Treasury Department, Register's Office, 22d December, 1821.

JOSEPH NOURSE, Register.

DECREE of the Prince Regent, for the Establishment of a Junta, or State Council, consisting of Representatives from each of the Brazilian Provinces.-16th February, 1822. (Translation.)

WHEREAS, I have assented to the repeated wishes and desires of the loyal Inhabitants of this City, and of the Provinces of St. Paulo and Minas Geraes, that I should preserve the Regency of this Kingdom, which my August Father conferred upon me, until it receive, through the Constitution of the Monarchy, a final organization, wise, just, and adequate to its inalienable rights, dignity, and future felicity; for as much also, that, by taking any other course, this rich and extensive Kingdom of Brazil would be exposed to the evils of anarchy and civil war; and desiring, for the general advantage of the United Kingdom, and in particular for the benefit of the People of Brazil, to anticipate the regulation and complete establishment of that Constitutional System which they so well merit, and which I have sworn to give them, with the view of henceforth forming a Central Authority for measures and objects, whereby the integrity and liberty of this great and fertile Country may be the better maintained and defended, and its future felicity secured; I have thought fit to order the convocation of a Council of General Representatives of the Provinces of Brazil, to represent them pro tempore; those Provinces which have 4 Deputies in the Cortes, electing 1 Representative; those which have from 4 to 8 Deputies, 2 Representatives; and those which have 8 Deputies or upwards, 3. These Representatives may be removed from their charge by their respective Provinces, in case of not duly performing their duty, should such removal be required by two-thirds of the Provincial Councils, in a general and extraordinary Assembly; the nomination of other Representatives in their stead being then made. '

These Representatives shall be nominated by the Parochial Electors, assembled in the chief Towns, and their Election shall undergo a scrutiny by the Council of the Capital of the Province, those being finally returned who shall have the greater number of votes among the Nominees. In case of inequality of votes, the decision shall be made by lot. All the said nominations and scrutinies shall take place in conformity with the instructions which my August Father ordered to be executed by the Decree of the 7th of March, 1821, in so far as it may be applicable, and is not revoked by the present Decree.

The duties of this Council shall be:-1st. To give me advice, whenever I may call for it, in all important and difficult affairs. 2d. To examine the great Plans of reform which must be made in the general and particular administration of the State, when they shall

be committed to the said Council. 3d. To propose to me those measures and plans which may appear most urgent, and advantageous to the welfare of the United Kingdom, and the prosperity of Brazil. 4th. Each Member to advocate, and zealously attend to, the interests of his respective Province.

This Council shall meet in a Hall of my Palace, at all times when I order it to be convoked; and, also, whenever it may appear necessary for the said Council to assemble, in consequence of the urgency of publick affairs; on which occasions notice shall be given to me by the Secretary of State for the Affairs of the Kingdom.

This Council shall be presided over by myself, and its Sittings shall be attended by my Ministers and Secretaries of State, who shall have seats and vote therein. For the better management and dispatch of affairs, the Council shall appoint from among its Members a VicePresident monthly, who may be re-chosen, should such a re-election appear proper. The Council shall also appoint a Secretary, who shall prepare the Minutes of the Sittings, draw up the Plans which are approved, and the Resolutions which are adopted by the Council. As soon as the Representatives of 3 Provinces shall be assembled, the Council shall proceed to execute its functions.

In order that due honour may be paid to such distinguished Citizens, I have thought fit to grant to them the title of Excellency, whilst in the exercise of their important duties; and I further order, that in all publick ceremonies, the Council shall take precedence of every other Authority of the State, and that its Members shall enjoy all the pre-eminences hitherto usually enjoyed by Councillors of State in the Kingdom of Portugal.

Jozé Bonifacio de Andrade e Silva, Minister and Secretary of State for the Affairs of the Kingdom and for Foreign Affairs, is charged to see this Decree executed with the necessary dispatch..

The Palace, 16th February, 1822.

[By His Royal Highness the Prince Regent.] JOZE BONIFACIO DE ANDRADE E SILVA.

SPEECH of the Supreme Director of Chili, on the Opening of the Preparatory Constitutional Assembly.—Santiago, 23rd July, 1822.

(Translation.)

(Extract.)

LITTLE more than 5 Years have elapsed since the victory of Chacabuco, and during that time veteran Corps have been formed which guard our liberty, and have proceeded to give it to.Peru and Chiloe; within that period a Marine has been created which has overcome our Enemies in the Pacifick; a Treasury has been formed which has

doubled its receipts; a Provisional Government has been organized; Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce have revived; and various Projects for publick benefit are about to be established.

Such are the triumphs of freedom and good Government! Centuries under our old Government passed away without witnessing any change or improvement!

To you, Fathers of the Country, belong the amelioration and perfection of the work which has been commenced. Long has the heavy weight of the Government rested on my feeble shoulders, and I now earnestly supplicate you to relieve me from it. Hitherto every thing has been provisional, and every thing is at your disposal. Whatever worthy Citizen you may appoint to succeed me in the Magistracy, my sword shall be always at his side, in all perils, until constancy, prudence, and negociation, shall have given us the security of peace, and the acknowledgment which we must obtain of our Independence. I speak frankly to you. My request does not arise from the fear of fatigue; the perils of War; the embarrassments occasioned by an exhausted Treasury; the want of resources, incidental to the absence of any esta blished system of credit or settled national property; the circumstance of our industry and commerce being in a state of infancy; nor the knowledge of our numberless wants, which must be created and reestablished, and to obtain which, great talents and activity are required; but from a profound sentiment which weighs at my heart, and renders my permanence in the Command incompatible with my feelings.

Dear Fellow Countrymen; I return you my cordial thanks for the zeal and fidelity with which you have shared with me the great perils of the Country, and for the sacrifices you made in revenging and defending it. I received it enslaved, and I'now deliver it up to you free, and covered with laurels, but still feeble and in its infancy. It is for your virtue and wisdom to cherish, enrich, educate and direct it. What prosperity can there be without knowledge and without Laws?

My desire has always been, and I have declared it in Congress, that a Representative Government should be adopted in Chili, whatever might be its denomination; but the general opinion, supported by reason and experience, is, that the supreme Executive Power should be confided to a single Magistrate, whose authority should be limited by means of suitable Institutions. Care must be taken that these be not nominal and vain, and that all rights be really guaranteed, otherwise authority, security and the foundation of Society, will still remain unstable.

The present state of civilisation and intelligence shows us the necessity of advancing, or rather establishing in an effective and sufficient manner, education and the means of improvement. We must form Statesmen, Legislators, Economists, Judges, Merchants, Engineers, Architects, Mariners, Hydraulic Constructors, Machinists, Chemists,

Artists, and Agriculturists. Knowledge, wealth and power, have always gone hand in hand in Nations; without these elements, which spring from each other, Chili will not be a Nation, nor will she obtain the fruits of her sacrifices.

You know the necessity of a reform of the Laws. Enquire whether the 5 celebrated Codes, so worthy of the knowledge of latter times, which exhibit by contrast the barbarous character of those which pre ceded them, can be adopted. Let us banish for ever Institutions founded on the Colonial System: if we proceed with diligence, all obstacles will yield to us. We cannot hope to attract Foreign Agriculturists, Artizans, and Capitalists, without offering them a solid guarantee of the liberty which they enjoy in other Countries. This is the most important acquisition. Our fertile soil and the bowels of the Earth are as yet untouched: those to whom I allude will soon extract from them their fruits and treasures.

BERNARDO O'HIGGINS.

OVERTURE of the Colombian Government to the Governments of Europe, for the establishment of a Political and Commercial Intercourse with that Republick.-8th April,

1822.

(Circulaire.)

Paris, le 8 Avril, 1822.

LE Soussigné, Envoyé Extraordinaire et Ministre Plénipotentiaire de la République de Colombie, pour établir ses relations politiques et commerciales avec les Puissances de l'Europe; a l'honneur d'adresser, d'après les Ordres de son Gouvernement, à Son Excellence le Ministre des Affaires Etrangères de Sa Majesté Britannique, la Communication suivante :

Le bruit de la lutte que l'Amérique vient de soutenir contre l'Espagne a retenti dans tout l'Univers. S'il est permis d'en ignorer encore les merveilleux détails, nul doute ne peut du moins s'élever sur les immenses résultats obtenus à force de combats et de victoires. L'Amérique comprimée, asservie pendant trois siècles, a secoué le joug de la Métropole. L'Espagne n'est plus rien au-delà des mers qui baignent la Péninsule.

En effet, l'Amérique avoit atteint sa majorité ; l'accroissement de la Population, la propagation des lumières, mille besoins nouveaux que la Métropole ne pouvoit satisfaire, rendoient la crise inévitable. L'Espagne, dépeuplée, sans marine, sans industrie, auroit-elle retenu plus long-tems sous ses Lois un Continent tout entier, séparé d'elle par le vaste Océan ? L'indépendance n'a donc fait que rétablir l'ordre naturel, et a mis un terme à des maux infinis que produisoit nécessairement une liaison mal assortie.