propositions till he returns to Paris. The day 
before he set out he gave me a ship to carry 
myself and family tothe United States. The 
State of Public Affairs in Julu. 
minister recommended that I should not pin- 
myseif down to a day as to departure, as cir- 
cumstances might make it proper for me to 
stay somewhat longer than | new intended. 
The treaty between France and Holland was 
ratified the 30th March, and will be publish- 
ed this day in Holland. Jam assured that it 
contains the following article: 
«¢ All the merchandize conveyed into the 
ports of Holland on board American vessels, 
since the 1st day of January, 1809, shall be 
put under sequestration, subject to the dis- 
position of France, according to circumstances, 
and the political relations with the United 
States.” 
You will learn by a decree of the king of 
Naples, that he has put his gains beyond the 
reach of negociation. .The ports of Prussia 
are open to our commerce. Avoid both 
Prussia and Denmark till you have other 
assurances, 
Paris, April 16, 1810.—Sir, the John 
Adams being yet detained, I am able to in- 
form you, that on the 11th instant the em- 
peror directed the sale of all the American 
vessels taken in the ports of Spain, and that 
the money arising therefrom should be placed 
in his caisse private. He has also refused to 
give up the Hero, and has ordered that the 
case be brought before the Council of Prizes, 
where condemnation’ necessarily awaits it. 
I send a cupy of a note upon which this last 
order was taken, and another relating to our 
business at Naples; and am, sir, with very 
high consideration, your most ubedient, and 
very humble servant, 
Hon. R. Smith, Fe. JOHN ARMSTRONG, 
SOUTH AMERICA. 
On the 19th of April the Provinces of 
the Caraccas, declared themselves inde- 
pendant of Old Spain, in the following 
proclamation : 
It has pleased Almighty God, to grant 
to every country alike, the natural right of 
its own sovereignty. 
These provinces, planted by Spain, fos- 
tered and protected by her power, have, and 
of right, ought to have submitted to her 
guidance and direction during the period of 
their infancy, when, from imbecility and 
weakness, they- were incapable of their own 
government and protection. 
But Spain, deprived of her king by the 
mnparalleled perfidy of the Emperor of the 
French, her European States vanquished 
by his treachery and his arms, and the 
anerent, lawful, and acknowledged govern- 
ment of the country, destroyed by the 
violent. outrages of his sanguinary policy, 
there exists neither reason, right, nor justice, 
for continuing our dependance on a power 
that has no existence but in memory ; policy 
and self preservation, therefore, demand 
shat we should provide for our common 
/ 
7 
safety, and the protection of these provinces, 
by taking into our hand the -natural-sovee 
reignty of our country. 
The period has at length arrived, when 
these United Provinces possess both the 
strength and the power to protert themselves. 
With a population of nine millions of inbabi- 
tants, with an extent of fertile territory 
Superior to any empire on the globe, and 
abounding with all the riches that bounteous 
nature ever bestowed on the human race, it 
would be contrary to sound policy in the 
present state of the world, to submit, and we 
are determined no longer to submit to the 
domination of any European or foreign power 
whatever. 
For whilst a lawful government existed 
in Spain, and her legitimate king sat upon 
her throne, we have ever been loyal to his 
person, and faithful to his government; and 
our treasures have been the only support of 
the European monarchy and its allies, 
whilst we bad no‘interest whatever, and our 
country drained of those riches which nacure 
“has bestowed upon the inhabitants of Ame- 
rica, for their own happiness, support, and 
defence. 
Under these considerations, to prevent the 
inevitable and ruinous consequences of fallin 
under the yoke of the Emperor of the French, 
the tyrant of Europe, and the oppressor of 
Spain, We, the Spanish Provinces in Ame- 
rica, declare ourselves a free, sovereign, 
and independant people, not acknowledging 
the domination of any power on earth, re= 
_ fusing submission, and denying and repelling 
the authority of whatever nation may 
attempt dominion over us. This we unanie 
mously engage and pledge ourselves to maine 
tain and support with our lives, our fortunes, 
and our sacred honours, calling upon every 
inhabitant, of the provinces to aid and sup= 
port in carrying into effect this our laudable 
and just resolation, and establishing for oure 
selves and our posterity, a free, equitable, 
and independent government, that shall 
secure our happiness, and give us a place of 
honour and respect among the independant 
nations of the earth. 
And we do earnestly entreat all foreign 
nations to gurantee our independence, and 
to favour us with such alliance and assistance 
as may enable us to defeat the designs of the’ 
enemies of our country. 
By thus disavowimg our dependence on 
Spain, we solemnly appeal to heaven for the 
rectitude of our intentions, and we do protest 
before the sacred Majesty of God himself, 
that in all our measures we have ever heen 
actuated by motives pure and honourabie, 
and that we have no other design in view 
than the preservation of ourselves, and the 
protection of cur common country. And we 
do most humbly supplicate that Being who 
decides the fate-of nations, to smile on our 
exertions, and ‘to bless and protect this our 
riew established empire. . 
ALPHABETICAL 
