PREFACE. 



the subject of South America generally, as one 

 that should create a desire to be informed. I 

 feel but too well my incapacity for the dis- 

 charge of such a task. I neither possess that 

 grace and fascination of style, which give interest 

 to every subject, nor the literary reputation that 

 can. add importance to whatever I may write. 

 My ambition extends no further than to make 

 a fair and honest statement of the facts that 

 have coBie within my knowledge, together with 

 the inferences I have drawn from them. I affect 

 no humility, for the purpose of disarming criti- 

 cism; I ask neither more nor less than the mea- 

 sure of justice, to which others are entitled. I 

 am aware, however, that I have enemies — ^few 

 in number, indeed, but malignant — their attempts 

 to injure me, whether open or concealed, I hold 

 in equal contempt. To the American public, 

 to whom / make my report^ I address myself 

 with confidence, fully convinced that its sen- 

 tence will be just, even if against me. 



During a residence of four or five years in 

 Louisiana, part of the time as one of the judges 

 of the state, I had an opportunity of becoming 

 acquainted with the Spanish character, laws and 

 government. I applied myself a good deal to 

 Spanish literature, having previously acquired 

 a knowledge of the Spanish language as well as 

 of the French; and living on the borders of 

 New Spain, I had an opportunity of forming an 



VOL. I. ^ 



