ought to subsist between the separate governments and the general government of the nation; and, in a word, to unite the federal regime, and cause to be observed the constituent law which establishes it, would be the only objects of my commission; and certainly never can my intention be otherwise, or the powers with which legitimate authority has invested me. As the delegate of legitimate authority, I shall never desert the orbit of its high appointments, or of the orders which, with relation to them, it has communicated to me.

All these orders are directed to your happiness, and to the general happiness of the nation. It is only wished that the present system of government may suffer no contradiction, and that, keeping equally aloof from anarchy and oppression, we may justly earn the title of freemen; that the intimate union of the states with the government may inspire the merchant, the artisan, the miner, and the agriculturist, with the confidence and security which are necessary to conntinue, or to undertake their useful labours,-productive of public wealth and prosperity; that the stableness and philosophy of the government, the moderation and orderly freedom of the citizens, and the imposing character of law and authority, may convert our land into such a mansion of peace and abundance as may bring useful citizens from all the world to plough our coasts and plains, (which invite the hand of labour), and induce them to co-operate in the progress of population, the first element of power: in a word, that to secure under the existing form of government, and equally distant from the excesses of disorder or tyranny, we may proceed with firmness to the supreme felicity of nations, which consists in the regu larity of their institutions, and the well-being of the lowest citizens.

Inhabitants of Jalisco,-such are the grand objects of the provident care of your supreme government, and such is the moving power of my intentions and desires. I already calculate on the happiness of coming among you without leaving behind

me either tears or ruins, which would alloy the pleasure which I feel in being employed to promote your interests, or watch over your fate. I am resolved to continue the work of the salvation of my country: this is my end-to this all my operations shall be directed. The law of the constitution shall be my guide, and the public force under my command the means by which I shall punish its cruel and perfidious enemies. Do not doubt it, fellow citizens. Henceforward they shall not plot your ruin, nor endeavour to lead you to the horrors of a political dissolution, or to the apathy of a barbarous despotisın. Your good faith shall no longer be abused, nor the moderation of your character be confounded anew by the cries of the public enemy, who, usurping the sacred voice of nations, hushes the honest clamour of the patriot and the citizen. My friends, you are free. You shall taste liberty in the bosom of peace and order; and all the advantages of union and federative government shall be the element of your soil, even though to to secure them I should be forced to sacrifice my repose and my life.

And after such an intelligible and sincere declaration, can there exist in the state of Jalisco a single impartial person who can doubt the rectitude of the general government or my good faith? Can there be any one who will lend an ear to the abuse which has been poured out against the respectable name of distinguished patriots, who, at the same time, are invested with the highest authority? I cannot think so; and as for me, I flatter myself, that calling to mind the little services which I have been able to render to the independence and liberty of the nation, I shall have been done justice to by believing me animated with a sincere love of country and a regard for the public interests. Yes! It cannot be otherwise; and I please myself with the hope, that after you are all undeceived and penetrated with a sense of the wise conduct of the Executive Government, and of the great causes which induced them to send me among you, you will join

with me in promoting the good work of our salvation. Act thus, fellow citizens, convinced that your happiness, the peaceful situation of your families, and of your towns, the liberty and order of your state, under the federative government, are now the first object of my desires, and the exclusive occupation of your best friend and disinterested fellow patriot.

NICHOLAS BRAVO.

Head quarters in Guadalaxara, June 14th, 1824.

PROCLAMATION

Of the ex-Emperor Iturbide to the People of Mexico.

Mexicans!-On placing my foot upon our shores, after greeting you with the liveliest affection and kindness, my first, duty is to inform you of the reason why I have returned from Italy, as I now come, and with what object. I trust you will listen to my voice, and that you will allow to my words the credit that is due to one who has adhered to truth on every occasion. Experience has taught you, by a series of transactions which required the greatest delicacy in their management, and must be well known to you, that when I have undertaken operations of public importance, it was not without due meditation that those operations had uniformly sprung from a desire to promote the true and solid happiness of my country, and were carried on in a spirit of prudence and of justice.

I should but offend your feelings if I used any arguments to convince you that Spain is under the protection of the Holy Alliance, and that she is not yet reconciled, nor ever will be reconciled, to the loss of the most precious jewel in her crown.

Allow me, however, to observe, that it is impossible for you to be aware of the numberless intrigues which are actively in motion, not only in distant countries, but within this our proper territory, for the purpose of restoring it again to Spanish domination. But I, who from my residence in Europe, found myself in a situation to learn much, and to perceive more, upon this subject, saw in the clearest manner that ruin was impending over you-and could I be indifferent, my countrymen, to your destruction? Need I say, then, wherefore it is that I return to you, journeying from such remote regions, triumphing over the obstacles, and eluding the toils, which this same Holy Alliance was anxiously preparing, to prevent me from achieving my purpose?

I return not as Emperor, but as a soldier and a Mexican, attracted to you even more by the sentiments of my heart than by community of country. I come as the first person amongst you, interested in the consolidation of our cherished independence, and our just liberty. I come, influenced by the gratitude which I owe to the affection shown me by the nation in general, and without any recollection of the heinous calumnies with which my enemies-the enemies of our country-have sought to sully my name.

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My only object is to contribute by my counsel and my sword to the preservation of the liberty and independence of Mexico, or never to survive the commencement of this new and most disastrous slavery, which powerful nations are preparing to inflict upon it; and that, too, through the instru

*The above proclamation, said to have been issued by Iturbide on his landing, but which, we believe to be one left in this country, out of a very large number which he had had printed for distribution on his arrival, though it cannot be known to have been issued in Mexico, is, nevertheless, a document from which may be inferred what his views were in undertaking this unfortunate expedition.

mentality of some recreant sons of our soil, and several ungrateful Spaniards. It is my wish, also, to reconcile the differences which exist amongst you-differences which of themselves would be sufficient to plunge you into ruin—to re-establish the invaluable blessing of domestic peace, to support that system of government which may be most conformable to the general will, without any restriction whatever, and to cooperate with you in effectually promoting the prosperity of the

nation.

Mexicans! You shall soon again hear from your most sincere and affectionate friend,

AGUSTIN DE ITURBIDE.

BUENOS AYRES.

MESSAGE

Of the Buenos Ayres Executive to the Legislative Assembly or House of Representatives.

Gentlemen Representatives,-The fourth meeting of the Legislature of the State, assembled together in the manner prescribed by the laws, will afford to those who have any regard for institutions established for the preservation of their liberties, additional confidence; and the government, in rendering you an account of the present state of public affairs, commences by congratulating itself on that feeling, which, yearly increasing, will more and more conduce to the security of the Representative system.

Peace has been maintained with the nations of the conti