SPANISH EEVOLUTIOXS IX AMERICA. 343 



whicTi at certain periods agitate tlie human race, has 

 broken out in the Spanish colonies, and seems to prepare 

 new destinies for a pojDulation of fourteen milhons of inha- 

 bitants, spreading from the southern to the northern hemi- 

 sphere, fi'om the shores of the Eio de la Plata and Chile to 

 the remotest part of Mexico. Deep resentments, excited 

 by colonial legislation, and fostered by mistrustful policy, 

 have stained with blood regions which had enjoyed, for 

 the space of nearly three centuries, what I will not call 

 happiness but interrupted peace. At Quito several of 

 the most virtuous and enlightened citizens have perished, 

 victims of devotion to their country. While I am giving 

 the description of regions, the remembrance of which is 

 so dear to me, I continually light on places which recall 

 to my mind the loss of a friend. 



" When we reflect on the great political agitations of 

 the New World, we observe that the Spanish Americans 

 are by no means in so favourable a position as the inha- 

 bitants of the United States ; the latter having been 

 prepared for independence by the long enjoyment of 

 constitutional liberty. Internal dissensions are chiefly to 

 be dreaded in regions where civilization is but slightly 

 rooted, and where, from the influence of climate, forests 

 may soon regain their empire over cleared lands if their 

 culture be abandoned. It may also be feared that, during 

 a long series of years, no foreign traveller will be enabled 

 to traverse all the countries which I have visited. This 

 circumstance may perhaps add to the interest of a work 

 which pourtrays the state of the greater part of the Spanish 

 colonies at the beginning of the nineteenth century. I 

 even venture to indulge the hope that this work will be 

 thought worthy of attention when passions shall be 



