Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1818-12-08


transported in every direction from Bue.
nos Ayres, very rapidly, by oxen and
mules. which also furnish the means Of
carrying their native productions to their
sea ports, form branch of trade Of great
magnitude, considering the population OF
the country.
Their exports are calculated. with some
degree of accuracy, at ten millions OF dol
lars.-These consist, principally, of OK
hides, jerk beef, and tallow, the present
great staples of the country. A variety OF
furs and peltries, some grain, copper,
mostly brought from Chill, with gold aud
silver in bullion and coin, chiefly from the
mines of Potosi.
The imports are computed TO be about
equal to their exports. British mauufac-
lures form the principal mass, and they
are TO be had IN abundance. They con-
sist Of woollen and cotton goods OF every
description, some Of them wrought to imi-
tate the manufactures Of the country -
ironmongery, cutlery, hardware, saddlery,
hats, porter, ale and cheese, are among
the remaining articles.
From the United States they receive
lumber of all kinds, and furniture of every
description; coaches and carriages of ALI
sorts, Goldfish, mackarel, shad and herring,
leather, boots aud shoes, powder and mu.
nitions of war, and naval stores, slips and
vessels, particularly those calculated for
their navy, or for privateers.
From Brazils they receive sugar, coffee,
cotton and rum.
From the north of Europe they receive
steel and iron; and from France num-
Der of articles ofits manufacture.
Their foreign commerce is principally
carried on by British capitalists, though
there are some Americans, few French
and other foreign merchants, also settled
at Buenos Ayres: they are all placed,
believe, on the same footing of equality.
The revenue of the state may be esti-
mated at about three millions of dollars
annually but their system of finance is
very imperfect, and, although their debt is
small, their credit is low. They have
hitherto avoided the issuing of paper Ron
ey, and they have established no bank ;
but they have sometimes anticipated their
revenue by giving due bills receivable in
payment for duties, or goods imported, or
articles exported; the impost furnishes
the principal part of the revenue. A &C.
py of their tariff, as at first established,
was some time since transmitted, believe,
to the Department of State; In this The du-
ties were generally specific and high. |
understand they have been lately reduced,
as their exorbitancy had occasioned much
smuggling.
Voluntary contributions from those
friendly to the revolution, aud forced loans
from the old Spaniards, have constituted
another portion of their funds. To shoW.
the public capital adequate TO all exigen'
cies, their different civil, military and ma
val establishments have been taken into
view, and are comprised in the estimate
furnished, thing unusual with US; but
they have omitted their public lands,
which, if prudent use be made of them,
must, at no distant day, become very
productive source of revenue to the state.
The mines of Potosi, which, in all prob
ability, will very soon fall into their hands
again, may furnish them with consider
able supply of the precious metals. 1t is
stated, on respectable authority, that SC
late as the year 1890, the amount of gold
and silver coined at Potosi in that year
was calculated to have been S299,946 in
gold, and $2,983, 76 in silver. The state
Of their army, and the condition of their
navy, will be seen by reference to the
original return presented. (Appendix
F.*
Their army is composed of regular
troops, Ciorcos, and militia. In one or
other of these classes, they are educated
TO the military art, and far as had an
opportunity, and was capable of judging,
they appeared to be well acquainted, with
the elements of their profession. Their
forces, according to the paper furnished,
are estimated at nearly thirty thousand
men. They are composed of 1926 artiIle-
Ty, 1893 infantry, and l4,7l8 cavalry
of which II, l43 are troops of the line,
7,04l are Ciorcos, and 1858 militia.
These form the different armies Of the cen.
tire of Peru, of the Andes, of Cordova, and
the auxiliary forces in the Entire Rios.
This statement, however, only includes
the militia ofthe province of Buenos Ayres
itself. Their supply of arms and NUM-
lions of war is ample, as will be seen by
the statement annexed, on that subject.
Their navy is small, and some Of their
vessels are laid up in ordinary. A list
of them, as well IS of their privateers,
will be found in Appendix F. Their pri-
vate armed vessels are subjected to very
strict regulations, agreeabIy TO their prize
code, which is among the original papers
presented and herewith delivered. II NAV