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SIR,

(Inclosure H.)-The Governor of Porto Rico to Captain Spence: (Translation.)

Porto Rico, 9th September, 1822. I HAVE the honour to answer your Official Note of the 1st instant. Its object is-1st, The good conduct of the Schooner Grumpus in the capture of the Pancheta. 2nd, The necessity under which the Government is of putting a stop to the operations and irregular conduct of the Privateers towards American Vessels. 3rd, To procure the immediate liberation of those that may have been detained in the Ports. 4th, Prompt indemnification for the losses they have sustained.

On making the enumeration of these matters, I must call your attention to my former Answers, because they have already been treated of in them implicitly and explicity. Notwithstanding, I will repeat to you that the decision upon the justice or injustice, the validity or invalidity, the legality or illegality, of the Blockade of the Coast of Terra Firma, is beyond my authority: that the Privateers are informed by the Ordinances of their Cruize of their respective obligations, for the transgression of which they will be responsible, and punished by the Laws, in the same manner as in similar cases the Privateers of The United States, would be by the justice of the Government, if they should transgress the limits which should be prescribed to them; but without this transgression they should not be responsible: lastly, that by the Political Constitution of the Spanish Monarchy, the functions of the Judicial Power, are clearly designated, the Government being totally prohibited from being joined with them; and one of the great props of civil liberty consisting in this clear separation. To preserve interior tranquillity and security; to procure publick prosperity; to maintain established order; to watch over the observance of the Laws; to publish them; to cause the execution of the Decisions of the Courts of Justice; to be, in all its parts, an Agent of the Government-here, Sir, you may see the circle of my functions.

Capt. Spence.

God preserve you many Years.

FR. GONZALEZ DE LINAREZ.

(Inclosure I.)-Captain Spence to the Secretary of the Navy.

(Extract.)

United States' Ship Cyane,

St. John's, Porto Rico, 5th September, 1822. SINCE my Letter of the 3d inst. transmitting my Correspondence, I have had a conversation with the Governor, who begs me to be assured, that all he can do, shall be done to meet my wishes, in relation to the Privateers fitted out of the Island; that those already out were equipped before he assumed the Government; that he is opposed to it, both in his private and publick capacity; that future restraints shall be placed upon them; and that he will remedy all abuses, as far as he has the power. That the Brig Andrew Jackson he had ordered to be set at

liberty; that he should inquire into the cause of her detention, and, unless good and sufficient reasons can be given, he will take steps to cause the Judge to be removed. In fine, that he will do his utmost to keep the Laws of Nations inviolate. That, upon the subject of Blockade he can do nothing; it was a question that must be settled between the two Governments; the Blockade had been declared by General Morillo, it was recognized, and the consequences of violating it were inevitable; over this question he had no controul. Hon. Smith Thompson.

ROBERT T. SPENCE.

(Inclosure J.)-List of the Names and Force of the Privateers fitted out from the various Ports of the Island of Porto Rico.

Palomo.-A full rigged Brig, pierced for 20 guns, carries 6 guns, (18lb. carronades) has a complement of 130 Men. Fitted out from this Port, and now on a cruize.

Pancheta. An hermaphrodite Brig, pierced for 16 guns, carries 10 to 12 guns, has a complement of 120 men-captured by the Grampus. Schooner, General Pereira.-Pierced for 16 guns, carries 6 to 8 guns, and has a complement of 80 Men; is fitted out from this Place, and now in this Port.

Schooner, Bruquena.-Carries 4 guns and 50 to 60 Men: fitted out from this Port, and now on a cruize.

Schooner, Hora de la Mar.-Fitted out from Faxardo, and now on a cruize; carries 1 gun and 40 Men.

Flechera, La Carmen.-Fitted out from Porto Cabello; carries 4 guns, and a complement of 50 Men.

Besides the above, there are (I am informed) 3 or 4 other small Privateers, from the different Ports of this Island, of the names and force of which I have no knowledge.

DECREE of the Cortes of Spain, relative to a Pacification with the Spanish American Provinces, and annulling certain Arrangements concluded in Mexico.-13th Febru(Translation.) ary, 1822.

Measures for the Conciliation of the Ultra-Marine Provinces. THE Extraordinary Cortes, in pursuance of the power vested in them by the Constitution, have decreed as follows:

I. That the Government, without loss of time, shall occupy itself with the appointment of Persons who, on account of their talents, erudition, the good opinion entertained of them, and the fame whereby circumstances have distinguished them, are fit to be sent to the different Governments which are established in the two Spanish Americas, to hear and receive all the Propositions which may be made to them, in

order to be transmitted to the Mother Country; excepting those States which have prohibited, or have in any way trenched upon, the absolute liberty belonging to European and American Spaniards, who may be resident in any part of the Ultramarine Provinces, of removing, or disposing of their Persons, Properties, and Families, at their pleasure, so as not to be exposed to any obstacle or measure tending to the detriment of their fortunes.

II. That the Commissioners shall remain there until an Answer be received by them, without the Government being, however, thereby prevented from adopting measures, in the mean time, for receiving the propositions which may be made to it, by Persons authorized by those Governments, and from transmitting them to the Cortes.

III. That the Treaty of Cordova, as it is called, concluded between General O'Donoju and the Chief of the Dissidents of New Spain, Don Augustin de Iturbide, is illegal and null in its effects, as to the Spanish Government and its Subjects, as well as every other Act or Stipulation, relative to the acknowledgment of Mexican Independence, of the said General.

IV. That the Government be invited to set forth, by means of a Declaration to the other Governments, with which it holds friendly relations, that the Spanish Nation will, at all times, consider as a violation of Treaties, their partial or absolute acknowledgment of the Independence of the Spanish Ultramarine Provinces, until it has brought to a conclusion the discussions which exist between some of them and the Mother Country; and to explain all other things which can prove to Foreign Nations, that Spain has not yet renounced any of the rights which belong to her in those Countries.

V. That the Government, by every possible means, do endeavour to preserve, and do reinforce, as soon as possible, the Points which, in any of the Ultramarine Provinces, are still united to the Mother Country, and obedient to her Authority, and do resist those of the Provinces which wish to separate from her; proposing to the Cortes the measures which are necessary, and may be within their power.

Madrid, 13th February, 1822.

RAMON GIRALDO, President.

NICOLAS GARCIA PAGE, Deputy Secretary.
MARIANO DE ZORRAQUIN, Deputy Secretary.

DECREE of the Cortes of Spain, respecting a Pacification with the Spanish American Provinces.-28th June, 1822.

(Translation.)

THE Cortes, in pursuance of the power vested in them by the Con

stitution, have decreed as follows:

I. The Government is authorized to proceed, with regard to Ultramarine Affairs, according to the convenience and exigency of the different circumstances existing in the Places, respectively, where it may be necessary to interpose its influence and authority, or to make use of other more energetic and active means in relation to those Affairs.

II. It is also directed to employ the greatest zeal in protecting and defending, and in causing to be respected, the Persons, property, and liberty of all those who are well inclined towards the Mother Country, and who may wish either to remove to the Peninsula, or to remain in these Countries.

III. In order to approximate and to cement more closely the rela tions subsisting between those Provinces and Peninsular Spain, and to the end that, during the Negociations, the reciprocal Commerce may not be interrupted, the Government shall authorize the Commissioners whom it may nominate, to discuss and conclude Provisional Conventions of Commerce with the said Provinces, on the fundamental bases which the Government may prescribe to them in their Instructions.

IV. The greatest efforts shall be made, to ensure from all risk, or invasion, the faithful Provinces of America, especially the Islands of Cuba and Puerto Rico, and to keep up frequent communications with all of them; to the end that the Correspondence of the Government and of Private Individuals may not be delayed or interrupted.

V. The property and effects, which now, or hereafter, may exist in, or come to, the Peninsula, and the adjacent Islands, belonging to the Natives and Inhabitants of the Ultramarine Provinces, or to those of the Peninsular, residing in those Provinces, whatever may have been their opinions, and political conduct, during the disturbances in those Countries, shall be respected and protected, the same as those of the Peninsular Spaniards, according to the Constitution and the Laws.

VI. The Natives or Inhabitants of Spanish America, or of the Peninsula, who reside in those Provinces, and shall come to Spain, or to the Islands adjacent, whatever may have been their conduct or political opinions during the period of the Revolution, may remain and establish themselves, without any molestation whatsoever, on account of the said conduct and political opinions prior to their arrival, excepting only the Officers of the Spanish Army, who may have deserted from their Colours, and passed over to the Service of the Dissidents, concerning whom the Government will propose to the Cortes, whatever it may deem expedient.

VII. Should the sums mentioned in the Estimates of War and Marine be insufficient for all these Arrangements, those Departments may propose an extraordinary Sum, which shall be solely appropriated

thereto.

VIII. The Government shall take care to promote, and provide for, the destination of skilful Naturalists, to the Islands of Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Philippines, and to encourage therein the study of all the branches of Natural History, and especially Chemistry and Mineralogy.

Madrid, 28th June, 1822.

ALVARO GOMEZ, President.

JOSEF MELCHOR PRATT, Deputy Secretary.
ANGEL DE SAAVEDRA, Deputy Secretary.

ACT of the Ionian Parliament, respecting the Punishment of Ionian Subjects, for engaging in the War between Turkey and Greece.—2d April, 1822. (Translation.)

In pursuance of the Act of Neutrality published by the Ionian Government, with respect to the calamities of War and Insurrection, existing in Epirus, the Peloponesus, and the neighbouring Countries, which has been graciously approved by His Majesty the August and exclusive Protector of these States;

And it being expedient, as well as necessary, for especial and weighty reasons of State, that those Ionian Subjects, who, in abuse of the reiterated paternal indulgences of their Government, violate the National Laws, and compromise the highest duties of honour and the most important interests of their Country, should meet with the punishment due to their criminal delinquency;

It is therefore ordered and directed, by these presents, under the authority of his Highness the President, and the Most Excellent Senate, with the approbation and concurrence of the Most Noble the Legislative Assembly of the United States of the Ionian Islands, in this Fifth Session of the First Parliament, and with the consent of his Excellency the Lord High Commissioner of the Sovereign Protector:

I. That the Subjects of these States who, in respect of the calamities abovementioned, have taken, or do or shall take, an active belligerent part, in favour of, or against, any of the hostile Parties, in Epirus, the Peloponesus, or the Islands, Countries, or Seas adjacent, are for ever banished from the Territory of the Ionian Islands, and their Dependencies.

II. That their moveable and immoveable property, and effects of every description, shall be confiscated agreeably to the Laws in force.

III. That they shall also be punished personally, with the ut most rigour of the Law, whenever they fall into the power of the Go

vernment.

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