258 INTEREST ON MONEY. CHAP. XXV. 



have not funds to work." It may be naturally 

 conceived that persons of the class which are here 

 described may be easily driven from their labour 

 whenever civil dissensions expose their compendious 

 but petty treasures to military plunder. 



No better evidence can be given of the want of 

 capital in these countries than one fact which 

 Temple relates. He was enabled to lend a sum 

 of money upon the security of goods of gold and 

 silver, which were deposited in his hands, at the 

 enormous rate of two andahalfper cent, per month ; 

 and this was considered a favour, the current rate 

 of interest in Potosi having risen from three to 

 four per cent, per month, whilst in the city of 

 Buenos Ayres the rate was only fifteen per cent, 

 per annum *. 



The same author remarks, " that the mania of 

 unceasing change, which has so conspicuously 

 marked the conduct of the South Americans in 

 their plans and modes of government, has recently 

 extended with a violence that has again thrown 

 into convulsion nearly the whole of the vast con- 



tinent." 



The evils of the revolution have visited this dis- 

 trict with greater weight than any other part of 

 America. It was early invaded from Buenos Ayres, 

 and a body of troops from that city under Puyredon 

 took possession of Potosi as early as 1812, and after 



1 Temple, vol. ii. p. 217. 



