Articles, nor incompatible with the actual state of things, nor prejudicial to the political situation of the Kingdom or Provinces of New Granada.

LXXIII. Every 6 months, or at least every year, the Congress shall publish the state of its funds, expenses, debts, revenues, expen ditures, and present resources, distinguishing the different branches from whence the said funds, &c., are derived, and the objects upon which they have been employed; and there shall also, from time to time, be printed the Records of its proceedings or deliberations, so far as can be done consistently with prudence.

LXXIV. Nothing whatsoever which is contained in the present Act can be recalled or revoked, without the express consent of the Provinces, for which reason, as their sanction is indispensable, their opinion must be, as it either has been or will be heard; and nothing which shall be done or effected contrary thereto shall possess any authority or force whatsoever, as being done contrary to their express and declared will.

LXXV. Should matters of grave importance arise, which have not been comprehended in the Articles of this Confederation, nor in its general Rules, and which also require the consent of the Provinces, they shall be consulted thereupon, provided that the delay in so doing be not attended with danger; but should that be the case, such measures as may be considered most judicious shall be provisionally adopted, subject always to the sanction of the said Provinces.

LXXVI. The Articles of this Uuion being once agreed to, no Province shall have the power to refuse to carry them into effect, and may be compelled so to do by every means which are at the disposal of the Congress, and of the other Provinces adhering to it; and the Provinces solemnly oblige themselves to accomplish this duty, without any excuse or subterfuge, to which they pledge their honour and good faith.

LXXVII. The present Act shall be presented for the ratification or sanction of the Provinces, through the medium of its Legislatures, Juntas, or Provincial Governments, fully and duly authorized to that effect; a mode of procedure which must be observed in future in all similar cases.

LXXVIII. The Provinces or their Representative and Legislative Bodies shall give, with as little delay as possible, their ratification, approbation, or observations upon the said Act in general, or upon one or any of its Articles in particular; but as in the mean time we are pressed by circumstances, and as all or almost all the Provinces which have been able to express themselves freely upon this subject, have declared their determination to become united upon the principles which all agree to be those which our present situation most imperiously demands; which are the only ones that can save us; which have been adopted and followed by the wisest Nations; and which now

constitute their happiness and felicity; the present Deputies will continue to accomplish the objects of their powers and instructions by forming themselves for that purpose into a Congress, and in directing their labours and exertions to whatever they may believe to be essential for the public welfare and security.

Given in a Convention of the Deputies, at Santafé de Bogota, on the 27th of November, in the year of our Lord 1811.

JOSE MANUEL RESTREPO, Deputy for the Province of Antioquia.

HENRIQUE RODRIGUEZ, Deputy for the Province of Carthagena.

MANUEL CAMPOS, Deputy for the Province of Neyva.
CAMILO TORRES, Deputy for the Province of Pamplona.
JOAQUIN CAMACHO, Deputy for the Province of Tunja.

JOSE MANUEL RESTREPO, Secretary.

SPEECH of the Prince Sovereign of The Netherlands, on the Opening of the First Ordinary Assembly of the States General.-The Hague, 7th November, 1814.

GENTLEMEN,

(Translation.)

THE first of your Ordinary Sessions commences under the most flattering auspices.

The most perfect tranquillity reigns in every part of this newly regenerated Country. The administration of the principal Departments of the Government proceeds in the manner prescribed by the Constitution, not only without interruption, but even with the greatest facility; and the spirit of industry and commerce which, it was apprehended, so many years of adversity had altogether extinguished, is daily becoming more conspicuous in every quarter.

The conviction of all this, which I have personally acquired in visiting the different Provinces, and the general attachment to the present order of things, which I have witnessed during my journey, amongst the various classes of the Nation, added to the many proofs of love and confidence (which have been received with the most lively sensations), cannot but animate us to persevere steadfastly in that course which we have hitherto pursued, for it will ultimately lead to the permanent happiness of an unanimous Nation.

The Peace of Paris having restored our amicable relations with all the Powers of Europe, I look forward with confidence to the result of the deliberations of the Congress, with regard to all those points in which this State is immediately interested. It would have afforded me peculiar satisfaction, Gentlemen, to have been able to acquaint [1812-14.]

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you, on this occasion, with the extent of the Territory of the State, and of its Transmarine Settlements; but there exists a necessary connexion between the political arrangements of Europe, in virtue of which their maturity must be coeval, and they must be carried into effect at the same period of time.

In consequence, however, of separate arrangements entered into with the Government of Great Britain, I have been enabled to adopt measures for the re-occupation of the most considerable part of the ancient Colonies of Holland; and this important subject particularly engages my attention at present. Our Flag will soon be unfurled in those regions where the enterprising spirit and indefatigable industry of our Forefathers have produced effects nearly as extraordinary as those which have been accomplished in their native soil.

Java, in particular, that invaluable Colony, favoured with an enlightened Government and a free navigation, will soon open new sources to our trade, and be productive of advantages more than sufficient to compensate for what the lapse of time has caused us to lose in other Quarters.

With regard to the Finances of the State, it will afford you equal satisfaction to learn, Gentlemen, that my communications on that subject are highly satisfactory, thanks to the measures prescribed by the Law for the restoration of the National Debt.

At the expiration of the year 1814, nearly 18 months' dividends of that Debt will be paid, and the immense expenditure occasioned by the establishment of so many branches of the Government, by the recruitment of the Army, and by the equipment of the Squadrons, will be entirely discharged.

No part of the Public Service performed since my accession to the Government, will then remain unliquidated, and there will notwithstanding remain in the Exchequer a considerable balance, which may be employed to defray the expenditure of the next year.

The Budget of that expenditure will soon be completed and presented for your consideration; and although, from the continuance of many circumstances of the present year, it will comprehend many extraordinary expenses, which, with the blessing of God, I hope will never recur in ensuing years, no augmentation of Taxes, no extraordinary financial operations, will be requisite. On the contrary, the Custom-house Duties, should you deem it expedient, may experience a considerable reduction, and an encouragement, which I have long earnestly wished to afford, may thus be granted to commerce, for the extension of which such strenuous efforts are made. A proposal to that effect will soon be laid before you, Gentlemen, in order to obtain your sanction; meanwhile, all the other sources of public prosperity will be kept in view, and it will afford me no small degree of satisfaction to propose every seasonable alleviation that may tend to promote their improvement.

The Creditors of the State will also witness a proof of the continued interest which I take in their welfare, by the measures which are now pursuing to fulfil the engagements contracted in their behalf, by the Law for the restoration of the Public Debt; since those engagements will be performed to a far greater extent than the letter of that Law requires.

May the confidence of all our Countrymen, therefore, continually increase, and may it finally become unshaken in that Goverument which has so long been the object of their wishes; and may no one prove so ungrateful to Providence as to disregard and undervalue the blessings which he already enjoys, or that which has already been effected for the benefit of the Country, merely because every possible blessing has not yet been obtained, and everything has not already been accomplished!

For myself, Gentlemen, those exertions for the general welfare to which I shall devote every moment of my existence, shall be persevered in, with increased zeal and confidence, in proportion to the assurance afforded me of my being seconded and supported by those whom the whole Dutch Nation delight to consider as their legitimate Representatives.

CONVENTION entre Sa Majesté le Roi de Prusse, Sa Majesté Impériale l'Empereur de Toutes les Russies, et Sa Majeste le Roi du Royaume Uni de la Grande Bretagne et de l'Irlande, sur la Légion Allemande-Russe.-Signée à Paris, le 2 Juin, 1814.

SA MAJESTÉ IMPÉRIALE l'Empereur de Toutes les Russies voulant témoigner aux Individus qui composent la Légion Allemande-Russe, l'intérêt que leur noble dévouement à la causse de l'indépendance des Nations lui a inspiré, a cru devoir leur assurer dans leur Patrie une situation honorable et conforme à leurs anciens rapports militaires. Elle est convenue dans cette intention avec Sa Majesté le Roi de Prusse et avec Sa Majesté le Roi du Royaume Uni de la Grande Bretagne et de l'Irlande, de conclure une Convention sur cet objet. Ces Souverains ont nommé pour cet effet leurs Plénipotentiaires, savoir:

Sa Majesté le Roi de Prusse, son Chancelier d'Etat, le Baron de Hardenberg;

Sa Majesté Impériale l'Empereur de Toutes les Russies, son Ministre d'Etat, le Baron de Stein;

Et Sa Majesté le Roi du Royaume Uni de la Grande Bretagne et de l'Irlande, le Lieutenant-Général Chevalier Stewart, son Envoyé Extraordinaire et Ministre Plénipotentiaire près la Cour de Prusse ; et son Ministre d'Etat, le Comte du Münster;

Lesquels, après s'être communiqués réciproquement leurs Pleinspouvoirs, ont arrêté les Articles suivans:

ART. I. La Légion Allemande passera dans son état présent, et les Officiers conservant leurs grades, du service de Sa Majesté Impériale l'Empereur de Toutes les Russies, à l'Armée Saxonne et à celle du Pays de Berg, et avec celles-ci au service de Sa Majesté le Roi de Prusse.

Les Individus, Soldats ou Officiers, qui choisiront de se retirer du service, pourront le faire sans empêchement.

Les Sujets Russes, ou les anciens Officiers Russes, retourneront dans leur Patrie, pour être placés dans l'Armée, ou pourront se retirer du service.

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Sa Majesté le Roi de Prusse se charge de l'entretien des Invalides. II. La Légion Allemande-Russe ayant été mise d'après l'Article II de la Convention conclue à Péterswalde 24 Juin 1813, entre la Russie et la Grande Bretagne, à la disposition de cette dernière, pour être employée sur le Continent en Europe, et la Grande Bretagne s'étant chargée de l'entretien de la Légion pendant la durée de la Guerre, Sa Majesté Britanuique consent à la continuation de cet engagement jusqu'au 1 de Juillet, 1814, et à payer les fraix de retour conformément à l'Article XII de la Convention, de même qu'au passage de la Légion au service de Sa Majesté Prussienne. Elle renonce par conséquent aux droits éventuels que l'Article X de la Convention lui accorde sur la propriété de la Légion.

III. La présente Convention sera ratifiée, et les Ratifications échangées dans l'espace de 15 jours, à compter du jour de la Con

vention.

Fait à Paris, le 2 de Juin, de l'an de Grâce 1814. (L.S.) HARDenberg.

(L.S.) STEIN.

(L.S.) STEWART, Lt.-Gen. (L.S.) MUNSTER.

TRAITÉ de Paix et d'Amitié entre la Suède et l'Espagne. Signé à Stockholm, le 19 Mars, 1813.

Au Nom de la Très Sainte et Très Indivisible Trinité.

SA MAJESTÉ le Roi de Suède et Sa Majesté Catholique Don Ferdinand VII, Roi d'Espagne et des Indes, également animées du désir d'établir et d'affermir les anciennes relations d'amitié qui ont subsistées entre leurs Monarchies, ont nommé à cet effet, savoir:

Sa Majesté le Roi de Suède, le Sieur Laurent Comte d'Engestrom, un des Seigneurs du Royaume de Suède, Ministre d'Etat et des Affaires Etrangères, Chancelier de l'Université de Lund, Chevalier de P'Ordre Royal de Charles XIII, Grand Aigle de la Légion d'Honneur de France; et le Sieur Gustave Baron de Wetterstedt, Chancelier de