230 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1810, 



cil. The governments that sub- 

 mitted to the Regency, considered 

 those who did not as rebels. In 

 the estimation of the Revolution- 

 ist?, the mere name of Ferdinand 

 VII. was a mere phantom. To pay 

 respect and homage to this, no- 

 thing but mockery. There could 

 not be any real loyalty, it was said, 

 without obedience to those by 

 whomtheking,duringhiscaptivity, 

 was legitimately represented. 

 Commissioners were sent from 

 Porto Rico, Mexico, New Mexico 

 Cuba, Spanish Guiana, Monte 

 Video, and the juntas, or govern- 

 ments of some other districts, to 

 the Regency of Cadiz, with assur- 

 ances of their attachment and zea- 

 lous co-operation with the Re- 

 gency in support of the monarchy 

 in all its members or branches. 

 But by far the greatest portion of 

 the Spanish part of South Ame- 

 rica adoptedthe principles, andfol- 

 lowed the example of theCaraccas. 

 The inhabitants of those fine coun- 

 tries were divided into two parties 

 —the Loyalists, and the Indepen- 

 dents ; and their dissensions fer- 

 mented into flames of civil war. 

 Into these a general sketch of 

 the History of Europe does not 

 enter, and still less into the va- 

 rious internal affairs, civi' and 

 political, of ultra-marine r gions 

 occupying so large a portion of 

 the surface of the globe. All 

 these will furnish superabundant 

 matter for the historians of Ame- 

 rica ; and they may, there is every 

 reason to suppose, become more 

 interesting to the enlightened part 

 of the world than those of an old 

 country, losing its energy with its 

 liberty, and in comparison of nas- 

 cent, active, and ardent states, 

 effete and torpid. Yet the revo- 



lutions in South, as those in North 

 America, refer to Europe for 

 their origin, and re-act on Europe 

 in their results. These general 

 causes and consequences it is 

 proper and necessary to notice in 

 a History of Europe. 



The Junta of Caraccas had 

 very naturally represented their 

 situation and designs to the Bri- 

 tish governor of the island of Cu- 

 racao, so near the entrance into 

 the gulph of Venezuela, soliciting 

 his countenance and protection. 

 The governor did not hesitate to 

 enter into a friendly correspon- 

 dence with Caraccas ; but, in cir- 

 cumstances so new and important, 

 required instructions from home 

 for the direction of his conduct. 

 It was necessary for the British 

 government, at this crisis, to 

 make a public declaration of the 

 system on which it was to act 

 with regard to the Spanish colo- 

 nies: and the earl of Liverpool, 

 secretary of state for war and 

 the colonies, wrote a letter, June 

 29, 1810, to the governor of Cu- 

 racao, Brigadier general Lidyard, 

 in which he stated, that " it was 

 the first object of his majesty, on 

 being acquainted with the revolu- 

 tion in Spain, to second the efforts 

 of so brave and loyal a people 

 for maintaining the independence 

 of the Spanish monarchy in all 

 parts of the world. In confor- 

 mity to these sentiments, and 

 the obligations of justice and 

 good faith, his majesty must dis- 

 courage every step tending to se- 

 parate the Spanish provinces in 

 America from the mother country 

 in Europe. If, however, contrary 

 to his majesty's wishes and expec- 

 tation, the Spanish state in Eu- 

 rope should be condemned to sub- 



