the part of Upper and Lower Canada, for ascertaining the proportion of duties to be paid to this province, has been transmitted to me; and it must be satisfactory to you to be informed, that on that question, an equitable arrangement has taken place.

The public schools are general. ly increasing, but their present organization appears susceptible of improvement.

Measures will be adopted, I hope, to reform the Royal Grammar School, and to incorporate it with the university recently endowed by his majesty, and to introduce a system in that seminary that will open to the youth of the province the means of receiving a liberal and extensive course of instruction. Unceasing exertion should be made to attract able masters to this country, where the population bears no pro. portion to the number of officers and employments, that must necessarily be held by men of education and acquirements, for the support of the laws, and of your free institutions.

Such

The expense already incurred in carrying on the works in the Gore and Niagara districts has been considerable, but few will regret that they have been undertaken. enterprises can, at first, be seldom duly appreciated. It is obvious, however, that the value of the productions of your soil can never be known, unless you have canals, and good internal communications, to facilitate your commercial intercourse with the vast empire of which you form a part.

From the observations of the Deputy Post-Master-General at Quebec, to which I shall draw your at tention, respecting the impossibility of forwarding the mails with either expedition or safety, I am per

suaded that some better expedient than statute labour must be resorted to for maintaining the roads in a proper state.

The sums expended on the useful works now in progress, circulate in their natural channels, remain in the province, enrich it, and promote industry. On the extent of protection and encouragement afforded to projects of this kind;-and on your being prepared, by means of the essential aid of well organized institutions, for the reception and location of every description of settler, the agricultural interests of the colony, and the advance of its commerce, will be found chiefly to depend.

order that his majesty's government may have full security for the appropriation to the intended purpose of the sums produced by such sale, it is his majesty's command, that the agent, to whom the purchase money is paid, shall be in structed to retain in his hands one third of the amount in each case, until a certificate shall be trans

mitted by the governor or officer commanding in the province, that the officer is actually settled. The reserved money will then be paid to him.

By command of the right honourable, the general commanding in chief.

HERBERT TAYLOR, Adj. Gen.

Citizens Representatives and Senators

of the Congress of the Union: At the beginning of this year, and of the second term of the con. gress of the union, the republic experienced a crisis, and the institutions to which we had pleged our oath, and which the people has maintained, were exposed to a violent attack. The Mexican nation achieved its liberty by great efforts, confirmed its independence by means of costly sacrifices, and felt secure that if danger threatened, it would be fearlessly met, in defence of a system which places our country on a level with the most refined and fortunate nations. Events have proved the justness of this anticipation. By the unanimous expression of opinion, the project of a revolution was condemned, and anarchy saw its vain hopes dissipated, and became convinced of its own impotence. The people, the congress, the government, saved the constitution, saved the political existence of the great Mexican nation,

The cry of universal indignation drowned that of the discontented, and they plunged themselves into the abyss which they had endeavour. ed to open for their country. The government did not alter its course, and public spirit being confirmed by the triumphs of the cause of liberty, the congress and the executive were able to devote themselves to the exact discharge of their duties, as soon as they had fulfilled the sacred and important one, of giving domestic peace to the republic.

The very efforts which were made to disturb the public order, only served to give it more stability, and there is no corner in the vast extent of the United Mexican States, which does not fully enjoy it.

During the session, the treaty of boundaries between this republic and the United States of North America has been approved, and after being ratified by the govern. ment, has been sent for an exchange of ratifications to our mi

The minister plenipotentiary of the republic of Colombia, having fulfilled the most important objects of his mission to his government, has presented his letters of recall, and taken leave.

The treaties of union, league, and perpetual confederation, concluded at Panama between the plenipotentaries of the American republics, have been examined by the chamber of representatives, and I confidently hope that the congress will devote its first la. bours to the conclusion of a matter, which has excited the attention of the world.

The general congress having approved of the treaty of amity, navigation, and commerce, with his majesty the king of the Netherlands, it has been forwarded for the exchange of ratifications. An exequatur has also been granted for a commission of Mexican consul, executed by the president of the Swiss Diet in favour of Senor Carlos Lavater.

The law for the naturalization of foreigners, which the best interests of the republic have so long demanded, has been passed in the session which is now concluded; it has also been signed by the exe.

cutive, which has further given the necessary directions for its being

carried into effect.

The public treasury, in conse. quence of the changes in the new tariff of maritime customs, which retards the receipt of the duties for ninety days more than before, has suffered some falling off, which has been increased by the schemes of speculators. Notwithstanding, no diminution is remarked in the arrivals of vessels in our ports; and our domestic markets, in the midst of the commercial changes that have occurred, afford a fair profit for the goods consumed, and invite speculators to new enterprises.

Happily, the chief part of our attention has hitherto been occupied in the interior of the republic; and if the government has until now given itself much anxiety to attend with the fidelity and promptitude which the national honour demands, to the loans of foreign houses, we may now be assured that the firm determination of the government, seconded harmoniously by the indefatigable zeal and activity of the congress, will accomplish the object in view. To this end, the eighth part of the receipts of the maritime ports is appropirated, and this return will produce an alleviation, so that the interruption that has been suffered in the operation of the sinking fund and the payment of dividends will cease.

The executive has also transmitted to the two chambers projects of a law whereby the pay. ment will be expedited, so that we shall be able to repeat the evidence of that good faith which characterizes the Mexican nation. The urgency of these duties demands,

gentlemen, that your time of relaxation should be very short.

The administration of justice in the tribunals of the federation, and in those of the districts and territories, has occasioned among you important and luminous discussions. You will, doubtless, complete your work, which is one truly worthy of the national gratitude. The executive will use its exertions, as it has hitherto done, to introduce all possible regularity into this department, and to supply the defects of the existing law. The law regula. ting the proceedings against vagrants, visibly operates to improve public morals, and to preserve them from the attacks continually made upon them by the idleness of this class of men; and the government hopes soon to see united, by this provision, the honour and the spirit of the republican system.

Our ecclesiastical affairs have hitherto been somewhat embarrass. ed for want of convenient arrange. ments with the apostolic see, but they will soon be regulated upon a basis established by the general congress. The executive has en. deavoured to form his instructions to the newly nominated minister to Rome, in exact accordance with this basis.

The army preserves its former system, equipment, and discipline. The national marine has harrassed the enemy on the coasts of Cuba, and the brigatine Guarrero was lost in a combat of immortal glory for the Mexicans. You, gentlemen, have displayed the national gratitude to the brave defenders of the flag of the republic, and the whole nation has resolved on the construction of another ship that shall maintain our glory and be the avenger of our injuries.

Should the odious Spanish flag appear in sight of our ports, or should the enemy presume to tread upon our shores, they will be humbled and overthrown. You have given power to the executive; the people offer their arms and their fortunes. A great people is invincible when it is determined to be free.

You retire, fellow citizens, only to return to the task which the nation has imposed upon you as a duty, and has given you as a law. Your country owes you much; retire with the satisfaction of having done her service.

Decree of the Legislature of Mexico.

Art. 1. Spaniards who capitulated, whatever be the terms of their capitulation, and other Spaniards mentioned in the 16th article of the treaty of Cordova, shall leave the territory of the republic within the term the government may fix, not exceeding six months.

Art. 2. Those, notwithstanding their capitulations, may depart, or may remain, who, 1stly, are mar. ried with Mexicans; 2dly, who have children here that are not Spanish; 3dly, widowers who have children that are not Spanish; 4thly, who are sixty years of age; 5thly, who suffer from any durable physical impediment; 6thly, those who by their capitulations, may remain in the republic.

Art. 3. All Spaniards, who, since the declaration of independence, have entered secretly, or unlaw. fully, shall leave the territory of the republic within the term which the government may fix.

Art. 4. In like manner, those shall depart, within the term the government may designate, who have entered since the same pe

riod, with passports, provided they have not obtained letters of naturalization or citizenship.

Art. 5. Also, the Spanish clergy, who are not comprized in the 4th and 5th exceptions of the second article.

Art. 6. Spaniards of every class, who are notoriously disaffected towards independence, and the established system of government, shall depart from the territory of the republic within the term which the government may designate, carrying with them their effects, paying the established exportation duties.

Art. 7. Those Spaniards shall be considered notoriously disaffect ed to independence, and the existing form of government, who, 1stly, have returned to the republic, after having emigrated at the time of the establishment of independence, or of the adoption of the federal republican form of government; 2dly, who may be regarded as suspicious, on account of services done to the Spanish government, contrary to the independence of the nation; and those who, although positively decided in its favour, have obstinately propagated sentiments in favour of a constitutional monarchical system, and of inviting to the throne any foreign prince; 3dly, those who have been expelled from any of the states, by virtue of laws passed by their respective legislatures.

Art. 8. The governors of the states shall determine the qualifications to which the preceding article refers, respecting Spaniards that are subjects of the states: the general government, notwithstand ing, having power to judge of them in regard to such as inhabit any part of the republic. When

the governors shall have qualified any Spaniard as notoriously disaf. fected, the government shall order him to leave the federation within the term fixed upon for that pur

pose.

Art. 9. The transportation of the Spanish clergy who may leave the territory, shall be paid out of the funds of their order.

Art. 10. To such of the capitu. lated as receive no pay from hold. ing a civil or military office, the government shall order to be given. out of the public fund, what it may esteem just for their removal from the territory of the federation.

Art. 11. The expenses of civil and military officers shall be paid at the cost of the federation, to the place which the government may designate; and, moreover, one year's pay shall be given them at the time of their embarkation.

Art. 12. To the Spanish ecclesiastics in employment shall be given, at the time of their embarkation, the sum which the govern. ment may determine, corresponding to one year's income, and, also, the expenses of transportation.

Art. 13. All Spaniards expelled in virtue of this law, shall have power to return to the republic, and enjoy their offices, after Spain has recognised its independence. Art. 14. The discretionary pow.

ers

which this law embraces, shall be understood as granted for six months only, counting from the publication of it.

Art. 15. After the publication of this law, all the movements which have been made, with the view of expelling the Spaniards, shall be consigned to oblivion; so that, on this account alone, none of those who have been the authors of them,