6

Mr. B. elsewhere speaks of the simplicity and humility of true republicanism, which attaches no importance to outward shew; that being more properly,' he says, a cloak for emptiness and conceit than any part of native worth.' But emptiness and conceit sometimes venture out without a cloak ; what are we to say then? Why, only that the humility of republicanism is not always the private virtue of republicans.

The population of Buenos Ayres is of a very mixed description. Great numbers of gauchos and other country people, are seen in the streets, but always on horseback. In the skirts of the town, much of the Indian race,' our Author states,' is visible.' The people are in general very poor, harmless, and indolent; they commonly speak nothing but Spanish, and, but for their complexion and inanimate countenances, would not be distinguishable from the lower orders of the Spanish Americans. Numbers of Indians have found their way here from the missions of Paraguay since the expulsion of the Jesuits, as well as from the provinces of Peru. The old Spaniards, of whom there remains à considerable number, are said to be easily distinguished by 'their darker complexion, the studied shabbiness of their dress, and their morose and surly expression of countenance, arising from their being treated as a sort of Jews, by those whom they were wont to regard as greatly their inferiors.'

They are also distinguished by not mounting the blue and white cockade, which is universally worn by the citizens of the republic. The same number of Chinese could scarcely form a class more distinct from the rest of the community. There can hardly be a greater affront offered to an Americano del Sud, than to call him a Spaniard. A young fellow told me, in a jesting way, that the monks, friars, and Spaniards, were generally old, and would soon die off, which he said was a great consolation.' I am informed there are two convents in the city, but I did not go to see them, as I was told the nuns were all old and ugly!'

A very animated and martial scene was presented to me, by the exercising of the regular troops and civil militia. The black regiments made an uncommonly fine appearance, and seemed to be in a very high state of discipline. The civil militia is said to be fully as well trained as the regulars. I saw several very fine bands of music. A battalion of slaves, consisting of five or six hundred men, were also mustered, and then marched to one of the churches. With all these things going on, the city exhibited one of the most animating scenes I had ever witnessed. They are certainly a more enthusiastic, and perhaps warlike people, than we are; if they possessed, with these qualities, by way of ballast, something of our steady habits and general stock of information, I think they would nearly equal us.'

The arrival of the commissioners, Mr. Brackenridge tells us in the true French style, produced a great sensation through

the city in all classes of the people: for some days it in fact engrossed all the public attention.' And he has no doubt that the government and the people will make the most of the mission.' It will certainly,' he thinks, have a most power'ful moral influence on the cause of South America; for man,' he informs us,' is a moral agent.' And then he goes on to explain this very original observation, and to shew how this moral influence is to operate; all which, being better adapted to American than to English readers, we pass over. On the day appointed, the Commissioners, accompanied by the secretary of state, waited on the supreme Director, Pueyrredon, who is thus described.

He seemed to be upwards of forty years of age; his appearance upon the whole was commanding and dignified; his address and manners were those of a person accustomed to the best society. It was easily discoverable, that he was a man who had been long ac customed to act a distinguished part in life. He certainly looked like a person who might be chosen by a nation for its magistrate, and no stranger could be surprised at seeing such a man at its head. Though a native of this place, his father was a Swiss, who settled in this country as a merchant in early youth. His complexion is fair, with blue eyes; his countenance expressive of intelligence and humanity. He has the character of great application to business, and of that temperate energy so essential in revolutionary times.'

The Director's reply to the address of the Commissioners, opened with an assurance of the high sense he entertained of the honour conferred by this friendly notice on the part of the United States.

"We have long since been aware," said he, "that the most friendly feelings and wishes existed towards us, on the part of your country and government. We have ever regarded your country with enthusiastic admiration. We appreciate fully its high character for justice, disinterestedness, and sincerity, and it is beyond the power of words to express, how gratifying to us all, is this proof of its good wishes. That there should exist a real and unfeigned friendship and sympathy between us is natural. We inhabit the same portion of the globe, our cause has been once yours, and we are in pursuit of the same objects, which you have so happily achieved.

You will see many things amongst us, to excite your surprise. We are a people who are just beginning to be. We have had great difficulties to encounter, and have laboured under extraordinary disadvantages. I feel confident, however, that when you come to be better acquainted with our country, you will find that the most ardent love of liberty and independence, pervades every part of this community; that in pursuit of these great objects, we are all united, and that we are resolved to perish, sooner than surrender them. At the same time, we must confess with deep regret, that dissentions still prevail between different sections of this republic, and which have

unfortunately placed one of the most important portions of our country, in the hands of a stranger.

"With respect to the objects of the mission, I am anxious to meet the wishes of the commissioners in every particular. I hope all forms of diplomacy may be waived; that all communications may be held as between friends and brothers; that, whenever it may suit the pleasure or convenience of the commissioners, they will address themselves personally to me, or to the secretary of state, who will always be found at leisure to attend to them." pp. 273, 4.

Alvarez and Rondeau were among their visiters. The former is described as a man under thirty, of fine appearance and elegant manners, his conversation interesting and intelligent, and his character elevated and manly. He is a native of Arequipa in Peru, has been in the army from his youth, and has several brothers in the Spanish service. He is married to a niece of General Belgrano, who is said to be a very superior woman. Rondeau is a small man, apparently about fifty years of age, of firm and manly carriage. Sarratea, who was formerly a conspicuous member of the government, and afterwards an 'agent of the court of London,' is said to be a man of considerable talents; but from all I could learn,' says Mr. B. he does not stand high with the government, and still lower with the people.'

Mr. Brackenridge became acquainted with several persons at Buenos Ayres, who carry on a small trade with Artigas: they were of course loud in praise of his good intentions and genuine patriotism. There are other persons also, who, from a factious opposition to the present administration, have of late become his advocates; and from the same motive, they almost all espouse the cause of Carrera, the Chilian ex-general. Some of these men were extremely virulent in their abuse of the government, and especially of San Martin. The provinces at one time manifested a great jealousy of the ascendancy acquired by Buenos Ayres; and it seems to be admitted, that causes of complaint did exist, both on account of the acts of the government and its agents; but these misunderstandings promise to be now amicably adjusted by the general congress, and Mr. B. considers that the only dispute now lies between Banda Oriental and the United Provinces.

As far as the destinies of the nation can at the present depend on particular men, they apparently rest on three individuals, Pueyrredon, Belgrave, and San Martin, who have a perfect understanding with each other, and are supported by the leading men in the country. With respect to the first two, they have been actors in the scenes of the revolution from the commencement, and have both been abroad. Pueyrredon has been much abused in the United States, but this buse originated with personal enemies. From the most impartial

examination of every thing that has been said of him by friends and foes, I am convinced that he is not only a sincere patriot, but a great

man.'

The great man of the country is unquestionably San Martin, although only acting as a military chief. He is a native of the missions on the Parana, of respectable connections, but not distinguished. From his youth he possessed a military turn of mind, and in the struggles of Spain against the French, he served on the Peninsula as an aid to one of the Spanish generals, but returned to his own country when his services were required. He first distinguished himself in 1812, in the defeat of the Spaniards, who attempted to maintain a position at San Lorenzo, on the Parana; in this affair, he displayed great boldness and intrepidity, and his success had a happy effect in reviving the drooping spirit of a people whose fortunes were at this time much obscured. San Martin, almost from the moment of his return from Spain, had fixed the attention of his countrymen; and his reputation made a silent but rapid progress. There are some men, who possess an indescribable something, which commands confidence and respect, even before any thing remarkable has appeared in their actions. His great application to the duties of his profession, his high character for integrity, prudence, and moral rectitude, insured him at once the esteem of the respectable among his fellowcitizens. By foreigners he was still more admired, than by his own countrymen, as being more free from the vices of the creoles, and having the most enlarged and liberal views. At first, the strict discipline which he introduced, and the great application to study, which he required of the young officers, made him enemies, and afterwards friends. In 1813, he was appointed governor of Cuyo, and at the same time was invested with the military command in this quarter. His strict justice, and his general deportment gained the affections of these people, and when on one occasion there was some idea of removing him, they earnestly remonstrated against it. On the conquest of Chili, the people of Mendoza, apprehensive of the Spaniards, reposed all their hopes of safety on San Martin, who immediately set to work in organizing an army for their defence, and, at the same time, secretly cherishing the design of freeing Chili from her enemies. We have seen that his success was complete.' Vol. II. pp. 212-14.

There are some traits in his character, which I shall, however, notice. His self-denial in refusing any promotion, had its effect, where every one was striving for it, without regard to his merits, and became a malcontent if disappointed. The fact of many officers of superior rank serving under him, is a proof that this compliment is due to his personal merit ; and it must be admitted, that the circumstance is either a very extraordinary one, or a very high testimony in his favour. After the battle of Chacabuco, when the Spaniards were driven out of Chili, the supreme director promoted him to the rank of major-general, but he declined accepting, having already publicly declared, that he would accept no higher rank, than that which he held. The affair was referred to the congress, which decided that for

this time, San Martin should have his own way; but if, on a future occasion, his services to the country should be such as to merit promotion, it would be his duty to accept. After the battle of Maipu, he was accordingly promoted. When we consider the necessity of checking that vicious impatience for promotion, by examples of self-denial and noble disinterestedness, the conduct of San Martin will be viewed in a more favourable light. He has publicly declared his determination to accept of no civil office whatever, and to renounce his military situation, as soon as his country shall gain her independence. I have no doubt, that the examples of self-denial, set by Belgrano, San Martin, and recently by Pueyrredon, will have the most happy effects on the character of the people. The pains taken by San Martin to avoid all public demonstrations of gratitude for his services, I have been told by persons well acquainted with him, proceeds from natural plainness and simplicity of manners. It was not possible for him to avoid them; and to none of the chiefs of the revolution, have such honours been paid by every description of people,' pp. 214, 15.

The

Towards the latter part of our stay the affairs of the country wore a most gloomy aspect. Accounts were daily received that the Spanish army was continully advancing towards Santiago. uneasiness of the public mind cannot well be conceived. But when the news arrived of the dispersion of the army of San Martin at Talca, the effect was such as to produce a kind of settled gloom over the city. The streets were almost deserted, and an anxiety prevailed among all classes which could not have been greater if their own fate had been at issue. The enemies of San Martin were busily at work; placards were stuck up, it was supposed by the old Spaniards, and the friends of Carrera experienced a secret satisfaction, which they could with difficulty conceal. Before this they represented San Martin as a deep designing man, who made a tool of O'Higgins, they now spoke of him as an imbecile pretender; and one of them observed to me, "If he can get out of this scrape, I will acknowledge that he is a clever fellow," They told me that he had resigned the command of the army to general Brayere, on finding himself entirely incompetent to the task, and had resolved to fight at the head of cavalry. If true, the fact only proved, that he was actuated by a higher motive than selfish pride. A few days, however, brought the account of the splendid victory of Maipu. I shall not attempt to describe the sensation produced in the city by this important event, and which greatly surpassed all expression of popular feeling I had ever witnessed. "The capital," says Funes, from its extreme depression was now elevated to the highest pitch of joy. The streets, before silent and fearful, were suddenly filled by the inhabitants; like the blood, which after some moments of deep suspense, and anxious fear, rushes again from the heart to the extremities of the body. The scenes which ensued, can only be conceived by those who have witnessed the sublime effusion of popular feeling, when each thinks his own happiness that of his posterity, his friends, and his country are entirely nvolved. There was a general and almost universal exclamation,