Star.
London, England, 1830-01-20 00:00:00

COLUMBIA

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.
LETTER XXI.
Doessira, Oft. 11. ISt,.
Si It—Foreign commerce, which in the tranquil years et
the republic had made some progress, has since declined
considerably. War has desolated Columbia; her die-,
sondem, and the want of stability, have discredited ha,;.
mercantile business seeks prospering and peaceable rw
gions ; she has therefore fled from ours. Coalmen*
nourished by calculations and combinations, but when
there is no regularity or fixity, they cannot be formed—
fluctuating systems alarm and confuse her. Before
the unfortunate epoch of 1816, our commercial laws were
more consonant with the principles of political economy,
and with the practice of the most enlightened nations.
Since then, our commercial legislation has been altered,
and has receded. In lieu of imposing the duties of importa-
tion ad valorem, they are now charged after the tariff
rate—a most injurious regulation, adverse to commerce,
because it overcharges all the articles; prejudicial to the
State, as it promotes fraud; and discountenanced
by all the principal mercantile nations, as in every way
disadvantageous. The duties on the importer are en-
couraged, heavy port imports are levied, troublesome
forms are established ; the very payment of the duties is
not facilitated. There is no system of credit, and ports
of deposit are as yet unknown.•

Amongst the measures inconsiderately adopted, and
most ruinous to foreign and domestic commerce, is the
re-enactment of the A lcarala ; an ancient impost, and
most ruinous, as it pursues inexorably the proprietor and
property, until by force of registeries and annoyances, it
destroys the patience of the one, and eats up the other by
the repetition and exorbitancy of its collection.

From these causes, importation has greatly diminished
in these last years, with prejudice to the consumer, and
national treasury. From these and other analogous
motives, many products which we might export, perish
in our fields, to the loos of the public wealth. From the
want of natural produce to effect a barter, the foreigner
also carries away almost all our precious metals--
even without their being coined—thus depriving the
State not merely of the duties on extraction, but also of
the fifth on smelting and stamping; therefore as money
is, according to the economists, that which gives anima-
tion and encouragement to all the works and speculations
of a people, Columbia is by this substraction, rendered
lifeless and poor.
To this must be added an endemic infirmity which we
have inherited from Spain—the contraband disease—
every trader thinks he has a right to make war against
the Fish. He prides himself in defrauding it, and does
it whenever he can—so that if remedies be not ap-
plied in time, commerce will still more abandon Co-
lombia, and the consequences will be disastrous.
Our industry is also in a deplorable state. Disciples
of the Spaniards, we are even far behind our backward
masters. This is owing to the ease with which sub-
sistence is procured, to the want of proper distribu-
tion of labour, and the scarcity of machinery, and tools
for all purposes. The mechanical works of Columbia
are worse ; and if on the one hand the little luxury and
absence of all taste, which prevailed in the colonial regime,
restricted us to the execution of merely what was indis-
pensable,—on the other hand, the difficulty to establish
manufactories before our political transformation, and the
impossibility to contend against the foreign manufactures,
have habituated us to supply ourselves from abroad, with
almost every thing we use. Manufactories ace, from the
nature of things, slow to naturalise themselves in new
countries; and we must not expect a favourable change
in this respect, until our population has augmented, or
steam-engines have given more than equal power to indus-
try. The Colombians must bear in mind, that the force
of modern nations consists in commerce, industry, and
the quantity of its produce. The usefulness which each
individual adds to the mass, contributes more to its strength
than an extension of territory, or augmentation of its inha-
bitants. In the mining branch, we were most advanced ; and
though we are far distant from realising those high ex-
pectations which were entertained in England, yet with
the progress made in the gold and silver ,mines, with
which our western Cordilleras, and the coasts of the
Great Ocean, principally abound; and with the benefits
we shall derive from the mines of coprr, iron, lead,
quicksilver, and platina, which are found in various parts
of our territory, this branch is even now of the greatest
importance for the enrichment of the Republic.
The poverty of Columbia is further encreased by the
removal of capital, in consequence of our political dis-
orders, and that want of confidence which has caused
the secretion of considerable sums, which will not re-
appear till stability and order are secured. Our moral
and social condition is contingent on this state of
things..

In the lowest class of our population, the grossest
ignorance prevails, with habits of uncleanliness very
prejudicial to health, a laziness most torpid, and a total
want of elevated and moral sentiment, and principle.
In the middle class, which is the thermometer by
which a people may be best judged, we find much that
true patriotism may desire.
There are no doubt some varieties of national cha-
racter in our Provinces, according to the facilities afforded
for the intercourse with strangers, and the modifications"
of climate; but in general, even in this middle class,
the precious maxim is not respected, " that nations, to
be worthy of liberty, must renounce all the seductions of
indolence."

If, however, education and morality are not ,more ad-
vanced, the-soil is a legacy we inherit from our
fathers ; and we also owe it to the war, Sand
internal troubles, which have relaxed our social
ties. There is no attachment to paternal institutions,
no public spirit, no opinion in the mam—little exactitude
in business, and regularity is the eudiset of its details ;
want of consistency in ideas and projeeis, a certain indis-
cretion in conduct, and an iadimpakies to sociability.—
Enterprise is null, and as the Government cannot afford
to give a requisite impulse, all is fiat and neglected ; but
as a counterpoise to these ills, an excellent natural dis-
position is to be found every where—an amiable temper—
the greatest kindness and docility ; a noble ambition, a
general national pride—offspring of our sufferings, sacri-
fices, and triumphs. This is a principle of good, if a
proper direction be given to it, and may engender, with
time, those valuable social qualities, and those civil vir-
tues which have adorned and aggrandised other nations.
The Government, it is but just to any, has done what cir-
cumstances permitted, by encouraging instruction—mul-
tiplying Lancesterian Schools ; augmenting the Colleges
and houses of education ; by organising and Upswing
the system of study; and by creating new Universities
ter public instruction.
6ARCLA DILL MO.
• Tare have been few Ilse decrees es this eabjeee mobil*"
freepen
Doty paid ea all geed, add by reuses, awl tub doe sall.
. .
Zasava no Lama IL—stet vas arm the WI"1 NW ter
lems.--rbrere which Wand. read illiPilar-311161*MIMithe tee.
awed lehuan—apprebed beale. read amerce••

DOVER. Ant. 19.

Arrived, the Britannia steamer, from Boulogne this morn-
ing. at 9 o'clock, with Mr. and Mrs. N. M. Rol n scums.
and two sons, on their return from France to London.
They took breakfast at Wright's Hotel, and left at 10
o'clock for Canterbury. The Loan", which was the object
of Mr. ROT SC II I L D'S visit to Paris, seems to have been)
advantageously negotiated. as it rose, 3 days ago► If per
cent. with the prospect of an advancing premium. The
cold in France is spoken of as extremely severe ; and in
Russia and Gerruany, travellers recently arrived say that
no season, in point of rigid severity, had equalled it since'
1812 and 1813, during Bonaparte's calantitons visit to
Moscow.

THE ARMY

On the arrival of the grand division of the 17th Infantry at New
South Wake. from Chatham, the 57th Regiment well proceed frees
the former station to Madras..
On the arrival of the 57th Regiment in Neff South Wain la
the Madras district, the second battalion of the lot or Royal Re-
giment will return to England.
The 49.11 Regiment wiU also return house front 'Madras, on being
telitir.ll by the 6td Regiment From this Garrison.
The 46th Foot, ne Old Canieronians, have gut the usual aug-
mentation of force, on being appointed to the Madras station.
John M' Namara. Rag. has been promoted to a Lieutenancy in
the 49th Regiment, in the Bengal district.
The Lord Win. Reattach transport, with invalids from Malta,
is arrived at Portsmouth. Lieut. Murray, 45th Regiment, is come
borkea passenger in her.

Jrcachipent belonging to the Itis (the Quern's usenriarneggiosatt
.f light Drasomis (Hussars) marched. yesterday mo . from
Loudon, (or Bristol, on route to jots the regiment at Newbridge
barracks.

A detatchment belonging to thr 12th (Pais( Suffolk) regiment of
Foot, marched. yesterthy morning, (rum London. for Bristol, on
route to join the reserve companies at Londonderry.

I.IIII4ItICK. J•r. 16.

All officers. non-commissioned officers, and privates, now absent
from their liejimenta or Perot', must return to their quarters on
or before Use 10th of March next.

A Court Martial is ordered to he held in Calk. on two oilcan sit
the 6Sth lteginxnt,qunrtered at Fernley, for ungendrotaislike con-
duct whilst on their passage Imin North America to Ireland.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

Mane Aisatven Tots Day.—Dublin I—Waterford —France 1.
The London Packet, Holmes, from London to Fero, was driven
no shore near 31argate, on Monday night.
The T•abel, Dean, from Demerara, has arrived nll Cape Clear.
The Vtne,lrom Perth to London, was wrecked near Lynn os
the lath inst. Crew saved.
DEAL, Jam. 19 —Wind S.P.
Poanasorrit, Jaw. IR—Wind &E.—Arrived the Non. Dark,
bolts St. Übe's.
PLTMotrtil, Jaw. 18.—Wind EN.lL—Arrived the Judith sod
Esther, Payne, from Seville.
Fatasouni, Jaw. 19.—Wind E.—Arrived the Henry, White,
from Gibraltar.