La Plata, a province of Spanish America, bounded on the north by the river of the Amazon; on the east, by Brazil; on the south, by Patagonia; and on the west, by Chili and Peru. Paraguay. This country was first discovered by Sebastian Cabot, who, in 1526, passed from Rio de la Plata to the river Parana in small barks, and thence entered the river called Uruguay. It was not, however, thoroughly reduced till the Jesuits obtained possession of it. A few of these went to Paraguay soon after the city of Assumption was founded, and converted about 50 Indian families, who soon induced many others to follow their example, on account of the peace and tranquillity they enjoyed under the fathers. They had long resisted the Spaniards and Portuguese; but the Jesuits, by learning their language, conforming to their manners, &c., soon acquired great authority among them; till at last, by steadily pursuing the same artful measures, they arrived at the highest degree of power and influence, being in a manner the absolute sovereigns of a great part of this extensive country; for above 350,000 families are said to have been subject to them, living in obedience and awe bordering on adoration, yet procured without the least violence or constraint.

We have the following particular account of the missions of Paraguay, in the words of Don Jorge Juan, &c.

"The territories of the missions of Paraguay comprehend not only the province of that name, but also a great part of the provinces of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Tucuman, and Buenos Ayres. The temperature (A) of the air is good, though somewhat moist, and in some parts rather cold: the soil in many places is fertile (B); and produces in great abundance not only the fruits and vegetables peculiar to America, but also those of Europe which have been introduced there. The chief articles of their commerce are cotton, tobacco, some sugar, and the herb called Paraguay. Every town gathers annually more than 2000 arrobas of cotton, of a quarter of an hundred weight each, which the Indians manufacture into stuffs. There are also great quantities of tobacco produced. But the chief article is the herb Paraguay: for it grows only in the districts of the missions; and there is a vast consumption of this herb in all the provinces of Chili and Peru, especially of that called cami, which is the pure leaf; the infusion of which is called mate, and is drunk by the inhabitants of Lima twice a day in lieu of tea or chocolate. The mate which is made by the infusion of the stalk is not so much esteemed.

'Tis now almost two centuries since these missions were first set on foot by the Jesuits. The bad management of the Portuguese greatly favoured the views of these fathers. There was a nation of Indians called Guaranie, some whereof were settled upon the banks of the rivers Uruguay and Parana, and others a hundred leagues higher up in the country to the north-west of Guayra. The Portuguese frequently came upon them, and by force carried away as many as they thought proper to their plantations, and made slaves of them. Offended by such treatment, the Guaranie resolved to quit their settlements in the neighbourhood of the Portuguese, and to remove into the province of Paraguay. Accordingly a migration of 12,000 persons, great and small, ensued. These the Jesuits soon converted; and having had the like success in converting about an equal number of the natives of Tape, a district in Paraguay, they united the two nations, and laid the foundation of their future dominion. These fathers seem to have trod in the steps of the first Incas, and to have civilized nations and converted souls in order to acquire subjects. According to a very exact account taken in the year 1734, there were then 32 towns of the Guaranie, which were reckoned to contain above 30,000 families; and as the new converts were continually increasing, they were then about laying the foundations of three new towns. There were also then seven very populous towns inhabited by the converted Chiquito Indians, and they were preparing to build others for the reception of the new converts of that nation which were daily made.

The missions of Paraguay are surrounded on all sides with wild or unconverted Indians; some of whom live in friendship with the towns, but others harass them by frequent incursions. The father-missionaries frequently visit those Indians, and preach to them; and from these expeditions they seldom return without bringing along with them some new converts to incorporate with their civilized subjects. In the performance of this duty they sometimes penetrate 100 leagues into those uncultivated tracts where wild Indians range; and it is observed that they meet with the least success amongst those nations with whom any fugitive Mestizos, or Spanish criminals, have taken refuge. The diligence of these fathers is certainly worthy the imitation of the Protestant clergy.

Every town has its curate, who is assisted by one, and very often by two priests of the same order, according to the largeness and extent of the town and its district. These two or three priests, together with six boys who assist them in the service of the church, form a small college in every town, wherein the hours and other exercises are regulated with the same formality and exactness as in the large colleges in the cities of Peru and Chili. The most troublesome part of the duty of

(A) The climate of Paraguay differs but little from that of Spain; and the distinctions between the seasons are much the same. In winter, violent tempests of wind and rain are very frequent, accompanied with such dreadful claps of thunder and lightning as fill the inhabitants with terror and consternation. In summer, the excessive heats are mitigated by gentle breezes, which constantly begin at eight or nine in the morning.

(B) It produces maize, manioc, and potatoes, besides many fruits and simples unknown in Europe. Vines, however, do not thrive, except in some particular places. Wheat has also been tried; but it is only used for cakes, and other things of that kind. There are great numbers of poisonous serpents, and others of enormous size, many of which live on fish. It produces also abundance of sugar, indigo, pimento, ipecacuanha, and variety of other drugs; and above all the herb Paraguay, which it exports to the value of 100,000l. annually, to the provinces of Chili and Peru. The manner of using it, to dry and reduce it almost to powder, then put it into a cup with lemon juice and sugar; boiling water is then poured on it, and the liquor drank as soon as may be. It is supposed to be serviceable in all disorders of the head, breast, and stomach; it preserves the miners from the noxious mineral steams with which they would otherwise be suffocated; it is a sovereign remedy in pyrid fevers and the scurvy; allays hunger; and purifies all kind of water, by infusing it therein. of the assistant priests are the personal visitations which they are obliged to make to the Indians to prevent their giving themselves up to ill-health; for such is the slothfulness of the Guaraneses, that if they were not very carefully looked after, the society would receive no benefit or advantage from them. They also attend the public shambles, where the cattle necessary for the sustenance of the Indians are daily slaughtered, and distribute the flesh amongst all the families in the town, in proportion to the number of persons whereof each family consists; so that all may have what is necessary, none what is superfluous. They also visit the sick, and see that they are properly taken care of. They are generally employed the whole day in these affairs, so that they have seldom time to assist the curate in his spiritual functions. All the boys and girls in the parish go to church every day in the week (except on festivals and Sundays), where they are instructed by the curate. On Sundays the whole parish goes to church to be instructed. The curate is besides obliged to go to confess the sick, and to administer the viaticum to those who desire it, and also to perform all the other functions peculiar to this office. In strictness the curate should be appointed in this manner. The society should nominate three persons to the governor of Buenos Ayres (in whose government the missions of Paraguay are included), as being vice patron of the missions, that he may choose one of them for curate; and the curates should be instructed in the duties of their office by the bishop: but as the provincials of the order can best judge who are properly qualified for the office, the governor and bishop have ceded their rights to them, and by them the curates are always appointed. The missions of the Guaraneses and the missions of the Chiquitos, into which the missions of Paraguay are divided, have each their distinct father-superior, by whom the coadjutors or assistant curates of the several towns in the respective divisions are appointed. These superiors are continually visiting the towns, to see that they be well governed, and to endeavour to improve and augment them. They likewise from time to time take care to send out some fathers of the order into the countries of the wild Indians to make new converts. The better to enable him to discharge these duties, the superior of the Guaraneses is assisted by two vice superiors; one of whom resides in Parana, the other upon the banks of the river Uruguay, and the superior himself resides in the town of Candelaria. The post of superior of the Chiquites is not near so troublesome as that of the superior of the Guaraneses: for the Chiquites are not only less numerous, but much more docile and industrious than the Guaraneses, so that they need not be continually watched and attended in order to prevent their idleness. The king allows an annual stipend of 300 pezas to each curate of the Guaraneses, for the maintenance of himself and his assistants. The money is paid to the superior, who issues out monthly to each curate as much as is necessary for his subsistence; and when they want any thing extraordinary, their wants are supplied upon application to him. But the Chiquites maintain their own curates. In every town there is a plantation set apart for the maintenance of the curate, which is cultivated by the joint labour of all the inhabitants. The produce of these plantations is generally more than sufficient for the subsistence of the curates, and the surplus is sold to buy ornaments for the churches. Nor are the curates the spiritual rectors of the towns only; they are also in effect the civil governors. It is true there are in every town of the missions a governor, regidores, and alcaldes, as there are in the other towns and cities under the Spanish government. But though the governor is elected by the Indians, he must be approved by the curate before he enters upon his office; nor can he chastise or punish delinquents without the curate's permission. The curate examines those who are accused of offences; and if he finds them guilty, delivers them to the governor to be punished, according to the nature and quality of the offence committed. He sometimes orders them to be imprisoned for a few days, sometimes to fast, and, when the fault is considerable, to be whipped, which is the severest punishment that is ever inflicted; for the regulations and instructions of the curates have been so efficacious, that murder and such like heinous crimes are never here committed. And even before they undergo these gentle corrections, the curate discourses the offenders in a mild friendly manner; and endeavours to excite in them a due sense of their crime, and of the ill consequences that might flow from it, and to convince them that they merit a much greater punishment than is inflicted. This mild treatment prevents tumults and insurrections, and acquires the curates universal veneration and esteem. The alcaldes are chosen annually by the regidores. The governor, regidores, and alcaldes are all Indians of the best capacities; and are in effect only so many overseers appointed by the curate, and dignified with these empty titles.

Every town has its armory or magazine, in which are lodged the fire-arms or other weapons wherewith the militia are armed when they take the field to repel the irruptions of the Portuguese and wild Indians. The militia are very dexterous and expert in the management of their arms; and are exercised on the eves of festivals in the squares or public places of the towns. The militia is composed of all those who are able to bear arms: they are formed into companies, which have each a proper number of officers, chosen from amongst those who are most distinguished for judgment and conduct. The dress of the officers is rich, adorned with gold and silver, and the device of the town to which they belong: they always appear in their uniforms on festivals, and on the days of military exercise. The governor, alcaldes, and regidores have also proper robes and dresses suitable to their respective offices, in which they appear on public occasions. There are schools in every town, in which the common people are taught reading and writing, and also music and dancing; in which arts they become very skilful. The Jesuits are very careful in consulting the natural bent and genius of their scholars, and in directing their studies and application accordingly. The lads of the most promising genius are taught the Latin tongue with great success. In one of the court-yards of every curate's house are various shops or workhouses of painters, carvers, gilders, silversmiths, carpenters, weavers, and clockmakers, and of several other mechanics and artizans, who daily work for the public under the direction of the coadjutors, and at the same time teach the youth their respective arts and occupations.

The churches are large, well built, finely decorated Each church has a choir of music, composed of instruments of all sorts, and very good voices; so that divine service is celebrated here with as much pomp and solemnity as in cathedrals: nor are the public processions less splendid, especially that of the host; which, whenever it is carried abroad, is attended by the governor, alcaldes, and regidores, in their robes, and also by the militia in a body. The houses of the Indians are as well built and as well furnished as most of the Spanish houses in Peru. The greatest part indeed have mud walls, others are built with brick, and some with stone, but all are covered with tiles. In every town there is a house where gunpowder is made, that they may never want it when they are obliged to take arms, and always have it ready to make artificial fireworks on rejoicing days: for all festivals are here observed with as great ceremony and exactness as in the greatest cities. Upon the proclamation of a new king of Spain, the governors, alcaldes, regidores, and officers of the militia, appear dressed in new robes and uniforms of a different fashion from those they wore before. There is a sort of convent in every town; in one part whereof are confined women of an ill life, and the other part is destined for the reception of married women who have no family, and who retire thither when their husbands are absent. For the maintenance of this house, and for the support of orphans, and of old and infirm people, all the inhabitants of the town work two days in every week; and the profits of their labour, which is called the labour of the community, are set apart for the purpose. If the produce of this labour be more than is necessary for their subsistence, the surplus is laid out to buy ornaments for the churches, and clothes for the orphans and aged and infirm people; so that here are no beggars, nor any who want the necessaries of life. In short, by the wise policy and prudent regulations of the Jesuits, the whole community enjoys peace and happiness.

"The Guaranies are so profuse and negligent, that the curates are obliged to take into their hands all their goods and stuffs as soon as they are manufactured and made ready for sale; otherwise they would waste and destroy them, and not be able to maintain themselves. The Chiquitos, on the contrary, are diligent and frugal; so that the curates have no other trouble with them than the assisting them in the disposal of their goods, and procuring returns for them. For this purpose the society keeps a factor or procurator at Santa Fé and Buenos Ayres, to whom the merchandise of the missions is sent to be disposed of; and these factors return the value to the fathers in such sort of European commodities as are wanted. The goods of every town are kept separate; and the royal taxes are taken out of them without any other discount or allowances, save the stipends of the curates of the Guaranies and the pensions of the caciques. The fathers choose to manage the commerce of their subjects themselves, lest they should contract vices by their communication with other people. In this respect the fathers are so careful, that they will not suffer any of the people of Peru, whether they be Spaniards, Mestizos, or Indians, to enter into the territories of the missions. However, there are some who suspect that these are all specious pretences; and that the society's real motive for prohibiting all intercourse with strangers, is the fear of rivals in the beneficial commerce of Paraguay, which is now entirely in their hands."

Such is the account they themselves have given us of their own conduct: but others have treated their characters with more severity; accusing them of pride, haughtiness, and abusing their authority to the greatest degree; insomuch that they would have caused the magistrates to be whipped in their presence, and obliged persons of the highest distinction within their jurisdiction to kiss the hem of their garment, as the greatest honour at which they could possibly arrive. To this might be added, the utter abolition of all ideas of property; which indeed was rendered useless by the general magazines and storehouses, which they established, and from which, together with the herds of cattle kept for the public use, they supplied the wants of individuals as occasion required; yet still it was objected to the character of the fraternity, that they possessed large property themselves, and claimed the absolute disposal of the meanest effects in Paraguay. All manufactures belonged to them; every natural commodity was brought to them; and the treasures annually remitted to the superior of the order were thought to be a proof that zeal for religion was not the only motive by which they were influenced.

Besides the parochial or provincial governments, there was a kind of supreme council, composed of an annual meeting of all the fathers, who concerted the measures necessary for promoting the common concerns of the mission, framed new laws, corrected or abolished old ones, and, in a word, adapted every thing to circumstances. It is said to have been one of the great objects of the annual councils to take such measures as should effectually deprive strangers of all intelligence concerning the state of the mission. Hence the natives were restrained from learning the Spanish tongue, and were taught, that it was dangerous for their salvation to hold any conversation with a subject of Spain or Portugal. But the circumstance that rendered their designs most suspicious, was the establishment of a military force. Every parish had its corps of horse and foot, who were duly exercised every Sunday; and it was said, that the whole amounted to a body of 70,000 or 80,000 troops, well disciplined.

The city of Buenos Ayres, the metropolis of this vast province, was taken by the naval and military forces of his Britannic majesty, under the command of Sir Home Popham and Major-general Beresford, on the 26th of June 1856. It was attacked on the 9th of August the same year, by a detachment of Spanish troops from Monte Video, and obliged to surrender on the 12th under a capitulation, the terms of which were not afterwards observed; and General Beresford, the officers, troops, marines of the squadron, and a few seamen, remained prisoners of war. A more considerable force, under the command of Lieutenant-general Whitelocke, was afterwards sent to reduce it. That officer, after a number of skirmishes and partial engagements with the enemy, in which the officers and troops under his command exhibited abundant proofs of great bravery, thought proper to abandon the idea of reducing the town. The reason assigned by him for this mysterious conduct, the dread that all the prisoners would be massacred by an exasperated mob, might have done honour to his humanity, but it is extremely doubtful whether or not that was founded on fact. The British government Paraguay government certainly thought otherwise, and the degrading sentence of the court martial by which he was tried, gives us reason to conclude that his anxiety for the life of General Beresford and the rest of the British prisoners was nothing more than a pretext.

Since the failure of the British expedition, this colony has been the theatre of an important revolution. When the news arrived at Buenos Ayres, in 1810, of the dispersion of the central junta by the French in Old Spain, the viceroy Cisneros, by the advice of the cabildo, called a congress, which appointed a junta. The junta, which commenced its sittings on 25th May 1810, was opposed by the Spanish authorities in Monte Video and some of the other provinces, and afterwards by the viceroy and members of the audiencia. The latter were exiled, the forces marching against the city were defeated, and Liniers and other leaders executed. The new government of Buenos Ayres now sent a force into Chili, which effected a revolution there, and even threatened Lima. The royalists, however, made head again, and battles were lost and won by both parties; but the independents have finally established themselves in Chili, though Peru is still in the hands of their opponents. The independents were long annoyed by the royalists in Monte Video, but in June 1814 the town fell into their hands. But Artigas, one of their own officers, having abandoned their cause, got possession of the town next, and held it by his own authority, till he was dispossessed in January 1817 by the Portuguese, who had long wished to extend their territories in this direction. In the mean time the government of Buenos Ayres was a prey to anarchy. The congress and the juntas were distracted by furious factions. Sometimes the municipality displaced the civil authorities, or one member of the government deposed the others, or the military commanders seized the supreme power by force. At length, in July 1816, Don J. M. Puyrredon was appointed supreme director, and has ever since continued to administer the public affairs with great steadiness and moderation. The independence of the provinces of La Plata was formally announced by the congress on the 9th July 1816. From the report of the American commissioners, Messrs Graham and Rodney (Dec. 1818), it appears that the government is now well consolidated, the press enjoys a great degree of freedom, information and industry are increasing, religious toleration is making progress, and the situation of the people has been in every respect much ameliorated. They have kept an army in Chili for some years; and have lately organized a respectable naval force, the command of which has been given to our countryman Lord Cochrane. The population of the whole provinces, in 1818, has been estimated at 1,300,000, exclusive of Indians. But according to Mr Graham, one of the American commissioners, the population of those provinces which are represented in the congress is only about 480,000, excluding Indians; and adding the provinces of Upper Peru, the population does not exceed one million. The foreign trade is chiefly with Britain. According to a parliamentary paper, the exports to Buenos Ayres in 1818, were 730,808l. See BUENOS AYRES and SOUTH AMERICA, Supplement.