INTRODUCTION 



IMPORTANCE OF SPANISH AMERICA REMARKS ON THE POPULA- 

 TION STATE OF LEARNING AND INFORMATION SPANISH CO- 

 LONIAL GOVERNMENT AND POLICY SYSTEM OF FINANCE COM- 

 MERCIAL POLICY OBSTACLES TO THE REVOLUTION. 



No nation was ever possessed of an empire so 

 vast as that of Spain in America. South America 

 alone is probably equal in importance to the rest of 

 the habitable globe. Its geographical surface, is less 

 than that of Africa, but when we consider how trifling 

 a portion of that continent is capable of sustaining 

 human life, how bad its climate, and how deficient in 

 rivers, the veins and arteries of the earth, it sinks in 

 the scale, far below the new world. Much of Europe 

 is given up to excessive cold; and of Asia, immense 

 portions are barren and uninhabitable. Internal seas, 

 lakes, and marshes, occupy a much greater propor- 

 tioQ than in New Spain, or South America. The 

 steppes, or grassy plains of Asia, are of much greater 

 extent than those of the American continent. The 

 plains of New Spain are better supplied with water, 

 and consequently more fertile; the pampas of La 

 Plata, it is true wear a more unpromising appearance; 

 but I am inclined to think, that when they shall be- 

 VOL. I. 3 



