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tilities in this quarter with the Araucanians, the only Indian nation in their neighbourhood, with which they could have mingled. La Plata may be considered next; but here, there is some mixture of Indian race, increasing from the middle to the lower classes of society. Perhaps, the most remarkable and peculiar class of population in Spanish America, are the herdsmen, or shepherds, who are found chiefly in New Spain, in Venezuela, and on the La Plata. There is probably a considerable resemblance between the shepherds of these different districts, separated by such vast distances, but where the habits of life are much alike. These men, who have made a retrogade step from civilization, are every where represented as possessing powerful and athletic frames, and bold independent minds, but extremely rude and uninformed. If there be any difference between the herdsmen inhabiting the countries just mentioned, I am inclined to think that those of La Plata are more savage and ferocious; which may arise from their leading a more solitary life, and having fewer of the comforts of civilization.* No political change can produce much alteration in the situation and habits of this class of people; and yet, none has manifested more active devotion to the cause of independence. The difficulty has been under all governments to bring them under any kind of subordination. War is their natural element-if Spain should ever succeed in subduing her colonies, these men will be the last to yield. It is not, therefore, so much from reflection, on the advantages to America, that they have shown this devotedness to the cause of independence; for one of its effects

* See the accounts of Mawe and Azara.

will necessarily be, to convert as much as possible of those countries now occupied by solitary shepherds, into the seats of agriculture. The first step towards improving the condition of these men will be, to bring them back to the sober and settled life, from which they have strayed. I can scarcely imagine any other mode of improvement; for they must remain in their present state, as long as they continue the same habits and pursuits, without being much susceptible of being rendered better or worse.

The character of the other classes of Spanish Americans, is represented by most travellers, in a very favorable point of view; their vices, and defects, are almost entirely attributed to the effects of a bad government, and bad education. The inequality in the dif ferent grades of society, is more nominal than real. The lower classes of Spanish America, attached to the soil by the pursuits of agriculture, are uniformly represented as a most kind, hospitable people, and susceptible of every improvement in their condition; the descendants of Europeans in this class, I will venture to assert, are estimable throughout all America; they are a class of people unknown in Europe. Humboldt has remarked that in no country of the world, is property so unequally distributed as in New Spain; and yet there cannot be said to be any gorgeous display of wealth. The owners of mines who possess the greatest fortunes, are continually expending immense sums in the pursuit of new discoveries; and even where this is not the case, there seems to be something in the very air of America, which forbids that extravagant display and pomp, so natural in the other hemisphere. After the owners of mines, are those

who possess immense landed estates, with Indian vassals subject to them, whose condition formerly, was similar to that of the Russian boors or English villains; but which has been gradually improving since the time of the first conquerors. In Mexico, there never was any other kind of slavery, and to the endeavors of the Spanish monarchy to alleviate the condition of this unfortunate race, are to be attributed those mild and salutary laws, in favor of the slave, which have justly placed the Spanish character in this respect above other European nations. Through the animated representation of Las Casas, the oppression practised on the Indians was attempted to be remedied by various decrees, which had well nigh produced a revolt on the part of the conquerors, who were supported by powerful influence at court. On account of this resistance of the great landholders, the decrees were repealed, and the minister Gasca, who was sent to conciliate, received for instruction, that provided the country remained to the king the devil might have the government. Although the emperor could not abolish the repartimientosos and encomiendas, many of the largest of these estates were gradually incorporated with the crown, having been granted only for limited terms.

Throughout all America, with the single exception of La Plata, there was an established nobility. In Mexico, Peru, Caraccas and Chili, there was an abundance of counts and marquisses; but the Spanish traveller Azara, expresses great doubts, whether they derived much consideration from these titles; and seems to think they owe their distinction, whatever it may be, not to this circumstance, but to their wealth and

extensive family connexion. A variety of reasons may be given, why an American nobility, does not occupy the same space in society, as the nobility of Europe; the principal, probably is, the want of that veneration for remote ancestry, arising from peculiar circumstances in Europe, but which cannot be trans ferred to the new continent: another not less powerful is, that they do not surround a throne. The revolution, however, has been much affected by feuds between great and rival families, in nearly all those viceroyalties where nobility existed; it was the case at St. Fee, in Chili, and Caraccas; the rock on which the revolutions of these several countries have uniformly split, has been the dissensions of two or more powerful families, who by their ambition of ruling, afforded an opportunity to the common enemy of subduing them. Much greater injury to the cause has proceeded from this rivalry, than from the circumstance of the different casts or classes of population. The latter is generally considered the great drawback. In the progress of the contest, experience however, has shown in more instances than one, that it is rather apparent than real; all of them have repeatedly united against the Spaniards; and should they ultimately succeed, it would be found less difficult permanently to reconcile their different interests, than is generally imagined. The prejudice with respect to the Indians and those of mixed blood, will be easily removed; with respect to the Africans, and the mixtures of that race, the inconvenience will only be seriously felt in the province of Caraccas and Peru.

The proportion of negroes in Spanish America, was by no means great, excepting in Caraccas and

the islands. In Peru, there was a much greater num ber than in Mexico; but from the privileges they enjoyed, it is evident that their condition was not severe. In Mexico there was no necessity for the introduction of slaves, in consequence of the great number of Indian laborers, and the cheapness of labor; these people who were in a low state even under their own kings, were studiously kept in the lowest degradation by their new masters, while the kings of Spain were desirous of elevating them to the rank of subjects; for it seems that they were sunk too low in the scale of beings, even in the eyes of the European sovereign. A singular contest was for a time exhibited between the sovereign and the Spaniards of America; the first endeavoring to ameliorate the condition of the Indians, and the others through selfish interest, persisting to retain them in a state of absolute bondage. If Spain has oppressed the American Spaniards, their ancestors may be much more justly accused of cruel treatment to the aborigines. The laws of the Indies are in many respects highly favorable to the slave; in case of ill treatment, justice is seldom denied; and on procuring a fixed sum, he can always compel his master to set him free. In fact, the rights of the master over his slave, have never been so extensive under the Spanish government, as in the colonies of other na

tions.

The European Spaniards, though comparatively small in numbers, were a thousand times more important than the English in the United States, previous to our revolutionary war. They held all the the principal colonial offices, ecclesiastical, military and civil. Nearly all the active capital of the coun