reverend bishops, or their vicars, have resumed the ecclesiastical jurisdiction (purely on spiritual matters), which the establishment of the Inquisition had deprived them of; and that the cognizance in causes concerning matters of faith, and the power of imposing penalties according to the canons and ecclesiastical laws, belongs now to them; always excepting the appeals to the civil tribunals as established by. law.

Article 3. Proceedings in such causes can be instituted only against Roman Catholics born in Colombia, against their children, and against those foreigners who, having settled in Colombia, shall have inscribed their names in the parochial registers as the Catholics of the country; but never against those foreigners who shall come to reside temporarily or perpetually among us, nor against their descendants, who shall not be molested in any way respecting their creed; provided they do not interfere in matters concerning the Catholic religion. In contravention of which the prelates and ordinary ecclesiastics shall inform the respective judges, that they may apply the necessary remedy.

Article 4. In all affairs and causes relating to the external discipline of the church, such as the prohibition of books and the like, the prerogatives of the civil power shall remain untouched, the same as all those belonging to the

Supreme Government, as such, and as protector of the church of Colombia.

Let this be communicated to the executive power, for its execution.

Given at the palace of the General Congress of Colombia in Rosario de Cúcuta, the 21st August 1821, 11th year of Independence.-The President of the Congress, D. Miguel Peña, &c. &c.

SECTION VII.

STATE OF MANNERS IN COLOMBIA.

To explain the manners of the Spaniards both of the Old and New Worlds, no consideration is perhaps of so much consequence, as that, though possessing many noble qualities, they are equally remarkable for slow, if not indolent, caution; and for minute, if not tedious, observation.

This natural caution and slowness, characterizes most of their actions. These are generally conducted with that kind of timidity which is called prudence. They leave little or nothing to chance. Hence it happens, that their successes never excite astonishment, nor their reverses despondency. If they do not amass rapid fortunes, their ruin is neither fre

quent nor precipitate. It is true, ambition would not be satisfied with such moderate maxims of conduct. They have, however, an air of philosophy, which, if it be not intimately allied with, at least gives them the appearance of wisdom; and we cannot deny, that, to the citizen, this presents the advantage of preserving the tranquillity of his own breast, and to the state, assurance of the stability of govern

ment.

With the same disposition is perhaps more remotely allied, the custom of the siesta or nap which they take after dinner. There is not a single individual in the former Spanish settlements, who is not in the habit of appropriating two, three, or sometimes four hours of his time every day to sleep, be his repast heavy or light. To deprive him of this indulgence, would prove as painful to him as to be deprived of his nightly repose. Those who are most engaged in the throng and bustle of business, take care to make such arrangements of their time as not to interfere with that of the nap. It is, however, fair to remark, that, as if this singular habit arose no less from the nature of the climate than that of the inhabitants, strangers seldom pass a year there without contracting it.

A less praiseworthy habit arises out of both the dispositions of mind which we have described.

It is a long time since most other nations considered the troublesome laws of etiquette as objects of ridicule. The Creoles still entertain as much respect for them as we did a century ago. Whoever violates them, passes amongst them for an ill-bred, unmannerly person, " por hombre sin trato." Their laws, however, are so amazingly numerous, that without meaning any harm, one may happen to miss some of them. Woe to him whose memory is so treacherous, for he has little mercy to expect on that head!

All Spaniards, and in imitation of them, all who express themselves in the Spanish language, make use of the third person of the verb instead of the second; the "you" is used only in the second person plural, and in sermons and public discourses. In conversation, they salute with "your grace," "vuestra merced," which, by contraction, is pronounced “usted.” The canons, &c. have, in conversation and writing, the title of " your lordship,” “vuestra sennoria," which is pronounced "ousia.” The bishop has the title of "sennoria ilustrisima." With "señor" they honour every person indiscriminately, except in public acts, in which that distinction is reserved for those who have the title of "lordship." The "don" at present is given to every white who makes a tolerably decent appearance.

The stranger who arrives, as well as the person who returns home after a long absence,

must wait for the compliment of a visit. In their turn, they visit only those who did them the honour of calling upon them, excepting their superiors, who likewise frequently make the first advance. This duty is performed either personally or by writing, or even by a simple message. Not to be apprized of the arrival of a stranger, or the return of the absent, is a crime against the laws of etiquette, which establishes between the person who should pay and the person who should receive the visit, a coldness which may sometimes border upon enmity. The impression made by such an oversight is not to be easily effaced.

The rules of civility are violated when a person changes his place of residence without giving intimation of it to all the neighbours of the house he leaves, as well as to those amongst whom he is going. This notice is commonly given by a circular card, in which they express to the former, the regret which they feel in removing from a place whose neighbourhood has always been so agreeable to them, informing them, at the same time, that they transfer their residence to such a house, and will be always ready to execute the orders of the person to whom the attention is paid to the latter, they speak of the pleasure they anticipate from fixing their abode amongst such honourable neighbours, and beg to be permitted to make a tender of their services. A satisfactory LIBRAR

OF THE

UNIVERSITY