1832.] Dr. Francia, the Dictator of Paraguay. 23 



they were confined by fifties, in rooms which had but one general door 

 and one window for them all. The reasons alleged for this arbitrary 

 treatment was, that they had sought to obstruct the march of the 

 government an accusation than which nothing could be more unfounded. 

 They were, after an incarceration of some time, finally liberated, on 

 condition of paying, within three days, 150,000 Spanish dollars. Fran- 

 cia's object was to ruin the Spanish families, who had always formed 

 the most influential class of society. The Paraguayans, with a gene- 

 rosity that did them honour, forgot their national antipathies, and ren- 

 dered them all the aid in their power, in defiance of the indignation of 

 the dictator. 



During the progress of the unrelenting cruelty of Francia, foreigners 

 were the only persons to whom he extended the slightest indulgence. 

 Of this class there were about forty persons, the major part consisting 

 of merchants, attracted there by the prospects of commercial gain. 

 There was, however, one among them in whose fate the whole scientific 

 world cannot but feel deeply interested the traveller Bonpland, the 

 friend and companion of the celebrated Humboldt. Bonpland had 

 formed an establishment in the ruined missions of Entre Rios, to pre- 

 pare the Yerva Mate. This gave great umbrage to Francia, who, under 

 the pretext that it was injurious to the trade of his dominions, sent a 

 troop of soldiers, who, after massacreing a party of Indians, inflicted a 

 sabre wound on Bonpland, plundered his property, and, without regard 

 to his sufferings, loaded him with chains, and conducted him to Santa 

 Maria, on the left bank of the Parana. Francia, on being apprised of 

 the treatment he had received, ordered his irons to be removed, his pro- 

 perty to be restored, and assigned him a residence in a place called the 

 Cerrito, between Santa Maria and Santa Rosa. Here he resided till 

 the moment of his release from his long captivity, devoting himself to 

 agriculture, beloved and respected by the inhabitants of the district, to 

 whom, from his general knowledge and medical skill, he has proved 

 himself a benefactor. But separated as he was from all the objects of 

 his affections, often in want of the commonest necessaries of life, unable 

 to pursue his favourite studies, his situation was truly lamentable. The 

 more interest that was exerted for his liberation, the more Francia 

 rejoiced in having him in his power. Having received a letter from 

 our consul at Buenos Ayres demanding his liberation, he merely 

 changed the envelope of the letter and returned it, addressed, simply, to 

 " Parish, English Consul at Buenos Ayres." Through the interference 

 of the Ex-Emperor Don Pedro did this celebrated traveller at last 

 obtain his liberation ; and Europe looks forward with impatience to his 

 arrival, for enlarged information on the natural history of Paraguay, 

 and on the character and views of its singular ruler. 



Francia now determined to execute a project that had been long slum- 

 bering in his mind this was nothing less than the total destruction of 

 the city of Assumption, with the view of rebuilding it on a more 

 improved plan. In the accomplishment of this project the dictator pre- 

 sided in person, tracing with his own hand the plan of the new eleva- 

 tions. All the houses that stood in the way of the new streets were 

 rased ; still so many difficulties presented themselves in the way of the 

 work, that its operation was but gradual. After a lapse of four years, 

 the capital presented the aspect of a city that had suffered a long siege. 

 Yet so despotic was his authority, that he experienced no difficulty in 



