Star.
London, England, 1818-10-08 00:00:00

SOUTH AMERICA.

PORT SPAIN, JULY 29.
" I enclose you an account M the manner of the
death of Lieutenants Hails and Watson, of the Na;ey,'
who left this lately, with a black boy, in a boat bound
to Angostura. -Tl*boat belonged to Lieut: Watson,
and with only the boy in question they proceeded
along the south side of this island, and had entered'
the Macaree Creek (one of the mouths of the Orinoco)
when they were taken by a Spanish armed canoe,
and put to death, as stated in an affidavit, made
here before an Alcalde de Barrio. it was at first re-
ported that they were killed defending themselves,
and after killing four and wounding three of their
assailants; but it now appears that three individuals
were not rash enough to oppose twenty or thirty, but
submitted, not conceiving. of course, that worse
could follow for breaking the block isle, than the loss
of their boat a.:si what goods they might have on
board. Lieutenant Harsis had never been employed
in the service of Venezuela, but had made several
voyages with great success, a; C ytain of an English
schooner, employed by Mr. Littlepage, of this island,
in bringing mules from Guayana for supplying the
planters. In this trade he had picked up, by his own
little adventures, a few husidred dollars. and acquired
a knowledge of the navigation of the Orinoco, and the
commerce it led to with the interior, of which he was
anxious to profit, and associated Lieut. Watson in his
plans. His view was to proceed up as far as San
Fernando de Apure, and thereby obtain the best
market, and returns at the first hind, and for this
purpose Watson's boat was a very handy conveyance.
By the unfortunate and premature fate of those ac-
tive, intelligent young men, their country has lost
much useful commercial information, which they
would have acquired had they been able to realize
their plan, and for which they were peculiarly well
adapted by their nautical skill, habits, and enterpriz-
ing Under existing circumstances, they
would have possessed the facility of exploring the ex-
tensive inland navigation. of the Apure, Meta, &e.
But all this was blasted by the hand of an assassin,
N. hose very crew, all &mhos, it appears, refused to
esecute the execrable mandate. It is thus that the
best blood of Venezuela has been shed, by the vilest
ruffians during the whole course of the Revolution,
assuming the right, whenever they possessed the
means,rind thereby giving rise to a war of retalia-
tion and extermination, at which human nature re .•
volts! But to murder Englishmen, in their pursuits
of trade, was reserved to the agonizing efforts of
monopoly. This horrid example may prevent others
from exposing themselves in so defenceless a manner,
but will never check our intercourse with any of the
free Governments of South America. It is the worst
way in the world to cure Englishmen of their curio-
sity to explore the recesses of commerce ; but when
every barbarian is a licensed assassin, it behoves them
to be better prepared.
" JULY 20.—T0 those who have laboured in sup-
porting the cause of freedom in South America, it is
truly grateful to see the triumph of truth over the
fabrications of calumny, and all the stale arguments
against a change in the political state of that country,
though re-produced in a thousand shapes, yielding to
the plain dictates of good sense and political expedi-
cacy, bosh in Europe and America. The spirit of
trade, which has carried civilization to the remotest
corners of the globe, claims a great part of the merit
of having conveyed the liberal principles-of our Con-
stitution to the grateful soil of C. lumbia, and of
having fostered the tender plant of rational liberty,
with a protecting hand, against the rude blasts of
despotic power. To the commerce of Great Britain
the world is highly indebted for affording the means
of saving Europe, of liberating America, and prc.
tiably of civilizing Africa. It is the great, engine of
our national prosperity. and diffuses as advantages
whenever it goes, by calling into action and giving
i•alue to the productions of every soil. Such are its
titles to the Aroud eminence on which it stands.
d From experience and conviction, South America
bails our commerce,
.and invites us to augment her
comforts aad conveniences, and to receive in return
her various valuable productions. She offers a par-
ticipation of her rich lands and mild climate, to our
surplus population, under the most liberal institu—
tions. NVithout the expense of garrisons, she offers,
all the rich exports of our colonies and a greater va
riety for our national manufactures t and, in short,
the offers to the trade of the world such fair direct
competition in her markets, as the national industry
of each may entitle them to. This is the broad ba•
us of reciprocity South America offers to Europe, in
lieu of the monopolizing and exclusive system of
Spain; but to the spirit and capital of British mer-
chants, the Continental Powers will chiefly, if not
solely, owe these advan,ages.
6, With the increase of Eutopean population, a
greater number of those wants will be created, which
denominatevie the conveniences and comforts of life;
and of course the consumption will increase, not only
in ratio to the new corners, but in proportion to the
diffusion of knowledge and example among all clas-
ses of the prespnt inhabitants, and the facility of sup-
plying those wants. At present many persons are
bet re .1 on plate in Mexico, who do not know the
convenience of good knives and forks, nor a thousand
other necessaries, which the most moderate circum•
stances afford an Englishman. Indeed the conse-
quence of monopoly and want of intercourse de-
stroyed industry, for want of the stimulus of trade;
and all the comforts of life (of which Spain herself
furnished few, and very imperfectly prepared), came
• too dear to market to be enjoyed by the many.
The want of industry in -the natives of South!
America is an unfounded charge : it was want of
trade and due encouragement. We have witnessed
the distress lately created in England when our trade
• suffered a temporary depression. What then must
be the consequence of a protracted monopoly, by a
nation possessing no internal means of giving any
activity or energy to her commerce, or even protec-
tion to the little she carried on in time of war?
" As distinct and independent Governments, the
various dependencies of Spain can cause no disquiet
to Europe by augmenting their population and re-
sources, since the European family in general will
profit by their trade, without being exposed to the pre-
par.derating
.means placed at the disposal of a single
/lower, particularly governed by an absolute So-
. evereign. The wants of America arc a better guaran-
tee to Europe fur wait: Gaining tLsu..e u)eikil relations