with all the most violent publications of the earlier days of the French revolution, to the study of which, the very anxiety that was shown to exclude them, gave an additional zest.
The first proclamations of all the new Juntas bear evidence of the extent to which this passion was carried; they are mostly mere transcripts, of the rights of man, with as little real tendency to improve mankind as the original; for they invariably led to the adoption of some impracticable theory, and pointed out the overthrow of all existing institutions, as the first step towards amendment.
It is curious to observe how little progress was made by any of the New States, after the first declaration of their independence, until experience had taught them a sounder doctrine, and led them to model their institutions upon those of the United States; which, with some slight variations, will, in all probability be adopted, ultimately, by the whole of Spanish America.
It now only remains for me to terminate this sketch of the Colonial Policy of Spain, by an account of the commercial restrictions which she imposed upon her American subjects, and which I consider as the great cause of the Revolution. It is in the endless grievances, vexations, and abuses, to which these restrictions gave rise, that we must seek the seeds of that discontent, by which the minds of all classes were indisposed towards the Mother country.
