forming them, and of alleviating the condition of the Indians. The first attempt at amelioration was the Repartimuntos de Indios, by which they were di vided among the Spaniards, who had the profits of their labor without a right of property in their per sons. Next, the encomiendas, by which they were placed under the superintendance and protection of the Spaniards. The encomendero was bound to live in the district which contained the Indians of 'bis encomienda; to watch over their conduct, in struct and civilize them, to protect them from all unjust persecutions, and to prevent their being imposed on in trafficking with the Spaniards. In return for these services they received a tribute in labor or produce. The abuse of these protecting regulations followed closely their institution. The the civilized Indians to recover their former inde pendence have been more easily defeated. Indians hand down from father to son the remen. brance of their wrongs, and constantly watch some opportunity to revenge them. The insurrection in 1778, was the most formida able known since the conquest, and laid in ruins! some of the fines towns of Upper Peru. Orurs was totally destroyed, and La Paz lost the greater part of its inhabitants by famine, whilst it was blockaded by the Indians. Had they known the use of fire arms, the whole of the white popula tion of those provinces would have been destroyed. The revolutionary government immediately on its installation released from the service of the mita, which was the most obnoxious to them, and from the vassalage in which they were held by their magistrates. The tribute was continued from necessity, as it afforded a revenue which could not be relinquished at this period. In 1814, they were relieved from the payment of the tribute, and have taken an active part in favor of the Creoles. counts. These members, when their sentences are appealed from, do not assist at the session. The customs are collected by an administrator of the customs, and a treasurer; their accounts are receiv ed by the tribunal de cuentas. The encomiendas were granted to Spaniards who never were in the country. The Indians were hired out, and the most exorbitant tribute was exacted of them. In order to check these abuses, it was decreed, that the amount of tribute received from encomiendas, should not exceed two thousand dollars, the surplus to be paid into the treasury. The intendant of the province is the chief of They were made inalienable and reverted to the every branch of the administration of finance; he crown. All these regulations were found inef- is assisted by an assessor, who reports on all fectual to secure the Indians against the rapacity questions of law. The intendant may reject his of the encomenderos, and encomiendas were decision, and either determine on his own responsi abolished. The Indians were next confided to the bility or consult a lawyer. The tribunal de cuentas, care and protection of the missionaries and of over which he presides, consists of a contador doctrinal curates. The last regulation in their mayor, and a treasurer; they examine and verify favor gave them magistrates of their own choice, all accounts. There is, moreover, a supreme court superintended, however, by a corrogidor, to pre of finance. This court, of which the intendant is vent the Indian alcaides from committing excesses president, is composed of the regent of the royal in the exercise of their authority. audience, (chief justice) the contador mayor, the In the vice royalty of Peru, the Indians were subtreasurer, and the solicitor of the tribunal of acject to a tribute to the crown, levied on males only, from the age of ten to fifty. It was collected by the corrogidor, who had the power of exempting such as were unable, from sickness or bad seasons, to make up the sum. They could enter into no legal contract or sale, without the consent of the By the Spanish colonial laws, the taxes were corrogidor, or make any conveyance of real estate. levied on the product alone. The alcavala was Their lands were sometimes seized, and sold to reduced to five per cent. on every transfer of prosatisfy the tribute, and in that way only could aperty, and every contract of sale. The retail transfer be made or a legal title obtained for In-dealers generally paid a composition, which was dian lands. The Indians were burdened with a calculated annually on the value of their stock. personal service to the crown, called the mita; this The almoxarifasgo is a duty on_entry, and vawas a conscription raised among those subject to ries from fifteen to five per cent. The corso, is a the tribute, in order to work the mines of Potosi. duty of two per cent. applied to support the guarda Thousands of these unfortunate people were march-costas; and the consulate, one and an half on imports ed every year to Potosi, and although the period and exports; this last goes to defray the expenses of service was only eighteen months, they were of the consulado, or board of trade. There is an attended by a numerous train of friends and rela-excise on distilleries. The pulperias, or small gre tions, who, on the eve of their entering the mines, cery stores pay, independent of the alcavala, i sang melancholy dirges, and sounding a horn in certain sum per annum, about thirty five dollars, solemn strains, mourned over them with all the for license to retail liquors. A fund was formerly ceremonies which they used to evince their sorrow derived from the sale of lands, and from the royal on the death of a relative. Their wives and child-domains. The treasury receives the rents of va ren remained with the conscripts, who harassed cant bishopricks and prebendaries, until the new by a long march, seldom resisted inore than a year dignity is in possession; and the half yearly pro luct the excessive labor and noxious air of the mines. of all offices. Notaries, attorneys, receivers of the The Indians of Peru have the appearance of habitual customs, tax gatherers, excise officers, &c. pay a melancholy, and still wear mourning for the define to the crown, in proportion to the value of their struction of their Incas. According to an ancient office. Ecclesiastics pay the amount of the first prophecy, they expect to be one day delivered from month of their benefice. their oppressors by a descendant of the Incas, who All articles seized on account of illicit trade, af is to revive the former glory of the nation. They ter paying the duties, are divided among the in are probibited from carrying any weapon, or from former, the intendant, the captors and the crowa exercising any trade which might render them The bull areas, and cockpits, belong to the king. familiar with the use of fire arms. This law has A considerable revenue is derived from stamps; the been so strictly executed, that the unsubdued highest, cost six dollars; and all deeds and titles, tribes are not dangerous enemies, and for more as also papers signed by chief officers of the s than a century have not disturbed the tranquility ministration, must be written on this paper. If the of the Spanish settlers; and the attempts made by jinstrument cannot be contained in a single shee, e rest is written on a stamped paper of a dollar. Contracts and wills must be, written on a stamped paper, which costs one dollar and a half the sheet. Every document presented in the courts of law, must be on stamped paper the sheet, and all petitions presented by the poor, and by Indians, must be written on stamped paper of the 16th of a dollar. The paper already stamped was sent from Spain, and was renewed every two years. For some time the treasury received one fifth of the product of the mines; it was afterwards reduced to one tenth. The mint affords a further revenue by the exclu. sive sale of quicksilver, and by coining. The monopoly of tobacco is another article of revenue. The administrador de tobaccos, grants licenses to cultivate, and establishes shops to retail tobacco. These estancos, as they are called, are kept by persons who receive a certain per centage on the sales; and who give security, to account for all the tobacco put into their hands. The other monopolies, salt, cards, &c. &c. are not productive. The post office is in the hands of government, and yields a considerable revenue. The bull for the dead, lessens the term, or entirely releases the soul from purgatory; the first class costs seventy-five cents, and the second twen ty-five cents. The bulls of the holy crusade are printed on very coarse paper, and the name of the purchaser is written at full length. In the vice royalty of Buenos Ayres, the ninths of the sale of bulls and the administration of the confiscated lands of the Jesuits, formed a branch of the revenue, under the title Customhouse 4.274 6 1.4 1,525 7 12,775 The Indians who were subdued, paid a capita. tion tax. It included all males from 10 to 50 years of age, and amounted to between five and seven dollars. This tribute was collected by the corregidor; who had the power of dispensing with the payment when, from indisposition or bad seasons, the Indian was supposed to be deprived of the means of acquiring the amount. They could enforce it by the sale of their lands. The only legal purchase of lands belonging to Indians, was at these Bales; in every other transaction they were considered as minors; and no contract or bargain was valid until it received the sanction of the corregidor. The ecclesiastical dominion of the Spanish Ame rican colonies was yielded by the bull of Alexander the VI. to the sovereign of Spain. Tithes were es tablished in America by Ferdinand and Isabelia in 9 1501; and in 1541, Charles the fifth ordained that the proceeds of the tithes should be divided into four parts; one to be appropriated to the bishop; another to the chapter; and out of the other two, that they should set aside two ninths for the king, three for building and repairing churches, and the remaining four ninths for the payment of curates and officiating ecclesiastics. This regulation con 17,814 43-4 4,856 4 1-2 A summary of temporalidades. The following tables present the state of the treasury of Bueros Ayres, from January 1811. and subsequently to January, 1812. view of the trade of Spanish America tinues in force, and the tithes are farmed and sold will complete this exposition of their colonial po in each province to the highest bidder. licy. The sale of the bulls of the crusade produces a very considerable revenue. The general bull is vexatious imposts with which the Spanish governIt is scarcely necessary to recapitulate all the bought by all the faithful, and is divided into ment oppressed the internal commerce of the king. classes according to the rank and fortune of the dom. Of all these the alcabala was the most depurchaser. Vice roys and their wives, pay fifteen structive of the national prosperity. It consisted dollars; the chief dignitaries, civil, ecclesiastical, of a duty varying from six to four per cent. upon and military, and all possessed of fortunes exceed every transfer of property and every contract of ing twelve thousand dollars, pay five dollars; all sale. The millones was an excise on the prime possessed of fortunes exceeding six thousand dol necessaries of life, and was generally compounded Jars, pay one and a half dollars; all other persons for with the government by the municipalities.pay thirty-one and a half cents. The virtues of this In consequence of which the magistrates establish bull are various; but the most useful is the dispensa-ed public magazines, at which all taxed commodi. tion from fasting on Fridays, and almost all lent. The bull to eat milk and eggs is, likewise, divided into classes; the first costs six dollars, the second three dollars, the third one and a half dollars, and the fourth thirty-eight cents. The bulls of composition are bought by those who have obtained money or goods by unlawful means. All classes pay two and a half dollars for this bull. ties were to be purchased, and such who were found to have any articles of monopoly, not obtain ed from the magazines, were prosecuted with the utmost rigor. Almost all these regulations, with petre, sulphur, gunpowder, sealing-wax, quickstithe royal monopolies of brandy, cards, lead, salt. ver, salt and tobacco were extended to the colo nies, where their pernicious effects were more sen. sibly felt than in the mother country. The trade between Spain and the colonies was confined to particular classes in both countries until Charles the V. allowed all his Castilian subjects to fit out lar packet boats where first established, and sailed expeditions from the principal ports of Spain, but from Corunna to the chief ports of America. Alexacted, under the severest penalties of death and though permitted to trade, their cargoes were liconfiscation, that they should return to the port of mitted in extent, and to Spanish produce. They Seville, which became the emporium of the Ame-were obliged to sail from and return to Corunna.— rican trade. The personal influence of the inha- In 1765, the trade of the windward colonies was bitants increasing with their wealth, they induced laid open to several ports of Spain. The Palmeo the government to withdraw the permission to was commuted to a duty of six per cent. on ex. clear out from other ports. In 1720, when the na-ports, and ships were cleared without licenses.vigation of the river was impeded by sand bars The grant which had already included Louisians, and became unfit to admit vessels of burden, the was extended in 1770, to Yucatan and Campeachy. monopoly with all its advantages was transferred In 1766, the cotton trade was opened to Catalonia, to Cadiz. Twenty-seven vessels were fitted out duty free, and 1772 to the other provinces. In 1774, for the annual supply of Peru, Chile, and Terra colonial produce, duty free, was permitted to be Firma; and every three years, twenty-three were imported into the several ports of Spain. In 1778, despatched to Mexico and the northern provinces. the ordinance of 1765 was extended to Buenos AyThe colonists were prohibited from trading with res, Chile, and Peru, and soon after to Santa Fe and foreigners or with Spanish vessels not included in Guatimaly. This last ordinance granted some abatetheir periodical fleets, and also from trading with ment of duties to vessels laden with Spanish produce each other. Peru could not receive supplies from and to the precious metals, which had hitherto paid Mexico, or Buenos Ayres from Terra Firma. No an enormous duty of entrance. The jealousy of exSpaniard could interfere with the trade of the intending the benefits of their trade to foreigners yieldterior, nor could any colonist embark his goods to ed to the necessity of supplying the colonies with Spain on his own account. A board of trade, estab-slaves. The Spaniards were incapable of conducting lished at Seville in the sixteenth century, regulat-this traffic, and for a certain time it was in the bands ed the extent, assortment, and distribution of the of a class of merchants in France. By the treaty of periodical cargoes. No person could load or land Utrecht the assiento was transferred to Great Briarticles from the return cargoes without a license tain. The contraband trade which the English from this board. The galleons could not touch at mingled with the importation of slaves, brought on any port or break bulk on their passage out or a war, and put a stop to this foreign monopoly.home. The triennial supplies could only be dis- The slave trade was then transferred to a private tributed over the nothern colonies, and the annual company whose entrepot was Porto Rico. The gaileons were appropriated to the settlements of total failure of this company, obliged the govern the south. These were extremely limited, it be-ment to take the supply into their own bands, and ing supposed that the crown had an interest in mak-the incapacity of the Spanish merchants to cOB. ing the same amount of duties fall upon a small duct this complicated trade, forced them to consupply of goods, that the duties might be more ea- tract. with a British commercial house for an annual sily levied, and that the colonist might be made to supply of three thousand slaves. For one year the pay the whole. The duties were levied in the form Phillipine company introduced into Buenos Ayres of direct customs on the goods exported, or of fees nearly four thousand. In 1789, the slave trade and dues for licenses on tonnage. An impost was with the islands and with Caraccas was thrown laid on the bulk of the articles shipped without re open to Spaniards and foreigners. Several exclugard to their nature or value. The indulto was a sive companies have been formed since the comduty on the produce imported from the colonies, mencement of the eighteenth century, but the Phil. and fixed anew by government every time the fleets tipine company alone survived the restrictions and returned from America. The declining state of the extravagant duties imposed on their trade by the Spanish manufactories, and the inability of the mo-government. The profits of this company are rether country to furnish the necessary supplies of presented to have been very inconsiderable, not goods, obliged the council of Indies to use foreign exceeding three or four per cent.. On the 12th of articles; but they forced them to pass through the October, 1778, the council of Indies issued a dehands of the merchants of Seville, and afterwards cree of free commerce. The vessels were to beof Cadiz. The profits of the monopolists of Cadiz long exclusively to Spaniards and to be of national were one hundred and seventy per cent on goods construction. All the officers and two thirds of bought in America, and two hundred and fifty on the crew to be Spanish. This decree confined the goods sold there. The import and export duties free trade to a few ports; but subsequent regulawere exorbitant. Colonial produce bore a very tions extended the privilege to all the chief ports high price in Spain, and the colonists purchased in Spain. The ports of the colonies were divided the necessary articles with this monstrous accumu- into major and minor ports, and some privileges lation of profits and charges. Ulloa mentions that, were granted to the latter in order to encourage in Quito, a pound of iron sold for a dollar, and one them. The exports from Spain were divided into of steel for one dollar and fifty cents. The contra- three classes, the articles of the growth and manu. band trade was in consequence very extensive, but facture of the mother country were called free ar although this gave the colonists a more abundant ticles, and paid nine and a half per cent. duty.supply, it did not diminish the prices; the profits The second class consisted of articles only of the of the smugglers always bearing a proportion to manufacture of Spain, and paid twelve and a half the risk of entering the goods, and to the profits of per cent. duty. The third class included all fo legal commerce. In 1740, expeditions, separate reign goods shipped to the colonies through Spain. from the periodical fleets, were permitted to sail They paid fifteen per cent. entry into Spain, seven from the American colonies to ports formerly de- per cent. export, and seven per cent. entry into barred all direct intercourse with Spain. The high America; and with the maritime alcabala, the conprices paid by these registered ships for licenses sultate, and other charges, the duties amounted to amounted to a heavy duty on exports. In 1748, the thirty-three and a third per cent. In 1778, the expermission was extended to other ports, but was ports to the colonies were made in 170 ships, were soon restored exclusively to Cadiz. In 1764, regu-worth 74 millions of rials vellon, and paid 32 mil lons duty. The imports of the same year were tity of merchandise brought into these ports, made in 130 ships, valued at 74 millions, and paid during the first six months, was equal to the nearly three millions duty. In 1778, the value of former consumption of six years; and skaits and exports was 500 millions, and of imports 8044 mil-warming pans were seen dangling in the shops Lions, and the duties exceeded 55 millions. In Bue of Buenos Ayres and Montevideo. The former nos Ayres the receipts of the customs, in 3791, were 1792, 1793, 1794, 1795, $336,532 exorbitant duties continued to be levied with so little regard to justice, that frequently the mer chants not only lost the prime cost and freight of 423,623 the articles, but had a further sum to pay for du407,984 ties; and several petitions was presented, praying 310,858 to be allowed to abandon the goods in satisfaction The average of five years was 389,569 dollars. of the duties. The monthly receipts of customs in It appears that in 1796, the exports to Buenos Ay- Buenos Ayres, during the year 1810, sometimes res amounted to 2,853,944 dollars, and the imports exceeded two hundred thousand dollars, and the from that port to 5,058,882 dollars. The latter aggregate of that year was two millions two hunconsisted of 874,593 ox hides, 43,752 horse hides, dred and ten thousand dollars. From the state of 24,436 skins, 46,800 arrobas, (25 pounds) 771 arro- the market in Buenos Ayres, the merchants in bas of Vicuna wool, 2,254 arrobas of common wool, England were ruined by the slowness of the re291 Guanaco wool, 11,890 goose wings, 451,000 turns; and many found it necessary to instruct horns, 3,223 hundred weight of copper, four hun- their agents to make any sacrifice, and to sell at dred weight of tin, 2,541 tanned hides, 222 dozen any price. Sales at auction, to an immense amount, of dressed sheep skins, 2,128 hundred weight of were consequently made below the first cost of the jerked beef, and 185 cured pork, valued at 1,076,877 articles. The effect of these sales, was to reduce dollars, and the remainder, 2,556,304, in gold and the price of all English manufactures, and I aftersilver. In the year 1802, after the peace of Amiens, wards saw English prints and calicoes retailed in the receipts in Buenos Ayres were 857,702 dollars. the shops of Mendoza, a distance of three hundred Shortly after the war broke out between England leagues from the coast, below the retailed price in and Spain, the invasion of these provinces by sir London. The English agent, who received his per Home Popham, opened a new era in the trade of centage on the sales, and the Spanish or native conBuenos Ayres. This officer, on his return to Eng signee, whom the law obliged him to employ, was land, wrote a circular to the merchants, setting enriched, but the principals in England failed. forth the extension and lucrative market opened Frequent attempts were made to prevail upon the by this conquest, to the trade of the British empire. government of Buenos Ayres, to simplify the manThe want of markets in Europe, at that period, ner of collecting their duties, and establish a tariff and the exaggerated picture of commercial advan- of their own, independent of the absurd and comtages, presented by sir Home Popham, occasioned plex regulations of Spain. A more liberal system great speculation to be made in the river Plata, was, with difficulty, extorted from them. The mo and large convoys of merchantmen accompanied the nopolies were abolished. The obligation to employ expeditions of sir Samuel Auchmuty, to Montevia Spanish or native consignee, was done away, and deo, and of gen. Whitelock to Buenos Ayres. Monte- foreign merchants permitted to enter their ships video, during the short time that it remained in the and dispose of their cargoes in their own name. At hands of the English, afforded a very limited market, the commencement of the revolution the exportation and the total failure of general Whitelock's expedi- of silver was permitted on payment of five per cent. tion, obliged the merchants to return to England, duty. It was afterwards prohibited, but the gowithout having made any considerable sales. The vernment finding it impossible to prevent it being loss experienced on this occasion, was attributed smuggled from the country, again permitted the altogether to the defeat of general Whitelock, and exportation, increasing the export duty to six per an opinion still prevailed among the merchants in cent, for coined silver, and twelve per cent. for unLondon, that the markets of Spanish America, if coined silver; two per cent. for coined gold, and opened to their trade, would enable them to bear eight per cent. for uncoined gold, and an additional the loss of the commerce of the continent, and to half per cent. on both for the consulate. The be at least equal to that in the U. States. After mines of Potosi have not been worked to any conthe British troops had evacuated the provinces of siderable amount since the revolution. The speLa Plata, the clamors of the people obliged the cie exported, is brought chiefly from Chile, and vice roy to open the ports to neutrals. Some Ame- amounts to about three millions of dollars annually. ricans traded to the river Plata; but the high du- The British frigates on this station are relieved ties and restrictions discouraged the commercial every six months, and since the year 1810, have spirit, even of our own countrymen. The trade carried to England nearly ten millions of dollars. was very limited, and principally carried on by This money was shipped partly on account of indi English and Spanish capital, covered by the Ame-viduals and partly on that of the British governrican flag, and the goods were introduced by bribe- ment. Their agent in Buenos Ayres, the consul ry, or by favor of the vice roy. The revolution in general, bought the specie at a premium, chiefly Spain put a stop to another attempt of the British from the Spanish menchants, who were anxious to to obtain possession of these colonies. The depo- remove their funds from America. In 1813, the sition of the Spanish authorities, and the establish- government published the following commercial ment of the junta in Buenos Ayres, again opened regulations, which remained in force for some time. the ports of the river Plata to the British flag. Ea- The government being anxious to regulate the duger to realize their former dreams of commercial ties, and to establish the order of their collection, prosperity, a large capital was immediately turned in the custom houses, within the territories of the into this channel. Entirely ignorant of the con- United Provinces, in the manner most convenient sumption of the country, and of the wants of the to the general interests of commerce, and do away inhabitants, they overstocked the market with all former abuses, to proportion the imports to the every article of British manufacture. The quan- nature, necessity, and value of the articles of com 14. It is not ascertained, whether these rich mines extended to any great depth.* merce, as far as the extraordinary demand, and present situation of the treasury will admit, and to furnish the merchants with a clear and exact Furs might be obtained if there was any encoustatement of the duties to be paid, in order that ragement to collect them. Traders might station they may in no event be involved in doubts and small detachments along the coast and on the isl perplexity, which might intimidate their enter-ands to procure seal skins, an article of great deprise, or retard the progress so important to the mand in China, and very abundant in these seas. public prosperity, have decreed, with the previous All instruments of trade and manufactories are inconcurrence of the permanent council of the sove troduced into both countries, free from duty. reign assembly: First, from 1st day of January, 1814, During the last war between Russia and England, 25 per cent, shall be collected on all manufac- a press was erected in Valparaiso for the purpose tures, and foreign articles, except those hereafter of packing hemp, and large quantities of that arti specified, as the only duty of entry, to be calculated cle were sent to England. In the event of the inon the current market prices, at the time of their termediate ports, as they are called (puerto interextraction from the warehouse Secondly, For this medios) Arica, Ariquipa, &c. being opened to a purpose, the merchants will present the invoices free trade, it is probable that Upper Peru will be with the prices affixed, which the officers of the supplied through that channel. The distance is customs shall examine, in order to calculate the not so great, and the roads are better than those duties. Thirdly, In case the prices fixed by the mer to the Atlantic ports. The trade of Chile has chant, be not regulated on the market price, the of hitherto been confined to Lima and Buenos Ayres. ficer of the customs shall signify it to him; and should The vice royalty of Lima was supplied with grain any dispute arise, two arbiters shall be named, one from the ports of Valparaiso and Talcahuano, and by each party, and a third chosen by them, in order the returns made in sugar, fossil salt, rice, and to decide thereon. Fourthly, Foreign wines and bran cotton. The trade between Buenos Ayres and dies, oit, ready made clothes, boots and shoes, and Chile, was carried on by caravans of carts from furniture, 35 per cent. Fifthly, Muslins and hats, 50 Buenos Ayres to Mendoza, at the foot of the Andes, per cent. Sixthly, Crockery and glass, 15 per cent. and from thence on mules to Santiago. The prin. Seventhly, The following articles are free of all cipal articles sent across the continent by the mer. durie: quicksilver, machinery and instruments for chants of Buenos Ayres, were European dry goods, mining, and those of the sciences and arts, all im- and the herb of Paraguay. They received in replements, and tools of trade, books and printing turn, the sugar of Lima, copper, and gold and silver. presses, as likewise boards and all sorts of lumber. In the hands of freemen who were sensible of Balipere, gun powder, flints, fire arms, and subres its advantages, and under an enlightened govern and swords, for the use of cavalry. Published in ment, Chile, from the number and variety of pro the Ministerial Gazette, and signed by Nicholas ductions, which yield the raw material of every R Pena, Juan Sarrea, Gervasia Antonio Posados, sort of manufacture, has within itself the means of (Manuel) Jose Garcia, secretary, The market of greatness; and from the number of its harbors, and Buenos Ayres continues to be overstocked with great extent of coast, might carry on an extensive English goods; but their merchants are now better and lucrative commerce with the intermediate acquainted with the wants of the inhabitants; pon- ports, with the vice royalty of Lima, the Philli chos, rugs, saddles, bits, lassos, balls, and in short pine islands, the East Indies and China. every article formerly supplied by their domestic manufactures, are now brought from England The Guernsey and Jersey traders, bring French and German goods, which are preferred to English. Furniture, cordage, canvass, naval stores, paper, liquors, and strong black tobacco, find a ready Bale, and will bear the duties. All goods mentioned in the 7th commercial regulations, are in constant demand. China and India goods sell well, and the British merchants, resident in Buenos Ayres, have lately despatched three ships, direct to India and China, from the river of Plata. The prin The bay of Tumbez separates it on the N. from cipal returns are hides, tallow, horses, Vicuna wool, the kingdom of Grenada. The river of Loa on the skins, feathers, bark, copper, gold and silver. S. from the desert of Atacama, and the kingdom Hides pay twenty per cent. export duty, and all of Chile. The Cordillera of Vilacota in 14° Š. sethe other articles, except the precious metals, four-parates it from Buenos Ayres. On the East teen per cent. The commerce of Chile, offers it is bounded by an immense desert, and on the great advantages to the traders to China, and to West by the Pacific ocean. The face of the country the East Indies. It is a well known fact, that spe- is extremely unequal; bordering on the coast it is cie is almost our only medium of trade with those a barren sandy desert, with a few small but fertile Countries, which not only deprives the merchant valleys, and in the interior are the lofty mountains for many months from the use of a large sum,but and deep valleys of the Cordillera. The temperaobliges him often to collect dollars at a premium; ment varies, therefore, in the same latitude. In whereas, if the ports of Chile were used as a scala, the habitable parts of the mountains, the thermothe goods suited to that market, such as furniture, meter of Reaumur varies from 3 deg. below 0 deg. and French and German manufactures, are obtain to 9 deg. above. At Lima, and generally along the ed in the United States at a credit, and the returns coast, the constant variation of the thermometer received in Chile in copper and silver. In Chile, is from 13 deg, to 23 12 deg. The productions the mines of silver are the most productive ever The commercial regulations of these countries have been so frequently altered, that it is difficult to say what they now are. This uncertainty dis courages commercial enterprize even more than exorbitant duties. (B.) The geographical division of the vice royalty of Peru. The vice royalty of Peru extends 365 leagues N. and S. from 3° 35' of S. lat. and 126 leagues E. and W. between 63° 56', and 70° 18' from the meridian of Cadiz. wrought. The mineral of those discovered within *In Potosi, a caxon of ore yields from fourteen the last three years, in the province of Guasco, to twenty marks of silver, and in Guasco, seventy yielded a most extraordinary product of silver, marks have been extracted from a caxon, but the which, compared with that of Potisi, is as 40 to average product is forty marks. |