Star.
London, England, 1829-07-06 00:00:00

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We owe much apology to LUSITAVIVIS bls first letter, certainly,
to-morrow.

We have read, with regret, in one of the most influ-
ential of the Morning Journals of this day, the follow-
ing sweeping condemnation of between three and
four millions of people, who have had virtue enough
to give the example of independence to all South Ame-
rica, and to have proved their heroic devotion to its
cause during nearly twenty years struggle, accompa-
nied with the greatest sacrifices that ever were nude by
al people contending for a political existence.
" In Colombia the assumption of the Supreme autho-
rity by BOLIVAR has been the sole temporary remedy
within the reach of the inhabitants for misrule, anarchy,
and general misery, resulting from an incurable want
of virtue and wisdom, throughout all classes of the po-
pulation."

That there was misrale, which was attended with all
its concomitant evils, cannot be denied ; but who had
the good sense to recognize that misrule, and the pa-
triotism to call for, and apply its remedy? General
BOLIVAR did not assume the Supreme authority
de proprio moiu—sustained as those assumptions have
been, ninety-nine times out of a hundred, in all similar
cases recorded in history—by an armed force: but he
was required to exercise the dictatorial functions by the
spontaneous feeling and voice of all the inhabitants of
the country, sensible of their misgovernment, and
anxious for its improvement. Was this desire for re-
formation, order, and regulation of the State a proof of
an incurable want of virtue and wisdom throughout all
classes? or is it to be found in the tranquillity which
has followed, and in the support which has been given
to the salutary decrees of their Chief? Where is that
derangement of society—those crimes—that violence—
those disorders, which constitute a nation of brigands?
A few political enthusiasts, instigated by a desperate
and wicked aspirant, armed their poignards, it is true,
against the life of General BOLIVAR, and in their mad-
ness imagined they were actuated by a love of free.
dom : but in no country in Europe have person and
property been more generally secure than in Colombia
since the expulsion of the Spaniards. Amongst innu-
merable proofs of the same nature it may be cited as
an unequivocal fact, that the post which weekly leaves
the capital of the country for Carthegena, and also that
which goes from Caraccas and Quito to Bogota, tra-
versing in its course many hundred leagues of forest
and mountainous districts, and a hich post conveys each
time not less than from Su to 50,000 dollars, and some-
times double, although accompanied by only two men,
absolutely necessary to load the mules, was never
known to be plundered, except in the recent instance
of the revolt of Colonel °BAND°, who, to pay his fac-
tion, seized one of the post bags in which money was
conveying from Quito to Bogota.
In no country is justice more rapidly administering,
and the weekly published reports of the different Civil
and Criminal Courts in the Republic, prove that of-
fences, notwithstanding the mixed character of the po-
pulation, and the number of freed blacks, are of a very
mitigated description, and that there is far from being
a vexatious and quarrelsome spirit of litigation.

Where is there " an incurable want of virtue and wis-
dom" in a country which has established five Univer.
skies, in which all the useful sciences are taught, and a
Lancasterian School in every Village? Or is this turbid
viciousness to be found in that prevailing spirit of phi-
lanthropy,which—supportiug the general law of manu-
mission—is constantly, by voluntary acts, emancipating
Slaves, lists of which are to be read in every newspaper
that comes to England?
Finally, are the Colombians a race so reckles of the
value of stable, free institutions, as only to desire arbi-
trary Government ? or has not General BoLivait him-
self manifested a contrary opinion, by seizing the first
opportunity to convoke a Constitutional Assembly, into
the hands of which he may resign that irresponsible
power which he has so nobly and beneficently exer-
cised I'

We said we should attend to South American affairs.
We will do so impartially—admonish when it is neces-
sary, but defend when accusation is unjust.
In a day or two we shall have some observations to
make on the state of Mexico, where various personal
interests are constantly at work to make erroneous re-
presentations for exclusive personal objects.

The Papers of this morning all exhibit an account of
the Revenue of the quarter ending on Saturday the 4th
instant, the sth being Sunday. The result is, as com•l
paled with the corresponding quarter of last year, a

• -

deficiency of £347,831. The particulars are stated be-
low. The Morning Herald pretends to account for
£140,000 of this deficit, and says, 41 considering all
things the statement is gratifying, deny it who dare."
The Morning Chronicle observes;—" It is impossible
that the Revenue should always exhibit an increase, but
that it cannot however be denied, that too great a pro-
portion of our Revenue is raised by indirect taxation,
and that the country would be greatly benefited, were
more of it raised directly by a Property Tax." We
deny the conclusion, while we agree with the writer in
another of his observations; namely, that too much
importance is attached, perhaps, to the quarter's Re-
venue. The Times, with its wonted precaution, waits
to see which way the wind blows. The other Papers
offer no opinion on the subject, and if they did, they
would be undeserving of notice. We shall have other
and more favourable opportunities of showing the fal-
lacy of the conclusion of the Morning Chronicle, in re•
gard to indirect and direct taxation, and of showing
how far periodical exhibitions of the proceeds of the
Revenue deserve the attention of the public.

Proceeds of the Revenue for the Quarters ending on the
sth of July.
1828. 1829.
Customs ...
Ricks
Stamps ............... 1,689,325
Post Office
Assessed Taxes .. ... 1,987,531
Bliscellaneous ... ..... 136,782

£12,364,726
For the year ending the sth July,lB2B, the amount was £47,501,545
And for do. sth 1829, do. £47,408,717

Deficiency ... ... ... £92:828

By the last accounts from Rio Janeiro, there appears,
to be no doubt of our having insisted on the Brazilian
Government paying for the losses sustained by British
commerce during the blockade of Buenos Ayres. The
accounts add, that if the money, £400,000, was not
paid on or before the 6th May, reprisals would be
made on the flag of Bi azils. A similar claim had
been made by France; but there is a most material
difference between the two cases. We had acknow-
leged the blockade, and the French Government
had not. The latter had, therefore, every possible
right to push its claims. It remains to be seen
what answer the Ministers of Dora PEDRO have given
to our claims: until we are in possesion of this, it
is impossible to pronounce upon their justice or pro-
priety. We can readily imagine that the payment of so
large a sum, at a moment w hen the Emperor is making
every effort to bring the finances into better order,
cannot fail to be embarrassing. Should the payment
be enforced in the manner threatened, we appeal to
Lord ABERDEEN whether he is not at the same time
bound to insist on some indemnity for the spoliation:
committed on British subjects by Don Shaun.? As to
their sufferings—bodily and mental—while immured in
the dungeons of Lisbon and Oporto, these that contemp-
tible and puny despot can never compensate. We
would also remind the Noble Lord, that according
to the convention entered into by the lamented Mr.
CANNING, Portugal is to pay the expenses of Sir
WILLIAM CLINTON'S armament. Surely the tyrant
will nct refuse this claim, since it was certainly through
the proximity—if not under the protection—of British
bayonets, that he effected, by a series of atrocities till
now unheard of, his most iniquitous and unnatural
usurpation.

The German Papers, just received, do not contain
any further news from the Theatre of War. There is
a singular article from the Danube of so late a date as
the 18th, which we recommend to the perusal of our
readers.

FROM THE DANUBE, 3m 18.

The Algesssine Srilung lately published an article which, if the
statements it contains were well founded, would be fully calcu-
lated to excite apprehensions respecting the continuance of the
good understanding between the great Christian Powers. This
article states, under the head of Leghorn, that according to accounts
received at that port from Alexandria, a part of the Egyptian troops
was to be embarked, in order to reinforce the army of the Sultan
in Europe. It is added that an European Power had induced this
important change in the destination of the force, the whole of
which was at first to have been sent to Erzerount. If we
recollect that there is in the Levant a Russian naval form,
which would certainly be sufficiently strong to hinder the con-
veyance of the Egyptian troops to the coast of Europe, it seems
that it could not be effected except under the protection of a Eu-
ropean power,—a transaction which would be evidently hostile to
Russia, and would, in all probability, soon lead to hostilities. By
the European Power spoken of, England must certainly be meant ;
but, without pretending to have dived into the real sentiments of
the Cabinets, we find it difficult to discolor a reasonable motive
to induce the Cabinet of St. James's to provoke a state of things
which would undoubtedly be attended with great disadvantage to
the British interest, while, even on the most favourable supposition,
the advantages seem extremely problematical. So long as the above
statement is not confirmed by facts, we may retain the belief
that the war between Russia and Turkey will not extend further—
especially as its results thus far are not of such a nature as to afford
grounds for the interference of a third Powcr, on the trivial pre.
text of probable danger to what is called " the balance of payer."