tains, and embracing many beautiful and fertile vallies amongst the ridges of the Andes. Its population is 40,000; and its chief town, Salta, contains 9000 inhabitants, and carries on considerable trade with Peru, Bolivar, and Chili. This province was long the seat of war, and being occupied alternately by the contending parties, suffered severely in the long struggle for independence. Lying west of Cordova, are the provinces of San Luis, or Punta San Luis, and San Juan, carved out of the original province of Cuyo, or Mendoza, containing each about 27,000 inhabitants; the former extends south to the boundary of the republic on Patagonia, and the latter stretches along at the foot of the eastern Andes; the capital town of each is of the name of the province. North of the two last is the province of Rioja, lying in a valley of the same name, and containing 25,000 inhabitants; to the east is the valley of Catamarca, which, with that of Conando, form the province of Catamarca, which has a population of 30,000. To the east of this is the province of Santiago, lying north of Cordova; its capital, the city of Santiago del Estero, contains 10 or 15,000 inhabitants, and the province 60,000. Stretching north of Salta is the province of Jujuy, bounded north on the Bolivarian republic, with a population of 25,000; this is a mountainous country, and its chief town of the same name contains about 3000 inhabitants.

The population of the states, belonging to the present confederacy, according to the latest estimates, amounts to nearly 700, 000, exclusive of civilized Indians, which may probably swell the aggregate to 1,200,000, in the whole United Provinces. The various races which compose the population are the same as in other parts of what was Spanish America. The Spaniards have greatly diminished since the revolution, whilst other natives of Europe have increased. The Creoles, or descendants of Europeans, as in all the rest of America, comprise the most efficient, the most patriotic, and intelligent class of the population. The people of colour, comprehending the Indians, Africans, and the various mixed races, constitute the labouring class, as in other parts of Spanish America, and make, when disciplined, good soldiers.

Government, army, navy, and finances.-A governing junta was established at Buenos Ayres on the 25th of May, 1810, from whence the country dates the commencement of the revolution and its political regeneration. In March, 1811, a congress, composed of deputies from the different provinces, was convened, and a new junta appointed. After this, various changes and revolutions took place in the government, some of which occasioned civil wars. A triumvirate, or executive of three persons was established, and this was followed by a single executive,

called a director. But the government continued unstable and shaken by factions; the dissensions of parties, and the ambitious designs of individuals, until March, 1816, when the election of Juan Martin Pueyredon, supreme director, quieted the factions, and gave stability to the government for a considerable period. This was followed by a declaration of independence by the general congress on the 9th of July, 1816. Since that period, until recently, no attempt has been made to organize a general government: one is now in successful operation, and adopted by most of the provinces. Measures have lately been taken to organize and maintain an efficient army for the purpose of defence; by a decree adopted in 1825, organizing and apportioning the military force among the provinces, it is to consist of 7600 men; very little attention has yet been paid to the formation of a navy. The actual revenue of the provinces, belonging to the republic, in 1817, was 3,037,187 dollars; the national debt, at the same time, amounted to 1,438,054 dollars, and the property belonging to the government, was valued at 19,055,597 dollars, exclusive of the public lands. The principal source of revenue is that derived from duties on imports and exports.

Character of the population, &c.—The same classes are found here as in the other states; but there is one portion of the population, which is, in some measure, peculiar; we allude to the herdsmen of the plains and pampas. Neither the Spanish or the French have been as successful in colonizing as the English, and one principal reason has been, the disposition of the two former to crowd themselves together in towns. In the United States the population is spread over the whole country, and was, at an early period, as far as the settlements extended; but in South America, almost the whole Spanish population are grouped together in towns. Even the great landholders reside almost entirely in the cities which owe their growth to mines, commerce, and to being seats of government. Among other consequences of this state of things, is the wide dissimilarity between the inhabitants of the cities and those out of them. Where landholders reside on their estates, and men of wealth and intelligence live in the country, they have a powerful influence in enlightening and improving all classes of the people, That a population living in solitude, scattered over an immense waste, without the means of education, and without enjoying any social intercourse, should be sunk low in ignorance, cannot be surprising. The intelligence which is found in the cities of the interior, and much more so that in cities which are maritime, is owing to their intercourse with foreigners. Buenos Ayres, for various reasons, ranks first in intelligence, as well as in wealth and population. The advantages of the other cities have not been so great as VOL. II.

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those of the capital; yet their inhabitants are but little behind those of Buenos Ayres in intelligence and general information. The revolution has excited a spirit of inquiry, and to a considerable extent provided the means of indulging it; newspapers, schools, and colleges, have been established. The means of improvement have not been confined to the higher classes, but have produced important effects among every description of the population, not excepting the Indians. The inhabitants of Paraguay are a peculiar race, differing from those of the other provinces, being a mixture of Spanish and Indian blood; they are an industrious, peaceful, taciturn, superstitious, and obedient people; much attached to their country, desiring never to see any other, or to have any intercourse with foreigners. Their character was formed by the Jesuits, and has ever since been maintained.

But the herdsmen who form a considerable proportion of the population of the country, are the most peculiar class. They are scattered over the immense pampas and plains, each one having the charge of an estancia, or grazing farm, of many miles in extent; their houses, or cabins, consist of mud walls, with a thatched roof, without furniture, and as simple and rude within as without; they are generally erected near an embudo, which is the herdsmen's favourite shade. Here, in the midst of an immense waste, and unbroken solitude, he spends his days, shut out from the world, and from the "cheerful ways of man," scarcely less the child of nature than his Indian ancestors. Horse riding is both the herdsmen's employment and amusement, and being in the practise of it from their infancy, they are the most dexterous horsemen in the world. They wear a cloak, called a poncho, the same that is worn by the Indians; it is larger than a Dutch blanket, and has no more the form of a garment, being only a square piece of cloth, with a slit for the head, hanging down all around the body. It serves not only for a cloak, but for a saddle covering, and a bag, during the day, and for a bed at night. The herdsman is armed at all times with a large butcher knife secured about his waist, and the lazo, which is a thong or cord of hide, about thirty yards in length, with an iron ring at one end, by means of which a noose is formed in an instant, and the other end is fastened to the chinco, or girth of the saddle. The lazo is used with a dexterity truly astonishing; it is thrown with unerring aim on horseback at full speed, at the swiftest animal. If it takes effect, and it seldom fails, the horse, being practised in the business, either stands still, or moves off, as directed by the rider. The lazo is suspended to the hinder part of the saddle, and always ready for use, as occasion may require. The habits and character of the herdsmen fit them for soldiers, particularly for cavalry; and during the long wars in which the

country has been engaged, particularly the Banda Oriental, they have become as expert in the use of a gun on horseback, as of the lazo; hardy, brave, accustomed to fatigue and privations, they form the most formidable guerrilla soldiery that ever existed. Such are the men who formed the forces of Artigas, which made such astonishing efforts, and exhibited such bravery and perseverance. They are commonly called Gauchos, and are usually one half or one fourth Indian blood.

The means of education in this, as well as in other parts of South America, have been greatly extended since the revolution. The schools have been multiplied; new institutions of learning established; and all kinds of books permitted to circulate freely. The newspaper establishments have increased, and a spirit of inquiry become prevalent among all classes of the people, by the successful exertions of the brave and intelligent citizens, by whose patriotic labours a new republic has been brought into life. Go on, illustrious people! do what has been accomplished in another part of the same hemisphere; "establish justice, ensure domestic tranquillity, and perpetuate the blessings of liberty to yourselves and your posterity." Go on, and be the pride of your friends, and a terror to your enemies.

The Roman Catholic religion is the established religion of the United Provinces; but the advocates of universal toleration are increasing, and the rigours of the ancient laws are considerably relaxed. The executive has recently presented to the congress the project of a law, providing for the general toleration of all religions.*

* We are indebted for many of the details concerning the United Provinces to Judge Bland's Report.

HISTORY

OF THE REVOLUTION

IN THE

UNITED PROVINCES.

CHAPTER XI.

Arrival of a French brig at Buenos Ayres with despatches-proceedings of Liniers, the viceroy-junta formed at Monte Video —R. H. de Cisneros appointed viceroy-proceedings of the revolutionists-junta established at Buenos Ayres-Liniers defeated and taken prisoner-junta sends a deputy to Chili-an army marches against the royalists in Upper Peru-its successes—war in the Banda Oriental-dissensions among the patriots—change in the government-Monte Video besieged-army in Peru defeated-royalists defeated at Salta-new political regulations— supreme director appointed-Monte Video capitulates-quarrel with Artigas—political revolution—naval events—war with Artigas—J. M. Pueyredon-Portuguese invade Monte Videowar in Peru-Portuguese take Monte Video-events of the war in Peru.

THE forcible seizure of Spain by Napoleon Bonaparte, and his attempt to establish his authority over the American colonies, gave the first impulse to the revolution in Spanish America. In July, 1808, a French brig, with an envoy from Napoleon, arrived at Buenos Ayres with despatches to Liniers, the viceroy, informing him of the cessions of Bayonne, and the events which had taken place in the peninsula.

The viceroy called together the cabildo, and the members of the court of audience for consultation; and it was decided, that the extraordinary occurrences in Spain required that the people should be officially made acquainted with them. Accordingly,