46 



INTRODUCTION. 



the theory of the American government as explained 

 to him, could really be reduced to practice.* He be- 

 came afterwards a most enthusiastic admirer of our 

 political institutions. 



In some parts of South America, especially Carac- 

 cas and Buenos Ayres, whose situations led to more 

 frequent intercourse with strangers, than Mexico or 

 Lima, the vigilance of the inquisition was probably 

 often eluded; and it is not impossible that the com- 

 missioners themselves, were more or less rigid in the 

 execution of their trusts. It is certain, that in Vene- 

 zuela and La Plata, and perhaps St. Fee de Bogota, 

 revolutionary politics had already formed a mine un- 

 der the Spanish power, and that there was only want- 

 ing a fit oppportunity to explode. 



With respect to the press, its liberty as understood 

 by us, was entirely out of the question. The only 

 thing which the Americans could aspire to, with any 

 hope of success, was the liberty of jprivting^ not of 

 publishing; that is, no one could establish a press at 

 all, without special permission. The city of Carac- 

 cas repeatedly besought the council of the Indies, to 

 grant them this privilege, but in vain. Perhaps 

 the Spanish system of universal monopoly, united in 

 that instance with expediency, in preventing the ex- 

 tention of an art so dangerous to tyranny, and so fa- 

 vorable to the true greatness and felicity of mankind. 

 In Mexico and Lima, the press had been permitted, 

 but on the most narrow and contracted scale. At 

 Buenos Ayres, an indifferent press and types, which 



* His papers are in my possession, I happened to lodge in the 

 same house inj^ew Orleans. 



