Star.
London, England, 1819-05-29 00:00:00

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FOREICAN

Britain.

,
,

BILL.
Extracts from the Statement of the grounds against the Foreign
Enlistment Bill, now before the House of Commons, agree
dtppp aii\k•Pnlaie Meeting of Ship-Owners and Merchants in
• :•••elts Qty,7/ff the 22d instant :
" It is highly important, in order to obtain a tight
wievr of the question, to trace, from the commence-

Inent,;the.lineffiltonduct which Great Britain has
adopted towards Spinish Ametica.
" Whilst the inhabitants of these countries were
still subjected to the yoke of Spain, and' she herself,
under the controul of France, was leagued against
. England, every effort was made, under the authority
- of the British Government, to foster the discontents
which prevailed, and to call forth, into open resist-
ance against the mother country, all the energies of
that people. To encourage them to attain their in-
dependence, by the most vigorous exertion., and by
the endurance of the greatest sufferings and privations,
the Governors of the West India Islands issued pro-
clamations, assuring them of support and protection,
acid all the British Authorities in that quarter of the
globe, whether civil or military, openly espoused the
cause of resistance to Spain, as the following procla-
mation, issued by the Governor of Trinidad, and ad-
dressed to the other Governors of the West. India
Llands, will abundantly testify:
By virtue of an (initial paper, which I, the Governor of
thil Island of. Trinidad, have received from the Right Hcnour-
able Henry Dun as, Minister of his Britannic Majesty for Fo-
rAgn Affairs, dated 7th April, 1797, which I here publish in
obedience to orders, and for the use wldcla tour Excellencies
may draw from its publication, in order that you May eommu-
ricate its team, which is literally as follows:
The object which at present I desist roost particularly to
recommend to your aftention, is the means that might be best
unapo.4 ins..rate the people of the Continent, near to the
bland-of Trinidad, &orb use oppiessave anti ty tannic system
which supports, with so snitch rigour, the monopoly-of com-
merce, under the title of exclusive registers. which their Govern-
ment litences demand ; shot* draw the greitest advantages'pos-
sibles_and which the locai situation of the island presents, by
, opening a direct and free communication with the other pans of
the world, without prejudice to the commerce of the ikitish
Slidell. In order to fulfil this intention with greater facility, it
will be pntdent for your Excellency to animate the inhabitants
of Trinidad in keeping up the communication which they had
with those of Terra Firma, previous to the eduction of that
island; under the assurance that they will find there an entrepo ,
. . . .

or general magazine of every sott of goods whatever. To this
end his Britannic Majesty has determined in Council to grant
freedom to the Porta of Trinidad, with a direct trade to Great

With regard to the hopes you entertain of raising the spirits
of those peritons, with whom you are in correspondence, to-
wards encouraging the inhabitants to resist the oppressive utho-
city of their Government, L have little more to say, than that
they may be certain, that whenever they are in that disposition,
. .

they troy receive at your hinds all the-succours to be ex pectzci
from his Britannic nujesty, be it with forces, or with army
and ammunition, to any extent; with the assurance, that the
views of his Britannic Majesty go no further than to secure to
them their indTprudence,withuut pretending to any sovereignty
mar their country, nor ceen to interfere in the privileges of the
people, nor in their politica, civil, oc religions rights."
• TIM.I-13 roan., &C.
Puerto dc Eipana, CGth Jane, t797.'
" Nor did the revolutions in Old Spain, cause a
thatigi in a policy so congenial to the feelings of the
British public, and so beneficial to the interests of a
great commercial nation. . It does not appear, that
up to the year 1811, the Proclamations before issued
were revoked by any lawful authority emanating
from the-British Government, or the promises of sup-
port previously and solemnly made, publicly and le-
gitimately retracted.
" Uporrthe restoration of Ferdinand to the Throne
of Spain, a Treaty was made with that Kingdom..
and brthe additrcmal Article,. bearing date 28th ofl
August, 1814, it was stipulated as follows :
' His Britarwic Majesty, being anxious that the
Oubles and disturbances which unfortunately pre-
vail in the dominions of his Catholic Majesty, in Ame-
rica; should entirely cease, and the subjects of those
DroVinces should return to their obedience to their
lawful Sovereign, engages to take the most effectual
measures for preventing his subjects from furnishing
arms, ammunition, or any other warlike article, to
the revolted in America.'

"Flow far such. a Treaty was reconcileable to the
previous engagements of Great Britain towards the
South American Colonies ; how far it was compa-
tible with good faith to abandon the cause of a pe:.ple
encouraged in resistance and hostility by British pro-
mises ; how far a repetition Of the colonial exclusion.
certain to arise from the reinstatement of Spanish do-
minion in South America, could accord with the com-
mercial interests of Great Britain, it is not for the
Committee to decide ; more particularly, as it does
not appoar that this Treaty has ever yet been discussed
in Parliament, or received its sanction and approbation.

The traffic at present carried on with Spanish
Arneric% is far from inconsiderable, and it is daily in-
creasing; and unless checked by impolitic restric-
tions, must continue to increase. The commercial
world have long cherished the hope, that the twenty-
four millions of people which inhabit those extensive
and fertile regions, will, as they become relieved from
the oppressive dominion of Spain, expend a large
part of their inexhaustible resources in procuring
from Great Britain those very articles of merehandize
which have long formed the staple manufacture of
this country, an d afford, in return, a most ample sup-
ply of the precious metals, and other productions the
most valuale.

" It is to be hoped, that the British Legislature
will not be e4sity induced to check a traffic so desira
tile, nor to estingui,ll hopes which offer a fair pros-
pect of affording the best and surest relief to the
commercial distress of the country. How uriient that
distress is, it is needless here to point out ; ►t ►s um-
fortunately tel apparent both at home and abroad ;
nor less so is the fact (well known to the mercantile
world), that th British Merchant scarcely knows at
this moment to what quarterof the world to direct him-
self in seeking profitable employment for his capital.
•
" But it is not on this ground alone that the subject
lr thr 'ion of all classes.
ight to behold in a contest between
d the oppressed, Great Britain take
Nations of Europe, in ranging her-
despotism. For centuries has the
iment of Spain been a standing libel
ape ; and every Englishman remem-
le co►:duct his ancestors pursued in
. Provinces to throw off her insup-
Can any reason be found why the
Britain should now be guided by
or why the cause of Spain should
against the feelings, inclinations,
the whole Empire 7'

• claims the attentic
"itisanewsiF
the oppressor and
the lead of the Isla
• self on the side of
1 Colonial Governm
•
on civilized Europ
I ,• berg with pride thi
aiding the United
portable yoke. C
411onecils of Great
Asher principles, o
now 'be espoused
aad iteterest of the