pations of the priesthood, and that by which the government solemnly pledges itself to prevent, by all the means in its power, the abominable traffic in negroes.

In reference to the first object, we have to state that, information having been received that an individual named Don Juan Musi, calling himself apostolic vicar to the republic of Chili, had published rescripts, the observance of which was obligatory upon persons living in the united provinces, and in those belonging to the jurisdiction of Buenos-Ayres; it has been declared that such a proceeding, on the part of Don Juan Musi whom the government recognizes in no capacity, is contrary to the laws of the united provinces, and an attempt against the independence of the government, which, therefore, orders the vicar general of the bishoprick to resist every rescript of this kind, and to transmit to the authorities, to enable them to adopt ulterior measures, every future rescript that may be introduced by the pretended apostolic vicar, or by any other agent of the jesuitical sects. This measure is very expressive, because it evinces the progress of reason among a people who, during three centuries, have been moulded to the authority of papal omnipotence, and into whose minds have been instilled all the prejudices, and superstitions which have perverted the true spirit of the gospel.

In respect to the abolition of the slave trade, it is with the most lively satisfaction that we find, in the treaty of commerce recently concluded between the republic of La Plata, and his Britannic Majesty, the following article:

Art. 14. His Britannic Majesty anxiously desiring the abolition of the slave trade, the united provinces of Rio de La Plata engage

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to co-operate with his majesty, in accomplishing so beneficial a work; and to prohibit all persons residing in the united provinces, or subject to their jurisdiction, in the most effectual manner, and by the most solemn laws, from taking any part in the same traffic. *

This treaty offers, independently of the commercial stipulations, clauses highly important to all the American states, because they establish, in the most explicit manner, the practical principle of their independence and sovereignty. It sanctions, not only the most unlimited exercise of religious liberty, but allows the subjects of his Britannic Majesty resident in the republic of La Plata the public profession of every religion, and the building of places of worship for that purpose. This is a great step towards toleration, and the future abnegation of the false principles which still admit, among several nations, a state-religion invested with exclusive privileges. Our readers will also re

mark, not with astonishment, but certainly with pleasure, that one of the considerations which most powerfully induces his Britannic Majesty to recognize the independence of ther epublic of La Plata, is" their irrevocable resolution to separate for ever from Spain." In fact, nothing is more irrevocable than this resolution, and the English government may rest assured that, in this alliance, there is nothing derogatory from its dignity, and that it is not to Spanish slaves that it ap

See, in the section Commerce, the treaty of amity, commerce and navigation, between his Britannic Majesty and the United Provinces of Rio de La Plata concluded the 2nd and ratified on the 19th of the month of February.

men.

plies, in this instance, the names of brethren and free The following is the answer made by Mr. Parish, the English plenipotentiary, to the governor general of Buenos-Ayres, on receiving from his Excel lency the ratification of the treaty :

"In receiving by your Excellency the ratification of our treaty, I cannot but congratulate your Excellency, and all the inhabitants of this country, upon this event, which places you in the rank of the nations recognized in the world; and which is entirely owing to your own exertions and the liberal policy you have adopted.

Sir, before Great Britain could enter into relations of this nature with any of the new states of America, it was necessary to know whether that state was in a situation which promised, not only its tranquillity for the moment, but pledges and solid bases for the future.

Sir, the flattering accounts which have reached his Britannic Majesty on these points, added to the wish expressed, not only by the government, but by the people of this country in general, to cultivate at all times the most friendly relations with the subjects of his Britannic Majesty, and the conviction of their irrevocable resolution to separate for ever from Spain, have been the considerations which have induced his majesty to take this step, and to make this compact with the United Provinces, sealing for ever our friendship by the most solemn act.

May heaven grant that this friendship be perpetual, and this act the passage which shall lead to the worthy recognition of the nation by the rest of the world!"

On the 18th of December the project of a fundamental law relative to the Union was proposed, of which the following are the chief articles :

"Art. 1.The provinces of Rio de la Plata, assembled in congress, VOL. II. No. 4.

renew by their deputies, in the most solemn manner, the compact by which they bound themselves on the throwing off the Spanish yoke, and forming themselves into an independent nation, again declaring their resolution to do their utmost to secure their independence, and promote the general felicity.

2. They shall henceforward be called "The United Provinces of South America."

3. Till the promulgation of the intended constitution, the provinces shall be governed, in their internal affairs, by their own institutions.

4. Every thing relating to the national independence, security, defence, and prosperity, the value of the coin, weights and measures, the internal relations of the provinces with each other, and their foreign relations with any other government or nation, belongs to the congress.

5. The congress shall make successively the necessary regulations respecting the points mentioned in the preceding article.

6. The constitution which the congress shall sanction shall be offered to the consideration of the provincial legislatures, and it shall not be promulgated or enforced till it shall have been accepted in the form which the constitution shall determine.

7. The ratification of the constitution by two-thirds of the inhabitants of the provinces shall be sufficient for the establishment of the constitution in the provinces which ratify it.

8. For the present, and until the election of a national executive power, the government of Buenos Ayres shall be charged with it, with the following attributes:

a. To direct every thing relative to foreign affairs, the nomination and reception of ministers, and the authorizing of those named.

b. To make treaties, with the advice of its ministers and of three members of the congress, giving an account to the congress,

that it may ratify what has been done, if it approves of it.

c. To execute and communicate to all the governments the resolutions taken by the congress.

d. To submit to the consideration of the congress the measures which it shall judge advisable for the better despatch of the public business.

Only part of this project had been discussed.

The new denomination of " The United States of South America" was rejected, and that of" United Provinces of Rio de la Plata" preferred."

CHILI-We have, in different parts of our work, pointed out the abyss towards which the Chilians had been led by the adoption of a constitution founded on merely abstract principles, incompatible with the acknowledged exigencies of the republic. This constitution has been wisely annulled, and a dictatorial provisional power has been confided to General Freyre, whose liberal sentiments are sufficiently known, to justify the expectation, on the part of the friends of liberty, that the continuance of the exceptional power with which the state has invested him, will not be of long duration. The exercise of this power has already been followed by beneficial results. It has calmed the apprehensions, repressed the insignificant ambition, and put an end to the dissensions which had every where been produced by the captious sophistry of the constitution of 1823. A considerable improvement is already perceptible in the administrative departments, as well as in the state of the public mind. But, before indulging the hopes excited by this change, the friends of America should convince themselves of the unequivocal return of Chili to the constitutional order, and that, released from a dictatorship which cannot be perpetuated without danger, her conduct harmonizes with that of the other states of America, and that, like them, she is worthy the blessing of