are willing
to OVerlook their political theories in favour of
*Le real advantage of their country—in fine,
those who know that the science Of politics is
confined to rttacting the greatest possible quan-

thy of benefit to one's native country out of the
unavoidable circumstances in which that-country
is thrown—all these desire most ardently that
General Bolivar, who unites to his own energy,
telents, and practice in the administration, what
now is perhaps of more consequence than the
whole—the confidence and well wishes of an
overwhelming majority of hig fellow citizens,
and the rm respect and regard of forei Govern-
-33.

ments and their subjects—should, without loss,
of time, assume the executive power, and de-
vote his valuable exertions to the' salvation of
his country.
With regard to the settlement of the Govern-
ment, let but the President dHinctiv state his
opinions—let but the representatives of the people
be chosen fairly for the Grand Convention, (for
some such measure I hold to be necessary to in-
fuse into the Government the •reqUisite energy,
and to inspire the people with that respect ,for
its acts which it has so much lost during the late
commotions), in order that therein they may
distinctly declare themselves either in favour of
the Constitution of 1821, with the reforms that
may be deemed necessary, or draw up another;
and in the meantime let him continue to govern
according to the existing laws ; and the task of
rescuing us from our present state of misery will
be immensely facilitated. I think I mentioned'
to you in a former letter that I was of opinion
considerable opposition would be made to the
continuation of the extraordinary powers, unless
some special authorization to that effect were ob-
tained from Congress. I still am of the same
way of thinking ; and for that reason have sug-
gested the above measures. I know that some
of them have been brought forward'in Congress
by the opposition party, and that they have re-
lied on the disinclination with which they fancy
they may be viewed by the General, for creating
dislike against him, and discontent with his mea-
sures. By acceding to them, therefore, he re-
moves at once this plea of his adversaries ; and
as the majority of their partisans are induced to
support them by the rumours thus insidiously
thrown out against him, the moment they
were undeceived by his actions, they would
gradually drop off, and any thing like a steady
opposition would be a farce. This letter has
already swelled to so great a length, that I have
scarcely room to allude to the affairs of Peru.
The papers from Lima, which I have just
received, are up to the 17th of March, the
day before the division left. It is mentioned
in them that they were to sail on the following,
day, and a pompous eulogy is made of the vir-
tues of Bustamente, &c. There are several arti-
cles in some of the preceding numbers most vio-
lent against General Bolivar. Manby writes from
Guayaquil under date of the 14th of April ; he
had embarked for Lima with Colonel Cerdero,
but in consequence of having spoken with a ves-
sel at sea, they thought it prudent to return.—
Flores, he says, has been most active in making
preparations to resist any hostile attempts of the
division. Guayaquil was put in complete de-
fence ; Castillo had gone to parley with Elizalde,
and had been arrested. He speaks rather slight-
ingly of him, as also of Mosquera. Flores gave
Manby the command of the district of Riobamba.
He calls himself (M.) Commandant-General of
Riobaniba. The news we have here by the ex-
press is to the 16th of April ; that states that La
Mar had been forcibly appointed to the, civil and
military command. Letters from Lima announce
that the opinions are divided between Santa Cruz
and La Mar for President of Peru. Is this a
preparatory step? Or, by foicing hint to take
the command in Guayaquil, have his adherents
*hought that they thus gained a powerful advo-
cate r its union with Peru, by flattering his
mopes to be
President of the latter Republic ?
Time must solve this as well as many other ques-
tions now involved in obscurity.
I have nothing to say in regard to myself.
The question between the Conductor and'
myself has been most pertinaceously and,, inso-
lently prolonged by the former, until he found
that he drew upon himself the indignation even
of his political adherents. The rancour with
which all are attacked who are suspected to be
friends to General Bolivar, or who are desirous
that the task of reconciliation should be effected
cordially and without guile, is inconceivable :
they are most' unsparingly insulted, their views'
grossly perverted, and even their private family
affairs ripped up for the entertainment of the
public. Such a state of things should not be
allowed to last. To General Bolivar we all look
as the person that is to put a stop to the animo-
sity which is kept up between the two parties.
What makes it most provoking is, that the
enormous evil thus done to the country, is
effected by two or three persons, such as V.
Azuero, of whose political meanness and versa-
, talky we had so striking a proof at the time
General Bolivar was here, in the celebrated toast
he gave at Leidersclorr s breakfast.
find I musticonclude, or else they-may, per-
haps, complain of the size of the packet. I
know not whether I have succeeded in convincing
you of the urgent necessity, the paramount im-
portance of General Bolivar's presence in this
city, rather than in any other point of the re-
public. If f hq.ve succeeded in so doing, lam
satisfied that I have Cione no inconsiderable ser-
, vice to' my poor country ; and although it will
be a task of no small trouble and fatigue to you
to wade tbrervgb what I have written, if- you are
persuaded by the facts have stated, you can
omit' my political reflections, =4 consider them
as so much utopian nonsense, which t have
penned more with a view of disburdening my
own to a friend, than from any idea that
they might he of 41” r pirnanent utility to you.
No one knows better ilia!) yon 4,0? or has so
nipy opportunities to learn, what ie ror the 4-
vantagg of this unfortunate country. For her
sake, for the sake of us all, endeavour to per-
suade the Liberator to Alo, what we all think
be should, and what, I am certain, every one
' will Terommend—come here. My brother de-
sires to lie Temembered to you. God bless you.
Ever yours.

BOGOTA, MAY 16.—Your letter of the lth
of April last reached me last post, and notwith-
standing the pressure of business upon me, I am
resolved to answer it, and give you some idea of
the important scenes which are here enacting.
In my last I informed you that Congress had
been installed at Tunja, and that on. the 12th
they were to continue their sessions in this city
In pursuance of this resolution, they met for the
despatc4 pf business on Saturday last ; and after
some communicatioiis from Santander, relative
to a wish that his resignation should bp taken
into consideration previous to his taking the
oaths, which was refused, and a message, sent
three times desiring his immediate attendance,
when he presented himself and was sworn in, the
resignation -of the Liberator was brought for-
ward, and submitted to discussion. I, should
observe, that in the debates on the question re-
gardiog Santander, several ,expressed a wish that
&rah should instantly assume the reins of Ctor

vernment, and their disapprobation of the step
of sending three times a deputation from that
body to request his acceptance of the Vice-Pre-
sidency. On Tuesday the question of the re-
signation of the General was introduced, and- a
most interesting discussion ensued, in which
Baralt, Geronifno Torres, Arbolida, Espinar,
Maicos, Merino, Granados, Arroyo, Tanco, and
others, manifested the necessity of instantly pro-
ceeding to decide upon the acceptance or refusal
of the resignation of the Liberator. Soto,Azuero,
Osorio, and Uribe, opposed it, on the grounds
that they were not prepared to give their votes
upon a matter which, it had been said, involved
interests most dear to freedom and to Colombia,
—that they begged for time,—that, if they were
pressed, they would appeal to the article of the
Reglamento, by which every Senator is allowed
on declaring that he is not in a state to vote con-
scientiously on the business before the House, to
retire and not vote. Three or four motions
were then made, which, from not coinciding
exactly with the particular view each member
took of the subject before them—the members of
Guayaquil desiring that no time should be lost,
—Espinar, Arbolida, and others acceding, for
the sake of securing the support of some who
were inclined to discuss the question, although
not immediately, to a short delay ; while Azuero,
Soto, Osorio, Sze. were for deferring it indefi-
nitely, or at least till the month of June. At
length Baralt, who throughout this business,—
which, from the peculiar position he was placed
•in, in consequence of the virulent and unjust at-
tacks made on him in some of the public prints,
was to him one of great delicacy,—to bring the
matter to some kind of conclusion, made a mo-
tion, which passed, that the two Houses should
assemble this day, and take the resignation into
discussion. This morning they accordingly '
met, and, as 'I understand (for I had not
time to attend), in, consequence of the
news from Guayaquil, which arrived last evening,
and of some message from Santander, insisting
on his resignation being likewise taken into con-
sideration, it was resolved, that on Saturday the
two Houses should assemble in Congress, and
devote that day to the exclusive question of the
resignations,—that of the President to be brought
forward first ; and then that of the Vice-Presi-
dent. lam satisfied, from all that I can hear,
that neither will be accepted; although I know
that there will be a minority in favour of it. I
think, that in regard to the General's, it will be
insignificant ; on the question of Santander's, it
will be more numerous. I sincerely regret to in-
form you that _much intemperate language has
been heard in the- course of the debates, which I
am fearful will be greatly exaggerated, and must
very naturally, excite the indignation of the Pre-
sident. Many of the members, but principally
Torres and Merino, have been insulted in pape-
lucltos, which have been industriously circulated
at the bar of the House. The authors, it is
suspected, are known ; and I can assure you,
that these miserable productions, which are only
calculated to augment the divisions that now
distract the country, are looked upon with the con-
tempt they deserve by those men who impartially
view the state of Colombia, and ser.iously desire
its peace and tranquillity. You will know much
more at length than I can inform you of the oc-
currences of the South. All that as yet has
transpired is comprised in the boletin, a copy of,
which I know the Colonel intends sending you,
and which renders it unnecessary that I should.
understand that all the intelligence the Government
is in possession of was read to the Senate this rno.i-n-
Inge As I have before told you, I was not there.
The letter of Elizaldo is horribly severe, I hear,
against the Liberator. Nothing has been heard about
Bustamente, whom it is expected we shall shortly
learn to be in Quito. Obando, who was sent by
the Government to take the command from Bus-
tamente, writes, that it is his intention to pro-
ceed immediately to Bustamente's head-quarters,
wherever they may be, in lieu of going on to
Guayaquil, as was his first intention. As the
express from Obando arrived only late last even-
ing, and I did not go out in the streets, I have
had no opportunity of ascertaining the exact im-
pression it has created here. So much, how-
ever, I can assure you, that no public demon-
strations of joy were made on this occasion, as
was the case, unfortunately, when the news of
Peru arrived. All I can say that consulting
solely the glory of the Liberator and the real
welfare—nay, perhaps existence—of Colombia,
my opinion most decidedly is, that he should in-
stantly come here, and dispel, by his presence,
the nucleus of opposition which has here been
formed against him, but which has its ramifica-
tions throughout the Republic. Once destroy
the source, which would disappear of itself, and
the others, losing that from which nourishment
was supplied to them, would dwindle and wither
away to nothing. In the mean time, it is impos-
sible to say what are the views Of the leadei-s in
the South. Until I am more acquainted with
the details of their proceedings, I shall put as
little faith in the ostensible motives they allege
for their actions in the smith of Colombia, as I
(lid in the professions of Bustatnente of regard
for the Constitution, &c, in Lima. At the dis-
tance at which General Bolivar at present is from
the scene of events, which circumstances have
transferred from the north to the south, it is im-
possible for him to adopt and act upon that vigo-
rous line of conduct which the discord and dis-
union that' is 'rapidly disseminating itself from
one end of the republic to the other renders im-
periously necessary, unless we desife to see
anarchy rggkilgrly installed, and every prospect of
tranquillity banist.ed from our 144)4.

- -
I was much disappointed on finding
by your
evenis ;
ignorant of the
n Lima. I had hoped to have heard of
last letter that you were still
the.ineastircs hiF,; E;s4PNey the e Liberator had
proposed pursuing in consequeconsequence;riathis last
intelligence from Guayaquil has rendered an in-
sFigrildita)l,l,iston9hsits, vliehsTvisagoileflt,enfold more importance.
will bring this desirable
•ok ' • -', .
information.

GUAYAQUIL, APRIL 14.—You must be
anxious to know what is going on here, respect-
ing the truly extraordinary expedition ; and if I
can contribute to the information you must have
received, I shall be most happy. I only heard of
the affair when I arrived from Panama here. At
that time I considered it, as most others did,
confined to the Coiombian troops, and that the'
Government of Peru. took no part whatever; it
consequently did not make any •difrerence in my
arrangements ; I prepared to sail by the first op-
portunity, and embarked on the 22d inst., on
board the brig of war Congress, in company with
Colonpl Cordero, who was going on commission
to the Peruvian Government ; hot when nine
days on our passage, we fell in with the St.
Vincent, and spoke with her. Senor Ibanes, late
Aide-de-Camp to the Liberator, the son of the
old lady in Bogota,we was on board ; sent a
boat for him, and he gave us such 'information as
induced Colonel Cordero to return. He told us
that an expedition of Colombians had positively

sailed from Callao, with hostile intentions to-
wards this territory, and that the Colombians
who remained behind had been made prisoner s.
banes, although a merchant, was an exile finr
fifteen days.
Officers are sent into the interior of Peru to
recruit, with an intention, when sufficiently strong,
to attack General Sucre ; they are determined
not to have a Columbian in the country. On
our passage back to this city, we formed a thou-
sand conjectures as to the state in which we
should find this place ; it was probable they
had taken it, having 1,000 troops on board;
three armed vessels arrived at the island of
Puna, (mouth of the river) ; and the officer who
brought on board the pilot also brought official
letters from Admiral Illingworth, who hail
gone with two vessels of war to look for the
enemy on the Choco coast, and most unfortu-
tunately was too late. They have landed at
Monte Christo ; the Intendant (Mosquera) and
Colonel Gonzales went with Illingworth and
Commodore Wright for the purpose of treat-
ing with these poor deceived rebels. Gonzales
had an interview with Colonel Elizade, but to no
purpose. I am told it is quite ridiculous the
motives which he gives for his conduct—" The
time is come when the father shall fight against
the son, and the am against the father." Eli-
zade is a native of this place, his family are liv-
ing here, his brother is chief of the staff, and
takes an active part against the other.
The authorities of the town deserve great_cre-
dit for their activity in the defence of the city.
If the troops had marched upon it at first, they
might have taken it : now they never will. The
Admiral is returned ; he tells me that he had
some conversation with the naval officers : he
says the soldiers are extremely dissatisfied, and
say they are deceived by their officers, that they
knew nothing of coining here to fight against
their countrymen, that the officers after leaving
the port of Callao had a thousand projects, and
were all confusion before they could decide on
where to land. Illingworth ordered the vessels
off the coast, but dared not do more.

General Castillo went to the province of Ma-
nibi soon after the enemy arrived. He met an
Indian with despatches, and took them. He
and his Staff were taken prisoners the following
day. Old Don Luis Lopez Mendez is named
by the usurpers Political Chief of this depart-
ment. You see they had every thing cut and
dried. This poor old fool is the determined
enemy of General Bolivar. Bustamente, who
comniands the other division, landed at Payta
(1,000 strong), on the coast of Peru, but not a
long distance from Cuenca, where he may pro-
bably try to march : he had better not proceed
too far into the interior, or the Commandant-
General of Riobambo may astonish his weak
mind. General Flores left here yesterday. He
has been acting here during Mosquera's absence.
General Valdez is Commandant-General.

I know not what is the general opinion in
Bogota of the real intention of these troops ; but
we have no doubt here that the object is to plant
the Peruvian flag, and that Peru is at the bot-
tom of the Rlot, under the cloak of supporting
the Constitution. We must have a war with
those ungrateful people. I don't see what else
the Liberator can do : he has been infamously
abused, and his country insulted. I should like
to see it ;—would take care to make them pay
the expences of my journey at least I should
not wonder if the calumny of Bogota has landed
me at Callao, and taken part with the Peruvians.
I know the place so well, that I am prepared for
any thing that is bad. Any news of half-pay's
will be most gladly received at my lonely garri-
son. Shall not have a countryman to pun with.
My residence will be, under Chimborazo, a fine
situation for a poet. Colonel Hall is ordered
here to command the engineer department.—
Young is at his estate in Esmeraldas.