Star.
London, England, 1825-02-05 00:00:00

ASSURANCE COMPANIES.

SHAUL PAID. PRICII NM SNAIL
AU._ Brit. For. Fire & Life £lOO - £lO -
Do. Marine - - 100 - 5 - 7#
Protector Fire - - -20 - 2 - 11 2

MINES.

MARL PAID. MICE PIM SNARL
Anglo Mexican - • ,Elto £lO - isa. sts pm. - 95 90
Anglo Cbilian - - 100 - 5 - - 10 Di
Brazilian - - 100 - 5 - 5 - 232124 211
Chihan - - 100 - 5 - - 13 11
Colombian - - 100 - 5 - S - 113 32
General Mining Association - - -12 111 pre.
I'aseo Peruvian - 100 - 5 - -23 20 pre.
Rio de la I'lata - 100 - 5 - - 20
United Mexican 40 -20 - 2 pm. - 95 40
Welch Iron & Coal - 25 - 5 - - gi Pre.

In consequence of the length at which we gave the
debates on the opening of Parliament, in the STAR of
yesterday, we had little room for making those obser-
vations on his MAJESTY'S Speech which we were de-
sirous of offering. We, therefore, now recur to the sub-
ject, and with feelings of gratification isnd exultation.
At no period of our history has the opening of the Ses-
sion of Parliament taken place under more propitious
circumstances, nor do we recollect, in the whole course
of our political existence, a Speech from the Throne
containing so much, both of matter and information,
nor any one expressed in such clear and elegant lan-
guage. Unlike the style adopted on some former occa-
Pions, his MAJESTY s present Speech appears to us to
be a manly statement of the affairs of the nation, the
policy by which they have been directed, and the future
course intended to be pursued, on some of the most im-
portant measures affecting our national interests.
The universal prosperity of the Empire, which natu-
rally forms a prominent feature of the Speech, is, whether
we view it with reference to the past or future state of
the country, a subject on which we may indulge both
exultation and hope. The wise and liberal principles
which have been acted upon with such success, are
happily still in operation, and will, we are convinced,
under the blessings of PROVIDENCE, be the means of
elevating Great Britain to a pinnacle of glary, wealth,
and power, unexampled in the history cf nations.
Next in interest to the internal prosperity of our own
land are the relations which exist with those countries
of America Which have so loag and successfully
struggled for their independence. The feelings and
interests of the Public ate so much in favour of the
recognition of thole States, that the declaration made in
his MAJESTY'S Speech, that measures have been taken
for confirming, by Treaties, the commercial relations
already subsisting between them and this Kingdom,
cannot fail to be received with satisfaction, from one end
of the country to the other. These measures must be
considered vie tually as a recognition of the South Ame-
rican Statel as linieliendent Governments; and if any
doubt on this subject could exist from the words of the
Speech, the question was distinctly set at rest by the
language used by Mr. CANNING, in his eloquent reply
to Mr. BROUGHAM'S observations. The Right Honour-
able Gentleman avowedly acknowledged the scope and
effect of the measures in progress, and ably proved that
both the mode and time taken by his Majesty's Govern-
ment to enter into treaties with the S:ates of Buenos
Ayres, Colombia, and M4tico, bad been judiciously
adopted. •
It is impossiqe to calculate on the mutual advantages
hick ate likely to result to out selves and these States,
from the coOirriercial and friendly intercourse which will
nuw be carried on with confidence and security. British
capital, which has already, through private enterprise,
contributed in so material a degree to raise these States
to their present condition, stall now flow in secure
streams through countries so 1 ichly abounding in chan-
nels for its employment, and v. bile new energy will
thus be given to those States, the commerce of this
country will be extended beyond the power of calcula-1

[don; and its capital, increased to an in!efinite extent.
will return to adil new vigour to our own resources,
and will again find a vent for employment in other ob:
jests which will benefit the condition of mankind. Our
present state and future prospects, therefore, are alike
felicitous and encouraging.

Letters arts reported to be in town from Bogota, of
the 19th November, stating that BOLIVAR, had completely routed
CANTILRAC, near Apurima. Where the battle was fought, whence
the intelligence has been derived, or by whom received, we know
not. We, however, have no fear of Peru being soon free of the
Spanish troops. We may add, that we are not aware of any town
of the name ofiApurima, in Peru ; there is a large river, called the
Aputimac, which rises in the province of Abancay, and passing
through Cuzco, enters the Maranon with a vastly augmented stream.

It is stated that a Spani,h Ambassador, a M. Rios,
has actually arrived in L'indon, in order to remon-
strate with his MAJEsTy's Guvernment against our
recognition oldie South American Republics. Remon-
strance now comes too late ; for fourteen years has our
mediation been asked, and granted to Spain, to effect a reconcilia-
tion with her Colonies; but no definite or intelligible proposition—
no basis on which a negotiation with any prospect of success could
be opened, was fixed on by Spain. Year after year, and mouth
after month, Spain was invited to be the first to recognize the
independence of States which she could not prevent ; our Go-
vernment wished Spain to have ail the credit and advantages of
being the first to recognise her late Colonies, reminding her that the
time was rapidly approaching when England would of necessity re-
gard it as a duty, both to her own subjects and to the world, to se•
cure, by the accustomed forms of regular compact and of diploma-
tic intercourse, the maintenance of those relations, political as well
as commercial, which it 14 the undoubted right of all Sovereign
States to establish with each other.

Spanish arrogance and folly would not hear the considerate pro-
posals ne the British Government. FERDINAND and his Ministers
rejected the proposilon to treat South America as an independent
Power, not only within the time allowed by Mr. Secretary CANNING,
but at any given period, or under any definite circumstances. The
British Government felt that it might wait until doomsday before
Spain would exercise a policy equally dictated by justice and pru-
dence ; and three of the South American States baying established
well-organized Governments, England conk! no longer delay enter-
ing into treaties with them.

The following just observations on this subject, are
from the Times of this morning :

" Well was it said by the Mover of the Address in the House of
Lords, that the Independence of the American States was un-
questionable; but not so was that of Spain herself—now a poor
appendage of the French monarchy. What, then, is the business of
this new Ambassador here? He comes, we are told, with some talc
of a tub, that our recognition was unseasonable, because a nego-
ciation was at the time in progress between the Spanish Govern-
ment and the South Americans, for adjusting their differences by
treaty—that the Colonists were to be declared independent by Spain,
but to submit to 5e governed by Spanish Viceroys !' And to whom
was the offer made ? How has it been received? And by whom?
And how are the South American Governments parties to it ? Of
all these particulars, so essential to the thing called ' negotiation,'
we shall hear, no doubt, an edifying history from his Excellency
M. Rios. But the farce is too gross, and Mr. CANJUSe is fully com-
petent to treat it as it deserves."

On referring to the proceedings in the Court of
King's Bench yesterday, it will be seen that the LORD CHIEF
JUSTICE considers the Act of Gm J. called "the Bubble Act," to
be still in force, and that the transactions of the embryo Com-
panies come within the scope of that tenthly penal stattite.
His Lordship further states, that though to associate fur the pur-
pose of procuring an Act of Parliament may not be illegal, " yet
to go further, and before persons are so authorised, to create
transferable shares, and require their atdaseribers to submit them-
selves to the orders of a Committee," is doing that WHICH sus
Law wri.r. NOT WARRANT; and the Judges of the King's Bench, are
unanimously of opinion, that all contracts made for the transfer j

suck shares ♦aa VOID ! Nay, further, the LORD Cunt Justice is
strongly inclined to think, that " this buying and selling of shares
is illegal at common law, as wagering about an Act of Parliament to
be wiled for in future."
We hope that this question wtll be settled by some new enact-
meat, and that an obsolete Act of Parliament, the penalties of
which are so severe as probably to have led to its disuse, will not
be revived.