The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-06-15
fGDe Gnqs1lrer.
RICHMOND, JUNE IS, 1910.
SOUTH AMERICA.

The general defence Of the Provinces is
conhied TO the Captain general, resident at
Caracas. The Governor of each has 2.
right to take such provisional measures as
are dictated by circurnstances--.but thew
must render an account of these to the Cap
tam general, and are eventually to exc
cue his orders. Z" 1t appears on the first
view, says Depons, that the provinces act
ing upon the same plan, must make de-
fence more systematical and more efficient.
than 1t each acted separately. This would
be the fact 1t they were sufficiently near to
reader mutual assistance. But the immense
distance that separates them, prohibits the
union Of their common forces without much
difficulty and great delay" For instance
1.-The town of Maracaioo is bounded by We.
tnezueia. the lake OF Marac:.ibo. and BY de-.
tSerts 90 leagues in eXtent--these deserts
are between Maracaibo and Truxillo, the
nearest city from which it can expect as
lsistance--and even that reinforcement can.
not be marched without the assent of the
Captain General, who lives more than a
hundred leagues distant.
The notifications of their towns, are few
and defective Depons conceives that in
case OF strong debarkation on the coasts,
the country would be able to Weld very
inefficient resistance--the ports are dis.
tant from each other, 60 or 100 leagues
---the intervals present numberless rivers
and beaches suitable for the debarkation-
there are no fortified places but OH the shore
and they are SO distant from each other.
that whole months are requisite for COM.
munication, even In the most favorable
seasons. he enemy might penetrate into
the country. every day augmenting its force
with new conquests and by cutting off the
Com mnDICatlQu hRtIyeen he i,,ta Il. -,
ports, already blockaded by the SQUADRON.
compel the latter to surrender at discre-
tion, through famine, without the loss of
single Cartridge"
The troohS are few in number, though
their discipline and strength are on the adj.
vance. The armed force consists of troops
OF the line and of the militia. For, that
neither cultivation nor commerce NAV be
too much interrupted, the service is dstin
gushed into ordinary and rdinary.-
The first is executed by troops of the line,
or regular forces, in garrison in the cities :;
the "a requires the whole population to take
up arms
The militia are said to be in good order.
spirit OF emulation has diffused itself a.
nong them. The ambition Of the distin-
gnished Crecles, (the natives of the country
win spanish parentage) is excited to such
degree, that " there is none of them, who
does not feel honofed b being incorporated
IN the militia, with the tile OF ofIicer."-
HE militia are constantly exercised liz the
! manage IGeDt of arms. "The people of CO.
lonr form seporate corps of militia and have
officers OF their own colour, as high as the
grade OF captain all above that rank must
be white.
IN the province of Caracas, the Troops
OF the line are 918, rank and Hie--SS 200 artil-
iery-l63Q militia, embracing battalion of
whites. &c. &c.----'The sKn total of militia
ry force, III all the provinces, under the Cap
tam General, was, -------- 1886 men, of
which 1850 we're troops of the line, difFnsed
through the various towns of the provinces.
From arms, let US pass to the church.
tile one IS as strong as the other seems to be
weakly he Roman Catholic religion has the
exclusive monopoly, in the Spanish posses
slons, as well as ia the metropolis. Woe to
TIE poor Schlsmatic, who thinks for himself 1!
- mere are three tribunals of the inqnisi-
ton which hold their sessions at Mexico.
Lana and CArthagena OF the Indies, They
nave immense power--not only heresy, but
divorce, polygamy, sodomy, and the anathe-
mauzmS OF euPected books, are within their
province their temporal weapons are
ilnes, confiscations, Punishment, the galleys
or tue hlnes. The strongest measures are
N'SN w kNSp tHC hulhGu IDluu III CHAINS.
All Booksellers are responsible to them
and Catalogue has been formed If such
books as are prohibited and prescribed. The
inquisiCion has set the seal of it's rcprobati
| OIL III the works of Voltaire, Rousseau, Ray
nal, the mild Addison, the feeling Beccaria,
the Beiisarius of Marmoniel, Montcsauieu,
Hume, FeBelon, Vattci, Pultendorf and
will you believe it the cheering compani-
on OF our childhood, Robinson Crusoe. In
fine, there is not one, that is remarkable for
depth or darlngness Of thought, that has es-
capped the eagle taions of these Marauders,
A system OF this sort should be exterminated
from the earth. These who arc subject
ed toit, should pray necessarily for Re
| form.
But the crown of Spain had some share in
ecclesiastical Affairs. The right Of Patron.
age belonged to the king---it was confer.
red on him by the bulls OF the popes. Nc
cathedral, no parish church. 40 monastery
or hospital can be founded in America with.
/ out his express permission 4" The arch
bishops, bishops ard abbes, were nominated
10y the pope, but on the particvlac and spon
taneous presentation OF the king"
/ There arc three bishnprics i'm the Cap
ain~Cencraship Of Caraccas-----at Carac
cas-, at Merida de MaraoaiOo and san Tho
mas DC GUIANA. Each bishop has ais &C