America, a beautiful and elegant vessel was launched in NewYork, designed for Colombia; and another has been built at Philadelphia for the same service.

The military resources of the republic are ample for the purposes of defence; and the materials for the formation of an efficient army are abundant. The people of colour, of all classes, make excellent soldiers, and some of them have risen to a distinguished rank in the army; and it cannot be doubted that the people of Colombia are as capable of maintaining their independence, as any other nation, of the same magnitude, on the globe.

Character of the people, education, &c.-A late traveller remarks, that the most pleasing trait in the character of the Colombian creoles, is good nature. It cannot be expected, that a nation which has just emerged from a state of colonial degradation, can immediately develope any very strong or peculiar characteristics; but it is due to the inhabitants of Colombia to observe, that during their long and arduous struggle, they have displayed a constancy and devotion to the cause of liberty and independence, that has rarely been equalled in ancient or modern times; and it is also worthy of remark, that the government of Colombia has maintained its public credit with scrupulous fidelity, and that all its relations with foreigners have been characterized by the love of justice and liberality; that it has omitted no means of diffusing knowledge, or extending the blessings of the republican system among its citizens, and of preparing them for the enjoyment of liberty and the exalted destiny which awaits them, as citizens of a free, prosperous, and powerful republic. The enlightened policy of the present government, is gradually obliterating the casts and classes into which the population was divided under the colonial system. These distinctions, so inconsistent with a republican government, will soon be entirely lost. The constitution and the laws recognise no distinction of colour, and all free persons are equally eligible to office. To the eternal honour of the present congress, one of its earliest acts had for its object, the gradual abolition of slavery. It provides that no person can be born a slave in the republic, and prohibits the importation of slaves under a severe penalty. Nor does it stop here; but makes provision for a manumission fund, by a tax which, according to the colonial laws, was retained by the government. These regulations are similar to those which were adopted by the republican government at Buenos Ayres, at an earlier period. The manumission fund is applied to the purchase of slaves, a great number of which are annually redeemed; their characters are strictly inquired into by the highest magistrates, and those are redeemed who are the most deserving.

Previous to the revolution, Caraccas and Santa Fe de Bogota

were the seats of learning, and like luminous bodies, diffused their light through the dark atmosphere of the provinces. Caraccas gave the first impulse to the revolution in Venezuela; and Bogota, in New Grenada. A great portion of the political intelligence, which afterwards was scattered through the provinces, was disseminated from these cities, which were the two eyes of the republic. Not only the light, but the first heat of the revolution, originated in these two capitals; which not only diffused a knowledge of their rights among the people, but set the first examples of defending them. The inhabitants of Caraccas were more enlightened by means of commerce, and the intercourse of foreigners, than those of Bogota; but their acquirements were in a different department of science. Politics, philosophy, eloquence, metaphysics, and the moral sciences, received the most attention at Caraccas; whilst at Bogota, the mathematics, natural history, chemistry, botany, and other physical sciences, received the greatest attention.* Politics, however, were not neglected at Bogota, where there were many individuals of enlightened and liberal principles, all of whom took part in favour of the revolution, and most of them fell a sacrifice to their patriotism.

There were, perhaps, few cities in America, that possessed a greater number of learned and scientific men, at the breaking out of the revolution, than Bogota. Doctors Mutis, Calders, Zea, and other members of the university, cultivated the mathematics with success; the first was also a distinguished botanist. The great work on that subject which he left unfinished at his death, was prosecuted by his nephew, Dr. Senforso Mutis, Don Jose Lozano, and Don Francisco Jose Caldas, assisted by the pencil of Don Salvados Rezo. They were encouraged in their researches by the popular government; but their labours and their lives were cut short by the blood thirsty Morillo, who, on his capture of the capital in 1816, put to death all the learned men, as well as all the actors in the revolution, who fell into his hands.

Under the colonial despotism, the studies of all the universities and colleges were established by law, and all others strictly prohibited; so that these institutions were rather calculated to cramp, than to expand the intellect to confine, rather than extend the knowledge of the student. All books, which did not tend to strengthen the despotism of the state, or the church, were prohibited, and the Inquisition was charged to prevent their introduction into the country. With all the restrictions and vigilance of the holy office, however, liberal books found their way into America; and the students, in a clandestine manner, devoted that time to Voltaire, Rousseau, and Volney, which they were required to apply to scholastic and theological studies. Don A. Narino,

* Hall's Colombia.

afterwards one of the leaders of the revolution, translated Rousseau's Social Compact, for which offence, although he had previously obtained the consent of the viceroy, he was immured in the dungeons of Carthagena, and thence was removed to Spain. Under such a despotism, which feared nothing so much as light, it is matter of surprise that science and learning should have made the progress they did in many parts of Spanish Ame

rica.

Among the first subjects which received the attention of the constitutional congress, was that of education. At its first session, it passed an act concerning schools, colleges, and universities. The report of Mr. Restrepo, the secretary of state, shows that the government engaged zealously in this important work. The Lancastrian system has been introduced, and numerous schools have been established on that plan. The founder of the system is now in Colombia, using his exertions to extend the blessings of his system of education, and to scatter light in dark places. Some few seminaries of a higher order have been put in operation, and the universities and colleges have undergone a thorough reformation. A portion of the old ecclesiastical revenue, particularly the property of certain monasteries and nunneries, has been appropriated to the purposes of education. The restrictions on books have not only been removed, but they are allowed to be imported free of duty, and also maps, charts, engravings, scientific apparatus, &c. Useful books for schools, and good teachers, are much wanted. Considering the shortness of the time, much has been done, although this is only to be considered as the first fruits of the great work of mental regeneration and illumination, which Bolivar, and his patriotic associates in Colombia, have undertaken. Forty schools on the plan of Bell and Lancaster have been established during the past year, besides ten colleges, and three universities, and a public library at the capital, containing 14,000 volumes. Bolivar, the founder of the republic, has lately made a large donation to Caraccas, his native city, to constitute a fund for the support of primary schools.

His constant efforts to emancipate the people from moral darkness, will add a brighter lustre to his name, than his great and extraordinary exploits to liberate his country from the tyranny of Spain.

Religion.-In Colombia, as well as in all parts of what was Spanish America, the Roman Catholic religion is established and maintained by law. More liberality, however, prevails in Colombia than in Mexico, and a certain degree of toleration to other religions is allowed. In August, 1821, the congress passed a decree, abolishing the Inquisition, and conferring on the ecclesi

astical courts, jurisdiction in all matters of religion, according to the canons and customs of the Roman Catholic church. The law provides, that juridical proceedings in such cases (in matters of faith) shall take place only with respect to Roman Catholics, born in Colombia, their children, and those who, having come from other countries, shall have enrolled themselves in the parish registers of the Catholics; but not with respect to strangers, who may have come to reside temporarily, or permanently, nor with their descendants, who can in no manner be molested on account of their belief, though they ought to respect the Roman Catholic worship and religion.

This is a qualified kind of toleration, even as it respects foreigners, as the law declares that they shall not be molested 66 on account of their belief," which leaves it uncertain, whether they are to be protected in the open public worship of religion, differing from the Catholic. This is a question of construction, arising from the face of the law, and it is uncertain how it may be decided. The clergy will be disposed to put the most illiberal interpretation on the law; but the officers composing the government, and all the enlightened men throughout the republic, it is presumed, will be inclined to construe this act in the most favourable and liberal manner. This qualified toleration is but just raising the veil of an established faith, to let in a glimpse of light to the mental vision. It may be all that the prejudices of the people, and the influence of the clergy, will admit; but it is not what the condition and prosperity of the country, or the civil institutions which have been adopted, demand. It is justly observed by a recent writer, "If Colombia intends to tread in the steps of the United States, and to grow powerful, by the admission of foreigners into her bosom, some change in her religious system, either legally sanctioned, or conventionally allowed, must take place."* In other respects, the government has adopted the most liberal regulations to promote the emigration of foreigners into the country; that is, Europeans and the citizens of the United States; the president being authorized to distribute or dispose of one million and a half of acres of the lands of the state, for the encouragement of emigration.

The bondage of the mind is the most debasing and humiliating kind of slavery; and until that is free, no nation is completely emancipated. Civil liberty cannot long exist with religious intolerance and despotism; one must acquire the entire ascendancy, when it will destroy the other. The result in Colombia cannot occasion doubt or apprehension. If the present free republican institutions maintain their ground, unqualified toleration and freedom of inquiry, and of action, in matters of religion, must in

*Hall's Colombia.

evitably follow. This requires time, as it cannot be supposed that a nation, long enslaved, can be redeemed in a day; or that the accumulated rubbish of three centuries of political oppression and hierarchical craft and corruption, can be removed by the first efforts of liberty. The enjoyment of entire religious freedom will form the capstone of the political edifice, whose sure foundation, and lofty structure, it is hoped, will long reflect the sunlight of liberty and truth on the vast declivities of the Andes, and over the outstretched vallies of the Oronoco.