GENERAL. 



n. 



BUENOS AYEES. 



A large and handsome city, the streets intersecting each 

 other at right angles, equidistant, and forming blocks of 

 houses of about 140 yards square. The extension of tlie 

 city during the past few years, and the number of magnifi- 

 cent houses built, many of them meriting the denomina- 

 tion of palaces, is astonishing. It possesses several large 

 and handsome theatres, an opera house, concert hall, club 

 houses, exchange, custom-house, and other public build- 

 ings ; the cathedral, a large and handsome building, with 

 a noble composite facade, and many large and solidly built 

 churches. 



The population is estimated at 200,000 souls, and com- 

 prises representatives of almost every civilised nation in 

 the world — more or less half its population is foreign — 

 a perfect babel of tongues ; English, French, German, 

 Italian, Portuguese, salute the ear at every step : foreign 

 banks, commercial houses, shops, wholesale and retail 

 general stores. Every trade and calling is ]5ursued with 

 perfect liberty by foreigners of every denomination, and 

 their establishments are eveiywhere. Many ship-build- 

 ing yards exist, where steamers and other vessels for 

 the river-trade are built ; and there are an English 

 church, Scotch Presbyterian, American and German 

 churches ; an Irish Eoman Catholic chaplain and several 

 assistants ; the British hospital, a large and well-regulated 

 establishment ; the Italian liospital, a remarkably hand- 

 some building ; an Irish hospital ; the convent and schools 

 of English and Irish sisters of mercy ; British newsroom ; 



