the capital of the Argentine Confederation and of the province of Buenos-Ayres, is situated on the right bank of the estuary of the La Plata, in Lat. 34. 39. S. Long. 58. 18. W. The river is at this point so wide, that it is quite impossible with the naked eye to distinguish the opposite bank; and at the same time so shallow, that ships drawing 15 or 16 feet of water must anchor seven or eight miles from the city. Small craft generally anchor in what are called the inner roads, abreast of the city. As the depth of water is never sufficient to admit of their coming to shore, passengers and goods are landed by means of large-wheeled carts, which are either drawn or pushed by the requisite number of horses. The town of Buenos-Ayres is situated in a vast plain extending westwards to the Andes. The level uniformity of its outline is only broken by the spires of the various churches. The stranger, on landing, is struck with the regularity of the streets, which are quite straight, and intersect each other at distances of 150 yards forming squares like those of a chess-board, with the cleanly appearance of the houses, and the general air of independence that distinguishes the inhabitants. The only public buildings that have any pretensions to architectural beauty are the churches, which were built for the most part by the Jesuits. The houses have never more than two stories, and commonly only one, the rooms of which open into each other, and till lately were chiefly supplied with furniture of a very inferior description from the United States. A chimney was a thing unknown, as the old Spanish brazero alone was employed in heating the damp and white-washed rooms. A great change has, however, taken place in these respects within the last few years. The furniture is now supplied from Europe, the walls are papered, grates and chimneys have come into fashion, and English coal is burned at a lower price than it brings in the London market. These comforts are all the more valuable, as the climate of Buenos-Ayres is one of the most humid and changeable in the world. As the system of police is still somewhat of the rudest, the inhabitants are obliged to guard themselves and their property by means of the iron railings with which they protect the windows of the houses. Even this, however, is not always found to be an efficient safeguard against the dexterity of thieves. Though the city is built within 50 yards of the largest river in the world, the supplies of fresh water are both scanty and expensive. There are no public reservoirs or fountains, and the wells of the city yield only a brackish and disagreeable water. By the wealthier classes tanks are constructed, in which a sufficiency of rain-water for domestic purposes is collected from the roof of the house. The common people are obliged to purchase water from the water-carriers. As it is derived from the river, it is commonly muddy, and must stand for twenty-four hours till the sediment sinks to the bottom. It is then found to be excellent. The streets of the city are now tolerably paved with granite. Many of them, however, are still unpaved; and these in wet weather can hardly be traversed by a mounted horseman, and are utterly impassable by a person on foot. Floriculture is a favourite pursuit; and many English and Scotch gardeners have nurseries in the neighbourhood of the town.

Of the public buildings may be noticed the fortress, which is situated on the beach, and, besides guarding the town, serves as a residence for the president of the confederation; the cathedral, which is surmounted by a handsome dome, and has a large portico with twelve Corinthian pillars; the cabildo or town-house, in which justice is administered and the business of the municipality conducted; the churches of La Merced, San Francisco, and San Domingo; and the custom-house. The Plaza de la Victoria, round which some of these edifices are grouped, is the handsomest square in Buenos-Ayres. In the centre of it is a handsome monument, erected as a memorial of the war of independence. When the number of British residents in the town began rapidly to increase, application was made to General Rosas for a site for a church. This was immediately granted, and the minister for the time being set an example of liberality and toleration to his countrymen by laying the foundation-stone of the edifice, which cost in all about L4000, half of which was defrayed by the British government. The Scottish residents, who muster about 1000, have recently built a small Presbyterian chapel; and the Roman Catholic portion of the English subjects are allowed the use of one of the national churches, in which a priest performs the service. In 1842 the Methodists erected a meeting-house, which is used by all denominations of the British Dissenters. The Protestant Germans, who are pretty numerous, have a church in connexion with the Established Church of Prussia. To each of these places of worship schools are attached for children of both sexes. The facilities for education are very considerable, and of these the inhabitants avail themselves extensively. Besides the denominational schools already alluded to, there is a university, attended by about 500 students, and possessing a valuable though not very extensive library. The sons of the wealthier families of the city are very frequently sent to Europe to complete their education at some of the great schools and colleges in France and England. The Buenos-Ayreans inherit from their ancestors much of that passion for music which characterizes the Spaniard, and are said to excel in this accomplishment. Poetry also is much cultivated among them; and a collection of lyrical ballads, under the title of *Lira Argentina*, is said to be well worth the notice of all lovers of Spanish verse. Besides its university, Buenos-Ayres contains many other literary and scientific institutions. Of these, the most important are the academy of medicine, the academy of jurisprudence, a special academy of mathematica and the physical sciences, a normal school, and a society for the promotion of agriculture. The charitable societies, though not very numerous, are rather important. Spanish is the language spoken by the Buenos-Ayrean descendants of the old Spanish settlers, as well as by the native Indians, who constitute the bulk of the lower classes.