The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-10-28 00:00:00

.

PARAGUAY.

t From the Ante, kale Mußitor.)
Among the new States of America Paraguay has esti.
blished its independence with the greatest degree of facility,
order, and tranquillity. It has scarcely met with any ob-
stacle to the accomplishment of this great change. Its
progress towards the new order of things has, consequently,
been exempt from those painful and gaining sacrifices
which but too often marked the course of the revolution in
the other States. To these fortunate circumstances, as
well as to its situation in the interior of the continent, is
consequently to be assigned the reason why this country
has net been more conspicuous among those whose great
efforts have changed the whole face of America. In Ey.
rope the new political systems which 110{1, govern Buenos
Ayres, Chili, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, and the empire
of Brasil, are sufficiently known, as well sti the present
state of these different ::ountries ; there exists, however,
but very vague information respecting this republic, which,
although the Feast of all, has not a It es claim to attention.
Paraguay is that part of South America situated be-
tween Brazil, Pent, Chili, and the united provinces of
Buenos Ayres.
According to a census, in 1822, its population amounted
to more than five hundred thousand persons, and there is
no doubt that this number is, at the present motnent, still
greater. The Paraguayans are distinguished for their ex-
treme love to their country, for their attachment to labour,
for their mildness of disposition and the rectitude of their
sentiments. Peace and concord have not ceased to reign
amongst them since their revolution.
Their territory is watered by the majestic Parana and
many other rivers. It is one of the most fruitful and
richest in this part of the world: it is the garden of the
southern hemisphere ; it possesses almcst all the produt-
tiona of the universe, hut the climate is more particularly
favourable to those of Brazil, the Philippine isles, and the
island of Cuba. The forests abound in valuable wood, In
gum, tl/4.c., articles entirely unknown in Europe. There
is a considerable number of harbours on the rivers: the
principal is the port of Assumption.
The inhabitants of Paraguay, who are, in general, the
best-informed in Southern America, foresaw, from Iso3,
the consequences which would arise to the nltra-inarine
possessions of Spain, from the events of the mother-

country.
They inferred that they would soon cease to receive
from it either succour or protection ; and willing to avert
the evils of a violent revolution, they sought the means of
administering their own affairs, without exposing them.
selves to the dangers of anarchy, or involving themselves
in the quarrels of their neighbours. A general assembly
of the chief men was, in consequence, convoked: all, to
the number of more than a thousand, decided in favour of
absolute independence. It was resolved, at the 'tame time,
'to confide the government of the State, to him who poseemed
the most extensive knowledge. There was a division
among the electors; some voted for Dr. Francis, others
for M. Yegros. To put an end to this difference of opi-
nion, it was decided that the two citizens should govern
the State conjointly. To each was assigned a nearly equal
share of political affairs, and each had the command of
half the armed force of the province. But, at the follow-
ing election, Dr. Francia was exclusively appoiniett*hief
of the government, under the title of Supreme Director,
and since that time be has continued to fill this post.*
When the government was organized, Paraguay wu
divided into six departments, under the names of Assomp-
tion, Villa-Real, Saint lago, Conception, •Curugualia and
Candolavia. The administrators of these departments
receive orders immediately from the supreme director.
The code, which governs them provisionally, establishes the
most perfect equality between all the citizens. The su-
preme administration and the departmental aslministratioa
'are organized on the most simple principles: there is no
useless machinery ; and such is the respect for the laws,
that the tribunals are almost always unemployed.
Although the laws are few, there is no necessity to in-
crease their number, because those which exist include all
usual case*. They are all characterized by superior
wisdom. That which restores libe-ty to the slaves pre.
scribes measures of so prudent a nature, that its execution
has in ither occasioned injury to the masters of the slaves,
;nor any interruption to the public tranquillity.
The representative body as composed of seven members
appointed by each department. They are elected in the
same manner as the deputies to the Spanish cortes; with
this difference, that, at the parochial elections, married per
sons, widowers or widows, asimetuls of families, have alone
the right of suffrage. This condition of marriage, necee.
tarp in order to be an elector of the first degree, is not re-
quired to bean elector of the second degree, nor to be a
deputy, or to fill any other public function. In tlif-
Oeult cum, the representative body fills the functions of
council of state ; Red no acts of importance are valid, till
after having received its sanction. This body has a seme-
tary and clerks, whom it chooses from a triple list pre-
sented to it by the executive power. The other public
functionaries are appointed in the same manner. The su-
preme director, the representatives, and the other public
Ifunctionaries receive no emolument.
During the first fifteen years, no foreign trade was
permitted in Paraguay, except that which was indis-
pensably necessary in order to procure arms and other
articles required by the government. The intention
of this measure was to counteract the injurious effects
that might hare arisen from the introduction of foreigners
into Paraguay, under pretence of carrying on their trade.,
but whose only design would have been to sow the seeds of
discord. This precaution was prejudicial to the interest of
the Paraguayans, but they adopted it as an act of prudence.
Persons unemployed were engaged in making new roads,
in building bridges, and in other useful works in the interior
of the country. •
For two years, thinking that their institutions and re-
pose would henceforth incur no danger from connexion with
foreign nations, the Paraguayans have endeavoured to
establish in Europe commercial anal political relations.
With this view they have sent to England an agent, and
two ships loaded with sugar, cocoa, indigo, cotton, &c. ;
it is with the same view that they have created, in each of
their departments, under the auspices of the supreme di-
rector, a commercial company for the exportation of the
produce of their country, and that considerable capitals
have been applied to the operations of these Companies, the
Presidents of which are all chosen from among the mem-
bers of the Reprentative Body.
The finances of Paraguay are in the most prosperous
state; and although, hitherto, this country has had neither
custom-house nor excise, it has incurred no debt; its go-
vernment, on the contrary, has supplied a loan of 2,000,000
dollars to the landholders, to enable them to improve their
*states ; and it has in its coffers a reserve of more than
1,000,000 of dollars in specie. Its revenue arises,
First, from a tax extremely light on land ; secondly,
from the produce of the lands and houses which formerly
belonged to the Jesuits, and which are the richest and the
finest in the country ; thirdly, from the tithes formerly
received he time church, and which the law, in consequence
of providing for their maintenance, has appropriated to the
state.
These brandies of revenue have been applied to the dif-
ferent exigencies of the republic, and to the improvement
of whatever has been established, in the interior, in order
to promote individual prosperity. Such has been the eco-
nomy in this application of the different public funds, that
during the last four or five years, there has been in the
treasury :a yearly surplus of half a million of dollars. These
sources of revenue will, no doubt, considerably increase
when foreign trade shall have acquired the activity which
government is now endeavouring to give it.
The following constitutes the armed force of Paraguay;
30,000 militia, who can be called out only in case of foreign
• Doctor D. Gaspard Francis is a native of Paraguay. His pe-
rms intending him far the bar, his studies were at first exclusively
preparatory for that profession; but this he soon relinquished, slut
directed lily attention to the study of theamiencei. Having little.
inclination for society, and sufficient property to live in • atate at
irdependence, he retired into tits country. where he devoted him-
self principally to the investigation of Useful truths. He was thus
employtd at the Denied of the revolution in Paraguay. For the
distinction of which he was the object, he was indebted to the re-
putation he had obtained, as s man of Laming, integrity and dis-
interestedness. He wears to have acquired a great ascendancy.
over his countryntee. His orders are alcari punctually executed.
he inspects everything himself. and edmlntsters each bench of she
government in ;he most simpit and economical manner. His dis-
interestedness is such, that he has refused every kind of emolu-
ment.