These two provinces can scarcely be said to pos sess any towns ; for in Borja, the capital of the one, there are few inhabitants, though it is the residence of the governor ; and Archidona, the capital of the other, has not more than 700 inhabitants. There are, however, a considerable number of missions scattered over the face of the country, whose names are to be found in the maps, but whose residents are fluctuating and never numerous.
It is not easy to attain accuracy in calculating the population of a country, in which are such nume rous tribes of wild and uncivilized or half civilized Indians. The only estimate that can approximate to accuracy is founded on the ecclesiastical returns of the numbers that come to confession ; and the result of that estimate gives to the whole vice royalty of New Granada a population of 2,200,000 souls.
It is scarcely possible to convey correct ideas on the subject of the late wars which have raged in New Granada, and in the other parts of the Spanish trans atlantic dominions, without slightly viewing the causes which produced them. These provinces had long enjoyed tranquillity. The orders of the coun cil of the Indies had been obeyed without hesitation, and without examination. They had suffered many from the wars in which the mother coun try was involved, but they had borne them with pa tience, and with unwavering loyalty. When Bona. parte, having kidnapped the royal family of Spain, appointed his brother to the throne, one of his first measures was to fill the council of Indies with his creaturei, and issue orders to the different govern ments in America, announcing the change of family, confirming in their offices all the men who filled them, and announcing flattering promises of his care and attention to the well-being of the provinces. Before, however, the French vessels, destined to the different quarters with these dispatches, could be ready to sail, the spontaneous movement of the whole kingdom of Spain gave a different aspect to the state of affairs. Reports from all quarters reached various parts of America, and conveyed in formation of the opposition which universally pre vailed to the measures of the imperial despot. In
some parts the impulse was immediately communi cated from the people to those who governed, and Ferdinand was proclaimed king amid* universal ac clamations. In some parts those who were in pos session of power hesitated what part to take, but they, too, were soon compelled to yield to the gene ral wish. From the first arrival of the European in telligence, a marked difference was to be seen be tween the animated frenzy with which the Creoles proclaimed Ferdinand, and reprobated the French, and the cold and dubious manner in which the Eu ropean Spaniards uttered the same language.
The viceroys and the other officers of government who had been appointed from Spain, though they all viewed the French domination with abhor rence, were apprehensive that, if the peninsula was • subjected to the Corsican dynasty, and the inter. course with the colonies should be interrupted, their offices, if not abolished, would become. less lucra tive, and less authoritative; and that, at all events, they should be prevented from returning to Spain, to enjoy those large fortunes which they had acqui red, or which they anticipated. The Cabildos of the corporations, composed principally of native Ameri cans, felt that America was every thing to them. They had no. thoughts of residing in Spain ; and though they might not wish to have their parent state subdued by a foreign conqueror, yet, when placed in the alternative of either submitting to France, or breaking all the links that connected them with Spain, they could not hesitate to embrace the latter, which they did not consider as a good,. but the least of two evils.
The views of the different parties were known to each other, though all united in vows of fidelity to Spain, of allegiance to the imprisoned monarch, and especially of eternal attachment to the religion they professed. The Negroes and Indians remained cent. They were told, that the French would rob them of their religion ; and, as the value they set on that was equal to their ignorance of its nature and foundation, they were ready to receive every im pression unfavourable to that nation, and to unite as far as they were able in opposing all change.