Star.
London, England, 1811-10-01 00:00:00

~.,s of justice, undertook to frustrate all onr legi-
.mate rights, by condemning as criminals and dews-
.ing to the infamy of the gibbet, or to confiscation
and banishment, those Americans who at different pe-
riods had employed their talents and services for the
happiness of their country.
" Such were tile causes which at length have im-.
pelled us to look to our own security, and to avert
those disorders and horrible calamities which we
could perceive were otherwise inevitable, and from
which we shall ever keep aloof ; by their felt
policy, they have rendered our brethren insensible
to our misfortunes, and have armed them against
us ; they have effaced from their hearts the tender
impressions of love and consanguinity, and conver-
ted into enemies many members of our great family.
When, faithful to our promises, we were sacrificing
our peace and dignity to support the cause of Ferdi-
pand of Bourbon, we saw that to the bonds of power
by which he united his fate to that of the Emperor
,olthe French, he added the sacrifice of kindred and
Mends • and that on this account the existing Spa-
nish rulers themselves have already resolved to ac-
knowledge him only conditionally.
0 In this painful state of perplexity. three years
have elapsed in political irresolution, so dangerous,
so fraught with evil, that this alone would have. au-
thorized the determination which the faith we had
pledged and other fraternal attachments had caused
us to defer, till imperious necessity compels us to
proceed further than we had at first contemplated ;
but, pressed by the hostile and unnatural conduct of
the Spanish rulers, we are at length absolved from
the conditional oath which we had taken, and now
take upon us the august sovereignty, which 'we are
called here to exercise.
" But as our glory consists in establishing princi-
ples consistent with human happiness, and not erect-
-1 ing a partial felicity on the misfortunes of our fellow
i mortals, we hereby proclaim and declare, that we
shell regard as friends and companions in our des-
tiny,_ and participators in our happiness, all those,
who, united by the ties of blood, language, and reli.
;ion,
have suffered oppression under the ancient
es-
tablishments, and who shall assert their independence
thereof; and of any foreign power whatsoever; en-
gaging that all who co-operate with us, shall partake
in life, fortune, and opinion ; declaring and recogniz-
ing not only these, but those of every nation, in war
enemies—in peace friends, brethren, and fellow-ei-
ozens.
" In consideration, therefore, of these solid public
and incinnestible motives, which force upon us the
necessity of reassuming our natural rights, thus re-
stored to us by the revolution of human affairs, and
in 'virtue of the imprescriptible rights of every peo-
ple, to dissolve every agreement, convention, or so-
cial compact, which does not establish the purposes
for which alone all Governments are instituted, we
are convinced that we cannot and ought not any
longer to endure the chains by which we are connec-
ted with the Government of Spain ; and we do de-
clare, like every other independent people; that we
are free, and determined to hold no dependence on
any potentate, power, or government, than that we
ourselves establish ; and that we now take among
'the sovereign nations of the earth the rank which the
SUPREME BEING and Nature have assigned to us, and
Ito which we have been called by the succession of
• human events, and by a regard for own happiness.
a Although we foresee the difficulties which may
attend our new 4:. aation, and the obligation which
'we contract by the rank which we are about to uc-„
copy in the political order of the world : and above
all, the powerful influence of ancient forms and ha-
bits, by which, to our regret, we have been hitherto
affected ; yet we also know that a shameful submis-
sion to them, when it is in our power to shake them
off, would prove more ignominious to ourselves, and
more fatal to posterity, than our long and painful
servitude. It therefore becomes our indispensible du-
ty to provide for our security, liberty, and happiness,
by an entire and essential subversion and reform of
our ancient establishments.
a Wherefore, believing for all these reasons, that
we have complied with the respect which we owe to
the opinions of mankind, and to the dignity of other
nations, with whom we are about to rank, and of
whose friendly intercourse we assure ourselves :
" We, the Representatives of the Confederated
Provinces of Venezuela, invoking the Mosr HIGH to
witness the justice of our cause, and the rectitude of
our intentions, imyloring his divine assistance to re-'
tifY, at the epoch of our political birth, the dignity
to which his providence has restored usa the ardent
desire to live and die free, and in the belief and the
defence of the Holy Catholic aid Apostolic Religion
of JESUS Crousr, as the first of our duties :
o We, therefore, in the name, by the will, and un-
der the authority which we hold for the virtuous peo-
ple of Venezuela, do solemnly declare to the world,
that these United Provinces are and ought to be,
from this day forth, in fact, and of right, tree, sove-
reign, and independent States ; that ,they arc absol-
vie,. from all allegiance and dependence on the crown
of Spain, and of those who now call or may hereafter
call themselves its representatives or agents ; and
that, as tree, sovereign, and independent States, we
hold full power to adopt whatever form orgitivern-
menc may be. deemed suitable to the general will of
its inhabitants—to declare war, make peace, form
alliances, establish commercial treaties, define boun:,
daries, and regulate navigetion—and to propose and
execute all other acts usually made and executed by
free and independent nations ; and for the due fulfil-
ment, validity, and stability of this, our aolemn de-'
claration, we mutually and reciprocally pledge and
bind the provinces to each other, our lives, fortunes,
and the honour of- the nation.
a Done at the Federal Palace .of the Caraccas,
signed with our hands, and sealed with the great.
seal of the Provincial Confederation, and Coun-
tersigned by the Secretary to the Congress, as-
sembled on the sth day of July, in the year 1811,
and in the first of our Independence."
[Here follow the signatures of the Depu-
ties from the different Provinces.]


i

DECREE OP THE SUPREME EXECUTIVE.

" Fedural Palace of Ctraccas, July S, 1811.
" By the Executive Power of the Confederation of
Venezuela, it is ordained, that the above declaration
of iiidependence be publi.hcd, carried into effect, and
be of lull authority, throughout the States and Ter.
ritories of this Confederation." tiiiptcd, kc.

i

. .
,e'' NEW-YORK, AUGUST .2.6. Lions to remove and prevent these frauds which thnst
A letter from Philadelphia, received by this morn- persons practice, guided by their own mercenary in
ing's mail, states, that the French privateers Dili- terest and sordid avarice, regardless of honour an.;
gent and Marengo had put to sea, but on discovering probity, and who have no fear before their eyes of
a British frigate or two on the coast, returned to Cape the neglect of my Royal Decrees ; and further, it
May roads. The same letter adds, that, on Sunday being for the benefit of the public that the imposts
last the brig Milo, bound from Bourdeaux to Balti- should be punctually discharged. that be metes may
more, with a valuable cargo, was captured, off the be afforded to answer to the expences and urgent ne-
Capes of the Delaware, by the British frigate Delve- cessities of the State to which they are applied ; and
dera, and ordered to Halifax. it not being just that other nations should enjoy the
We some days since stated, that Capt. Ordonnaux, privileges granted to the English in return far other
of the French privateer Marengo, had arrived in tits advantages, stipulated in favour of Portuguese nevi-
city, with several trunks and boxes of treasure. We gation and commerce, I have, in my Royal pleasure.
since learn, that he has deposited in our Banks up- determined as follows
aftoenrtt,hacnd ofetolifistheStatseeLetotuersios
14,13,
wards of 200,000 dollars in specie, 33,000 of which I. All the ships and shipments which depart tram foreirn
were taken from the English ship Exchange. The P(a'sabte°o7,itieredthotsimeneofmuounr
tKlisin
Marengo is pilot-boat built, 191 tons, carries 10 guns, tent, to.bringg and exhibit a manifest sod bills of Ic.asilng. that a
and has a crew of 70 men (with the exception of the competent note may be made of all the goods on bead. and to
Tracers). composed chiefly of vagabonds of all na- ascertain if any have been disposed of. Ihe instincts of the
tions. The Captain of the Belvedera British frigate Government, the invoices of the pods prepared at the manu-
factories, the permit, of the Custom-houses of the rot of de-iar •
supposed it to be this privateer, when he ran foul of
. tore, and the cerdficates of the Olcen of such Cocteau-hoot b.
the schooner Susan, off Long Branch. sanctioned by the Portuguese Consuls residing at the place, is
A VoUsT 27.—French Privateer Diligent captured.— by persons authorised to act for them, will be required. By tin...
The Philadelphia pilot-boat Pennsylvania was board -• 'documents i: will be ascertained if the merchandise belong to
ed off Cape May, by the British frigate Belvedere;
Ili:wtie:4 which are at peace with my Royal Crown, tar if they are
produou of Englitli industry, and liable only to the 15 jar
Captain Biron, who informed him that they were
,farts. duty:
looking out for a French privateer brig that he.un- •
2. By these documents, by the invoices, and by an oath pre-
derstood was to sail in a day or' tseo from the Dela- , scribed, it shall also be proved, that the goods and me:0211.1.1e
Au* Portuguese property, and liable only to 16 per cent. acc‘re r.g
ware. At five o'clock next morning, weather thick
i to the Decree of the 11th of June i sms„ln the case of these being
And hazy, Cape May bearing west, distant about 60:4,koilehr in native vessels. And fir the oath, the Notary is to re-
miles, while oar informant was still in company with- .;-se so refs, tied the Judge an equal sum to his signature.
,the frigate, saw the brig heave in sight, but shewedlt - Wherefore, I command all Tribunals of my King-
no colours, upon which the frigate immediately gave 'done and of this Stater Mitaistere.of Justice, and other.
chase, and in about three hours came up with her persons. to whom the knOwledge of Nese Letters Pap
and took possession, but not without first firing a nutn- tent appertain, do corivtrthereWith, anYlaws and
ber of shots into her. The frigate with her prize regulations to the contrary abtwithstandingr And
then stood to the eastward. Our informant, and the this instrument shall have. force, as Mit should have
Philadelphia pilots state her to be the French priva, . passed through our Chancery, supposing it should not
teer brig Diligent, that sailed Iron) the Delaware last so pass, and that its operatiob slit uld cootinie more .
Thursday. , than a-year, any ordinance to the contrary heitwith-
JANI AICA.—We are happy to have been able to standing. Delivered in our Palace of Rio de Janeito;
trace the report of the insurrection of the blacks in . an the 20th of June, 1811.
Jamaica, in such a manner, and to make such corn-4 (Signed) ma sines.
parisons of dates and circumstances, as to warrant usl COMA DE AGDIA R.
in saying, that no credit whatever is to be attached to l Letters Patent having the force Of law, 'by which
it.—New Teri Evening Pest, August 5.6. I your Royal Highness has thought good to order, that
The fast sailing schooner Purse, Captain Turner, all ships coming from foreign ports, and entering
arrived at this port yesterday, in 32 days from Boil:- your Kingdom and State in order to be admitted,
deaux, from whence she sailed on the 22d of Mr.— must produce the passports of ;he Government, 0e
The affair between the President and the Little 'Bolt invoices of the goods prepared at the manufactories,
was known to the trench Government, and had pro- that permits of the Custom.hounwi of the port of de-
duced the release, with permission to sail, of several , parture, and the certificates of the Officers of such
American vessels. i Custem-houses sanctioned by the Portn..--- r. -
iresiding at the !,.or by the

_ place, persons
Pact for them.—For the inspection of your Royal
Highness.
(Signed)
JOAO D\PTISrA DE ALVARENGA PUMMEL.
ii. Registered in the Office of Secretary of State tat
the Affairs of Brazil, in Book I, of Laws, Letters
Patent, and R iyal Letters, at folio 204. • •
(Signed) AlANcuu. comma naeamier
Siplawdre, bine 23, 1411.
I .
.•

authoribed to

I •
FROM THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCEN AUGUST 20. act for oleo.-
44 We have seen in several prints surprise expressed Highness.
at the remoteness of the period at which Congress
has h=en convoked. If, it is said, it was indispensa-
bly necessary to call Congress, why not sooner ? If
not so indispensably necessary, why call them at all ?
The objection is plausible. Our ideas are these: it
' is known to all, that an intimation is held out by the
British Government of an intention to retaliate on
oar Non-intercourse Act, if we should not have SICILY:
thought proper to construe our laws so as to require
at the hands of France a revocation of the French de-
NUMBER IL
crees, as they affect Great Britain as well as ourselves. When a Government refuses to trust arms in the
We know not of what nature those retaliatory mea. hands of its subjects, it has either already merited, et
sures, if adopted, are to be : but the magnitude of the is in.the act of meditating some project, by which t
maritime force of Great Britain, and the preponde.
may merit the vengeance of its subjects. It ,s
rancy of. its influence in the British Councils, suggest '
the probability of its being by a maritime was, or . impossible to deny the truth of this axiom. That
equivalent restrictions on our commerce. Whirknows Governments may tail into. emu's which pmviske
but a blockade of the whole coast of the United States la time the indignation of their subjects, is natural to
may be resorted to ? True, such a blockade was never them, as institutions composed of human beings s
yet heard of; but after what we have seen there is no
but that any Government shoold systematicaUy per -
saying what we may not expect. If anf such measures
are to flow from
sist in a mode of dealing, which it is conscious de. nt our refusal to wage the war for Bri-
tain by requiring such a qualification of French edicts serves to be resisted and punished, is a rare phew).
or commercial regulations as she desires, ought we menon, even in the varieties of political folly and ty.
not to be prepared to resist them, or retaliate on land ? r„,ny. It is true, that individuals towards cements.
The Executive has no power, restricted (and properly
nities have no conscience ; but it is certainly extraor.
restricted) as that department of our Government is,
to adopt any such course ;it therefore has appeared to Binary, that, notwithstauding the tremeadous lessons
us very reasonable that Congress, the great and almost of the times, some Sovereign Princes continue to ex.
sole depository of the power of the nation, should be I cite only the bad passions of their subjects, while they
on the spot about the time when the result of the de. ; are themselves already deeply agitated with fear.
liberations of the British Government on Mr. Foster's
I. The Sicilians are certainly attached to the Rio 1
dispatch, narrating the result of his communications
F
with our Government, may have come to our hand. Family. With the common people the King is very
Whether or not it was the object, it will be the effect popular, and the talents of the Queen are admitted
of the President's proclamation, to convene Congress
y all to be superior. Still the Government is greatly
at this place widfin a few days of the date at which hated, both on account of the system that it pursue.,
we may expect, if at all, to learn the nature of the
threatened retaliation." and the persons who influence the King and Queen.
They are the same persons to whose pernicious coup.
COMMERCE TO47WE BRAZILS. set the Royal Family may ascribe the loss of Naples.
We will, therefore, in speaking of the iisifunsiial go.
ROYAL LETTER* PATENT.
vernment as different from the nominal, cad the in-
I, the Prioce, do make known to all, that the pre.
sent Patent shall have the full lot ce of law. fluential the Neapolitan Cabinet. The circumstances
Having opened and made free the ports of this : of the Sicilian Government are too notorious to te.
state to the vessels and shipments of all foreign na- quire any explanation fox making this distinction.
tions which are at peace u ith my Royal Crown, per. 11. During the last summer, as all the world knows,
mitting the entrance of their merchandize on the pay.
• the Sicilian peasantry very materially assisted in mak.
meat of 421 per cent. according to our Royal Letter
ing prisoners of the French who landed in the neigh. •
of the 28th of January, 1808. Aftersvards, by nor
Decree of the I lth of June of the same year, sse- hourhood of Messina. In a certain official publics..
established the prosperity of Portuguese commerce; :ion, said to be a copy of Sir John Smart's account
industry, and navigation, ordering, that such foreign of that affair, we :egret to say, that it appears Sir
goods as were the property of my faithful vassate,
and as were conveyed in native ships, should pay only Jan has taken more merit to his own army, and
a duty of 16 per cent. ; ordering also, in the 15,11 given less to the Sicilian peasantry, then was due to
paragraph of our Treaty of Commerce of the 19th of . either. We regret, also, since the etiquette of the
February of the last year, agreed upon with my an service required him to make honourable mention of
cleat and faithful ally the King of Great Britain, that,
the Navy, that the Hero of Maids did not specify
15 per cent. and no more, should be paid at the Cus=
torn-hooses of my kingdoms, and in this state, for the particular kind of assistance which he received
commodities that should be the production, make,.ftom the Admiral on that occasion. However
and manufacture of English industry, as if it were the Sicilians were not better treated by the Sea•
the product of my own faithful vassals, as was de-' politan Cabinet. None of them received any ads.
dared in my Decree of the 18th of October of
that year. quate recompence ; and the arms which were distri-
It being probable that ill-intentioned persons, with bused by the British General, as a kind of reward far
the design to defraud me of my Royal Duties, will their zeal and pa riotism, were afterwards by the
' introduce foreign effects and merchandize of enemies Neapolitan Cabinet ordered to be delivered up ?
mixed with those which are admissible into our king-
Why is this Cabinet se jealous of the Silicians, who
doms and dominions, according to the spirit and let.
ter of the said Royal Mandate, and also other goods,' have proved themselves so staunch and trust-worthy ?
under the pretext that they are the produce of British ! Is it afraid that they would be as courageous against
lindustry, in order to pay 15 per cent. only, when 24 itself, as against the common enemy ? The Sicilians
should be paid for them, as being the wares and ma., then have cause to
nufactures of other countries ; or finally, declaring regard this Cabinet as their
them to be Portuguese property, to pay the lower enemy.
They have as yet shewn no hostility.—
duty, conformably with the said Decree.of the 11th I Is it heesmse they have not anus ? Then the withhold'
of June, 1808. • We being desirous of takiaii ?feta*. ing of arms i; the reaym of their submission, and the