60 BUENOS AYRES. [1839. 



far from three thousand inhabitants embracod within the 

 limits of the settlement on the Rio Negro. The river is only 

 one third of a mile wide, but it is navigable for boats to Chi- 

 cula, two hundred miles from its mouth. 



(3.) When Buenos Ayres first achieved her independence, 

 she was connected with Paraguay and Uruguay, and the 

 confederation assumed the name of the United Provinces of 

 South America, afterwards changed to United Provinces 

 of La Plata. Difficulties and contentions, artfully promoted 

 by the government of Brazil, followed the separation from 

 the mother country ; and after a severe and bloody struggle, in 

 1813, Paraguay became independent of the confederacy, and 

 established a distinct government. • Shortly after this, Brazil 

 laid claim to Uruguay ; another fierce and protracted contest 

 ensued, which was finally terminated, in 1828, by the erec- 

 tion of the disputed territory into an independent state. 

 Since that time, the remaining portion of the confederacy has 

 been known as Buenos Ayres, and, latterly, as the Argentine 

 Republic* Harmony and tranquillity, however, have not 

 generally prevailed in the country. Internal dissensions 

 have been fomented by the intrigues of Brazil and the mo- 

 narchical governments of Europe; and international difficul- 

 ties have been occasioned by the attempt of Buenos Ayres 

 to enforce her right to the sole navigation of the La Plata — 

 a right which would probably have never been invaded, or 

 questioned, had she been as great and powerful, as she is 

 weak and humble. England, France, and Brazil, have 

 united to oppress her ; and at the time of the visit of the Ex- 

 ploring Squadron, her ports were blockaded by a French fleet. 



Buenos Ayres contains about two million inhabitants, scat- 

 tered over a territory nine hundred thousand square miles 

 in extent. Its capital is Buenos Ayres, which contains near 

 eighty thousand inhabitants, and is pleasantly situated on 



* The term Argentine Republic, (nilvcr republic.) was. no doubt adopted as 

 being expressive of the mineral character of the soil ; but it is hardly more ap- 

 propriate, and is certainly less beautiful than the former name of Buenos Ayres, 

 'pleasant brceze6.) 



