the price of stock in the London market-the Chilian bonds are sold at par, and often command a premium. This, indeed, is the only state of the late Spanish possessions that is able to pay its way, and maintain in the world an independent pecuniary station.

The army and navy of Chilé are on a respectable footing. The navy, which is gradually increasing, consists of several sloops and brigs, and some small steamers. A very handsome and strong steamer was built for this government at New-York, which sailed for its destination in the spring of 1848. It was fitted in the most magnificent style, and fully in order of war. There is every prospect of this country acquiring great political and military power the abilities of its rulers, while they maintain all peaceful at home, will command, by their energy, the respect of other nations, and prove the best palladium for the liberties of the whole people. The battles fought during the revolution are a sufficient guarantee that the nation is as capable of defending itself from exterior attacks as it was of expelling the proud Spaniard. The army amounts to 2,876 men, and the national guard to 60,000.

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The government of Chilé is that of a constitutional integral republic. There were attempts to perfect a constitution immediately after the first revolt, in 1810, but it was many years before a plan, suitable to the condition of the country, could be agreed upon. In 1811, the first project was submitted, which scarcely saw public light in 1818, the Senate and Executive framed another, with the title of "provisional," which was annulled, in 1822, by a third, which also proved to be an entire failure, and caused the downfall of the Supreme Director, O'Higgins. In 1825, a small party attempted to introduce the federative system, and built a project which never became a law. In 1828, the first suitable constitution was proclaimed, but experience having proved that it limited very much the action of the government, it was reformed in 1833, and since then the operation of the government has been expeditious, civil wars have ceased, the country is flourishing, agriculture and commerce have developed themselves, and the credit of the nation, within the country and abroad, is superior to that of any other South American state.

The general features of the Chilese constitution are:-The legislative body is composed of two Chambers, one of Senators, with 20 members, selected by electoral colleges for nine years, and renewed by third parts every three years;-the other of Deputies, elected directly by the people. Only those can vote who know how to read and write; who have property, industry or income, (the amount of which a special law designates every ten years;) and those who are inscribed in the register of their respective corporations. Besides the common attributions of each Chamber and of the Congress, which are perfectly classified in the constitution, there are some very peculiar, which have produced a salutary effect; as, to grant the President of Chilé extraordinary faculties whenever found convenient, provided they shall be well defined and for a determinate period. Congress meets every year on the 1st of June, and adjourns on the 1st of September, but it can prolong its sessions for 30 days, and be convened at any time by the President. Neither the Senators nor Deputies have any salaries, which keep these employments in the hands of rich and independent people. This is not, however, a constitutional provision. Before the adjournment of Congress, the Senate appoints a conservative committee of seven senators, one of the duties of which is to watch over the observance of the constitution and laws, and take proper means to that effect.

The executive power is composed of a President, with all the faculties of a constitutional king, but responsible for his acts. The term for which he is elected is five years, but he may be re-elected once more. He is assisted by four secretaries; one of Home and Foreign Relations; one of Justice, Public Instruction and Worship; one of War and Navy, and the other of the Treasury. The President appoints them and removes them at his pleasure. He is assisted also by a Council of State of his own nomination, generally composed of the most enlightened persons of the different ranks of society. During the recess of Congress, if there should be a foreign invasion, or an internal commotion, the President, with the consent of the Council of State, may declare one or more parts of the republic in estado de sitio, i. e. in the district, department or province so declared, the power of the constitution is suspended; but the public authority cannot condemn by itself, nor apply penalties, except those of arrest or removal from one place to another.

The Provinces of Chilé are governed by intendentes or governors, appointed every three years by the President, of whom they are the natural and immediate agents. In the exercise of their duties and faculties, they are subject to a special law.

The judicial power, independent from the legislative and executive in its action, owes its nomination to the President, but no judge can ever be removed from office, but in virtue of a sentence of condemnation of the tribunal established by law.

The rights of the people, their individual security and property, are well provided for in the constitution.

The national religion is Roman Catholic: the clergy are not as numerous, however, as in some portions of Spanish America, and are under the subordination of the Archbishop of Santiago. The wealth of the church is great, and it is said that one-third of all the territory belongs to the institutions. Convents and nunneries abound throughout the republic. All other religions are allowed to be professed, but toleration does not go so far as to allow of the public exercise of any other than the holy apostolic. No one, however, is interfered with, whatever his religion, so that he does not disturb the peace of society.

The history of this country is romantic in the extreme. Previous to the Spanish conquest, Chilé belonged to the Incas of Peru. In 1535, Pizarro sent Almagro to invade the territory, and in 1540, Valdivia: the latter of whom conquered all the territory, except Araucania. The country remained in the hands of Spain till the entrance of the French into the Peninsula, in 1809, and the overthrow of the Bourbons. The revolution, which ended in the separation of Chilé from the parent state, commenced at Santiago, the capital, on the 18th September, 1810, by establishing a junta, who apparently governed the country in the name of Ferdinand VII., but afterwards, without disguise, as an independent government. After many contests, the patriot forces were entirely subdued at the battle of Rancagua, fought on the 5th October, 1814, and the Spanish authority became re-established throughout the country. The battle of Chacabuco (17th February, 1817,) reversed the position of affairs: the patriot army gained a great victory, and occupied the capital and most of the provinces. In March, of the year 1818, however, the Spaniards got some advantages at Cancha-rayada, and again dispersed and defeated the people: but on the 5th of the next month, the great battle of Maypu was fought the patriots were successful in driving away the enemy from all the provinces, except those of Valdivia and Chiloe. The result of

this battle was, the independence of Chilé, which was formally proclaimed on the 18th September, 1818. The Spanish forces occupied Valdivia and Chiloe until the 15th January, 1826, when they were finally subdued, and every remnant of their army driven from the country. Chilé since then has been prosperous as a whole-civil wars and differences have occasionally embroiled its peace, but of late the country has been entirely pacified, and in the event of nothing interrupting its present well-being, it will soon be one of the most flourishing nations of the world, and its people, who are beginning to appreciate the value of education, and its alliance with the enjoyment of true liberty, will henceforth hold a high station in the scale of civilization.

In the first years of the republic, the people were governed by juntas, but subsequently a Supreme Directorship was established, and ultimately under the constitution, a President became the arbitrator of the destinies of the nation. The following persons have held these high offices since 1817, the period when the juntas were abolished:

The independence of Chilé was finally recognized by Spain, in a treaty of peace and friendship, signed at Madrid on the 25th August, 1844, and the ratifications were exchanged on the 28th September, 1845.

JUAN FERNANDEZ,

CONSISTS of a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, about 400 miles west of the Republic of Chilé: there are two chief islands and several smaller islets. Lat. S. 33° 40'., long. W. 79°. The largest of these islands is called Masa-tierra, to distinguish it from Mas-a-fuero, a volcanic rock, 90 miles west of the group. It is from 10 to 12 miles long, and about 60 miles broad, its area being nearly 70 square miles. The line of the coast is very irregular, presenting a number of bays and head-lands: the chief harbors are Port English, on the south side, visited by Anson, in 1741, Carteret, in 1767, and Vancouver, in 1795; Port Juan, on the west, and Cumberland Bay, on the north.

The northern portion is of a lofty basaltic formation, intersected by narrow but fruitful and well-wooded vallies, while the southerly portion is less elevated, and of a barren nature and rocky. The fig and the vine flourish luxuriantly on the hills, and among the larger trees are sandal, cork, and a species of palm, called Chuta, bearing a rich fruit. The wild goat is seen among the rocks, and seals and walrusses beset the shores: fish, especially cod, are plentiful in the surrounding waters.

The islands are very subject to earthquakes, two of which, those of 1751 and 1835, are said to have done immense damage. In the earthquake of

1825, an eruption burst through the sea, about a mile from land, where the depth is from 50 to 80 fathoms; smoke and water were ejected during the day, and flames were seen by night.

Juan Fernandez (the name popularly applied only to the islet of Mas-atierra) was discovered by a Spanish navigator, who gave to it his own name and formed an establishment which, however, was soon abandoned. During the 17th century, it was a resort of the buccaneers, who were in the habit of cruising off the coast of Peru and Chilé to intercept the valuable convoys of Spain. More recently it was the solitary dwelling of Alexander Selkirk, a Scottish seaman, who being shipwrecked, inhabited this island for four years. The adventures of this individual formed a theme for De Foe, and were the basis on which he constructed his inimitable novel of Robinson Crusoe.

The Spanish government took possession of the island in 1750, and built a fort: however, all their works were destroyed the following year by the great earthquake which ravaged those parts. The fort and a town were rebuilt somewhat further inland; and were in good order and inhabited when Carteret visited the island in 1767, but soon after this they were finally abandoned by Spain.

The Chilese government attempted to form it into a penal settlement in 1819, but the undertaking was relinquished on account of the expense of sustaining it.

The island is now in the possession of an enterprising American gentleman, who has leased it from the government of Chilé, with the intention of forming a depôt for whalers cruising in the Pacific Ocean. For this pur pose, he has brought 150 families of natives from the Sandwich Islands, and will employ them in cultivating the land, rearing cattle, and so improving Cumberland Bay, as to make it a safe harbor for whalers and other vessels in the Pacific and East India trade.

THE

ARGENTINE REPUBLIC,

Tur most extensive of the South American governments, is a confederation of a number of independent states, which formerly constituted the provinces of the Spanish Viceroyalty of Buenos Ayres, and which has since been known under the names of the "United Provinces of La Plata," the United States of South America," &c. Though shorn of several fine provinces, both at the period of the revolution, and subsequently, it still occupies a vast territory, extending at the present time between the 92d and 41st parallels of south latitude, and the meridians of 54° and 72° west longitude. It is bounded on the north by Bolivia; on the east by Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, from all which it is separated by the Paraguay, Parana and Uruguay rivers; on the south by the Atlantic Ocean and Patagonia, the latter of which, indeed, it claims as a part of its territory; and on the west by Chile, from which it is divided by the chain of the Anར ར ་ མ The length of this country, from north to south, is from 1,300 to 1,100 miles, and its breadth from 300 to 1,100; its area has been estimated at 7:26,000 square miles.

The territory included within the above-mentioned limits, is mostly comprised within the great valley of La Plata, and its branches: one of the inost extraordinary vallies in the world, both as it respects its magnitude and its peculiar soil and surface. The region which is watered by this vast river, and its tributaries, rises towards the west into lofty mountains, whose bases extend into immense plains, which terminate on the margins of the La Plata and the shores of the Atlantic. Perhaps no country in the world presents so level a surface as this; west and south of La Plata, is one extended plain, embracing all the varieties, from the richest alluvial soils, to the high, broken and sterile wastes; and most of this tract is destitute of timber, except on the margins of the rivers. The lower section of this interminable level, extending from the northern part of the province of Cordova, and south on the borders of the River La Plata and the Atlantic, far into Patagonia, and from the river and coast into the interior to the highlands, at the foot of the Andes, is usually called the "Pampas," and extends nearly 1,500 miles from north to south, with a breadth, in many parts, of nearly five hundred miles; over all this immense space there is scarcely a tree or shrub, or single perennial plant, to be seen. There are neither hills nor eminences, and the undulations are so gentle, as only to be perceived by taking a long view over its surface. The keen winds, called "pamperos," sweep over this unsheltered plain without the least obstruction. The surface of the earth appears to be a soft, black, rich soil, without stone, gravel or sand, but on the banks of some of the rivers, and in some other places, reddish clay seems to form the superficial crust.

The Pampas are principally useful for pasturage; they support numerous herds of horned cattle, horses, mules, and sheep; deer, ostriches, and wild dogs, also abound. Thousands of these are to be seen at one view.

The more elevated plains, to the north and west of the Pampas, are likewise generally destitute of timber, except on their water-courses, but have a soil more dry and sandy. The rivers here are more numerous, and the country is copiously supplied with pure water. The country east of La Plata has generally a waving or undulating surface, and everywhere abundantly irrigated with never-failing springs and streams of the purest water. This tract is found clothed with stately forests, with the exception of some of the lower river districts, and has a rich and fertile soil, producing, in great abundance, all the varied productions of temperate regions.

The River La Plata embodies most of the interior waters of the Argentine Republic. Its principal head-water is the Paraguay, which rises in Brazil, in latitude 13° south, and after a course of 1,250 miles, receiving numerous branches, and passing through the great lake or morass of the Xaraes, it assumes the name of La Plata, at its junction with the River Parana, about 750 miles from the sea; and the latter river is said to afford a boat navigation of 1,500 miles further into the interior. The two great eastern branches of the La Plata and Paraguay are the Parana and Uruguay; the first unites with the Paraguay, after a course of 900 miles-500 of which are navigable; the Uruguay has its source in Brazil, and, after a southerly course of 1,000 miles, discharges its waters into the La Plata, above the city of Buenos Ayres, having, in its course, received the Negro, and a number of other considerable rivers. The principal western branches of the Paraguay and La Plata are the Pilcomayo, which rises in Peru, and, after a course of 1,100 miles, empties, by two mouths, 50 miles apart, into the Paraguay, securing a good navigation to the higher provinces;