202 mo PLATA. 



of the danger alone. Many officers in the army- 

 can neither read nor write, yet all meet in society 

 as equals. In Entre Rios, the Sala consisted of 

 only six representatives. One of them kept a 

 common shop, and evidently was not degraded by 

 the office. All this is what would be expected in 

 a new country ; nevertheless, the absence of gen- 

 tlemen by profession appears to an Englishman 

 something strange. 



When speaking of these countries, the manner 

 in which they have been brought up by their un- 

 natural parent, Spain, should always be borne in 

 mind. On the whole, perhaps, more credit is due 

 for what has been done, than blame for that which 

 may be deficient. It is impossible to doubt but 

 that the extreme liberalism of these countries must 

 ultimately lead to good results. The very general 

 toleration of foreign religions, the regard paid to 

 the means of education, the freedom of the press, 

 the facilities offered to all foreigners, and especial- 

 ly, as I am bound to add, to every one professing 

 the humblest pretensions to science, should be rec- 

 ollected with gTatitude by those who have visited 

 Spanish South America. 



Decemher 6t7i. — The Beagle sailed from the Rio 

 Plata, never again to enter its muddy stream. Our 

 course was directed to Port Desire, on the coast 

 of Patagonia. Before proceeding any further, I 

 will here put together a few observations made at 

 sea. 



Several times when the ship has been some miles 

 off" the mouth of the Plata, and at other times 

 when off" the shores of Northern Patagonia, we 

 have been surrounded by insects. One evening, 

 when we were about ten miles from the Bay of 

 San Bias, vast numbers of butterflies, in bands oi" 



