Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-04-19

traduced by foreign ministers. who created
the difficulties, by Withholding from him the
respect due TO his positions: and he checrtully
and warmly gave Inc credit for treating him
i'll all our intercourse with the most delicate
respect and esteem, and said he would pay
some portion of the debt of gratitude ne felt
to me for it, by informing You of 1t III an au-
tograph letter.
From the people here | have met with
nothing yet but kindness, particularly atterit
was known that my first interview with the
President was 50 agreeable. They were
much alarmed at our expedition, and this
news seemed to lift a burden from their
hearts. They are 4 simple, inntfcnsIve peo-
pie, governed, | should judge, with a despo-
TIC rule, under which they seem to flourish.
They are Il lively-spirited people, and re-
markably neat and clean for an Indian mix
ed race. The market place in the morning
is a beautiful spectacle-to see nearly a thou
sand women, all barefootcd. To wear shoes
here is Il high mark of aristocracy. You
can see, every hour in the day nearly, hand
some women, Except the tawny color, with
bright ewes and rich suits of black hair, with
Swiss muslin dresses tlounced from the waist
down, walking in bare feet through the
streets. The soil is very sandy, and they
pretend they cannot walk well in shoes.
The ideas of great wealth which have
been made to flourish so conspicuously IN
the accounts we have had of them, vanish
into air at the touch of truth. ! see here
nothing but unmistakable evidences OF a
poor but happy, laughter-loving people, made
to assume a better appearance than their
%neighbors. from the strong hand that rules
them. Their government is of the cheapest
character imaginable, and the revenue TO
support it is mainly derived from monopo-
lies on articles of produce, somewhat pecu-
liar to the country. Their revenues from
customs must be small, rs they are certain
ly neither Il producing nor very consuming
people. This revenue is chiefly spent on an
army end for Notifications. As the Presi-
dent is the fountain and source of all power,
he is also the recipient and the dIsburser OF
all revenue, which, in the eyes OF a simple
people, confounding the individual with the
State, makes up the account OF that fabulous
wealth about which so much has been said.
This is a small State, claiming some six
hundred thousand inhabitants, and having
scarcely four hundred thousand, and they
nearly all Indians of the Guaranee race,
civilized under the rigid rule of the Jesuits.
They are not an industrious race, in our
sense of that word; they are only compara-
lively industrious in contrast with their
%neighbors, who are perfectly indoIcnt and
unambitious beyond the necessities Of life
from day to day. Such a population is not
likely to make n very rich State. Their
country is no doubt very productive in arti-
cles of a peculiar and valuable character,
such as Yerby or Paraguayan tea, and many
medicinal plants and gums, and peculiar
woods of the forest; but beyond that | know
of nothing they produce superior to our
selves in quality, and nothing to compare 10
us i'll quantity, with an equal population
They can produce sugar cheap, rs the plant
lasts for many years, and they have a beau
tiful staple of cotton. but they raise neither
beyond a mere supply Of their necessities.
The real secret of ~Paraguay's apparent
prosperity in contrast with her ncighbors
for it would not do to contrast her with a
progressive people, lies in the fact Of her
exemption from revolutions. For this cx-
emption she is indebted to the bloody rule of
Doct. Francia. who left few ambitious aspi-
rants behind him to contend for empire.
This republic contains about 10000 square
miles, a little larger than one of our larger
States. 1t liz almost surrounded by water.
like an island. and the rivers deep and navi-
gable. In soil and climate it is one of the
most chaming spots in the great valley of the
La Plata, a valley equal i'll size to the great
valley of the Mississippi. 1t lies in this val
lev geographically, Just as Missouri does in
the valley of the Mississippi, only a warmer
climate, as is general in this country. The
time must come when these vast plains of the
La Plata cease to be mere grazing grounds
for innumcrable herds of wild cattle, and in
turn become the seat of a mighty empire.
These rivers certainly have no rivals on
the globe. The main trunk is a fresh run
ming stream with a distinct current, where
it is fifty miles wide and neither bank in
view: and this branch 200 miles from the
sea except on the bars, is % to 90 feet deep.
and it is but one of the three principal
branches.
have extended this letter too long, ard
must close by c"ngratulating YOU upon
this glorious contamination of a trouble
some measure of your administration. ]
have the honor to be. with high considera-
ton, your Excellency's very obedient ser
want, JAS. b. BOW LIN.