were always anxious to get back as fast as possible to their homes and farms; and who moreover seem to have seen something like a Doctor Faustus or Albertus Magnus in Francia, who not only was a lawyer and politician, but an astronomer, algebraist, linguist, land-surveyor, and martinet besides.

With these docile instruments, therefore, he went to work, as the time for resigning his consulate approached.

"As the joint Consulship expired in October, 1814, Francia took measures for calling together a new Congress about that time. The Yegros and Cavallero party were already much dispirited; and the unceasing energy with which Francia and his myrmidons had been preparing to give the coup de grace to Paraguay liberty left them with little or no doubt of his unqualified success.

"Francia proposed,—and as a necessary consequence it was resolved,— that the new Congress should consist of the monstrous and really laughable number of one thousand deputies. It was decimating the country of its heads of families, to bring that number of members of Parliament to fulfil their legislative duties in the metropolis: but Francia's fiat had gone forth, and the thing was to be done.

"In September the motley multitude began to give increased activity to the streets of Assumpcion. As might have been expected, more than one half of the knights of the shire and burgesses of the smaller towns, could neither read nor write-wore neither stockings nor shoes. Every one had a horse, but every one had not a coat, much less a court-suit, in which to attend the levee of the at-present condescending Consul. A jacket of white dimity, very short, and excessively tight; a bespangled waistcoat, still shorter than the jacket; knee-breeches of crimson velveteen, with highly embroidered drawers hanging down to the ankle; a blue silk sash, such as you see worn by itinerant voltigeurs; potro-boots open at the toes; large silver spurs on the heels; a very small coarse hat half covering the head; and an immense queue of plaited black hair hanging down the back;-such was the singular costume of many of the gentlemen of the House of Commons which Francia had summoned for the august purpose of creating a Dictatorship.

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"I do not think there were twenty Paraguayans (and not one out of Assumpcion) who knew what a Dictator meant. President, Consul, Director, Protector, and Dictator, were with them synonymous terms with the old-fashioned name of Governor, as constituted by Old Spain.-Vol. ii. p. 314-315.

"The Consul's influence and sway in the country districts was unbounded; hence his desire to swamp the votes of Assumpcion, and one or two other towns, in those of the numerous representatives of the rural districts.

"Another reason for his calling together such an overwhelming mob

of senators was, that three-fourths of them were poor men, having families depending on them for their daily bread. Such men could not afford to spend their time in cities, even with the magnanimous purpose of serving the patria. Charity, very literally with them, began at home; and, therefore, they might all be emphatically termed anti-protracted-sessionsmembers. This was what Francia desired. He wanted his work done effectually, but quickly.

"Of the thousand legislators of Paraguay, about six or seven hundred were collected together, driven into town by the comandantes, -as Pat drives his pigs along the road-unwilling and grumbling travellers."— pp. 317, 318.

"It was found necessary to convoke the Congress in the church of San Francisco, no other building being capacious enough to contain the august assemblage.

"All matters of form, election, and etiquette were settled at two preliminary meetings; and on the 3rd of October the parliamentary business commenced. The proceedings were opened by Mr. Speaker about nine o'clock in the morning; and notwithstanding all the precautions which Francia had taken, some awkward inquiries began to be made about the propriety of a Dictatorship. The services and abilities of Francia were spoken of in the highest terms; indeed, he was loaded with the most extravagant and hyperbolical praises; but it was doubted whether a Dictatorship would conduce so much to his glory as a more limited power, assisted by a national Congress. Hereupon debates commenced, and heats ensued.

"I went up myself to the church about twelve o'clock. The doors were shut, but great confusion seemed to prevail within. At last, one of the dimity-jacketed members came out wiping his forehead, and seeming to have suffered much, either from the heat of the church or from the debate.

"How go things within, my friend?' said I to the representative. "Why,' replied the honest member, to tell you the truth, these are matters which I do not pretend at all to understand; but if I may judge from the noise (los gritos)-todo va bien-all goes well.'

"About two o'clock, as the members of Congress were still in warm debate, Francia got impatient, and very politely sent a numerous guard of honour to wait on the members. The troop was well armed, and quite surrounded the church. The hint was sufficient even for the clod-pated deputies in dimity jackets; besides, the dinner-hour was past, and hunger, as well as the moustaches of the Quarteleros, hastened a decision.

"At this juncture one of the most energetic of Francia's partisans rose, and in a stentorian voice called silence. Gentlemen,' said he,' why should we waste our time here? The Carai (Lord) Francia wishes to be absolute. He ought to be absolute; and I say' (here he struck the table at which he stood with his whole force), 'he SHALL be absolute!'

"The question was forthwith put to the vote, and without one dissentient voice, Francia was invested with the Dictatorship for three years.

"The Congress dissolved itself instanter; the Quarteleros marched to the Government House with flying colours; and Francia heard, with the malignant sneer of a devil on his face, that Paraguay was all his own.

"The insensate populace celebrated, with mirth and music, and festive meetings that night, the decision of the Congress. Alas! the low sobs and moanings of those who were destined soon to be bereaved widows and wretched orphans-the heavy sighs of the prisoners, and the groans of those whose blood was ere long to irrigate the streets of Assumpcionought alone to have announced that Francia was DICTATOR OF PARAGUAY!"-Vol. ii. p. 319-322.

That Francia ruled with vigour will not be denied; but he did not rule wisely, as the miserable condition of his country shows. Yet, like many a self-satisfied despot, sole or manyheaded, he fancied himself the wisest of legislators, as he assuredly was the most energetic of executives. His policy, as regarded the people he reigned over, was to strike terror and sow distrust: the dungeon, the scaffold, and a system of espionage, as extensive as it was effective, were his instruments. His foreign policy may be gathered from one more extract, the last we shall lay before our readers.

"I had explained to Francia that it was my intention to proceed, if possible, from Buenos Ayres to England. It was his most earnest desire that I should; and you will see from his own views, as developed by himself, what mighty prospects were dawning upon his mind, and what gigantic projects were already buzzing in his busy head, in the anticipation of his being able to connect, by a league offensive and defensive, the empire of Great Britain with the republic of Paraguay.

"His Lordship the Consul,' said a young ensign, who had been despatched from the palace by Francia, His Lordship the Consul desires immediately to speak to you.'

"Off I marched with the aide-de-camp. On arrival at the palace, I was received with more than ordinary kindness and affability by the Consul. His countenance was lit up into an expression that almost approached to that of glee; his scarlet cloak depended in graceful folds from his shoulder; he seemed to smoke his cigar with unusual relish; and quite in opposition to his usual rule of burning only one light in his small and humble audiencechamber, there blazed in it on that evening two of the best mould candles. Shaking hands with me very cordially, Sit you down, Senor Don Juan,' said he. He then drew his chair close to mine, and desired I would listen very attentively to what he had to say. He addressed me thus:

"You know what my policy has been with respect to Paraguay; that I have kept it on a system of non-intercourse with the other provinces of South America, and from contamination by that foul and restless spirit of anarchy and revolution which has more or less desolated and disgraced

them all. Paraguay is in a more flourishing (pingüe) state now, than any of the countries around it; and while here all is order, subordination, and tranquillity, the moment you pass its boundary, the sound of the cannon, and the din of civil discord salute your ears. As may naturally be anticipated, these internal broils paralyse industry, and chase prosperity from the land. Now, whence arises all this? Why, from the fact that there is not a man in South America but myself, who understands the character of the people, or is able to govern them. The outcry is for free institutions; but personal aggrandizement and public spoliation are the objects alone sought. The natives of Buenos Ayres are the most fickle, vain, volatile, and profligate of the whole of Spain's late dominions in this hemisphere; and therefore I am resolved to have nothing to do with the Portenos. My wish is to promote an intercourse with England direct; so that whatever feuds may distract the other states, and whatever impediments they may choose to throw in the way of commerce and navigation, those states shall themselves be the sole sufferers. The ships of Great Britain, triumphantly sweeping the Atlantic, will penetrate to Paraguay; and, in union with our flotillas, will bid defiance to all interruption of commerce, from the mouth of the Plate to the lake Xarayes. Your Government will have its minister here, and I shall have mine at the Court of St. James's. Your countrymen shall traffic in manufactures and munitions of war, and shall receive in exchange the noble products of this country.'

"At this point of his oration the Consul rose with great emotion, but evident delight, from his chair, and calling to the sentinel at the door, desired him to order in the serjeant of the guard. On appearance of this person the Doctor gave him a significant and peremptory look, and told him emphatically to bring that.' The serjeant withdrew, and in less than three minutes returned with four grenadiers at his back, bearing, to my astonishment, among them, a large hide package of tobacco of two hundred weight, a bale of Paraguay tea of similar dimensions and exterior, a demijohn of Paraguay spirits, a large loaf of sugar, and several bundles of cigars, tied and ornamented with variegated fillets. Last of all, came an old negress with some beautiful specimens of embroidered cloth made from Paraguay cotton, and used there by the luxurious as hand-towels and shaving-cloths.

"I thought this very kind and considerate; for though I could not but wonder at the somewhat barbarian ostentation in the mode of making the present, yet I never doubted that the accumulated native productions, now arranged in order before me, were intended as a parting manifestation of the Consul's regard. Judge, then, of my surprise (you will see it cannot bear the name of disappointment), when, after ordering his soldiers and the negress out of the room with a 'vayanse' (begone), he broke forth in the following strain :—

"Senor Don Juan, these are but a few specimens of the rich productions of this soil, and of the industry and ingenuity of its inhabitants. I have taken some pains to furnish you with the best samples which the country affords of the different articles in their respective kinds; and for this reason:

you are now going to England; you know what a country this is, and what a man I am. You know to what an unlimited extent these productions can be reared in this Paradise, I may call it, of the world. Now, without entering upon the discussion, as to whether this continent is ripe for popular institutions, (you know, I think, it is not,) it cannot be denied that, in an old and civilized country like Britain, where these institutions have gradually and practically (not theoretically) superseded forms of government originally feudal, till they have forced themselves upon legislative notice, in a ratio proportioned to the growing education of the majority, they are those best adapted to secure the greatness and stability of a nation. And that England is a great nation, and that its people are knit together as one man, upon all questions of momentous national concern, is undeniable.

"Now, I desire that as soon as you get to London, you will present yourself to the House of Commons; take with you these samples of the productions of Paraguay; request an audience at the bar; and inform the assembly that you are deputed by Don Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia, Consul of the republic of Paraguay, to lay before it these specimens of the rich productions of that country. Tell them I have authorized you to say that I invite England to a political and commercial intercourse with me; and that I am ready and anxious to receive in my capital, and with all the deference due to diplomatic intercourse between civilized states, a minister from the Court of St. James's; I also will appoint to that Court an envoy of my own.

"Such a treaty of commerce and political alliance may then be framed, as shall comport at once with the dignity and interests of the great empire of England, and with those of the rising state which I now rule. Paraguay will be the first republic of South America, as Great Britain is already the first of European nations. The alliance seems, therefore, natural; and how beneficial for the European state, you, Senor Don Juan, can fully elucidate and explain.'

"Such were the terms, and almost the words, in which Francia delivered himself of his views and aspirations in reference to an alliance with Great Britain. I stood, as you may imagine, aghast, at the idea of being appointed a minister plenipotentiary, not to the Court of St. James's, but to the House of Commons. I was charged especially not to take a private interview with the head of the executive: for,' said Francia, I know well how apt great men in England are, unless under the fear of responsibility to the House of Commons, to treat questions even so important as this, with levity or disregard.

"Present yourself,' continued he, at the bar of the house, and there deliver my message, as of old the ambassadors of independent states delivered theirs to the senate of Rome. According to the reception which they shall give to you, one of their countrymen, and above the suspicion, therefore, of being a witness in my favour, shall be the reception (acogimiento) which I will extend to their ambassador to this republic.'

"Never in my life was I more puzzled how to act, or what to say. To refuse the Quixotic mission, and thus incur at once the Consul's displeasure,