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should suffer death in consequence of executing the law of nations upon the first 23 confined as British subjects, double the number of the confined American officers should immediately be selected for retaliation; and moreover that the commanders of his Majesty's ar mies and fleets had received orders to prosecute the war with unmitigated severity against all the cifies, towns, and villages of the United States in case their govern

ment should persist in their intention of retaliation: In this dreadful state of mutual menace affairs were at that time remaining; and should the threats on each side be brought to effect, scenes of blood will ensue worthy only of the times of barbarism.

Of the other maritime events of the American war in this year, relations are given in our chapter appropriated to naval occurrences.

CHAPTER

CHAPTER XVIL

South America Montevideo. Buenos Ayres.-Santa Martha.-Venezuela Mexico.--Peru.-West Indies. - Free Trade proclaimed at Porto Rico.-Hurricanes at Dominica, Bermuda, Jamaica, &c.Trinidad, Java.-Reduction of the Sultan of Djojocaria -Hindostan. -War between Russia and Persia.-Turkey.-Egypt.

O

UR information of what has been passing in South America during the present year, and the latter part of the preceding, is scanty and imperfect. We know in general that a state of civil war has been still-subsisting in the different provinces of the Spanish dominion on that continent, but of its particular events we have only partial and uncertain accounts.

By intelligence from Montevideo in October 1512, we learn that after the departure of the Portuguese troops from the Spanish territory, in consequence of the mediation of Lord Strangford, the revolutionary army crossed the Uruguay, and compelled the small detachments of loyalists to evacuate the port of Colonia, and other places; and that their party in the province acquiring confidence, assembled in arms at several points, and plundered the defenceless towns and villages. The siege of Montevideo being continued by the revolutionists of Buenos Ayres, General Vigodet, commandant in the former, made a sortie on December 31st, in which he incurred a loss of 250 in killed, wounded, and prisoners. That of the besiegers is stated at 400; but their loss would be more

easily supplied than that of the Montevideans, who could receive no succour except from the mother country.

To the friends of general liberty, a decree dated from Buenos Ayres on February 3d, in the name of the supreme government of the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata, will give pleasure. It declares all persons free born on or subsequent to January 31, 1813, the day on which the general assembly was installed.

Santa Martha was brought over to the revolutionist party by a force sent from Carthagena. Whilst it was in their possession, a frigate from Old pain, having 300 troops on board, supposing it to be held by the royalists, put into the harbour, when the fort by its fire completely dismasted her, and obliged her to surrender, with all the soldiers. On the 5th of March, however, some Indian tribes joining the royalists, effected the expulsion of the Carthagena troops, with their French commander Labatut; and on the following day Ferdinand VII. was proclaimed, and the people of Santa Martha swore allegiance to him. The same advices related that the city of

Santa

Santa Fe had been taken by the royalists, and that an expedition was fitting out against Carthagena. Complaints were made from the West-India Islands, that a number of privateers from the latter port, whose crews consisted of Americans, Frenchinen, and Spaniards, committed great depredations on the coasting trade of the British islands, and had made descents upon some of them for the purposes of pillage.

Intelligence from the river Plata in April, mentioned that the evils attendant on a blockade had induced many of the inhabitants of Montevideo to escape to Buenos Ayres, and that the Cabildo had declared an intention of surrendering, if not speedily succoured from Spain. A decree had been published at Buenos Ayres, enjoining that the Consulate of the city should open a register, containing the names of all national merchants resident in it, to be transmitted to the administration of the customs, while registered persons alone were capable of being made consignees; and that their commission should not be less than 4 per cent. upon sales, and 2 per cent upon purchases, all consignees taking a lower commission to be struck out of the register.

The Jamaica papers of June reported that news had been received from Havanna that the royalist army in Mexico was every where victorious over the insurgents, that the communication between Vera Cruz and Mexico was again opened, and that it was expected that the new constitution of Spain would shortly be sworn to by the whole country. On the other hand, it appeared that notVOL. LV.

withstanding the dissolution of the confederacy of Venezuela, the insurgents were still in force at the Caraccas, headed by the Marquis Del Toro and Juan Bolivar. The latter, with 3000 men, was said to be within two days' march of Maracaybo; and the former had in different engagements defeated the royalists in Cumana. At Santa Martha a convoy had arrived from Havanna with 500 soldiers, whose commander had dispatched a flag of truce to Carthagena, offering a general pardon to the insurgents, on submission.

Intelligence from Buenos Ayres to August 1st, stated that the blockade of Montevideo was continued with unabated vigilance. The first remittance of a gold and silver coinage for the government of Rio de la Plata had arrived from Potosi at Buenos Ayres. The pieces distinctly marked the prevalent spirit of independence. They bore on one side the arms of the general assembly surmounted with a sun, and the inscription" Provinces of the river Plate :" on the other, a sun in the centre, with the inscription, "In Union and Liberty." The new legislative assembly, sitting permanently at Puenos Ayres, declared its levelJing principle with regard to rank, by the following ordinance: "The general assembly ordains that, in filling up all offices, whether ecclesiastical, civil, or military, of every class, rank, or distinction, neither age nor gradation be attended to; but that they be impartially conferred upon persons who merit them by superior fitness for such offices, and especially by their approved valour, patriotic zeal, energy, and constancy in sup[0]

port

port of the good cause of the liberty of the United Provinces of the River Plate." In this, however, they seem not to have gone further than the principles generally professed in popular govern ments, and particularly by the Spa

nish Cortes.

The Chilese at their principal settlements are said to have declared themselves independent, and to have opened their ports to all nations.

By further accounts from Carthagena, it would appear that the insurgents were gaining ground in Venezuela. They had taken the town of La Guayra, with public property to a large value. The royalist commander at San Carlos had evacuated'it on the approach of the Carthagena troops, and be. ing pursued, was entirely routed. General Boliver had entered Valencia on August 2d, without opposition, and found in it a large park of artillery, and a great quantity of arms and ammunition. The troops of the royalist general Monteverde were dispersed, and he had taken refuge at Porto Cabello. The war still bore its vengeful and sanguinary character; for it is mentioned that all the Europeans lately arrived at Venezuela had been put to the sword by the union army. A letter from Trinidad in September states, that the whole controul of the Spanish main was in the hands of the insurgents, who carried on their trade chiefly with the island of Grenada.

From Peru nothing has been reported, except that the consequences of a victory of Belgrano over the troops of Lima, were that the royalist general Goyeneche had retreated from Potosi, and the peo

ple in his rear had joined the revolutionists, and that the whole of Peru was expected to follow the example of La Plata. It is indeed evident from the circumstance of the coinage above mentioned, that Potosi was under the influence of that party. Though much confusion seems still to prevail in the different provinces, the general state appears to be, that the independent cause is gaining ground to the south of the isthmus, and that of the mother country in Mexico. The day of trial as to the final event will not, however, occur until Spain, liberated from her French war, and settled under her new constitution, shall have leisure to give her full attention to the aífairs of her colonies.

The Spanish West-India island of Porto Rico, which bad bitherto laboured under many impolitic restrictions on its commerce, experienced the benefit of the liberal and enlightened sentiments prevailing in the Cortes and Regency of Spain, upon the arrival of its new intendant-general, Alexandro Ramirez. In a proclamation issued by him on March 13th, he acquaints the inhabitants, that in the orders of the Regency for the establishment of this intendancy, he is strictly charged "zealously to devote himself to promoting all the improvement of which the rich soil of this island is susceptible; and that by giving a strong impulse to its internal and external commerce, the supreme government may soon have the satisfaction of seeing that affluence and prosperity brought to its height, which it desires may be the portion of such worthy subjects." In conse quence, he promulgated a set of regulations

regulations, the purpose of which is to confer on every port in the island the same commercial privileges as were given to the capital; to allow free commerce to all Spanish, friendly, or neutral vessels in all the ports, and free communication from one port to another; to permit the exportation of all native and manufactured produce of the island, including uncoined gold and silver; to assign fixed duties on certain articles of export, with the promise of moderating all existing duties that shall appear excessive; and to facilitate the dispatch of business at the customhouses. Don Ramirez immediately after addressed a letter to the Duke of Manchester, governor of Jamaica, informing him of the grant of a free trade for all English vessels to every harbour in Porto Rico, without requiring particular licences, and relieved from all former shackles upon importation and exportation.

Some severe, though partial injary from hurricanes, has been sustaned this year in the West India islands. At Dominica, on July 23d, after a series of rather calm weather, attended with great beat, a violent storm began soon after day light, which presently raged with an uncommon degree of fury. The barracks and quarters of the troops stationed at Morne Bruce, early began to give way to the tempest, and almost the whole buildings were levelled to the ground, among which was a hospital then containing above fifty patents. Besides the great loss of property incurred, both public and private, a considerable number of persons were killed and wounded

from the fall of buildings, or the force of wind impelling them over the cliffs. At Prince Rupert's Head, the barracks and other edifices were unroofed, and two ranges of officers' rooms were entirely blown over the hill, with the loss of some lives, and various casualties. In the towns of Roseau and Charlotte Ville much serious injury was inflicted both on persons and property, the latter almost beyond calculation. The government-house, with all its outbuildings, was laid prostrate, and the governor, with his family, was driven to take shelter in the fort; and the greater part of the public edifices were either destroyed, or left in a ruinous condition. In the country, the devastation was equally extensive; works and mills were destroyed, canes torn up or lodged, coffee plantations, gardens, and plantain walks, levelled. The sea in the meantime rose suddenly, and rolled enormous waves to the shore, shaking to their foundations all the erections on the beach. In some places the surge ascended 150 feet beyond bigh-water mark, demolishing every boat, launch, and canoe. The vessels at anchor providently cut their cables and stood out to sea. On the same day a violent gale was experienced at St. Christopher's, which drove all the shipping on shore, where many vessels were entirely destroyed.,

Bermuda had the misfortune to experience, on July 26th, a burricane more dreadful in its effects than had been known for a long period. A pleasant breeze at daybreak gave a welcome relief from the sultry heat which had for some time prevailed; but it soon aug[02]

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