consequently, installed on the 24th June, 1823. On the 21st July of the same year, the independence was declared by the assembly, and on the 17th December, the bases of the constitution were published. In the mean time, a supreme executive power had been established, composed of three individuals elected by the assembly, whilst the nation itself took the name of “ THE UNITED PROVINCES OF THE CENTRE OF AMERICA.”

From this period Guatemala began to act as a free sovereign state : on the 9th June, 1824, its independence was recognized by Colombia : on the 3d August, its legation had arrived, and was duly received, in the United States of North America : on the 20th August it was recognized by Mexico ; on the 3d September, its ambassador was admitted by that republic: on the 6th of the same month, the installation of the congress of Costa Rica completed the established form of the federation : on the 15th, the federal congress was installed : on the 22d November the constitution was signed by the deputies ; and on the 6th December the congress sanctioned the loan of Messrs. Barclay and Co. for 7,142,047 dollars; but which, owing to the grand money-crisis in this country, was, it is well known, never negotiated, except to a very inconsiderable extent. Had it been so, the government would have been strengthened and the troublesome effects of the late civil dissentions would, in all probability, have been prevented : as it is, as we shall presently see, they have been put down by the arm of the government, without that pecuniary aid which they had contracted for, and which they had a right to expect. It is problematical if any one of the old European governments would have been able to maintain its dignity and power under a similar disappointment.

The succeeding year of 1825 was also marked by the following circumstances, conducive to the honour and stability of the republic.

On the 21st February, the consul from the Northern United States arrived and received his exequatur: on the 25th March, a treaty of alliance offensive and defensive, was ratified with Colombia : on the 10th April the constitution was sworn to by the public authorities : on the 21st of that month, took place the ceremony of the inauguration of the president:~this happened the same day on which I set off from Mexico:-and, on the 23d July, Mr. O'Reilley arrived at Izabal, which also, peculiarly, happened the Sunday that I reached the coast in order to embark for Great Britain. *

I trust that, without any pedantry or affectation, these comments will not be considered as misplaced. I have always spoken freely in favour of the stability of the federation of the Central Republic, and the British public will be able to judge from the above simple statement of facts, whether, or not, I have had reason for doing so:

:

What ensued with regard to the sentiments of Don Juan Barrundia, the gefe politico, after I took leave of him, on this occasion, I cannot pretend to say ; but I might, perhaps, be warranted in judging thus favourably of the general aspect of affairs : indeed, the Gefe expressed the most friendly wishes towards the promotion of a good understanding with the British government, and in so doing evinced much politeness and personal attention towards myself; the only way in which he could practically demonstrate his feelings; and, from the purport of the conversation which I afterwards had with the President of the Republic, in which his Excellency seemed to smile at the probability of any overt act of hostility being likely to take place between them, I thought it fair to conclude that the Republic of Guatemala was, probably, at that time, in a proper state for the immediate recognition of its independe ence on the part of Great Britain.

CHAPTER XIX.

Domestic Convivialities.

On returning to dine with Doña Joanita, I found the house filled with company : it was also her natal day. A table was laid in the chief saloon for a large dinner party; and we sat down, upwards of thirty in number, to one of the best Spanish dinners that I had seen in those countries. Don J. Montufar, the deputy of the Antigua to the federal congress, to whom I had letters of introduction, besides having been intimately acquainted with him in Mexico, presided. Toasts to his Britannic Majesty and the people of England were reiterated upon this occasion, with such a spirit of delight and exhilaration that to believe them not to be sincere would be to believe, which I never can, that the Guatemalians are the most deceitful race of beings in the world.

After dinner, the whole party walked out