Mexican Nation obtained its Independence by great exertions, and sealed its liberty by painful sacrifices; and, if any danger threatened, it was in a condition to exert itself with vigour, in defence of a system which places it on a level with the most civilized and happy Nations. Events have demonstrated these truths in the face of the World. By the most unanimous expression of sentiment the projected disturbance was condemned; anarchy saw her mad hopes vanish like a cloud, and was convinced by experience of her impotency. The People, the Congress, and the Government, saved the Constitution, and the political existence of the great Mexican Nation.

The cry of the general indignation predominated over that of the discontented; who were themselves precipitated into the abyss which they had intended to open for their Country. The Country has not deviated from its path, and the publick spirit having been strengthened by the triumphs gained by the cause of liberty, the Congress and the Executive have been enabled to turn their attention to the due fulfilment of their duties, after discharging that important and sacred one, the giving peace to the interior of the Republick.

The efforts that were made to disturb the Country have served only to give it more stability, and there is not a corner in the vast extent of the United Mexican States, in which peace is not again happily enjoyed.

The Treaty of Limits between this Republick and the United States of North America has been approved, and, having been ratified by this Government, it has been transmitted to our Minister Plenipotentiary in those States, to be exchanged.

The Treaty of Amity, Navigation and Commerce, entered into with the same State, has been discussed in the Chamber of Representatives; and, when it shall have obtained the approbation of the General Congress, the harmony which already subsists between the two Nations will be rendered more perfect.

The necessary Exequaturs have been granted to the Consuls nominated by that Government for our Ports of Campeachy and Mazatlan.

The Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary of the Republick of Colombia having completed the most important objects of his Mission to this Republick, has presented the Letters of Recall sent to him by his Government, and has taken his leave.

The Treaties of Union, League and perpetual Confederation, concluded at Panama between the Plenipotentiaries of the American Republicks, have been examined by the Chamber of Deputies, and I have the fullest confidence that the Congress will devote its first labours to the conclusion of an affair which has excited the attention of the World.

The Treaty of Amity, Navigation, and Commerce, with His Majesty The King of The Netherlands, having been approved by the Congress, has been transmitted for the exchange of the Ratifications.

An Exequatur has been granted to the Patent of Consul in Mexico, drawn up by the President of the Swiss Diet in favour of Senior Charles Lavater.

The Law for the Naturalization of Foreigners, which our industry and the immediate interests of the Republick has for some time required, has been passed during the Session which terminates this day. The Government have carried it into effect, and have likewise ordered the measures of police necessary for that purpose.

The Publick Treasury, in consequence of the alterations in the new Tariff, deferring the payment of the Duties for a further period of 90 days, has suffered some diminution, and the loss has been aggravated by the interested acts of Speculators. No diminution, however, in the number of Vessels which frequent our Ports has been perceived, and the Merchants in the interior, notwithstanding the mercantile changes which have occurred, calculate upon a steady consumption of produce, and invite the Trader to new enterprizes.

Happily, up to the present day, the greatest part of our demands in the interior of the Republick have been liquidated; and, if the Government studiously exerts itself in attending, with the fidelity and promptitude which the national credit demands, to the Loans obtained through Foreign houses, we may yet be certain that its energetick exertions, if warmly seconded by the indefatigable activity and zeal of the Congress, will not fail to obtain the end to which they have been directed. It has destined the eighth part of the produce of the Custom Houses towards that object, and this relief will obviate the interruption which the redemption of the debt and the payment of the dividends have suffered. In addition to this, the Executive have proposed several Laws to the Chambers, in order that, resources being provided, we may be able to give proofs of the good faith characteristic of the Mexican Nation. The urgency of these labours, Gentlemen, demands, that the period of your recess be very short.

The administration of Justice in the Tribunals of the Federation, and in those of the Districts and Territories, has been found worthy of your luminous and important discussions. Devote yourselves to the completion of your work, which is truly deserving of the National gratitude. The Government will continue to employ its care and vigilance, that this branch may be conducted with every possible regularity, and that the imperfections which are to be found in the existing legislation may be supplied. The Law relative to the proceedings against Vagrants is visibly improving the publick morals, and is protecting them from the attacks which that class of Individuals continually make upon them by their vices and idleness: the Government shortly expects to see the reputation and spirit of the Republican system secured by this salutary measure.

Our Ecclesiastical Affairs, which have, hitherto, given rise to some

difficulties, in consequence of the necessary relations with the Apostolick See not having been settled, will shortly be arranged on the basis laid down by the Congress. To this basis the Government have endeavoured to adapt the instructions which the New Minister of the Republick will have to present at Rome, and which only await the Constitutional approbation.

The Army continues to be well organized, equipped, and disciplined. The National Marine has harassed the Enemy on the Coast of Cuba, although the Brig Guerrero has been taken in a battle of immortal glory for the Mexicans. You, Gentlemen, have manifested the national gratitude to the brave Defenders of the Flag of the Republick; and the construction of another Vessel has been voted, to preserve our glory and be the avenger of our injuries.

If the hated Standard of Spain should appear at our Ports, or our Enemies dare to invade our Coasts, they will be humbled and vanquished. You gave Power to the Executive. The People offer to it their arms and their fortunes. Invincible is this great Nation which is determined to be free.

Retire, Fellow Citizens, and return to those domestic labours which the Nation has prescribed to you as a duty, and imposed upon you as a Law. Your Country owes you much; retire with the satisfaction of having been useful to it.

GUADALUPE VICTORIA.

PAPERS respecting the detention of Enemy's Property, found on board of Neutral Vessels, by Mexican Ships of War.

No.

May, July, 1828.

1828.

1. Richard Pakenham, Esq. to Vice Admiral Fleeming.... Mexico, May 28. 1212 Enclosure 1. Publick Notice issued by Commodore Porter .... April 10. 1213 2. Don Juan de D. Canedo to R. Pakenham, Esq. Mexico, May 13. 1214 Nassau, July 19. 1215

2. Circular Order of Vice Admiral Fleeming .

(1.)-Richard Pakenham, Esq. to Vice-Admiral Fleeming. SIR, Mexico, 28th May, 1828. I HEREWITH enclose, for your information, a Copy of a Publick Notice, issued by Commodore Porter, on the 3d instant, announcing that he is authorised by this Government to detain Enemy's property found on board Neutral Vessels.

I also enclose a Copy of a Note which I have received from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, communicating to me certain Regulations which this Government has thought proper to adopt, for the exercise of the Belligerent right above-mentioned.

By the XXIVth Article of the Spanish "Ordenanza," of 1797, to which M. Canedo refers, and with a Copy of which all Mexican Cruizers are to be provided, as the rule and guide for their conduct; it is ordained, generally, that Neutral Vessels, having Enemy's property on board, are to be brought into Port, in order that the validity of the seizure may be decided by a competent Tribunal; and by the succeeding Article of the same "Ordenanza," it is provided that if the Captain of the Neutral freely admit the character of the Enemy's property, such is to be transhipped by the capturing Cruizer, who is to pay the freight thereof to the neutral Captain.

This Regulation, which is only a modification of the more rigorous measure of detaining the Neutral Vessel, it would appear, from M. Canedo's Note, to be the intention of the Mexican Government to make absolute.

I have informed M. Canedo that I doubted much whether His Majesty's Government would admit the principle of seizure and transhipment on the high Seas, even in the modified sense of the Spanish Ordenanza; but I have not thought it advisable, until acquainted with the views of His Majesty's Government upon this point, to demand that, in every case, British Vessels having Spanish property on board, should be brought into Port for adjudication.

I shall be happy to attend to any observations, founded upon your more perfect acquaintance with the whole subject, thus brought into notice, which you may be pleased to make to me upon the Papers which I enclose; and I have the honour to be, &c. Vice-Adm. the Hon. C. E. Fleeming.

R. PAKENHAM.

(Enclosure 1.)-Notice published by Commodore Porter, in the "Noticioso de Vera Cruz" of 3d May, 1828. (Translation.)

SQUADRON and Marine Department of Vera Cruz.

In the Ordinances of Spain, of the Year 1748, which are still in force in this Republick, unless where they contravene the existing Institutions, are the following Articles:

Treatise VI., Title V., Article X.-The Vessels on board of which shall be found, produce, merchandize, and effects, belonging to Enemies, shall be carried, in the same manner, to a Port of my Dominions, where the proper declarations shall be made, both in regard to the effects alluded to and to the Vessels, with reference to the Treaties and Conventions subsisting with the Powers to which they belong, and to what I may subsequently have determined.

Treatise VI., Title V., Article XI.-Shall always be considered as lawful prize, all effects of contraband conveyed for the service of the Enemies, in whatever Vessels they may be found; the following being understood to be the effects of contraband, viz. mortars, cannons,

muskets, pistols, and other fire arms; swords, sabres, bayonets, pikes, and other steel weapons, offensive or defensive; powder, balls, grenades, shells, and all kinds of ammunition of war; timber for building, rigging, and other articles proper for building or equipping Vessels; troops, seamen, horses, harness, military clothing, and, generally, every description of articles applicable to military service, as well at Sea as on Land.

And the Supreme Government having thought proper, on the 23d July, 1827, to sanction the carrying the said Articles into effect, I have considered it my duty to give notice thereof to the Publick, and it will in consequence be understood, that all the Enemy's effects found on board Neutral Vessels, unless they be protected by Treaties with the Powers they belong to, will be liable to detention.

God and liberty. On board the Ship Congreso, 10th April 1828.
DAVID PORTER.

(Enclosure 2.)—Don Juan de D. Canedo to Richard Pakenham, Esq. (Translation.) Federal Palace, Mexico, 13th May, 1828. His Excellency the President, through the Department of War and Marine, has been pleased to direct, as a General Regulation, that when Letters of Marque are issued, the securities and other formalities pointed out in the Ordinance concerning Privateers, established in 1797, should be required of the Fitters out, in order that these, being constantly in the Port where they receive the Commissions, Persons who are responsible for excesses, for which compensations or penalties are to be paid, may comply punctually with all the Regulations; to which effect, and to prevent their pleading want of information, they shall be obliged to take with them, in their voyages or cruizes, one Copy, at least, of the said Ordinance; getting a Copy printed if they have not one, with due examination to insure accuracy.

His Excellency has likewise determined, that when National Ships of War and Privateers fall in with Neutral Vessels, having on board produce or manufactures, the property of Enemies, they shall tranship the same, with the Invoices, Bills of Consignment, or other Papers shewing their derivation, quantity, and property; paying for the freight in specie or with some of the articles themselves, according to a proper valuation, mutually to be agreed upon; in order that the carrying vessel may proceed to her destination, without suffering interruption in her voyage, or any extortion.

His Excellency has also determined, that such effects shall be held in deposit, with precautions against loss or deterioration, without being adjudged to be lawful prize, until it shall be ascertained that the Enemies do not deny, but on the contrary observe, the immunity of the Neutral Flag; all which shall not take place in regard to Vessels