Star.
London, England, 1824-08-11 00:00:00

people; but a recent traveller, M. Aloßier, has de-
scribed the people as having a repugnance to Te ser-
vice. Some cities, as Buenos Ayres, have formed vo- 1
• lunteer corps; bit in general the military spirit is not
very prevalent among the South Americans, and if
they were attacked by a regular army, they would de-
fend themselves by rapid marches, repeated surprises,
and feigned retreats, which are suited to the character
of their troops. It is an important circumstance that
the Spanish language is not the dominant one, and pre-
vails only in the Church, among the people connected
with the administration of public affairs and of justice;
and in some towns the Indian languages were too well
formed, and too deeply rooted to give place to that of
the conquerors, or even to feel its influence. In Mexico,
the intequc, in Guatimala the Cachiquele, in New Gre-
nada the j%losca, in Peru the Qniclina, and in*Chili the
Araucan, are the only languages used by the people.
An European army would be nearly everywhere fo-
reigners." We shall not follow M. Alalte Brun
in his estimate of the moral and political force of the
new Governments, but come to what he says as to pre-
serving their independence. " Will the cultivators of
the soil," he asks, desire that ancient regime which
would order them to root out their vines, their tobacco,
and their hemp, to favour the cultivation of the mother
country? Nothing is more striking than the reduction
in the price of commodities which has taken place since
the beginning of the Revolution. Things have fallen
Iloo.per cent. and will the Americans give up these ad-
vantage.? A single class, that of the Clergy, appears
to superficial 'observers inclined to favour a counter-re-
volution in America. The great wealth of the Clergy
is a subject of uneasiness for them, and a temptation
for the Governments. The differences with the Holy
See and the emigration of some Bishops, proved that at
feast a part of the Clergy had some fear of the inde-
pendent Governments. But hitherto the new Govern-
menu have not molested the Clergy in the possession of
their property. The Cures sit in the Congress of Co—
lombia, and have shewn themselves very republican:
the Bishops assisted to place Iturbide on the throne of
Mexico; the Monastic Orders share the public power in
Guatimala and Chili, and everywhere the majority of
the Clergy have taken their places in the new order of
things. The Court of Rome has entered into a formal
treaty with the Republics of Colombia and Chili, recog-
nising in their Presidents the same rights in ecclesiastical
affairs as are enjoyed by Catholic Sovereigns. It can
scarcely be expected, after this exposé, that the Clergy
will excite the Indians to rise in favour of Spain. We
do not speak of domestic quarrels; and if the Clergy
and the Republics should quarrel at some period, they
would probably prefer to the ancient order of things
two or three independent Monarchies, under Italian,
Spanish, or Austrian Princes. A sentiment of this kind
among the upper classes of the Clergy is evident in
some mandements, sermons, and other authentic public
documents now lying before us. The separation, there-
fore, of Spanish America seems to us decided, in spite
of their feeble military power, and the germs of discord
which they contain, and in spite of the facilities which
Spain, when thoroughly, established, might find in the
bravery of her subjects, to attempt new but fruitless en-
terprises in the new world." In conclusion, M. Make
Brun recommends Spain to recognise the independence
of her Colonies, and thus give herself a claim to their
gratitude, and a share of their commerce.—Journal des
Debats.

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