336 



APPENDIX. 



the business of the world, or to hold secular offices, are many of 

 them Europeans; but those of them who are natives, take the same 

 lively interest in passing events, with the other classes of the com- 

 munity. 



They have gone cautiously to work in reforms, in the different 

 branches of their municipal laws, and the administration of them. 

 The number of offices has been considerably diminished, and re- 

 sponsibility rendered more direct anU severe. The judiciary sys- 

 tem has undergone many improvements, and nearly all the leading 

 features of the law, which did not harmonise with the principles of 

 free government, have been expunged, though some of the former 

 evils still remain. The barbarous impositions on the aborigines, 

 have been abolished. The odious alcavalla, and other obnoxious 

 ta^^vis, modified, so as no longer to be vexatious; slavery and the 

 slave trade, forbidden in future; and all titles of nobility prohi- 

 bited, under the pain of the loss of citizenship. The law of primo- 

 gentiture, is also expunged from their system. In the provisional 

 statute, as has been stated, nearly all the principles of free repre- 

 sentative government are recognised, accompanied it is true, with 

 certain drawbacks, for which they plead the necessity of the times, 

 but which, they profess their intention to do away, on the final set- 

 tlement of the government; a consummation anxiously desired by 

 all classes of inhabitants. The example of France, has warned 

 them not to attempt too much at first; they have followed the plan 

 of the United States, in the introduction of gradual reforms, in- 

 stead of resorting to violent and sudden innovations and revolu- 

 tions. 



Next to the establishment of their independence by arms, the 

 education of their youth appears to be the subject of the most anx- 

 ious interest. They complain, that every possible impediment 

 was thrown in the way of education, previous to the revolution; 

 that so far from fostering public institutions for this purpose, seve- 

 ral schools w^ere actually prohibited in the capital, and the young 

 men were not without restraint, permitted to go abroad for their 

 education. There was a college at Cordova, at which those des- 

 tined for the bar, or the priesthood, completed their studies, upon 

 the ancient monkish principles. Another called San Carlos, (now 

 the Union of the South) had been opened at Buenos Ayres, but 

 was afterwards converted into barracks for soldiers. It is an im- 

 mense building, more extensive, perhaps, than any which has been 



