270 



A VOYAGE TO 



considered the day approaching when they were to be 

 ranked with other nations, but I could discover at the 

 same time, that there was among them already, no 

 inconsiderable share of national pride; they recount- 

 ed the achievements of their republic, their defeat 

 of the British, their capture of Monte Video, their 

 long and persevering war in Peru, and the late vie* 

 tory of their arms in Chili, and seemed to think, that 

 the world was already beginning to regard with admi- 

 ration, the greatness of their deeds. They seemed to 

 hold in equal detestation the Spaniards and Portu- 

 guese. When I informed them I had heard that 

 some among them were for having a king; they 

 seemed to express some surprise, and said, that they 

 had got rid of one king, and it would be singular if 

 they should already think of another; their object was 

 to establish a free government, and to be like the 

 United States. They expressed their opinions freely, 

 on most subjects, blaming or approving without re- 

 serve. The clerk, who seemed to l)e something of a 

 book-man, told me he had read the history of the Unit- 

 ed States, the constitutions, and general Washing- 

 ton's farewell address. He thought Rousseau's Social 

 Compact a visionary thing, but Paine's Common Sense, 

 and Rights of Man, sober and rational productions. 

 He had brought with him, to amuse himself on the way, 

 a copy of Demoustier's mythology, in French; which 

 language, he told me, had been much studied of late, 

 in consequence of there being very extensive impor- 

 tations of French books. On the subject of religion, 

 he entertained no fixed opinions, but regarded it ra- 

 ther with indifference. Contrary to our expectations, 

 we were compelled to remain another night on the 



