DAN

Recapitulation of the Tonnage of The United States for the Year 1818.

Treasury Department, Register's Office, 30th December, 1819.

JOSEPH NOURSE, Register.

DECREE of the King of Spain, for the Organization of the Council of State.—Madrid, 3d March, 1820.

(Translation.)

FROM the time when Divine Providence, (taking under its protection the heroic efforts by which the great Nation committed to my paternal care has astonished the World,) restored to me the Throne of the Spains, my heart, always anxious for the welfare of my People, has been endeavouring to discover the means by which to re-establish order and regularity in every Branch of the public Administration, and to heal the wounds which a disastrous and unexampled War has inflicted on the Political Body of the State, and which still remain unclosed; but, unfortunately, the present circumstances of Europe ;the attention required by our distant Colonies, and by our rich and extensive Possessions in the New World, a part of the Spanish Monarchy as precious as it is integral ;-the difficulty of remedying inveterate abuses, and of repressing dangerous and premature innovations, some of which, although dictated by a laudable zeal, have fomented party spirit, the origin of the greatest evils in society;—and, lastly, occurrences which have retarded the execution of wise and welldigested resolutions;-have not, as yet, permitted my heart to enjoy the consolation which it has sought by so many sacrifices, and which it

always most earnestly desires. Convinced, moreover, that, however desirable partial and isolated regulations may be in themselves, they produce no beneficial results, I have meditated, and have for some time been preparing with indefatigable zeal, the establishment of a general, uniform, and regular, system, which, by combining all interests, and reconciling all hearts, (and which I hope to carry into execution by salutary and worthy means,) will be found to raise this great and powerful Nation to that height of splendour and glory to which it is destined. And although I cannot turn my eyes in any direction without encountering the miserable prospect of that unquiet and revolutionary spirit, which exists to the disgrace of all Europe, inspiring democratic and revolutionary ideas, and causing its terrible effects to be felt in all, even the most enlightened, Nations, obliging them to have recourse to strong measures in order to restrain its progress; I see with joy and satisfaction that, amongst the Spanish People, always loyal and constant, it has not entered, notwithstanding all its strength, and that the attempts of a few who have been seduced, and of others who have been unconsciously led astray, have been vain and ineffectual. The fidelity of my virtuous People, the sacrifices which, with so much love, and so often, have been made for my Royal Person, and above all, my own heart, which is affectionate and generous, excite and animate me to labour for their prosperity with renewed exertions. The better organization of the Army and Navy, which is imperiously and peremptorily required;-the regulation of the Royal Finances, which, on account of the unsettled state of affairs, are in disorder, notwithstanding the efforts made to prevent it;—and the putting a stop to abuses in the administration of the Royal Treasury, which does not, by a large sum, report what the People have contributed, nor what is necessary for the public business, in consequence of which heavy taxes have been imposed;-the delay which, notwithstanding the wisdom of the Laws and the integrity of the Magistrates, is experienced in the administration of Justice;-the depression which exists in, and the obstacles which oppose the progress of, agriculture, commerce, and industry, the 3 sources of public wealth;-all have engaged, and constantly continue to engage, my paternal attention. But with a view to attain the great object to which the good of my People and my love for them make me anxious to aspire, and to find a remedy for so many evils, (some of which it has not been in the power of the Govern ment to avoid, and others of which have been caused by circumstances which no longer exist, whether they are to be considered as the effect of the generally disturbed state of affairs, or the result of base and headstrong passions,) calmness and repose is requisite, in order that prudence and wisdom may dictate the meaus conducive to that object, care being at the same time taken to avoid the agitations by which, unfortunately, in other Countries, we have seen the enemies of order, by

fanatically raising expectations without having the means of fulfilling them, and by presenting the sacred name of the public interest in a false light, immoderate desires have been excited, as also that party spirit, of which at all times, and in all Countries, the People have been the unhappy victims. I have seen with joy and pleasure, that my People, warned by so terrible an example, and so miserable an end, are tranquil, affectionate, and obedient, and await with anxiety the benefits which their virtues deserve; aud, being desirous of fulfilling to the utmost my paternal intentions, I have commanded, (in conformity with the advice of my August Brother the Infant Don Carlos, and of the Junta over which he presides, and agreeably to what you have already proposed,) that the Council of State shall immediately occupy itself, according to the object of its institution, in examining into the form in which it originally existed, and has since been held, and that it shall submit to me what it considers will, henceforward, be the best method for the despatch of those important affairs which are entrusted to its high functions; it being my will that hereafter the Council of State, being divided into auxiliary Sections for the Ministry, shall propose to me the reforms most conducive to the good of the Monarchy. And in order to constitute the said Sections, of which there shall be 7, viz. of State, Ecelesiastical Affairs, Legislature, Finance, War, Marine, and Industry, you shall propose to me, besides the worthy Persons who at present compose my Council of State, others distinguished in their respective careers, and who, meriting my confidence, enjoy at the same time the best opinion of the Public.

It is also my will that you inform the Departments which it concerns, that my Council of State and the other Supreme Tribunals, according to their respective attributes, shall consult and propose to me immediately, with the sacred liberty which they possess, all that they may consider conducive to the good of my People in both Hemispheres, and to the lustre and brilliancy of my Crown; taking into consideration the fundamental Laws of the Monarchy, and the alterations which time and various circumstances suggest for the benefit of the State, in order that, after having well examined them, they may submit to me what they think most beneficial; and that, upon receiving the necessary sanction, their measures may oppose a strong barrier to all attempts at disturbance, and at the same time produce the advantages to be derived from the beneficent and enlightened measures of a good Government. To this end, I not only command, as I have before stated, that the Supreme Tribunals consult together on all that they consider most conducive to the better governing of the Monarchy; but also that the Universities, Corporations, and even any private Individual, may transmit their opinions in writing, freely and unreservedly, to the said Council of State, in order that the minds of all may contribute to obtain the desired result. And you, of whose love for my Royal Person, and

interest for the public good, I am convinced by so many proofs, will give me an account, as my first Minister of State, of what my Council of State agree upon and propose for my Royal decision.

Palace, 3d March, 1820.

SIGNED BY THE ROYAL HAND.

THE DUKE OF SAN FERNANDO.

SPEECH of The King of Spain, on the Opening of the Cortes.-Madrid, 9th July, 1820.

GENTLEMEN DEPUTIES,

(Translation.)

THE day has at length arrived, so long the object of my anxious hope, in which I see myself surrounded by the Representatives of the heroic and generous Spanish Nation, and am enabled, by a solemn Oath, to identify the interests of myself and my family with those of my People.

When a multitude of evils produced the clear manifestation of the general sense of the Nation, (formerly obscured by lamentable circumstances, which ought now to be obliterated from our memory,) and determined me to embrace the system which my Subjects desired to see adopted, and to swear to the Political Constitution of the Monarchy, sanctioned by the General and Extraordinary Cortes in 1812;— from that period the Crown, as well as the People, recovered possession of their legitimate rights;-my resolution being as spontaneous and without constraint as it was conformable to my interests and to those of the Spanish People, whose happiness has never ceased to be the great object of my sincerest wishes. Thus, a new and indissoluble tie being formed between me and my Subjects, all of whom I consider as my childreu,-the future offers to me the delightful prospect of a Reign of uninterrupted love, confidence, and prosperity.

With what satisfaction have I contemplated the grand spectacle,unparalleled as yet in history,-of a great Nation, which has known how to pass from one political state to another without convulsion or violence, -subjecting its enthusiasm to the guidance of reason, and under circumstances which, in other less fortunate Countries, have usually been attended with mourning, lamentations, and tears! The general attention of Europe is now directed to the proceedings of the Congress which represents this privileged Nation; which expects, Gentlemen, indulgence for all that is passed, and provident precautions against future emergencies; which expects that, at the same time that you provide for the happiness of the present and succeeding generations, you will efface all recollection of the errors of former times; and which hopes that you will multiply instances of justice, beneficence, and magnanimity, the virtues which have always adorned the Spanish