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cient revenue, for the annual pay. ment of interest, and for the sinking

fund reserved for the loan in ques. tion.)

BUENOS AYRES.

MESSAGE OF THE EXECUTIVE OF BUENOS-AYRES TO THE LEGISLATURE, 1828.

Gentlemen Representatives,

The government of the province of Buenos-Ayres, sees with the greatest satisfaction the opening of the seventh legislative assembly. At this moment are realized the hopes conceived on the first days of the revolution; thereforefit presents itself with the fullest confidence to salute the honourable representatives, and to give a faithful account of the affairs confided to its direction. Nevertheless, it is not possible to do so with the same minuteness as heretofore, the war having paralyzed a portion of the means of interior improvement; and for this reason, it can only speak of the most important points, as far as the actual state of the country will permit. Internal tranquillity has been the first object to which it directed its attention, satisfied that without that we should be condemned by the world, and be the derision of our enemies. Past experience has not been sufficient to convince us, that the formation of a state is subjected to the general laws of nature, in which nothing can arrive at perfection except slowly and progressively. The government, acting upon this principle, applied itself to the extinc. tion of discord and re-establishment of the quiet of the interior, under whose shade alone can flourish the real interests by which the nation

must be hereafter united. It has the satisfaction to announce to you, that the result has corresponded with its hopes, and that reason has rarely obtained a triumph so easy and rapid in the midst of so much agitation. The government has cause to congratulate itself in the naming of the deputies who have acted in a negotiation so important. The provinces, in addition to having withdrawn their arms from civil war, have given them a more noble direction, and have named representatives to form a convention in the city of Santa Fé, which will probably have the good fortune to lay the foundation of the national happiness.

The negotiations for peace with his majesty the emperor of Brazil, still continue, and there are well. founded hopes that the day is not far distant in which the war will terminate satisfactorily; notwithstanding which, the government, sensible that honour is the vital principle of nations, continues to support it at every sacrifice, until peace can be realized; and hopes that, should necessity require it, you will with pleasure make every necessary sacrifice. The nations of our continent continue to give us proofs of their good wishes, and Great Britain renders us constantly the good offices of a true friend. The officers and forces by land and

sea have displayed great constancy and bravery, and have obtained considerable advantages, which recommend them to the respect and gratitude of every good citizen. When it appeared that the war was at a stand, and that the armies of the two hostile powers faced each other, without either being able to advance, an intrepid chief, with a handful of Argentines, has recovered our old possessions of the "Misiones Orientales;" his force has been there increased, and the joy evinced by the inhabitants in returning to the bosom of the republic, sufficiently proves the absurdity of conquest. The expedition from the north now marching to the same point, when united to the said force, will form a respectable army, the expense of which is inconsiderable, and which can easily combine its operations with the main army, and will prove the symbol of the concord and enthusiasm of the provinces.

The militia of the city and the country, which had been almost dissolved, and in a state of nullity, has been reorganized, and performs important services, enabling the troops of the line to be placed on the frontiers, and wherever their attentions may be called for in the foreign war. The new line of frontier is established; this undertaking, as desirable as it is important, commenced under the most auspicious circumstances. The Indians, with whom the government continues the measures of peace and conciliation with the most happy effects, will no more commit depredations with impunity, and the immense acquisition of territory has doubled the guaranty of the public debt, so that this burden may be taken off in a short time,

if it is found necessary. But the most important is, that in this establishment we have occupied the interesting position of White Bay, (Bahia Blanca,) which is surrounded with commodious harbours, agricultural land, and extensive woods. Its maritime coasts abound with fisheries, and some ports, enabling us to have hereafter a respectable marine, which will be the shield of the republic. The communication to Chile by land, from the same point, is short and convenient; and the navigation of the Red river (Rio Colorado) will perhaps afford a more easy exportation of the produce of some of the interior provinces. The government has ordered the land to be surveyed, and to trace out the most proper place to erect a city, to be called the "New Buenos Ayres." The importance to which it is likely to arrive gives it a claim to so glorious a title. The zeal manifested in this undertak. ing, by all those charged with the execution of it, deserves the highest praise. Through the stagnation of our foreign commerce, that of the interior has rapidly increased, especially those capitals that have been applied to agricultural purposes, labourers being abundant, from the cessation of the impress.

In the midst of all this, the establishment of public grammarschools for children in the city and country required particular attention. The government took them into consideration, and having placed at the head of them an individual who is well known for his philanthropy, it has produced the desired effect. Private colleges and houses of education have begun to be established; the govern. ment encourages, by every means,

of the 8th of May has suppressed in part this licentious writing, and public opinion will by degrees banish it. The administration of justice requires a change, from which considerable advantages are expected. be expected. The government will have the honour of laying it before you for your consideration. Of all our domestic wants, none is more urgent than to fix, in a certain and positive manner, the basis of the national bank. This establishment, at present, requires the strongest guaranties; and to give them, it will be only necessa. ry to act with prudence.

The

this species of industry, the most useful for the country, and hopes that in a short time it will not be necessary for youths to cross the seas, seeking the treasure of science with the danger of losing those sentiments which alone can be cultivated in their native land. The ladies of the Benevolent So ciety have shown in the present year how much the nation is indebted to them for their assiduous efforts to forward education. public schools continue in the same state that of San Miguel has improved. The works at the cathedral church, and of the high road to Ensenada, and the canal of San Fernando, are nearly com. pleted. Many country towns have been assisted with funds to repair their churches, or to build new ones; and until, in process of time, our laws and customs be improved, a new prison for debtors is fitting up. The hospitals, especially that for women, receive important improvements; the government thus endeavouring to alleviate the sufferings of the unfortunate. The important establishment of vaccination has been augmented, and its utility has never been more felt than at this moment: whilst the neighbouring provinces are visited by the terrible scourge of the small-pox, it has scarcely been felt in this city, and the government has put in practice every means entirely to eradicate it.

The liberty of the press has of late been greatly abused. Some ill-advised persons have carried its licentiousness to such an extent as to bring discredit upon the country among foreign nations, where it is not possible to know that such productions only produce here contempt for their authors. The law

As the province of Buenos Ayres has providod exclusively the funds for the defence of the nation, it is but fair to state that when the present administration shall have been one year in office, in August next, they will have expended 1,000,000 of dollars less than they had calculated upon; after having discharged enormous outstanding debts, established the frontier, clothed, armed, and paid the army and navy, paid for the transport and armament of the contingents from the provinces, provided the expenses of foreign affairs, and nearly all those of the convention; supplied the parks of artillery and magazines, having attended at the same time to the internal expense of the province. It is true that they have suspended for the present the payment of the interest upon the loan in London, and that this dreadful measure was foreseen in making the above calculations, but it was one of those alternatives necessary to be taken, in order to avoid greater evils: the operation of issuing paper in Buenos Ayres to send gold to England would be like adding fuel to fire, and, in

the end, would devour all. The government has the satisfaction to learn, by means of a respectable house in London, to whom it has confided the management of this affair, that the holders of the bonds have duly appreciated the circumstances of the country, not doubt. ing that the government intends to (as it most certainly will) remit to them, upon the first opportunity, the funds necessary for the fulfil. ment of its engagements. Every day proves the necessity of placing the direct taxes upon a solid founda. tion, and that the projects of law in that respect, submitted in the preceding session, should receive your sanction as soon as possible; the government on its part is prepared to give a new form to the mode of collection. The system of confiding to particular individuals, in farming it out, might be very well at the commencement, but now that more information has been obtained upon the subject, it will be advisable to administer it by persons permanently employed, with adequate salaries, who can be promoted according to their merits.

The department of engineers, architects, and botanical garden.

have been supressed; as will be also other departments and expenses, not because the govern ment did not recognise their utility, taken in the abstract, but because they were in disproportion with its means to sustain them, and therefore served only as a vain appear. ance. The government, in this respect, despising any ephemeral popularity, will perform its duty. The expenses of the war have been reduced to the lowest possible amount. It can assure you that the charges, in this respect, upon the revenue, is hardly one third of what might be expected.

Finally, gentlemen representa. tives, if a comparative view is taken of the present state of the province, and that in which it was in the month of August last year, it ought to be viewed as very satisfactory. The government confides in your enlightened and cordial co-operation, not only in sustaining the present institutions, but in advan. cing them to greater perfection.

MANUEL DOrrego. JOSE MARIA ROXAS. JUAN RAMON Balcarce. To the very Hon. Junta of Representatives of the province of Buenos-Avres.

EUROPE.

GREAT BRITAIN.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

THE session of Parliament was opened Jan. 29th 1828 by commis. sioners, appointed by his majesty, who delivered the following speech:

My Lords and Gentlemen, We are commanded by his majesty to acquaint you, that his majesty continues to receive from all foreign princes and states, assurances of their desire to maintain the relations of amity with this country, and that the great powers of Europe participate in the earnest wish of his majesty to cultivate a good understanding upon all points which may conduce to the preservation of peace.

His majesty has viewed for some time past, with great concern, the state of affairs in the east of Europe.

For several years a contest has been carried on, between the Ot. toman Porte, and the inhabitants of the Greek provinces and islands, which have been marked on each side by excesses revolting to humanity.

In the progress of that contest, the rights of neutral states, and the laws which regulate the intercourse of civilized nations, have been re. peatedly violated, and the peace. ful commerce of his majesty's sub. jects has been exposed to frequent

interruption, and to depredations, too often aggravated by acts of violence and atrocity.

His majesty has felt the deepest anxiety to terminate the calamities and avert the dangers, inseparable from hostilities which constitute the only exception to the general tranquillity of Europe.

Having been earnestly entreated by the Greeks to interpose his good offices, with a view to effect a reconciliation between them and the Ottoman Porte, his majesty concerted measures for that purpose, in the first instance, with the Emperor of Russia, and subsequently with his imperial majesty and the king of France.

His majesty has given directions that there should be laid before you copies of a protocol, signed at St. Petersburg by the plenipotentiaries of his majesty, and of his imperial majesty the emperor of Russia, on the 4th of April, 1826, and of the treaty entered into between his majesty and the courts of the Thuilleries, and of St. Petersburg, on the 6th of July, 1827.

In the course of the measures adopted with a view to carry into effect the object of the treaty, a collision, wholly unexpected by his majesty, took place in the port

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