Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-06-05

ak o'clock the barber arrives d dirty. IaggcJ
drunken mulatto, with whom if the dictator il j.,
good humour, he loves to chat. When the on.
r"uon OF SHAVING rs over, Froncio, dressed in a
robe dc chambrc, shows himself in the outer yal
lcry that surrounds tho ediice and gives audience
to tho various nnctionarics. At seven lie rctires
again To his cabinet, where he remains Till nine
From eleven TO twelve he is occupied in debating
to his secretary at which time all the officers re-
tire, when he sits down TO frugal dinner which
he always makes point of ordering nmsclf-
When the cook returns from market. she places
ut her masters door all she has purchased who
selects what he wishes for his own use After
dinner he takes his sicsta, drinks matte and
smokes; he is then engaged until four in the after.
noon, when the escort to attend him his pro-
menade arrives; while the horse is saddling tho
barber dresses his hair; no then visits the public
works. In these excursions, although surrounded
ny strong escort, he is armed not only with
SABRE but also with doublc-barreed pair of pis.
lois. returning about dusk, he employs himself
In study until nine O'Clock, when he takes light
supper, and if the weather is fine ho again pro-
menades in the outer ga lcry AT ten, he general
~ gives the countersign, and retiring barricados
with hts own hand every door in the house.
During several months in the year no takes up
his residence in the cavalry barracks, VARYING oc.
casonally his monotonous existence with the ple,
sures OF the chase. Arms always placed with
IN his reach; pistols and naked swords are seen in
every corner OF his apartment When any ono is
admitted to an audience, ho must not approach
within certain distance until motioned by him to
advance The arms must then be extended along
the body, and the hands open and hanging down
Mono OF dis officers must enter his presence arm
ed Rcugger mentions that, in his first audience
Dcing ignorant OF this custom, he omitted CARRYING
his arms in the prescribed form, which drew from
the dictator the question, "{f he intended drawing
a dagger from his pocket" On another occason
nc asked him "If through his skill in anatomy Inc
could discover if the people efParaguay had cx-
ira bone in the neck, which prevented them hold
ing their heads erect and speaking oud1" In con-
versation the dictator always aims at intimidation;
II, however, his first attack is sustained with firm
ness, his manner inscnsbly softens and he CONVEX
scs with the greatest affabilty. 1t is these oc
casions that his great talents dcvcopc themselves:
ms mind grasps with facility overy variety of topic
and displays an extent of knowledge very asonish-
ing Tor one who has never moved beyond the con.
hhes Oh paraguay. Above the prcjndces of his
countrymcn, he frequently makes them subject of
pleasantly, launches furious diatrbcs against tho
priests. "Y on See" said he to NJ. Reugcer "he ten
dency otthesc priests & their religions its is to mako
mankind worship devil instead of a Godn Still
at the commencement of his career he regularly
heard mass, but in tho year 1890, he dismissed his
chaplain, and since that year, he has cvinced the
most marked contempt for the established religion.
To military officer, who asked him for the image
of saint TO put in newly constructed fortress,
no answered. 30, people of Paraguay, how long
will you remain idiots! When 1 was a Catholic
thought you do; but now, know that the best
saints you can have on the frontiers are cannon
balls"
When the dictator is attacked by an excess Of
hypochondria, lie rctres for several days from pub
lie affairs, shuts himself up, vents his i'll humour
on all around him. In such seasons arrests arc
frequent, punishments severe and human life in
his estimation, thing of no Importance The
temperature is observed to exercise great influ.
ence on his dispositions; during the prevalence of
the sirocco winds his attacks are more frequent:
while, on the contrary, during southwest wind,
which is dry and bracing Francia is in high spirits
ana sings and chats in the most cheerful manner
with every body around him. But none are all
| Ill. ard ha -.
deemed by some fine neutrality-suspicious. and dis
interested to fault, he is lavish of his private
purse as careful of the public .resure. His eleya
ton to the supreme power has in no way improved
his private fortune; he has never accepted pre-
sent, and his salary is always considerably in ar
rear Neither is gratitude stranger to his bosom
having learnt that the son of Il family with whom
| IN his youth he had been terms of intimacy at
Cordova, was, at that time, in Assumption in great
distress, he relieved his wants, and appointed him
his secretary But in the exercise of his authority
he acknowledges no tie. At the period of the re-
volution he removed two of his nephews from their
! military commands, lest they should presume on
their connection Even his sister, the only being
Tor whom Inc appeared to have any attachment, was
removed from the management of his estancia,
merely because she had employed agent of the
police to chastise runaway slave
| Jealous to excess of his authority, seeking no
confidence winning no sympathy, isolated like tho
country he governs should the fate reserved for all
tyrants finally overtako him, Francia will fall az
he lived-nobly, and alone.
In contemplating the career of this wondcful
man, we are struck with the power of a single
mind in overcoming obstacles when infexibly ap
Piled to the pursuit of sige object. Franca pro-
sents the singular spectacle of man who invest
cd with sovereign power, lives without any of the
PomP and circumstance of his elevated station,
and poor, with the whole revenues of the country
at his command. Struck with the anarchy of the
neighbouring states, which his sagacious mind ira
ced to its right cause, their infant political educa
tion he sought, by isolation, preserve his coun.
trymen from similar fate. With this view, in
imitation of the Athcnian legislator, his elements
OF reform were terror and violence; but then his
object was to reform the morals of his people, to
eradicate their besottcd prejudices to elevate them
IN the scale of civilized man. Let us pause ere wo
sweePingly condemn his character. Let us recol-
lect that, if he has destroyed foreign commerce,
he has promoted agriculture, constructed roads, re-
built the capital, created army, subdued the In
dams, secured respect from abroad, tranquility at
| home. BY his tyranny he has prepared his fellow
citizens for future Independence thus making his
principle of action that of his predecessors the je
suits-"Ihe end justifes the means"
As an Offset to the statements which occa-
1