dependence. The Emperor, by the advice of his council, decided to send a minister to the Congress, but only as a spectator and friendly adviser.

In addition to the reinforcements sent by him to Monte Video, the Emperor commenced preparing a new expedition for the Banda Oriental; and also issued an ordinance, provisionally suspending within that territory every law which guaranteed the liberty of the subject, and subjecting the insurgents to the rigours of military law. This ordinance was more calculated to disgust his Brazilian subjects than to intimidate those against whom it was directed.

On receiving intelligence of the decree of the Congress at Buenos Ayres, incorporating the Banda Oriental with the Argentine republic, the Emperor did not venture at once upon a declaration of war, but published a manifesto, in which he attempted to justify his claim to the disputed territory, and recapitulated the injuries and insults which he had endured from the Government at Buenos Ayres. That Government shortly afterwards replied to his by a counter-manifesto.

Hayti, in the course of this year, purchased from the French monarch the acknowledgment of its independence; and, by the purchase, tarnished the glory it had acquired by having, through the persevering valour of its citizens, virtually emancipated itself. The process by which this event was brought about, was not a little refined, elaborate, and curious.

An ordinance by the French king, of date 17th April, was secretly prepared, by which his Majesty (expressing himself as if he had been both the actual and legitimate sovereign of Hayti), decreed, 1st, That its ports should be open to the trade of all nations; and that the duties levied in its ports upon all foreign merchandise

should be equal, without any distinction of national flags, but with this exception, that the duties upon French ships and merchandise should be one half less than those levied on others. 2d, That the inhabitants of the French part of Hayti should pay into the French treasury, by five equal and yearly instalments, the first being payable on 31st December 1825, the sum of 150 millions of francs, for the indemnification of the ancient colonists. 3d, Under the above conditions, the acknowledgment of the complete independence of the Haytian government. The absurdity of the French king decreeing conditions which he could not enforce, and which were properly subjects of negotiation, is abundantly manifest; but it has to be considered as an attempt to reconcile a practical measure, dictated by common sense, with the ineffably sublime doctrines of the Holy Alliance.

M. the Baron de Mackau, captain of the Circe frigate, was charged to convey the above ordinance, and present it to the Haytian government. The Circe left Rochefort on 4th May, and having been joined by other vessels on the Martinique and other stations, he arrived at Port au Prince on 3d July, where he was received with great ceremony. The President, Boyer, wrote him that he, in name of the people of Hayti, accepted the Royal ordinance; and on 11th July, it was solemnly accepted, and all its conditions sanctioned by a full meeting of the Senate. After many brilliant fetes given to him, the French envoy returned to France, having on board with him three Haytian commissioners, empowered to ratify the conditions of the ordinance.

Upon the return of M. de Mackau, a commission was instituted for investigating the claims of the ancient colonists. And a treaty was entered into with the Haytian commissioners, both explanatory and confirmatory of

the terms of the ordinance. With great difficulty the Haytian commissioners negotiated a loan with an association of bankers for payment of the first instalment of the price of the national independence.

The almost extinguished party of Christophe took advantage of the partial discontent excited by this treaty, the terms of which were considered extravagant by many, to hatch a con

spiracy at the Cape against the existing government. Boyer, hearing of it, repaired to the Cape, where he caused the commander of the place, General Toussaint, and other officers who were implicated, to be arrested. Toussaint blew his brains out; the rest were delivered over to military commissions, by which the greater part of them were banished from the island.