occur to him, that, having gained over his congregation a holy and just influence (to which be it admitted that his doctrines and his life might entitle him), he might have said, to those who called on him to "arm," "No! it is not with arms like those that I can serve you; but I have spiritual arms, of brighter temper and greater force; send me into the field amidst this tumultuous congregation, and I answer for it, that they shall return, through a sense of religion, to their duty." If Mr. Smith were the excellent person that he is represented, such is the influence that he might naturally have possessed, and such is the use which he would naturally have made of it. He did not do this: he withheld information; he passed, on the day before the insurrection, by the door of the Governor twice, in going from his own house and in returning to it; he passed, and he paused not a moment to warn the Governor of the impending danger.

Sir, I enter not into his motives. I lament many parts of his trial, and most deeply do I deplore his fate; but I do not see, in the proceedings that have been had against him, either, on the one hand, that entire exculpation which entitles Mr. Smith to the glory of martyrdom, or that proof of malus animus, on the part of his judges, which ought to subject them to such a sentence as the Resolutions proposed to us imply. I think, Sir, that the House will best discharge

its duty by taking no further cognizance of the question, on which it is utterly impossible to come to a completely satisfactory judgment. And I propose this mode of disposing of the question with the more confidence, as I am satisfied that the discussion itself will have answered every now attainable purpose of public justice; and that we cannot be misinterpreted, as intending by our vote to show any lukewarmness in the cause of the improvement of our fellow creatures, or in our belief that religion is the instrument by which that improvement is to be effected.

The previous question being put "That the question be now put,"

SIR JAMES MACKINTOSH this day presented the following Petition from the Merchants of the City of London, which he introduced by a speech full of eloquence, and abounding in the most libéral, enlightened, and statesman

like views, illustrative of the sound principles laid down in the following petition:

"To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom in Parliament assembled. The Petition of the undersigned Merchants of the City of London,

"Showeth-That your Petitioners are engaged in trade with the countries in America, formerly under the dominion of Spain.

"That the entire extinction of Spanish authority in the greater part of that continent, and the encouragement by the Government at home, induced your Petitioners to embark in that extensive commerce, with full confidence that it would receive the most complete protection, and ultimately prove most beneficial to themselves and the country at large. The measures adopted by Government most decisively demonstrated the anxiety to acquire and secure this intercourse.

6

"In the session of 1822, an Act of Parliament was passed, cap. 43, authorising the importation of goods, the growth, production, or manufacture, of any country or place in America, being or having been a part of the dominions of the King of Spain,' either in British ships, or in ships the build of those countries. In the following year, consuls were appointed to proceed to the ports thereof, and subsequently there has been made public the declaration of His Majesty's Government, that, in its opinion, the recognition of such of the new states as have established, de facto, their separate political existence cannot be much longer delayed.'

"Your Petitioners further humbly represent, that many millions of capital have already been embarked in this trade; that large commercial establishments have been

formed both in South America and at home: and that past experience affords the strongest ground for believing that this commercial intercourse will admit of great extension, the reciprocal demand for the productions of the respective countries being constantly increasing.

"Your Petitioners consequently find themselves greatly embarrassed by those countries remaining without any recognised political existence.' Not a week passes but they are assailed with rumours of the most alarming kind, involving their proceedings in doubt, hesitation, and distraction, and grievously destructive of that confidence so essential to the success of all commercial undertakings. Your honourable House must be well aware that no commercial intercourse can be permanently carried on with security and advantage to those concerned, if it is rendered liable to fluctuation by constant alarms of political changes, necessarily producing sudden and excessive alterations in the value of the property embarked.

"That your Petitioners are enabled to state, and to prove unequivocally to your honourable House, that, in the several states of Colombia, Buenos Ayres, and Chili, there does not remain the smallest vestige of Spanish dominion in any shape: each state enjoying its own Government separate and independent from all interference of a hostile force.

"That the revolution which has produced this alteration in the political condition of these countries, has now been in progress fifteen years. In Buenos Ayres there has not been a Spanish soldier in hostility for eight years. In Chili there has been none for four years; and in Colombia the third annual Constitutional Congress is now sitting. In none of these states does there exist any party, or persons in possession of power or authority, excepting the constituted Executive Government.

"Your Petitioners, therefore, humbly submit that these states have established, de facto, their separate political existence; and are, according to the practice of nations in former instances, entitled to be recognised as independent governments; but they would not have presumed to have addressed your honourable House on a question of this nature, if the continued delay in recognising this political existence did not produce the most detrimental consequences to the commercial transactions in which they are concerned.

"Your Petitioners, therefore, most humbly pray that your honourable House will take this question into its serious consideration, and adopt such measures as to its wisdom may seem fit, for promoting the immediate recognition of the independence of such of the states of South America as have, de facto, established the same. your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray." On the question that it do lie on the table,

And

MR. SECRETARY CANNING said: - Unquestionably, Sir, I am very far from having any thing to complain of, either with respect to the tone or topics with which my honourable and learned friend has introduced his speech; and if the observations which I shall feel it my duty to make upon that speech, or the petition upon which it is founded, shall bear but a small proportion to his address, I hope he will do me the justice to believe, that it is not in consequence of any offence at what he has said, or any disrespect for his opinions. But, my honourable and learned