or San Felipe de Monte-Video, the capital of Uruguay in South America, is situated on the northern shore of the estuary of the La Plata, 130 miles E.S.E. of Buenos Ayres, S. Lat. 34° 53', W. Long. 56° 16'. It stands on a gentle eminence at the extremity of a small promontory which forms the east side of the harbour, a bay 4 miles in length by 2 in breadth. The houses are well built, and floored with unbaked bricks. They are for the most part only one storey high, and have flat roofs. The streets are broad, regular, and well paved. There are no great public buildings, except the cathedral, a handsome stone edifice, and the town-hall. Monte-Video is surrounded by walls, which are mounted with guns; and there is also a citadel. The climate is healthy, and the soil of the surrounding country rich and productive; but water is very scarce, and can only be obtained by wells dug on the seashore, or by collecting the rain-water in cisterns. The harbour is shallow, varying from 14 to 19 feet in depth; but the bottom is soft, and does not injure the vessels that may run aground. The winds from the S.S.W. blow into the harbour and cause a considerable swell. The number of vessels that entered the harbour in 1863, including the coasting trade, was 1220, and their tonnage 149,567; while those that cleared were 978, and their tonnage 141,131.

The trade of Monte-Video is very considerable; the exports, consisting of wool, hides, tallow, salt beef, &c.; and the imports of cotton and woollen fabrics, hardware, wine, provisions, &c. A line of steamers was established in 1856 between Monte-Video and Genoa; and there is also another, supported by the government of Brazil, between this place and Rio Janeiro. Pop. about 12,000.