326 SPANISH AMERICA. 



that time, the conduct of the majority of 

 the Cortes, that the rejection took place : 

 had it been accepted, and acted upon, 

 questions must unavoidably have arisen in 

 the course of the discussions, which would 

 have greatly embarrassed the British go- 

 vernment, and perhaps have fettered its 

 subsequent policy with reference to South 

 America. The spirit which influenced the 

 majority of the Cortes was soon afterwards 

 again manifested, by the rejection, on the 

 13th of August 18 J 1, of a proposition for 

 opening a trade between Great Britain and 

 Spanish America. This system of policy 

 continued to be acted upon by the Cortes 

 up to the latest moment of their power. - 



It now becomes necessary to notice some 

 of the leading events which in the mean 

 time took place in Spanish America. 



