BUENOS AYRES. 



61 



resources, in the hope of rounding their 

 territories by the addition of these plains. 

 England, therefore, has in some measure made 

 herself the guardian of the independence of 

 Monte Video, and, under the same auspices, 

 the respective limits of the two states remain to 

 be adjusted, according to the terms of a con- 

 vention made between them at the termination 

 of the war. The town is still protected to 

 the east by its fortifications ; but by the 

 Brazilian treaty these are to be destroyed. 



Almost all Spanish American towns are built 

 like a chess-board, the streets cutting each 

 other at right angles ; which plan, I believe, was 

 copied from the ancient Indian towns of Mexico 

 and Peru. There is also, in general, a large 

 plaza in the centre of the city, in which are 

 situated the cathedral^ government offices, and 

 official residences and bureaus. At Monte 



