with the situation of the ancient American colonies, doomed by the Spaniards to the most abject degradation and the most profound ignorance, the rapid progress which the Colombians have already made in the career of civilization, justifies the hope, that a period not very distant will introduce a state of things calculated to complete the wishes of the sincere friends of humanity. The great mass of the nation is still unenlightened on many subjects: this was to be expected. But the desire of information is general; hence, the government devotes particular attention to the dissemination of instruction, with this view; and it is establishing schools and colleges. The people appreciate its efforts, and seem grateful for the advantages they will produce. Few governments have signalized themselves by acts so honorable as that of the law which the congress of Colombia has enacted for the abolition of the slave trade, throughout the whole extent of the republic.

From the date of the promulgation of this law, no slave can enter Colombia, and all the children of slaves will be born free. The means of communication between the different parts of the Colombian provinces are very defective, We think that the establishment of good roads, and improvements in the navigation of the rivers, seem to claim the attention of the government.

CORRESPONDENCE.

Post scriptum.

The last sheets of the American Monitor were in the press, when we received from Buenos Ayres a letter of which we present the following extract to our readers. We make no comment on the probability or improbability of the project to which it alludes; for at the present moment, it appears to us difficult to form any certain opinion on the subject. We think, however, that this communication from our correspondent, on whatever authority it rests, will not be considered destitute of interest, under circumstances, in which the affairs of Buenos Ayres and Upper Peru have a peculiar claim to public attention.

We have not, for some time, been without apprehension respecting the motives which have induced the Liberator to visit Upper Peru.-The ever-celebrated victory of Ayacucho; the irreparable defeat of Olaneta; the total disappearance of the Spanish forces from the whole extent of Peru and even of America; the necessity of giving completion to the difficult and slow work of the organization of the Peruvian government, and that of the expulsion of the insolent Rodvil, from Callão, whence he still insults the triumph of the Americans, and where he seems to continue his opposition for the exclusive purpose of exhibiting, a few days longer, the remaining vestiges of Spanish tyranny, to the men who have so gloriously achieved its subversion;-the combination of all these circumstances induced us to ascribe the departure of

Bolivar from Lima to Upper Peru, where he had been preceded by his best lieutenant, to causes unfavorable to the maintenance of that general peace, which we all so ardently desire.But the veil which concealed these movements is, at length, withdrawn; and it is now no longer possible to doubt, that the arrival of the Liberator is connected with one of those great political combinations which characterize the genius of this extraordinary man, and which, in my opinion, will complete the series of incalculable services which he has rendered to the cause of American independence and liberty.

The intention is to erect Upper Peru into an independent state, that is, to combine the provinces of Potosi, Charcas, Cochabamba, and La Paz, into a republic, independent of Peru, properly thus called, and also of every neighbouring power. The formation of this new state, and its accession to the general federative order, has for its object the establishment of a system of equilibrium between the republic of Peru, Chili, and Buenos Ayres, of ¦ which the extent, population, positions, and resources of every description are so prodigiously unequal, that, after the war of independence shall have ceased to unite the Americans by the powerful feeling of common danger, the protection of the weak against the strong will be an attempt of considerable difficulty. In the efforts prompted by the necessity of contributing to the general defence, all consider themselves as brothers, whose union should be ever protected against the influence of passions and that of time; but when the storm has subsided, and every one is reinstated in the peaceful enjoyment of what he possesses, self interest then begins to operate; then every one looks around him, feels the flame of ambition again kindling in his bosom, and is almost unconsciously impelled to appropriate to himself whatever he thinks conducive to his own individual advantage. How is this to be accounted for? Quia nominor Leo. Such was, and ever will be the human heart. Foresight and a primitive vigorous wise organization will alone counteract the injustice,

to which the confederacies will, for a considerable time, be more or less exposed.

It is asserted, that our government is decidedly against the execution of the project to which I have referred, and that it exerts every effort to prevent its success; but it is at least certain, that such is the object of General Alvear's mission. It is, however, to be hoped, that the Liberator will lead our statesman to the adoption of more correct ideas, and to the conviction that, if a monarchy should, as much as possible, connect with it unity, extent and population, the protecting principle of a republic consists less in national homogenity than in the indissolubility of a great and good federative system-Such is the conception of this great man, who, not satisfied with having rescued the Americans from the misery of past oppression, is also solicitous to protect them against the uncertainty of future contingencies. I will inform you of whatever may take place respecting this important affair.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE,

Moreau's East India Companys Records, shewing a View of the past and present State of the British Possessions in India, as to their Revenue, Expenditure, Debt, Assets, Trade, Navigation, &c.

When M. Moreau published, some months ago, his Chart of the commerce of Great Britain with all parts of the world, struck with the incontestible utility of this vast and laborious enterprise, we expressed a wish to see the scrutinizing eye of the same author successively extend to all the branches from which the commercial and manufacturing existence of the British empire is derived. No person appeared to us better adapted than M. Moreau, to give to the world correct information on this varied and important subject, respecting which so many contradictory systems have been raised, and such a number of erroneous opinions indiscriminately ushered to the public. Our wishes, we have the satisfaction to see, are partly accomplished, by the publication of M. Moreau's new work on "The Past and Present State of the British Possessions in India." a production that most evidently has been attended with indefatigable research, and is completely successful in its execution, since the greatest clearness is observed in the statement of partial facts, and an unerring exactitude in all the general results. No literary effort could have appeared at a more favourable moment. Hitherto the affairs of the East India Company have been no other than a true Dædalus, in which the further one entered, the more was