clamation, which contained an appeal to the honour and patriotism of his countrymen on this emergency.

The matter was, however, soon decided by the appearance of Commodore Peyton, with a British squadron, off Carthagena, and by the blockade of that port. The sentence passed upon Mr. Russell for an assault was annulled, and 10007. sterling was presented to that gentleman, as a compensation for the injury he had received.*

On the 1st of March, 1837, general Santander retired from the presidential chair of the republic. His farewell message to the legislalature informed them, that the republic enjoyed "liberty and order, under the authority of the laws made by the representatives of the people." After adverting to the different relations of the state with foreign powers, he commented, at some length, on the recent dispute with Great Britain, and expressed his surprise, that "the orders of a government, so enlightened as that of the great English nation, should be accompanied by threats of resorting to force, and that the information, which discussion supplies in international disputes, should have been rejected." Santander was suc

•The French government, which had somewhat similar grounds of complaint against the Granadians, also made a naval demonstration at Carthagena, in the autumn of 1836. Admiral Mackau arrived at that port with several ships of war, being commissioned to re-establish the French consulate, aad to accept the apologies which the Granadian government had consented to offer. All this was done in due form. The offenders were also punished; and the relations of the two states replaced to their former footing.

ceeded in the office of president by Jose Ignacio de Marguez.

Perhaps, the most interesting part of the history of these infant republics, in the eyes of an European reader, is that which is connected with their debts to foreign nations. The legislature of VENEZUELA passed a bill in the session of 1837, which enacted that thenceforward the import duties should be collected in specie, and that the charge upon the custom-houses, for payment of the floating debt, by the appropriation of eight parts of all duties, should cease, debts being in future liquidated through the medium of the treasury. With respect to the foreign debt, 160,000 dollars annually were to be appropriated, out of the produce of the custom-house duties, to the pay. ment of the interest of such portion as the state of Venezuela had undertaken to answer for.*

General Paez, the president of this republic, and upon whom the congress had conferred the honourable title of "illustrious citizen," received, in the course of the year, a flattering token of esteem from King William the Fourth. His majesty transmitted to the general a sword, on the blade of which were inscribed these words, "given by William the Fourth to general Paez, in proof of esteem for his character, and for the disinterested patriotism which has signalized his gallant and honourable career."

By the terms of the convention concluded at Bogota, on the 23rd of December, 1834, the Colombian debt was apportioned between the three republics of Venezuela, New Granada, and the Equator, in the following proportions; Venezuela was charged with 28 per cent. of the debt, New Granada with 50 per cent., and the Equator with 214 per cent.

But since, by an article of the Venezuelan constitution, "all citizens invested with functions of honour and confidence, are forbidden to receive presents from any foreign king, prince, or state, without the previous consent of the congress."-The general could not accept this present, until he had submitted the matter to congress; who, it may be supposed, made no difficulties upon the subject.

A military insurrection in this state was suppressed in the month of April by general Paez, though not without some hard fighting. The expenditure of Venezuela for the year 1837-8 was estimated at 1,763,649 dollars, 51 cents. In the spring Michelena retired from the ministry of finance, and was succeeded by a colonel William Smith.

BUENOS AYRES, (the Argentine republic). We have already mentioned the co-operation of this state with Chili, in the PeruBolivian war. Its domestic affairs are without much interest; but the people are at present prosperous and quiet. It seems, however, that the state-finances do not participate in the general improvement, that has been taking place in the republic during the last year or two, under the presidency of general Rosas.

The budget, presented by the minister of finance, stated the revenue collected at the custom house during 1836 at 10,129,5 silver, and 11,808,786,34 reals currency; and the total of expences and payments at $70,614,4 silver, and 14,763,384,3 reals currency.

The revenue for 1837 was estimated at $12,000,000, and the expenditure at $18,,015,124,74. To supply the deficit, various resources were anounced, having, in

all probability, no existence, but on paper.

In the state of BANDA ORIENTAL, (Monte Video.) Rivera again assumed a formidable attitude, and found himself at the head of a considerable force of malcontents in the autumn of the year, but nothing decisive seems to have occurred.

BRAZIL. On the 19th of September, Feijo, regent of Brazil, "being satisfied, that by his continuance in the regency, he should not be able to eradicate the public grievances, which were daily aggravated by the want of appropriate laws, and not wishing, in any way, to be an hindrance to any more fortunate citizen, who might be empowered by the nation to preside over its destinies," resigned his post. In a manifesto, published upon this occasion, he declared, that he had accepted office without much hope of being able to do any good, in the existing state of affairs, but that he had sacrificed his private convictions to the public wishes. The event has justified his apprehensions. "I could detail to you," he said in his address, "the invincible difficulties which I saw and experienced; but wherefore? I have justified the act of my spontaneous resignation, by the ingenuous declaration, that I have not been able to do what you expected from me." The regency devolved provisionally upon Senhor Pedro de Aranjo e Lima, and a new administration was formed. Senhor Monteiro taking the department of foreign affairs, Calmon da Peres Almeida the finances, and Pereira do Vasconcellos the interior.

The new cabinet was not long without full employment. An insurrection broke out at Bahia on

the 7th of November, and the province was declared independent of the Brazilian government. The president of the province, and the military governor took refuge on board a Brazilian corvette, and made sail under the fire of the forts, which was directed upon them. A new government was installed, of which Senhor Galvao was named president; he, how ever, being absent, Carneiro da Silva Rego was provisionally substituted. Although this revo

lution was effected without bloodshed, great alarm existed lest further trouble should arise, and the negro slaves, a fierce and dangerous body, be induced to take their part likewise in the conflict between the contending factions. The province of Rio Grande was also in a state of revolution, and had declared its independence, though the imperialists still remained in possession of some places.

ed not to quit their posts as long as a majority of the House of Commons, however small, and composed of whatever materials, could be found to maintain them there. Nor, saying this, do we admit any peculiar imputation on the whigs as a party. Sir Robert Peel, it will be remembered, submitted to make the trial of conducting the government against a majority in the House of Commons; he could hardly blame his adversaries if, while supported by one, they were unwilling to give up the enjoyments of office.

These enjoyments, however, comprised little beyond the possession of income and patronage, to which may be added the satisfaction of keeping their opponents out of them. Of power, in a political sense, they had none. They could carry no measure of any kind, but by sufferance of Sir Robert Peel. Shortly after the close of the elections, a pamphlet was published entitled "The Domestic Prospects of the Country under the New Parliament," which was generally understood to speak the sentiments of men in office, though afterwards it was formally denied that it had any authority to do so. It would appear from this publication, that ministers so far appreciated the degree of their strength in Parliament, that they were anxious to avoid all gratuitous occasions for its exercise. The burden of the composition was an exhortation to the liberal party of all shades and denominations, to combine in supporting the whigs in office; and a deprecation of any step or motion which might disquiet them in their possession of it. An endeavour was made so to modify all the measures or principles to which the

ministry stood pledged, as to render them less wholly unpalatable to their tory opponents. Thus, with respect to the Irish Municipal Bill, it was suggested, that it was a point of no great importance, whether corporations should immediately be reorganised in all the principal towns of Ireland. As for the Irish tithe question, that was said to be the concern of the Irish clergy; and if they were not anxious for its settlement, it would be the duty of Lord Melbourne to let it take its own course. Upon the questions of "English churchrates," "the revision of the poorlaw," and "general education," the writer contended, that there was no difficulty, with which the House of Commons might not effectually deal without coming even to a division, and he concluded with the injunction, that reformers of all parties, whatever might be their object, whether the ballot, or an extension of the suffrage; the redress of evils in Ireland, or in Canada; "should, one and all, enter upon the new session with this conviction thoroughly impressed on their minds, that there is not one of those questions, no, not one, which is not secondary to the great object of maintaining Lord Melbourne's cabinet, free from every species of embarrassment." The pamphlet, as we have said, was disclaimed, as having official authority; but it is difficult to believe, that any but a minister, or the immediate retainer of one, could have framed this last paragraph. The Conservatives, on the other hand, were not idle in making preparation for the ensuing parliamentary campaign; and the usual machinery of dinners and meetings and associa tions was put in motion in various