MANNERS AND CJISTOMS. 



529 



veniraent, or ratihd- despotism, 

 was established by the parent 

 countrj'. 



These extensive regions were 

 originally swayed by two viceroys. 

 The dominions of Spain, in North 

 America, were under the govern- 

 ment of the Viceroy of Mexico; 

 and all her possessions in South 

 America were subject to the 

 control of the Viceroy of Peru- 



The remoteness of some parts 

 of the country from the residence 

 of the viceroyat Lima occasioned, 

 in 1718, the establishment of 

 another viceroyalty at Santa Fe 

 de Bogota, in the kingdom of 

 New Grenada. In 1731, New 

 Grenada was divided, and a num- 

 ber of the provinces composing 

 that kingdom were separated from 

 it. These were put under the 

 jurisdiction of a captain-general 

 and president, whose seat of 

 government was at Caraccas. 



In 1568, Chili was erected into 

 a separate captain-generalship ; 

 in 1778, a new viceroyalty was 

 established at Buenos Ayres, 

 comprehending all the Spanish 

 possessions to the east of the 

 Western Cordilleras, and to the 

 south of the river Maranon. 



This immense empire seems, 

 according to the laws of the 

 Indies, to have been considered 

 a distinct kingxlora of itself, 

 though united to Spain, and 

 annexed to the crown of Castile. 

 In this light it is viewed by Baron 

 Humboldt, in his Essay on New 

 Spain. 



With some slight shades of 

 difference in the regulations esta- 

 blished in these governments, 

 the prominent features of their 

 political institutions exhibit a 



Vol. LX. 



striking resemblance, as the ge- 

 neral system was the same. 



Their commerce was confined 

 to the parent country and to 

 Sjjanish vessels exclusively. They 

 were prohibited, under the penalty 

 of death, to trade with foreigners. 

 The natives of Old Spain com- 

 posed the body of their mer- 

 chants. Though this part of the 

 system had, previously to the 

 revolution, been relaxed, in some 

 degree, particularly by the statute 

 of tree commerce, as it isst3'led; 

 the relief was partial, and the 

 restrictions continued severe and 

 oppressive. 



All access to the Spanish set- 

 tlements was closed to foreigners; 

 and even the inhabitants of the 

 different provinces were prohi- 

 bited from intercourse with one 

 another, unless under the strictest 

 regulations. 



The various manufactures that 

 might interfere with those of 

 Spain were not permitted. They 

 were prevented, under severe 

 penalties, from raising flax, hemp, 

 or saffron. In climates most con- 

 genial to them, the culture of the 

 grape and the olive .vas prohibited- 

 On account of the distance of 

 Peru and Chili, and the difficulty 

 of transporting oil and wine to 

 these remote regions, they were 

 permitted to plant vines and 

 olives, but were prohibited the 

 culture of tobacco. At Buenos 

 Ayres, by special indulgence of 

 the viceroys, they were allowed 

 to cultivate grapes and olives 

 merely for the use of the table. 



They were compelled to pro- 

 cure from the mother country 

 articles of the first necessity ; 

 and were thus rendered dependent 



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